Consolations

Of the early versions of works included in this volume the first versions of the notably popular Consolations cycle and Grand solo de concert (published in 1850) are of particular interest. In the first version of Consolations the third movement was a style hongrois piece whose thematic material was later used by Liszt in his Hungarian Rhapsody No. 1 (published in 1851). The first version of Grand solo de concert shows that the work did not originally include a slow middle section to be recapitulated towards the end as seen in the final version. This is a characteristically Lisztian feature that would reappear a few years later in his Sonata in B minor. A detailed preface inHungarian, English, and German, including new research results, numerous manuscript facsimiles, and critical notes, makes this volume of the New Liszt Edition an important publication of immense scholarly value. Along with the cloth-bound Complete Edition, a paperback version for practical use has also been published. This edition’s contents are identical to those of the hardcover edition with the exception that the critical notes are not included.