PRESS RELEASE FROM ARTS CONSULTANCY Rediscovering Liszt Bold new release by young British pianist Connor Fogel Rediscovering Liszt is an exciting and bold new release by British pianist Connor Fogel. Drawing on the latest research in historically informed performance, the recording recreates two solo piano recital programmes originally performed by Franz Liszt in the 1840s, offering a rare glimpse into the sound world of Liszt’s own concerts. As well as reconstructing these programmes and exploring Liszt’s probable playing style, the CD features alternative variants and cadenzas that he may have performed, alongside rare versions and editions of the works. The booklet for this CD features a new essay on Liszt’s playing style by musicologist Neal Peres Da Costa as well as in depth programme notes and research information from Connor Fogel himself. From his early public appearances during the mid 1830s, to a performance in June 1840, Liszt would title his concerts “Recitals at the Pianoforte” (the first use of the term “recital”). Right up to his final appearance as a touring virtuoso in October 1847 (retiring from the platform at just 35), he performed well over 1000 concerts throughout most of Europe, bringing hysteria, frenzy and elation to audiences wherever he went. The international pandemic of “Lisztomania” swept across the world, seeing audiences screaming, ladies fainting, and Liszt’s gloves, cigar butts and even coffee dregs being pocketed for personal collections. Modern documentation and cataloguing of these concerts is surprisingly sparse, and it is the pianist’s hope that this recording will shed more light on what exactly made Liszt’s recitals so impactful, giving an informed and authentic impression of how Liszt may have played, with both musical style and programmes reconstructed. Connor also includes as many authentic variants and alternative cadenzas as possible — during Liszt’s time such moments were often spontaneously improvised by the performer — and these seldom heard variations are included here to create the feel of improvisation. For instance, Réminiscences de Lucia di Lammermoor de Donizetti is played as per Adolf Von Henselt’s edition of the work. Henselt was a colleague of Liszt’s, and created his edition after hearing Liszt play the work. This is the editions’ first recording. Réminiscences de “Don Juan” de Mozart – Grande fantaisie features many seldom heard extended cadenzas and variants found in Liszt’s two piano version of the work. Ave Maria, Ständchen, Erlkönig, La serenata e l’orgia and Grand galop chromatique all appear in their rarely performed first versions. Along with the historical practices of unnotated arpeggiation, asynchrony of melody and accompaniment, and modification of rhythm and tempo, Connor believes that this recording reignites the sound of an all but extinct style of pianism. This recording uses a remarkable 1922 Bösendorfer grand piano, a brand which would become Liszt’s favourite. For further information please contact: Antony Barlow on 0771192170 or artspublixity@hotmail.com Recording Details: Engineer: Steve Plews Product design: Simon Crosby Buttle Mastering: Phil Hardman Cover art: James Minari, 1841 pen and ink drawing for The Times during Liszt’s 1841 visit to London Recorded 28-29 July 2025, St. Elizabeth’s Church, Manchester Biography Connor Fogel studied piano at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and gained a Master’s degree in Musical Direction from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. He currently enjoys a varied career as a concert pianist, musicologist, and musical director for theatre. Connor has been the recipient of several prizes and awards including 2nd prize in the 2019 International Liszt Society Piano Competition and the 2016 Musical Director Award from The Worshipful Company of Musicians, of which Connor was made a Freeman in 2022. In 2026 Connor was granted Freedom of the City of London. He has written numerous articles on historically informed performance for The Liszt Society and has spoken at several music conferences internationally, as well as performing regularly in recitals, concerts, theatrical shows and cabarets throughout the UK and internationally. Connor is an Honorary Associate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and was previously the Andrew Lloyd Webber Associate Musical Director of The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. As well as Royal Welsh, Mountview and Central, he also teaches at The Royal Academy of Music, ArtsEd and Italia Conti. As a musical director, his theatrical credits include The Phantom of The Opera (West End & World Tour), The BFG (Royal Shakespeare Company, Chichester, Singapore) Scissorhandz (Southwark Playhouse), Chicago (International Tour), Hello Dolly! (London Palladium), Ben & Imo (Royal Shakespeare Company, Orange Tree London), The King and I (UK Tour), Flowers for Mrs. Harris(Riverside Studios), Polly & Esther (Edinburgh Fringe, Adelaide Fringe, Sherman Theatre), Julius Caesar(Royal Shakespeare Company UK Tour), Les Misérables (UK & Ireland Tour), Queerway (Wales Millennium Centre and UK Tour), Cinderella (Queen’s Theatre Barnstaple, Gatehouse Stafford), Topsie’s Crystal Balls (UK Tour), The Soprano Behind the Screen (UK Tour), As You Like It, Taming of the Shrew, Measure for Measure (Royal Shakespeare Company, Barbican, UK, US and Asian Tour), Queen of the Mist (Charing Cross Theatre, Jack Studio Theatre), Sweet Charity(Nottingham Playhouse). Connor’s film and television credits include the Harry Enfield film The Contract and BAFTA award winning ITV1 drama The Lost Honour Of Christopher Jeffries. Tracklist: 1. Ouverture de l’opéra Guillaume Tell de Rossini, S552 2. Réminiscences de Lucia di Lammermoor de Donizetti, S397 3. Réminiscences de “Don Juan” de Mozart – Grande fantaisie, S418 4. Ave Maria (Ellens dritter Gesang) – Mélodie de Schubert, S557d 5. La sérénade (Ständchen, Leise flehen) – Mélodie de Schubert, S559a 6. Le roi des aulnes (Erlkönig) – Mélodie de Schubert, S557a 7. La serenata e l’orgia – Grande fantaisie sur des motifs des Soirées musicales de Rossini, S422i 8. Grand galop chromatique, S219