ODYSSEY OF LOVE

Franz Liszt was a child prodigy who became the greatest keyboard maestro of his time and a prolific composer. This audio presentation, drawn from his vivid letters and sprinkled with selections from his most emotional piano music, highlights his relationships with the mother of his three children, Marie d'Agoult, and the peculiar Princess Carolyne von Sayn Wittgenstein. The challenge in this L.A. Theatre Works presentation is that there is a paucity of story. The vocal characterizations are melodramatic and not all that interesting. The musical interludes, beautifully realized by pianist Lucy Parham, severely slow down the narrative drive, becoming an intrusion rather than an aid. Still, fans of Liszt may enjoy this. M.R.E. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2011]