Description
Idil Biret's reading of the Symphonie fantastique (WEA Finnadar SR9023) is, in many-respects the most remarkable thing of its kind in the repertoire... This is not a record that Berliozians or Lisztians will want to miss, for the Turkish pianist Idil Biret, a pupil of Cortot and Kempff, here confirms the favourable impression she made in this piece at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London during April of this year. There are a few minor deviations from Liszt's text, but she possesses the very large technique and range of accent and dynamics needed; and she is excellently recorded."Max Harrison GRAMOPHONE - UK 1979"Only a brave soul and a confident technician would set out in public to play Liszt's transcription for piano of Berlioz's"Symphonie fantastique" as Idil Biret did at Alice Tully Hall on Thursday night."Donald Henahan NEW YORK TIMES - USA 1979"