Sigismond Thalberg - Fantasy on Meyerbeer’s Opera ’Les Huguenots’, Op. 20

Meyerbeer’s grand opera ’Les Huguenots’ was hugely popular in its time, and is still performed today in many European opera houses. It’s also quite popular among other composers, like Czerny, Liszt, and Raff, who have all written their own fantasies on the opera. Thalberg actually wrote two fantasies on the opera, the other being his opus 43, which has no recordings yet. The opus 20 fantasy, however, is truly ridiculous, and is definitely one of Thalberg’s most virtuosic. Featuring repeated tenths (6:41) and polyphonic textures that blend the melody (in octave chords, of course) and decoration in the form of 16th and 32nd note runs and arpeggios, Thalberg’s piece tests both the pianist’s technical proficiency and stamina, while also requiring them to not lose track of the musicality. pf: Mark Viner original audio: