Pianist Sandro Russo Releases New Album
Coming on May 3rd, Steinway & Sons releases Sandro Russo’s new album, Liszt 12 Transcendental Etudes, S. 139. The album pays homage to Franz Liszt, 19th century Hungarian pianist and composer during the Romantic era.
During his youth, Russo played some of Listz’s collections as the Hungarian master was an integral part of Russo’s musicianship. Moreover, previously in his career, he live performed some of Listz’s works, which inspired Russo to record and immortalize the composer’s Transcendental Etudes.
Placing strong emotional demands on performers and listeners as well, Listz’s etudes display a level of variety outside of the technical aspects whilst they touch upon nature, mythological figures, legends, and ghostly phenomena.
Desiring to explore all the etudes, Russo committed to perform the entire cycle of the Transcendental Etudes to foster a connection with all of the etudes despite his uncertainties. Recording and producing this project of epic proportions did have its doubts because, according to the Italian pianist, Listz’s etudes are better performed live since they feed from the audience’s energy and the performers’ adrenaline.
Before the album’s release on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, and Amazon Music, Russo alongside and Erehwon Ensemble performs on April 20th and 21st as he plays Liszt’s Malédiction in towns of Beacon and Scarsdale, both located in New York.
– Diego Maldonado
