Carl Czerny was one of Franz Liszt's teachers, so it makes sense to combine some of the etudes by each composer in this two-disc set from Brilliant. Entitled Master and Pupil, it asks one of those too obviously Socratic questions meant to make the listener reflect seriously on the merits of each composer and his music. Czerny, as a teacher of virtuosic pianists, wrote hundreds of etudes. The selections here from his The Art of Finger Dexterity are all speedy and emphasize agility, but they are also tuneful and aim to exercise the performer's sense of expression on top of technique. It's easy to tell in each one what particular skill is being practiced: octaves, repeated notes, smooth arpeggios. Most favor the right hand, although Nos. 3 and 23 are more for the left hand, and No. 5 is the same in both hands. Czerny's etudes may appeal to the pianist because they are not a uniform collection, nor is each one uniform in itself, but they are still obviously meant for personal use. Liszt's Transcendental Etudes, S. 139, go much farther than that, becoming mini-narratives that appeal to listeners and that happen to test the performer's technique. All philosophical arguments aside, there is no doubt that these all are fiendishly difficult works.
Fred Oldenburg plays both the Czerny and Liszt with facility, fluency, and continuous momentum. He carries a positive attitude throughout the Czerny and into the Liszt so that the drama is never too dark or heavy. The Czerny is played on a modern piano, while the Liszt is played on a nineteenth century Erard. The historic instrument may be more authentic to Liszt's time, but that does not mean it serves the music well. The sound of the Erard is wirier than a modern piano, and it is much harder to obtain a smooth legato on it. In No. 6, "Vision," it just seems like
Oldenburg is working harder than he should have to, to get the right sound. No. 9, "Ricordanza," a sentimental reminiscence, suffers the worst from the instrument. It also doesn't help that the sound levels are slightly lower than most CDs.