Various Composers - A Night at the Opera (Jean-Paul Gasparian)

Information

1. Liszt - Paraphrase de concert sur Rigoletto, S. 434 (after G. Verdi)
2. Liszt - Finale de Don Carlos (Coro di festa e marcia funebre), S. 435 (after G. Verdi)
3. Liszt - Danza sacra e duetto finale d'Aida, S. 436: Allegretto - Andante con moto - Allegretto (after G. Verdi)
4. Liszt - Danza sacra e duetto finale d'Aida, S. 436: Meno mosso - Un poco più lento (after G. Verdi)
5. Liszt - Miserere du Trovatore, S. 433 (after G. Verdi)
6. Thalberg - L'Art du chant appliqué au piano, Op. 70: No. 19, Casta diva, cavatine de Norma (after V. Bellini, Norma)
7. Liszt - Réminiscences de Norma, S. 394 (after V. Bellini)
8. Liszt - O du mein holder Abendstern, S. 444: I. [Lento –] Rezitative (after R. Wagner)
9. Liszt - O du mein holder Abendstern, S. 444: II. Romanze (after Wagner, Tannhäuser)
10. Liszt - Isoldens Liebes-Tod, S. 447 (after R. Wagner)

Jean-Paul Gasparian, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Naive

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On his third album for naïve, French pianist Jean-Paul Gasparian presents a virtuosic program centered on grand opera transcriptions and paraphrases by Franz Liszt and Sigismond Thalberg. Drawing inspiration from 19th-century operatic masterworks by Verdi, Bellini, and Wagner, Gasparian displays dazzling technical command and a deeply romantic, impassioned musical style. The recital balances fiery brilliance with poetic sensitivity, showcasing intricate keyboard transformations that range from high-voltage dramatic showpieces to serene lyrical moments. Through these demanding Lisztian and Thalbergian arrangements, Gasparian delivers an engaging, radiant exploration of operatic themes reimagined for the piano.

Born in Paris in 1995, pianist Jean-Paul Gasparian studied at the Paris National Conservatoire and London's Royal College of Music under distinguished mentors. A winner of the 2014 Bremen European Competition and recipient of the 2015 Cziffra Foundation Prize and 2020 Thierry Scherz Prize, he was nominated as a “Revelation Soloist” at the 2021 Victoires de la Musique Classique. Gasparian performs internationally with major European orchestras and appears at prestigious concert venues and festivals worldwide. His acclaimed discography, including projects for naïve and Claves, spans repertoire from Chopin and Rachmaninoff to Debussy and Armenian piano literature, earning top honors like the Diapason d’Or.