"And they are engulfed by the roaring ocean of pleasure."

A wonderfully metronomic, but ferocious and hyper-articulate live recording from pianist Alexander Lubyantsev. Some highlights:

0:36 — The subtle difference in dynamics and articulation between calls and responses creates an unusually effective emulation of different instruments playing in the orchestral version.

2:59 — His interpretation of the middle section is again, very metronomic, but the moments of rubato that are there are all the more evocative. The minimal use of pedal (see at 3:30) combined with the strict rhythm create a very genuine portrayal of a waltz in this section.

6:24 — He plays, atypically, unpedalled outbursts that transition into the frenetic (and also unpedalled!) last phrases of the B-section.

7:08 — His clarity from this point onward is unbelievable—the dry, minimal pedal and fine articulation truly leave nothing to hide behind, yet I can't spot a single finger slip. Also, see the steady, unrelenting buildup, and the pull-back at 7:23.

7:37 — He brings out the contrast between the sforzandos and the unmarked measures (the first of which almost feels like a subito piano).

8:05 — :)

Source:    • Лист. «Мефисто-вальс» (№ 1) ля-мажор,...