36:T56f,Earl Wild was always an exceptional virtuoso but also a showman of sorts. I think he would have been quite comfortable back in the days of Liszt, playing in the salons and impressing all of the wealthy ladies just as Liszt did. He was a music composer and transcriber of considerable talent as revealed by his transcription of the Swan Lake Pas de Quatre. Fortunately for us, Earl Wild was finally and most importantly a consummate musician of amazingly varied repertoire interests as this 2-disc album clearly demonstrates. And he never slowed down, playing his last recital in 2008 at the grand old age of 92! Now, that's some feat.Wild was known for the beautiful tone he could produce, and this album is ample evidence of such. Even more noteworthy was the presence of this tone when his fingers were flying at 90 MPH (listen to his Chopin A-flat major Polonaise). His technique was singularly astonishing and without comparison as the Liszt pieces and the d'Albert Scherzo (he played it at his Carnegie Hall recital commemorating his 85th birthday) show so well. I know of no shortcomings in the musicianship or technique of this incredible pianist. Was there anything he couldn't play???The sonics of this expertly remastered album are stunning. They and the profound musicality with which every piece is performed make this self-recommending for anyone who loves the piano!37:T4fe,It's almost comical, the embarrassment of riches one finds on this 2-CD set. Each performance here stands as its own jewel. Each interpretation is carefully mapped out and flawlessly executed. One gets the feeling with Wild that seldom does he walk away after a performance not having done at least 99% of what he set out to do.In the difficult(although rather silly)Grand Galop Chromatique of Liszt, Wild's touch is light but solid all at the same time. Very few pianists get to the end of this piece without sounding like their hands are going to drop off from fatigue. Yet Wild never gives a sense of this.Having listened to perhaps f