Here's a transfer that I made some time ago of Alfred Brendel playing a variety of operatic transcriptions by Franz Liszt.
A shame that few pianists venture into this repertoire anymore. Originally created to bring grand opera to the masses before recorded music was possible, these gems encapsulate key moments from their respective works in an ingenious, and wholly listenable, way. Liszt really was the master of taking the orchestrated score and breaking it down for piano two or four hands.
Brendel tackles this program of Bellini, Donizetti, Wagner etc..in the most coherent and vital way. I think this late 50's Vox recording captures the young Brendel at his most adventurous, when his repertoire was exceedingly diverse and imaginative.
An interesting byway in recording.
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