Hans-Jurgen Kaiser - Liszt: Organ Works (2006) [SACD]

My introduction to Liszt's Variations on Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen was the piano version played by Alfred Brendel on a Phillips LP, [9500 286], which I long ago wore out and which has unfortunately never been released on CD. Not even Brendel could match his own performance in later recordings. Critical to my enjoyment is always the prayerful consolation at the end. I have since acquired over the years and reveled in the organ piece, including renditions by Schoenheit playing the Ladegast in Merseburg [DG/SACD/ MDG 906 1334-5], by Houbart [BNL 112772] and by Lehotka [Hungaraton HCD 12562-2]].
In 2005 I had the exquisite pleasure of hearing the shorter Weinen Klagen prelude live on the Ladegast at the Dom in Schwerin where I also had the pleasure of meeting the resident organist afterward by climbing the back stairway with a friend who lives only a few doors down from the Dom, within view from her roof.
Needless to say at this point, I LOVE this music. The first thing I look for is the length of the rendition. The longer the better, because this piece just can't be played at a tempo too slow for my tastes. When I saw "24'00" for the Weinen Klagen variations on the back of this disc I was pleasurably aghast. 19 minutes is the longest I had ever before known. The notes by Kaiser explain that this tempo is dictated by the nature of the Ladegast. All four pieces on this disc are played at the slowest tempo I have ever heard any of them played.
I know how the Ladegast organ sounds at the Dom in Schwerin, both live and in SACD recording. After the concert, I purchased Martin Haselboeck playing Liszt on the Schwerin Ladegast [NCA 60146 215, including the Weinen Klagen prelude] a few yards from the Dom and have practically worn that out, also. What I did not expect was that this DSD recording by Kaiser might even be better than sitting in the middle of the Dom.
The tempo is breathtaking, allowing every note, both soft and loud, to vibrate every synapse.
I use a Sony SACD CE-595 specially modified by Tube Research Labs, playing through an interconnected combination of vintage Sansui amplifiers [G-9000, BA/CA F-1, AU-919 and AU-11000] connected to the following speakers in my home: ESS-1B, ESS-1D, Klipsch RF-7, Dahlquist DQ-20, Klipsch Forte II and Klipsch KSP 400, with Martin Logan and Polk subs. Multi-channel in the bedroom and 2-channel everywhere else.
Now I just need to tighten down the windows, secure the cabinets and find a babysitter for the cats.