This is simply the best version I ever heard of this.. wow. I’ve listened to practically every version on RUclips. This takes the cake (in my opinion.)
@@MyPianoArchives I think Hamelin's live recording here on youtube blows this out of the water.(Haven't heard his studio recording so i can't comment on that).
Also, I'd bet dollars to dough-naughts that Liszt had in mind here with this work, his beloved Bösendorfer having those nine-or-so added notes at the bottom. A dear pianist friend of mine now passed away -- Mario Feninger (a product of Cairo's Tiegerman*) -- long ago played this to us on a Bösendorfer Imperial so-equipped, in a private home setting. YIKES! (Then, to be followed-up with Liszt's Paola Francis! We were left as wilted, that evening. To Mario? Eh! Piece-a-cake! Ha!) If adjusted just-so to the particular acoustical environment in which it is placed (as most are not!), that extra bass support does come-to-the-fore, alright. This Cziffra performance is just the aces, hands-down. I wonder IF it was ever available as R-R tape? That era of prerecorded tape obviated absolutely, most of the drawbacks of LP storage/playback, this no matter how much we love our records, which surely we do! That early, it might have actually been 7.5 ips half-track!!! Again, all thanks be to alkanliszt for his splendid restoration work, and it's presentation for us here. . : . *Ignacy Tiegerman, usually seen as Ignace, but also Ignaz, was a Polish pianist and teacher. He was an exceptional interpreter of the Romantic school. He studied with Theodor Leschetizky but his lessons with Leschetizky's assistant Ignaz Friedman were more significant. -- as extracted from Wikipedia
On repeated hearings I find that the sum of the excellent parts falls somewhat short in the total pianistic experience - compare to the performance by Brendel, he is given much fuller sound on Decca.
I don't really agree tbh, I think this performance is absolutely electric even if the recorded sound (as can often be the case on Cziffra's recordings) is not necessarily ideal.
@@alkanliszt We all have opinions which should be respected; Cziffra always played exceptionally however agree that sometimes the sound of his recordings is lacking and gives the perception of injustice to the performance: Other pianists have the benefit of better recorded sound eg the richer sound of Decca against Turnabout/Vox.
Legendary.
Yeah, the fury in the climax!
@@alkanliszt Moltissimo furioso!!
This is simply the best version I ever heard of this.. wow. I’ve listened to practically every version on RUclips. This takes the cake (in my opinion.)
listen to Hamelin's recording on Hyperion label (it's not on RUclips)
@@nasherkosm97 I’ll check it out, thank you!
@@MyPianoArchives I think Hamelin's live recording here on youtube blows this out of the water.(Haven't heard his studio recording so i can't comment on that).
Gates of hell literally flying open! So amazing!
The classic
Truly legendary
Definitely gonna have this on repeat today.
Oh! Made-my-day! ('Had never before heard it!) Thanks much.
. : .
Next to that of Michael Ponti, this seems a definite version - however the organ original when played with apt basso is fine indeed.
3:36
Also,
I'd bet dollars to dough-naughts that Liszt had in mind here with this work, his beloved Bösendorfer having those nine-or-so added notes at the bottom.
A dear pianist friend of mine now passed away -- Mario Feninger (a product of Cairo's Tiegerman*) -- long ago played this to us on a Bösendorfer Imperial so-equipped, in a private home setting. YIKES! (Then, to be followed-up with Liszt's Paola Francis! We were left as wilted, that evening. To Mario? Eh! Piece-a-cake! Ha!)
If adjusted just-so to the particular acoustical environment in which it is placed (as most are not!), that extra bass support does come-to-the-fore, alright.
This Cziffra performance is just the aces, hands-down. I wonder IF it was ever available as R-R tape? That era of prerecorded tape obviated absolutely, most of the drawbacks of LP storage/playback, this no matter how much we love our records, which surely we do! That early, it might have actually been 7.5 ips half-track!!!
Again, all thanks be to alkanliszt for his splendid restoration work, and it's presentation for us here.
. : .
*Ignacy Tiegerman, usually seen as Ignace, but also Ignaz, was a Polish pianist and teacher. He was an exceptional interpreter of the Romantic school. He studied with Theodor Leschetizky but his lessons with Leschetizky's assistant Ignaz Friedman were more significant. -- as extracted from Wikipedia
On repeated hearings I find that the sum of the excellent parts falls somewhat short in the total pianistic experience - compare to the performance by Brendel, he is given much fuller sound on Decca.
I don't really agree tbh, I think this performance is absolutely electric even if the recorded sound (as can often be the case on Cziffra's recordings) is not necessarily ideal.
@@alkanliszt We all have opinions which should be respected; Cziffra always played exceptionally however agree that sometimes the sound of his recordings is lacking and gives the perception of injustice to the performance: Other pianists have the benefit of better recorded sound eg the richer sound of Decca against Turnabout/Vox.