I came across this video accidentally and I must say it was the best thing that happened to me today. Finally, I found THE interpretation of Waldstein. Such clarity! And the brilliance of Maestro Emil´s sound is just overwhelming! It seems to come from another dimension. I think Beethoven must have been with him somehow during that recording sessions.
I Like this. He allows plenty of room to shape the phrases and gets contrast between the themes without ever compromising the unity of the movement by letting the tempo become inconsistent. Very exciting!
I've heard quite a few pianists playing the Waldstein but none can make it quite sing like Gilels. He plays it as Beethoven would to and for his friend. Emil Grigoryevich Gilels.... I salute you.
This work requires impeccable techniques, which Emil Gilels is one of the very few that possess. But what really distinguishes him from those such as Richter is the spirit of Beethoven that he truly delivers.
When did Beethoven's music turn from beauty to a battleground? Good men and women, let us enjoy this good music together instead of tearing each other down.
Its one of my favourite Beethoven's sonatas played by one of my favourite pianists, thanks for this great posting just recently bought the near complete Beethoven sonata cycle by Gilels superb!!.
i have been studying the Waldstein Sonata which is for me one of the best piece ever written and the most challenging. i met a few years ago a wonderful pianist specialised in this piece David Hollander, american , known in the USA , President of the organisation DAMPITS (humidifiers )(he can be found in Googles ) and whose family is a family of musicians His interpretation was very similar of the one of Gilels , absolutely electrical..he gave me the wish to study this incredible piece
"Best" is a matter of personal interpretation. It's possible to give an intelligent critique without being able to duplicate what's being analyzed. This was a re-release in an album which also included Appassionata and Les Adieux, originally recorded back in the 70s, when Gilels was still in good health. the Waldstein was a Beethoven work Gilels totally understood and, as the kids say, "owned."
This is a great interpretation, nice n easy. I usually hear this one played extremely fast, I like the slower pace, gives the brain more time to digest all the complexities
fully agree with you, jaaroosh. Have to say it's somehow the gist of great performers of Beethoven, like Gilels, Schnabel, Haskil, Lefébure: true presence of a 'sound', intelligence of the text, along with a complete disappearance of the ego. Horowitz, whom I appreciate in general, is simply not a personality that I feel 'compatible' with Beethoven.
And I think it's also fair to say that Gilels was cautious in the studio, so given his beautiful tone, "majestic" is an utterly positive and fair way to put it. He's looking for melodic beauty, which to me makes more sense than adhere to the score the way the late Gulda did (his Amadeo remakes) and make the whole thing sound as if played by a sewing machine.
Not sure why your comment gets so many negative votes: indeed, it's not easy to find one's ideal interpretation of the Waldstein Sonata. It took me years (my favourite is Bruce Hungerford's, followed by Solomon Cutner , Friedrich Gulda's early Decca and Wilhelm Kempff's early mono recording, Claude Frank, Ronald Smith and Harris Goldsmith are also worth hearing, as are a number of others). Argerich by virtue has never aspired to become a great Beethoven interpreter.
@jaaroosh I'm learning this mvmnt, after years and years, but it's not as difficult as it sounds - not like Beethoven's 2nd and 3rd sonata! For the sound he wanted those must be perfectly played and fast! It's true this is B., not so much of Giles gets through, very refreshing. Now with Horowitz - of course, exactly, that's is a good way to say it. But sometimes I want to hear Horowitz, as if he wrote it. Heh And youu must listen very closely to hear 'Giles', except in French pieces.
Great interpretation of this wonderful sonata! Which recording is it? The recordings by Gilels I found so far were different (somewhat slower) versions.
Richter, che suonava meglio di Gilels, non volle mai registrare la Waldstein, perchè non avrebbe avuto nulla da aggiungere a questa magnifica esecuzione. Da mandare nello Spazio.
@newworldodour - Uh, yeah - have you HEARD any of of his symphonies? I would recommend 7 and 9. And all the piano and cello sonatas he wrote are amazing - listen to them (particularly the Pathetique and Moonlight piano sonatas) THEN judge. If you still don't like it, maybe you should listen to Lady Gaga and all those self-promoted trash-singers.
This, for me ,is a bit too slow.It's almost half the speed of Agerich., but then, I think she's too FAST.Gilels is very majestic and broad but I feel that it could do with a little more urgency in the more dramatic bits.It;s not easy to find one's ideal interpretation.
I have listened to Horowitz's Waldstein and must say that Gilels surpasses Horowitz in this sonata and generally in Beethoven in my opinion. Firstly, he is better in details (octaves, stretta, passages) and has better sound. But what is the most important - when Gilels is performing, you hear pure Beethoven. Gilels reveals to the listeners his soul and personality. When you hear Horowitz - you hear of course brilliant pianist - but it is only Horowitz, not Beethoven.
Yes, this is the real thing. Not too much romance. Just right. Sorry, Horowitz is pompous. Maybe he represented the grand times of the modern piano performance but I say lets forget that era. Someone please post Gould's recording.
@jaaroosh Of course your right... Gilels plays this as a reproduction of what Beethoven wrote on the page, almost like a pianoroll, Horowitz on the other hand plays this as a ARTIST alongside Beethoven, there 2 Arts combining becoming grand realization of musical genius unparalelled.
I am a pianist after musical studies, but that is not the most important. What really counts is the fact, that everyone is free to have his own opinion. As well as I don't have to be Einstein or Da Vinci to appreciate their achievements. Sorry, but pianist plays for you - not for the God, for presidents or kings - he plays only for people. That's why we have the right to say what we think about it.
well, I will go to Tomsic:s after you and i repeat: I dont think this recording is good, and this is not about even slow or fast, but too much academic. So, your heart is taken by Brendel? That:s your right...
Видеоклипы
Such economy of movement. His hands don't appear to move at all. Amazing!
I came across this video accidentally and I must say it was the best thing that happened to me today. Finally, I found THE interpretation of Waldstein. Such clarity! And the brilliance of Maestro Emil´s sound is just overwhelming! It seems to come from another dimension. I think Beethoven must have been with him somehow during that recording sessions.
I Like this. He allows plenty of room to shape the phrases and gets contrast between the themes without ever compromising the unity of the movement by letting the tempo become inconsistent. Very exciting!
I've heard quite a few pianists playing the Waldstein but none can make it quite sing like Gilels. He plays it as Beethoven would to and for his friend.
Emil Grigoryevich Gilels.... I salute you.
When Gilels plays, one can only say: "Yes, of course. That is how things are! Couldn´t be different!"
This work requires impeccable techniques, which Emil Gilels is one of the very few that possess. But what really distinguishes him from those such as Richter is the spirit of Beethoven that he truly delivers.
When did Beethoven's music turn from beauty to a battleground? Good men and women, let us enjoy this good music together instead of tearing each other down.
i really love his interpretation he is a great pianist never can forget him.Thank you so much for sharing this is Unforgetable performance.
Beautiful, clean performance!
This is the best record of waldstein that I've ever heard... very clear and fast enough with every detail.
Thanks for the suggestion
Superb and crystal-clear version!! Passion rendered spectacularly clearly. Passion illuminated by reason in full swing!
Well, after all Gilels is considered the BEST Beethoven interpreter by many.
This is my favorite Beethoven Sonata and this is now my favorite version. Thank You for posting it.
A wonderful Artist.
excellent tone and clarity
Its one of my favourite Beethoven's sonatas played by one of my favourite pianists, thanks for this great posting just recently bought the near complete Beethoven sonata cycle by Gilels superb!!.
So beautiful!
i have been studying the Waldstein Sonata which is for me one of the best piece ever written and the most challenging. i met a few years ago a wonderful pianist specialised in this piece David Hollander, american , known in the USA , President of the organisation DAMPITS (humidifiers )(he can be found in Googles ) and whose family is a family of musicians His interpretation was very similar of the one of Gilels , absolutely electrical..he gave me the wish to study this incredible piece
Smooth as silk. Absolute best interpretation.
Как может кому-то не понравиться Гилельс - лучший исполнитель Бетховена за последние 60 лет?!
По-моему тоже!
fantastic
PERFECT
This is EXCELLENT!
this is my favorite interpretation. especially the beginnning, , fast and crisp.
Attention ! grand maître !!
beyond perfect
"Best" is a matter of personal interpretation. It's possible to give an intelligent critique without being able to duplicate what's being analyzed.
This was a re-release in an album which also included Appassionata and Les Adieux, originally recorded back in the 70s, when Gilels was still in good health. the Waldstein was a Beethoven work Gilels totally understood and, as the kids say, "owned."
This is a great interpretation, nice n easy. I usually hear this one played extremely fast, I like the slower pace, gives the brain more time to digest all the complexities
yeah.. I noticed the independence of his hands as well. They seem to be like two separate entities! Amazing
i agree with you "jaaroosh" thanks for this video
PLEASE UPLOADE MORE GILELS VIDEOS.
The performance is sooo good! Gee.. It's REALLY frustrating that the end is missing!!
best interpretation for me too.
♥️👏👏
fully agree with you, jaaroosh. Have to say it's somehow the gist of great performers of Beethoven, like Gilels, Schnabel, Haskil, Lefébure: true presence of a 'sound', intelligence of the text, along with a complete disappearance of the ego. Horowitz, whom I appreciate in general, is simply not a personality that I feel 'compatible' with Beethoven.
And I think it's also fair to say that Gilels was cautious in the studio, so given his beautiful tone, "majestic" is an utterly positive and fair way to put it. He's looking for melodic beauty, which to me makes more sense than adhere to the score the way the late Gulda did (his Amadeo remakes) and make the whole thing sound as if played by a sewing machine.
I think, HE would love it.
richter has never played this sonata! but I don't understand why...il will remain a mistery
Not sure why your comment gets so many negative votes: indeed, it's not easy to find one's ideal interpretation of the Waldstein Sonata. It took me years (my favourite is Bruce Hungerford's, followed by Solomon Cutner , Friedrich Gulda's early Decca and Wilhelm Kempff's early mono recording, Claude Frank, Ronald Smith and Harris Goldsmith are also worth hearing, as are a number of others). Argerich by virtue has never aspired to become a great Beethoven interpreter.
@jaaroosh I'm learning this mvmnt, after years and years, but it's not as difficult as it sounds - not like Beethoven's 2nd and 3rd sonata! For the sound he wanted those must be perfectly played and fast!
It's true this is B., not so much of Giles gets through, very refreshing. Now with Horowitz - of course, exactly, that's is a good way to say it. But sometimes I want to hear Horowitz, as if he wrote it. Heh And youu must listen very closely to hear 'Giles', except in French pieces.
Great interpretation of this wonderful sonata! Which recording is it? The recordings by Gilels I found so far were different (somewhat slower) versions.
good performance; I would like hearing Richter playing it
Can somebody upload it?
thank you
I think it would be interesting to listen to Arthur Schnabel too. He is said to have played Hammerklavier very fast.
The forceful sweetness of Gilel's sound......the totality of his conception.....
The part that 5:50 starts to hypnotize me
Richter, che suonava meglio di Gilels, non volle mai registrare la Waldstein, perchè non avrebbe avuto nulla da aggiungere a questa magnifica esecuzione.
Da mandare nello Spazio.
Have you heard Rudolf Serkin's Waldstein? It's definitely worth the time;)
Giles plays Beethoven like all the ones before him should have.
Gould plays Beethoven like nobody before.
I am just curious: how this speed appeared for Beethoven himself?
@vedicardi Then you agree with me?
is this will ferral?
@Gargantupimp No, I am just pointing out the irony of criticizing critics
Which is precisely what I did.
@newworldodour emotion?
Nessuno è più "preciso" di Michelangeli!
Oidorgasmo.
@newworldodour - Uh, yeah - have you HEARD any of of his symphonies? I would recommend 7 and 9. And all the piano and cello sonatas he wrote are amazing - listen to them (particularly the Pathetique and Moonlight piano sonatas) THEN judge. If you still don't like it, maybe you should listen to Lady Gaga and all those self-promoted trash-singers.
um, 8:25 wasn't quite enough time to fit it all in I guess...
Tried Vladimir Ashkenazy's version? Then there is also Rudolf Serkin's.
Muy buena, muy buena..., mejor la de Arrau a sus 80 años en 1983.
is this will ferrell?
kmoevven levin lol
This, for me ,is a bit too slow.It's almost half the speed of Agerich., but then, I think she's too FAST.Gilels is very majestic and broad but I feel that it could do with a little more urgency in the more dramatic bits.It;s not easy to find one's ideal interpretation.
I've never actually heard that. Then again it's ultra subjective...
Real profi never makes extra movements. In boxing, too.
I have listened to Horowitz's Waldstein and must say that Gilels surpasses Horowitz in this sonata and generally in Beethoven in my opinion.
Firstly, he is better in details (octaves, stretta, passages) and has better sound.
But what is the most important - when Gilels is performing, you hear pure Beethoven. Gilels reveals to the listeners his soul and personality. When you hear Horowitz - you hear of course brilliant pianist - but it is only Horowitz, not Beethoven.
I like Kempff best...
Yes, this is the real thing. Not too much romance. Just right.
Sorry, Horowitz is pompous. Maybe he represented the grand times of the modern piano performance but I say lets forget that era.
Someone please post Gould's recording.
@jaaroosh Of course your right... Gilels plays this as a reproduction of what Beethoven wrote on the page, almost like a pianoroll, Horowitz on the other hand plays this as a ARTIST alongside Beethoven, there 2 Arts combining becoming grand realization of musical genius unparalelled.
Russian piano school is THE BEST!!!
@Gargantupimp You're being a critic of supposed critics, you're no better
@vedicardi How about the irony of you on youtube commenting critizing others comments, what makes you think you know better?
I am a pianist after musical studies, but that is not the most important. What really counts is the fact, that everyone is free to have his own opinion. As well as I don't have to be Einstein or Da Vinci to appreciate their achievements.
Sorry, but pianist plays for you - not for the God, for presidents or kings - he plays only for people. That's why we have the right to say what we think about it.
I liked Horowitz's tempo better.
@vedicardi Critics are the lowest form of humanity, why do you take their side?
Too slow and boring. Pollini and Backhaus play much better
well, I will go to Tomsic:s after you and i repeat: I dont think this recording is good, and this is not about even slow or fast, but too much academic. So, your heart is taken by Brendel? That:s your right...