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From: showmanlee
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  • Beautiful. Having heard many of the great concert pianists live, I would still prefer to see and hear Liberace, no contest. I'm only sorry that I did not attend one of his shows when he was alive. He inspired me as a child to learn the piano and was a stepping stone into the classical world which I love but something about the way he plays, his style and interpretation and medlies of classical and contemporary pieces always captivates me more than any other pianist.

  • Just one word I can say Great

  • For me Horowitz and Arthur Rubinstein were my piano gods.

    They had talent and charisma which is important to fill halls.

    I recently reassessed Liberace and although he may not have

    had the technique of the above he still had fingers and in my

    opinion he is the god of charisma. He was earning millions

    when others could not get gigs. His personal life does not come

    into it, the personality, showmanship, charisma and generosity

    speaks for itself.

  • You simply have to love this!

  • Amazing.

  • one of the most AMAZING entertainers. EVER!

  • único, incompetible, incomparable, magistrales interpretaciones. Como disfrutamos quienes tuvimos la dicha de verle y oirle, provocaba que no terminara el concierto. Su elegancia, don de gente y respeto por el público, unas de las tantas cualidades que le adornaron. Dios te haya premiado por tu arte y cualidades. Lo demás, es cuenta de Dios contigo Liberace, y tuya con él.

  • Just wonderful, and so grand!

  • A talent like no other. I am extremely proud that he is a part of my community. I learned of him after his death but he inspired me to not only play piano but to come out. He is a true inspiration. God bless, Liberace!!!

  • Beautiful! What a talent!! His house was down the street from my Dad's in Las Vegas and I alway admired it...

  • his house is fucking creepy. especially at night. i stayed there with my family for my parents marraige

  • MrLonesomeJohn you have put it in a 'nutshell'. A beautiful and kind man who made the world a better place. Thank goodness we have the film clips, and recordings etc. the ensures we never really loose him. He was a remarkable talent and entertainer who will be always remembered and loved by those who really were lucky enough to appreciate him. Sparkle on Lee.+

  • What made him truly Great was not just his talent, but his Love of the common people like you and i, who may never have hear classial music. We was what made him Great and He Loved us for it. We Loved him for Him, not what everyone said we should Love him for, We Loved him because he taught us to Love

  • thumbs up if you agree even if your the great Liberace you HAVE to play that chopsticks part with your two pointer fingers hahaa

  • I performed several times in Las Vegas on Liberace's piano featured in this video. It was not easy to play, especially in front of a demanding audience of broadway stars, producers and media. In spite of its heavy keyboard action, the piano was responsive and full of life and soul...much like Liberace himself. This concert grand Baldwin was featured on the 2010 Grammy Awards. It is a very unique and special piano, much like Liberace himself was. -Dennis Edwards Music.

  • This guy was incredible. Amazing talent and he just exudes this kindness. Lame I wasn't around to experience it first hand.

  • how did he play with all those rings????????? very well

  • He was a sweet guy and very talented pianist and born showman. I play keyboard and I wonder how all those big rings didn't restrict his playing.

  • @showtuneful

    i'm pretty sure the wideness of the bands of the rings, that circled the parts of his finger weren't that wide...if they were, his finger wouldn't have been able to bend in that downward motion...

  • i love liberace, incredible pianist and the great thing is he had such great taste and a love of being larger than life. its exactly why he was a show pianist and exactly why i prefer watching liberace than any of the boring concert pianists who only play mozart, tcaikovsky and so on. liberace breathed life into piano and that is a huge inspiration for aspiring pianists and musicians like myself

  • Makes me wanna practice more. 

  • My wife and I were very priviledged to see him in Melbourne Australia in 1984. We had the most incredible evening with his playing and many requests that were asked for. He died too young.

  • TODAY, MAY 16TH, WOULD HAVE BEEN LIBERACE'S 92ND BIRTHDAY!...(1919-2011)....HAP­PY BIRTHDAY TO THE GREATEST ENTERTAINER OF ALL TIME....WISH YOU WERE STILL HERE BUT THANKS TO YOUTUBE, YOU ARE STILL HERE TO BRING PLEASURE TO A WHOLE NEW GENERATION OF FANS.....

  • WOW!!!

  • Fui a Las Vegas y tuve la enorme suerte de verlo en su show, una maravilla en verdad. Magnífico pianista y además tenía un show de un bailarin también maravilloso. Un gran show man

  • LA ENCONTRÉ

  • Liberace was one of the few people on this earth who care about YOU..

  • @hwoods01 yes he did. respect to you and you family.

  • @werksdesign: Well I think if he wasn't gay he wouldn't be such a good performer. His presence wouldn't have been the same.. Also! Come on his outfits are fabulous it adds glamour only him can pull off!

  • This man was the best entertainer in the world. I mean sure his musical talent was beyond that of anyone that will ever be or ever was but, he was a complete showman. He was funny and very charismatic. he brightened peoples day. It's very sad that his private life was exposed in such great detail after his death as he tried so hard to just live and make others happy while he was alive.

  • Back in the '70's, Lee performed in Omaha at Ak Sar Ben Coliseum to member-only audiences for six nites. He broke all attendance records at Ak Sar Ben's 82 year history. Each performance was sold out.................what a showman!

  • magnifico  !

  • I have 46 years old, I love the Heavy Metal, many years ago, I was a singer in a heavy band. Black Sabbath, Judas Priest I like today too. But... today is my first day I heard Liberace, he was AMAZING!!! the sencibilidad of he , touched my heart. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GOD OF THE PIANO! PS: I know my english is bad, but souls dont have differents language ;)

  • Amusing and mesmerizing at the same time. He was so majorly talented.

  • Although arranging is brilliant in its own right, did Liberace ever compose original works?

  • I wonder if people realized he was a brilliant arranger and wrote all his own arrangements. Quite a talent!!!

  • Such a wonderfully talented being he was. I loved his whole presintation of adding a bit of comedy to his professional artistic ability for classical piano playing. I miss not getting to hear him today we could use abit of sunlight.

  • Such a wonderfully talented being he was. I loved his whole presintation of adding a bit of comedy to his professional artistic ability for classical piano playing. I miss not getting to hear him today

  • i am not a musician and am not musically inclined..my girlfriend played the piano for 8 years when she was younger and said he was amazing. I've never heard or seen him play before.....watching and seeing this...WOW. How does someone master something like this. It seems like theres so much perfection in this performance. one word....impressed.

  • People call me the "LIttle Liberace," but man I do not compare. Not even close, his talent is unmatchable!

  • @DeweyMoore1 Where did you hear that the Museum is up and running again? I live in Las Vegas and to my knowledge it is still closed to the public.

  • For all who wasn't around when he was alive, you missed a very talented and warmhearted person who was genuine in his respect and appreciation for his audiences.

  • @werksdesign I was born in 1985 so I was really too young to appreciate any of his works at the time. But as a man, I can see this person was truly an artist and an artisan at his craft. He put on a carefree face for his audience, but under his carefree persona was a true artist rivaling that of legends. Who's to say if Beethoven, if alive today, wouldn't be performing on Broadway or in Las Vegas. A silly example perhaps, but you understand my meaning of course.

  • @skudzer1985 .. Truly any of the great composers, if alive today, could present their compositions on the world stages. There is no doubt about that. It is wonderful that you see Liberace as the man he was who appreciated the great composers and expanded on their pieces while still having a sincere appreciation for the audiences. I am personally thankful that I saw his live performances and to witness his sincerity. I hope your appreciation for LIberace grows.

  • @werksdesign agreed...I am glad I was fortunate and old enough to at least experience one of his shows on TV

  • Wow!!! how many hands does he have?

  • @werksdesign thanks u dont think i already missed out way to bumm me out

  • The main thing I saw that so impressed me while in Vegas was the Liberace Museum. Which is now I'm told torn down. Love Love Love this man that sincerely loved his audiences.

  • @collinsdenise48 Just to let you know that the Museum has not been torn down. They did close their doors in October, but hope to find a new location possibly on the LV Strip.

  • I'm 18 and I LOVE him!!!

  • Just goes to show you how wonderful a piano player and entertainer he was. 5 Stars.DennisM.......sorry to have lost such a star.

  • WOW!! GENIUS!!

  • I would not forget to mention in the info, that he also plays melodies from classical pieces there, not only bit of a Hungarian rhapsody, but especially the "Vesti la giubba" aria from I Pagliacci by Leoncavallo

  • He was my hero. I saw him 5 times, once @ the Garden State Arts Center in south jersey, and 4 times @ Radio city Music Hall. The sixth time i went I brought my 84 yo grandmother. I dropped them off in front of Radio City and went to put the car in a garage. When I met up with the family in front of Radio City they said the show was cancelled as he was ailing from his illness and have always regretted not going back the next night. I was blessed to get to see him 5 times. never forget him. B

  • I just leaned about this guy from YouTube. First this guy got my attention with that gimmicy act, with all the glitz and glam. Then after learning about his talent, I'm a fan for life. I can't stop play his music.

  • This is too amazing, I can only listen to two minutes every hour. o_O

  • OMG He plays Sondheim!

    I so remember him as a kid growing up.

  • Beautiful !

  • I want his jacket xD

  • Great artist and a big loss to all....

  • Liberace had a TV show that started in 1952 I was 7 year old and watched the show

    every week. In the 60's I had an 8 track of Liberace in my car. no matter what you say about him,he was a great entertainer.

  • Remarkable talent and a lovely lovely man.

  • Hey leave him alone! What's gay got to do with it. God loved him too and blest him with a gift. He's special because we got to see him in Las Vegas. My husband and I wanted children and had given up. 20 years later after my second child, to the day we saw Liberace my second baby girl was born. She turned 30 this last month. Have a great day! She herself has remained constant, she's very beautiful and never has disappointed us. New York New York is our song by this gifted painist.

  • The brute knows how to play chopsticks. Wow!

  • the 12 people that disliked it were too busy watching the wonderful Liberace to realize that they accidentally clicked "dislike"

  • OMG! How does he play with all those rings on his fingers? You would think it be impossible and likely to hit extra keys by mistake, but not with Liberace!

  • I always respected this cat's work! He always seemed happy to entertain his audiences. I think that Elvis borrowed some of Liberace's flamboyant style for his own stage persona.

  • How could one not like this? I mean yeah if it's not your kind of music etc.. But Liberace's a god on piano.

  • Utterly superb touch - probably one of the most natural sounding pianists ever. The smoothest legato one will ever hear

  • I can't believe they closed the museum. I hope the traveling exhibit comes close to where I live.

  • @vkirkman they did?

  • What a remarkable person. He truely looks like he really loves playing the piano. I wish I had just an ounce of talent that he possesed.

  • What are those 2 handed full glissando like slides he does, like at 1:48?

  • and again at 2:08

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  • Really gives you a vicarious taste of opulance.

  • Liberace might have been gay, but, that doesn't really matter. He was a fantastic pianist, a showman, a comedian. That's what's missed about him. Like with Queen fans. All their fans overlook Freddie Mercury being gay in favor of his music. RIP Liberace.

  • A fantastic showman and great pianist.

  • Muy bueno!!!!

  • Awesomeness!

  • he could have played any style he liked. im so glad he didnt go down the whole root of just playing in fancy concert halls and actually treated piano as more than a show, he thought about modern music and about entertaining people and not just playing them a piece of music. this is the genius of Liberace

  • I think for anyone my age or a bit older, growing up and remembering the Liberace Specials coming on TV is part of our childhood... My mother wanted me to be the next Liberace when I was a kid... even would call me Liberace, until it came out that he was a little more than just "flamboyant" -- after that, the pressure was off, and I was free to do what I wanted... I ended up becoming a Jazz musician though!

  • I knew of him before for his exuberance, but ... I never knew before of his TALENT! And you can tell he truly just loves to play piano & perform. We won't see his like, again.... :-(

  • I want his piano soooo bad! It's one of the most beautiful pianos I've ever seen.

  • Saw him in the Circus Room at the nugget in Sparks when I was a kid- after all these years, probably still the best performer I've ever seen

  • great pianist, exuberant playing!

  • Liberace was the original Elton John!

  • wow. heard the long version of "chopsticks" on the radio while just on vacation in Canada and did NOT realize what an incredible musician this man was! I, unfortunately, only heard the "gay" references - I'm a new fan and am totally addicted to his sound now. He needs to be introduced to the new generation!!!

  • The 20th Century was a golden age ofentertainers,Presley,Sinatra­,Liberace, Sammy Davis Jnr and the list goes on.!!

  • Thet just don't make entertainers like this anymore!!.

  • Does anybody know what the tube-shaped object is that's sitting right inside the piano in the center? It's in front of the music rack. I read somewhere a long time ago that it was a small fan that blew air onto Liberace's face while he was playing so he wouldn't sweat so much. That object is often seen in a lot of his pianos while he is playing.

  • @fhood ... I've seen that too and never thought to ask... now looking back at vids of his performances they're in each one.... you got me to wondering too. I don't have a clue what it is... but I'm gonna do a search.

  • @werksdesign I think its his microphone, but I could be mistaken. Sometimes he would place it there

  • What a talented bloke. I remember watching as a kid but did not realise how good he really was, Born in the wrong time.

  • Awesome!

  • it felt strange when he started playing "Send in the Clowns" seems like he's talking to me and telling me he's sad stories that part almost made me cry. i think what makes him a brilliant pianist is that he puts emotions with every keys he's pressing and sending those emotions through the notes we're hearing.

  • I love this man,he seemed like a really sweet person

  • We loved him for what he was and all that he gave us

  • Loved him , saw him in Vegas...he had a waterfall on his show. Running water has an effect on me so when I got up durning that part, and we were sittinging in the front ,he stopped the show and said "We know were your going " lol, I was so embarrased..:-) Thank you for these great Videos

  • Yes a true master in deed.

  • Say what you like, but that right there was a "magical" performance - it really was.

  • the piano master!

  • I have met him seen him Play all I know for sure is that he left too soon and I miss him....

  • I watched Liberace on live TV in the 50's and 60's and fortunate enough to catch several of his shows in Vegas. I always saw him as a magnificent performer and outstanding pianist. I still don't understand the discussions and fascination he was gay. That's irrelevant to me and is filed under "so what".

  • @werksdesign I agree with you 100% !

  • @werksdesign

    Excellent post!

  • @werksdesign so what is so right; just where do find a real entertainer now such as this, God bless him.

  • Simply amazing, so glad I found Liberace on YouTube. We just don't have talent like this anymore. The man could play the crate the piano came in. Everything from boogie woogie, rock and roll, pop or classical, Broadway show tunes didn't matter. A TRUE master!

  • Outstanding performance

  • what song is that right at the beginning?

  • @hoochis The song at the beginning is "As Time Goes By".

  • @keyboardmagic yes he actually composed all his music, there are tidbits of original songs throughout but the arrangements are completely his on every song he plays. He was an amazing composer.

  • after Send in the Clowns it's Pagliacci "Vesti la giubba," then back to Send in the Clowns. Good combination ... all about clowns.

  • @Kakarot21591 And what is that suppose to mean??

  • @bebidance It means Liberace was an amazing pianist, and people who don't like him because he was homosexual are missing out on his amazing playing.

  • When I was 13, my cousin Carol and I went to the New York State Fair. We didn't know that Liberace was going to be performing. Carol and I were wandering through the small animal displays and were in a room that had chincillas in cages, when who should walk in but Liberace! We were so excited but so shy. I whispered to Carol, "It's Liberace!" He heard me whisper and came over to say hi to us. He shook our hands and was so warm and friendly. He talk to us for several minutes. We were thrilled.

  • @earlymusicus Great story!! Do you remember what you talked about? Wow you're so lucky!!

  • The movie comes out in 2012...Michael Douglas will play the role of Liberace.

  • i saw and met him in london when he was staying at danny la rues house and he was amazing.

  • There are always people in the world that we can never replace...Liberace, Michael Jackson...any many more.

  • All I'm interested in, is He was the most talented and flamboyant pianist in the world.

  • Who cares if he was gay.

    His music is beautiful

  • The King!!!!

  • i dont care if he was gay music like that cant be replaced am a fan

  • It's sad to go through life only hearing that Liberace was a gay pianist then to hear him on youtube and discover that phenomenal pianist was the more appropriate description.

  • @IDontKnowNorDoYou It's unfortunate that's all people think of him as. I just discovered him not too long ago on youtube and I just fell in love watching him. I don't care that he was gay,I think he was amazing,and good looking BTW

  • You're right on that. I was fortunate to see his performances each time I was in Vegas and nothing compared to his live shows.... they were absolutely tremendous. No one in our group cared he was gay... we cared that we might not get to the Hilton in time to see the start of his show.

  • @IDontKnowNorDoYou

    He is obviously gay. People cannot just ignore the signs and be "shocked" when the truth is told. It's just like Elton John and Ricky Martin announced they homosexuality and people were "shocked" is the very essence of denial. A denial that's not healthy for nobody. Seriously, though, let's not be shocked about how many homosexuals are in the entertainment industry by just accepting how many are in the fashion industry, which both relates to each other, and move on.

  • @IDontKnowNorDoYou Remember his greatness! Not his personal life! Soo many muscians have they person downfalls!

  • @javierburboa being gay isn't a down fall

  • @IDontKnowNorDoYou You're not kidding. He was a GREAT pianist.

  • "vesti" works well integrated into this romance set

    I'd like to see the sheet music for that transcription

  • I have a photo taken with him in 1985 and he's wearing this particular jacket/costume. It was taken at a party at Trump Tower after one of his shows there in NYC. What a great night that was!

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  • This man was the best entertainer in history. He was the type of man gays should aspire to. He illustrated discretion.

  • silbantan is king of the obvious no offense. Doesn't mean we can't enjoy its music.

  • liberace was gay, no offense

  • Astonishing musicianship as always, but maybe you didn't know that Liberace was a classically trained pianist, just listen to the segment at 6:24, it is the aria "Vesti la giubba" from the opera Pagliacci, popularized by Caruso, Domingo, Pavarotti and other tenors.

  • I wish I could play like my idol Liberace - He Rocks !!!

  • The fact everybody enjoy his music, he simply know how to entertain everybody, including those know nothing about music. I realised he didn't play a ordinary music the ordinary way, when he played it, these ordinary music sound great!

    If playing good music is only about beethoven, chopin, mozart, etc he would never be this rich and famous. How many classical musician become as rich and famous as him?

  • DingoHunterDan you can burn in hell. This man has achieved more and is more talented than you will ever be. I know this for a fact because only losers say the things you do.

  • SONG'S NAME AT 3:40 : SEND IN THE CLOWNS

  • what song happens at 3:40

  • @Qoind The song is Send in the Clowns

  • Truly a legend.

  • I remember my Dad watching Liberace when I was a kid. Now I'm grown and can appreciate this. Send in the Clowns is an amazing song made perfect with Liberace's talent. RIP

  • What an amazing,amazing performer he always gave 100% to the crowd!!! There's no one else like him and there never will be. He will live on in our hearts-too bad he died when I was a little kid,but I do remember him a bit

  • I'm not his fan, but I like this film, quite impressive.

  • What was he really like off camera and away from the spotlight?

  • @yashti1979 - Hello, To answer your questions, off camera, Liberace was just about the nicest person you would ever want to meet. I knew him for many years and attended some of his after-show parties. He was also very generous and loved people. I could go on & on about him. It's just wonderful to see that he is reaching a whole new audience on YouTube. I know he would be pleased if he were here today.

  • @keyboardmagic While i never met him,he always seemed like an extremely nice person. I have become a fan strictly through youtube,though my mother and grandmother were fans. He seemed affectionate to me,a person that I would have liked to have known thats for sure. He was the best person

  • @balto4 - Liberace was as nice to be around as he seems to be in these videos. When he died, his sister-in-law gave me a pair of his shoes. I still have them. Inside, they say, "made especially for Liberace". It's amazing that so many people (like yourself) are discovering him for the 1st time on YouTube. I've been a fan for lot of years and it's a joy to see him being discovered all over again by a new audience. Thank you for your kind words, balto4.

  • @keyboardmagic I think he came across to the audience as being warm and caring,and that's why he was popular and well loved by his fans. I am proud to call myself a fan,I have learned a lot about him in a short period of time,I have purchased his books as well,and look forward to reading them. I was very young when he died,so don't remember much about him. It is nice to see people discover old talent

  • Ok, now you played it for him....now you can play it for me......play it again.....Sam.

    Liberace was one of my favorite entertainers and pianists. Miss him.....!

  • met this man at the london palladium he was brilliant.

  • Liberace was a genious showman

  • Just amazing!!!!!!! I've only recently discovered Liberace,but my mom was always a fan-I'm blown away. There will never be another thats for sure

  • me too me too

  • 2:33 gotta love this part :D

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  • Actually Liberace did perform for the 1982 Academy Awards, playing the 5 nominated songs that year. He was and always will be the greatest entertainer of all time.

  • Liberace was simply the gteatest pianist and showman ever. R.I.P.

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  • He didn't need an orchestra. Liberace makes the piano come alive

  • yeah he could even make it sound like a snare drum. *rolls eyes*

  • When I was a child, Liberace's showmanship and ability combined are what kindled my love for music.

  • If you ever wonder what constitutes being a virtuoso just take a listen to Liberace.

  • it's absolutely insane how fast his hands fly over the keys.... wow

  • The BEST!!! We miss you dearly, Mr Liberace for your incredible talent, your adorable sense of humour and sure for your ever so fabulous outfits. As soon as i can, i shall go to his museum and worship him even more for all the great and beautiful performances he did. Love you forever!