Earl Wild plays Un Sospiro

[Eztoez]

What a wonderful American pianist! You should listen to him play his version of Fascinatin Rhythm. Awesome. Not my favourite recording of Un Sospiro - I wouldn't want to take anything away from Earl. RIP

[kubekbeta5]

is he wearing a helmet?

[starrgazer1000]

Funny you noticed the cross-over of the hands as I noticed that to having learned it.We would notice but most of Joe Public would never have noticed that.

It is easier to play it without the fancy showy bit that dear old Liszt would have played.

Best Wishes

Pete UK

[Liszt1002]

i think the padel is broken on that thing.

[DAVIDFREDERICKROY]

There must be various editions. Seems some hand crossing was missed. The octave trill used was clearly simplified. Doesn't correspond to my edition. Everyone seems to have their own idea about the ending. Now I am confused. I am confused anyway, I can't play this at all.

[donthuis]

Earl Wild stays true to form: always ready to show what he can do at the piano. Not unlike Liszt was supposed to play though, so despite the extremes in volume this performance is worthwhile. And melodic lines remain clear throughout.

[bayreuthstinkt]

there's something wild about his playing.. he starts so gentle, but sometimes..he does things..... it seems as if he breaks out.

[99hoolio]

@bayreuthstinkt There's definitely something "Wild" about this playing.

[StormSong8]

We had a piano growing up and none of us knew how to play it, but my grandmother used to try. She got a Liszt album from the Salvation Army and used to try to play one song she particularly loved. She died still unable to play it. I've spent years hunting for that song but could never find it because I didn't know the name. Until today. I have a keyboard and I'll pick up where she left off. I don't know piano, but I'll play through the tears to hear the beauty she heard. I love you Grandma.

[honeybabe68]

@StormSong8

What a sweet message - brought tears to MY eyes. Bless.

[StormSong8]

@honeybabe68 Thank you.

[ntherewas1]

@StormSong8 you've repeated this sooo many times...so glad you didn't get top rated comment this time you attention seeking freak

[StormSong8]

@ntherewas1 I apologize for that. I had no idea that sometimes messages don't show up right away, and I kept thinking I hadn't sent it. It was important for me, for emotional release, to share, so I kept trying, on multiple "Un Sospiro" videos. Then when I went back I saw it WAS there, multiple times. How embarrassing! Fortunately for me people understood and it has been "liked" 95 times on the original video I tried to post on. I'm sorry if I annoyed you, it wasn't my intent.

[beef410dc]

I've never heard this song before. It is wonderful. This man is supremely talented. I love the cross hand technique he employs so breezily.

[chrislpp]

look at me, I will put forward criticism to a piano player far better than I will ever be, this means I am smart and know what I am talking about, I studied music and got nowhere in life with it, but look how I can criticize a real musician! Everyone know only real musicians sit about criticizing...btw I am going to dress up in a tuxedo tonight and listen to the local orchestra play some tchaikovsky, I will also drink champagne and eat cheese at the interval whilst criticizing superior musicians

[MISHA1119]

Wolfsteiner, I agree completely with what you said - one must explode in the passionate climaxes but convey a glowing emotional warmth in the many lyrical passages. Milking both extremes turns the piece into a work of art. This what Arrau, Cliburn and Earl Wild do to perfection. Paul Barton's performance is really great, too. Technically Marc-Andre Hamlin is pure wizardry but I just don't get any sense of intensity or deep feelings in his performance.

[alexatmusic1990]

but everything else is great.....really

[alexatmusic1990]

in 1:42 is missing the pedal!

[kayin4o8]

@alexatmusic1990 what a dick ¬_¬

[GabMelonius]

Oh God! That's... i mean, ehrrr... oh God! *-*

[LongDriveChamp03]

I love how he doesn't do the crossover at :50 I wish I had that kind of left hand control.

[MISHA1119]

Aardvark (by the way that's the correct spelling, moron), I don't know which of your suggestions is more preposterous - that Wild (one of the greatest technicians of the century) was too weak technically to do the hand-crossing, or that he's showing off (he was very modest) by playing the entire accompaniment with his left hand. He plays his own distribution because it allows him to achieve the best musical result. Dilettantes like you with their idiotic drivel are the bane of You Tube.

[WOLFSTEINERMANN]

Just perfect!!!! Lovely and delicated when should be. Strong and energical when should be.

Thank's for share with us!

[abokadoSM]

the speed is not fast,but very nice

that's just un sospiro

[susan8163]

Un Sospiro is my all time lizst favorite. I get very sentimental when I hear it especially played by Earl Wilde. Love it!!!!

[Bacstam]

I love how he plays the melody at "octave" part the runs with his left hand, he can pronounce the melody better but it is harder for the left hand

[Benlemons]

@Bacstam I know, im trying to learn this and i dont yet know how im gonna do that part. Ill probably just crossover.

[beeve2000]

One of my favorite cds in my collection is the 4 Chopin Ballades by Earl Wild. I was sad to hear of his passing. I listened to the crap out of that thing and loved every minute of it.

[littlelittlecan]

how can he play it so warmly and touchingly....

Under his tips, any difficulties make no difference. He plays the true color of the music, rather than the tough technique...

[Pianoantics]

Earl Wild had a long career as a pianist and we see that he was a true master who had an affinity for many composers and in this Liszt.

To live into your nineties and remain a musician for a good part of this is truly amazing. He will be missed.

[pianostruggler]

R.I.P Earl Wild. Thanks for all the wonderful music.

[radiofreetunes]

From the Knoxville section of Pittsburgh, he made Pittsburgher's proud.  Thanks for all the great music Earl.

[vivacelife]

RIP, Mr. Earl. Thanks for all your great music; you will be missed.

[libetta]

@vivacelife

so the master american virtuoso has passed away. my wish to see him live was never fulfilled

[RobWiebe]

Earl Wild, a man of firsts: 1st to perform on TV (1939) ,1st to stream live over the Internet (1997), Played for 6 consecutive Presidents

[beingforitse1f]

Rest in Piece. Great man.

[mikejr41387]

RIP EARL!

[jorgeliebermann]

Se ha ido un grande.Lloro la partida de un amigo y genial artista.Cuando me calme publicaré un comentario más amplio.

[brentwest2774]

I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S DEAD!

[damgoodballers]

LOL... ty jtKing3000, Im actually a pro pianist myself so once you play and instrument like piano i believe only those who play music have the ability to catch really small details. I still think this guy's performance was phenominal yet i just thought he hit a wrong key with a chord on that one part. Funny thing is that im actually 100% deaf on my Left ear, so i guess all i have left is my right side hahaha. true story

[pjf2272]

I heard the slip, too.

[mikejr41387]

people dont play like this anymore, too bad

[pjf2272]

I'd like to think I'm one of those who is keeping the tradition alive. Being a romantic-classical pianist myself. You're right, though, (to make a generalization) young performers of today play with a lack of any real DEEP emotive musicality. It's all technical pyrotechnics or unconvincing "saccharinity" Sign of the times. (lamentational sigh)

[pjf2272]

I heard the slip, too but who cares with such artistry?!?

[ryzonclef14]

check out a Church Organ rendition of Un Sospiro by titanicpiano14!

[damgoodballers]

I think marc-andre's impression on this piece is better than Earl Wild, but then again everyone plays their own styles... BTW, there is a mess up on 3:34... did anyone catch that? lol, great and difficult piece though..

[Jtking3000]

oh yeah damgoodballers, good ear you have. probably wouldn't have noticed it if you hadn't said.

[ulsbolde89]

Interesting is his decision not to cross hands when indicated.

[tbjanet]

frankly ... it's ... beautiful. so relaxing. It is a sigh, but a very colorful one indeed. Beautiful from Liszt of course, and beautiful interpretation by Wild. I showed this to a friend via the phone, and we both agreed it was colorful -- a very colorful sigh.

[markedwardindc]

A lovely performance by a somewhat underrated musician....does anyone know where this was filmed? That's quite a recital hall, is it not?

[pokey303]

i really prefer hamelins version here.

compare and judge yourself: /watch?v=jLHU2ES51uw

[demosj]

NO U.

[JasAlf5959]

Absolutely beautiful and very well played.

[jessa121890]

(sigh) INCREDIBLE SONG! Beautifully played!

[tamegomaith93]

yea, sigh. Un Sospiro is italian for a sigh. x]

[jessa121890]

Yeah, it sounds just like a sigh...beautiful

[rafael52580]

i love it!!! this is truly amazing... i could watch this all day!

[frade001]

Beautifully inspirational

[thphaca]

I prefer Hamelin's version honestly. Not because it's played at a faster tempo (although that does help smooth out harmony) but because he has more sensitivity towards the technique. In comparison, it seemed like Wild was just banging out the whole piece. Maybe it's the piano, but something was terribly wrong.

[trvlarson]

I actually prefer it at just a little slower tempo, to me that's more romantic.

[thphaca]

True. I also believe that a romantic piece should be performed slow enough for the audience to absorb it, but with the exception of this piece. In this case, the function of the 'arpeggiation' of the harmony is to change how listeners perceive the piano's timbre- that rather than edgy distinct notes, a piano can also project a smooth fluent symphonic quality.

[harrylouche]

Without doubt one of the most beautiful renditions of this amazing piece of music

[charlesalkan]

Sweet Jesus!

I can´t stand your discussions anymore!

Just stop doing that!!!

Accept that Earl Wild is -without a doubt- one of the very best and finest pianists and musicians the world has ever seen!!!

Do not -by all means- talk about -whatsoever technique or ways of execution he has or uses- the correctness or incorrectness of playing a piece!

You will never play -in a million years- one note the incredibly beautiful way he does!

DO NOT TALK! - LISTEN, BUT DO IT CAREFULLY!

[Havenscope]

I don't think you're going to get too far by trying to prevent him from saying anything. I've no idea what exactly you two have been debating about (though I have some kind of idea), but to demand him to say nothing more is rather silly and very totalitarian. While I agree with you that Wild is an exceptional pianist, I don't with the rest of your post.

[thphaca]

See, what separates this piece from any other piece is that it was labeled as an Etude, meaning it's supposed to be played a certain way.

[Oliiiverr]

Yeah Earl Wilde is world class no argument... And he plays this piece excellently as can be expected. Lol no there isn't a whole load of feeling BUT let's be honest it doesn't seem as though he cares much for this piece obviously not one of his favourites.

Even so FANTASTIC playing not many crossovers and i absolutely HATE how he can goes under his left hand.

[cynic150]

his rubato is over done as most Americans do. Although at least he is trying to shape this difficult piece. I do believe in not over sentimentalising romantic works. Fantastic skill...

[amantedipiano]

beautiful!!

[Bananaboy109]

wow no crossover

[mvolkovsky11]

Those left-hand-only runs are tricky, but when the melody is played entirely with the right hand as Wild does, it's much easier to give it nuance and feeling. I am convinced that Liszt put those complicated cross-overs in the score for looks only - the ensuing mad scramble often results in wrong notes. Try playing the accompaniment with the left hand only all the way through the A major section. You'll be amazed at how secure it feels and how it lets you focus on making the melody soar.

[Bananaboy109]

yea you are right, i was able to focus on the melody much better.

[celach]

lol... this etude is a study in how crossing hands should affect the melody... of course its easier to express it when played with RH only. But then if you do, whats the point in calling this an etude...

[aardvaark069]

I think it's apalling that he plays it this way. Irresponsible. It is a study in cross-handed effects. I suppose he's unable to p[ay it properly or is more concerned with showing off his left hand technique? Beats me

[elieltanr]

I like part of his interpretation, although not totally, but yes it is supposed to be an etude and i find that composer has an intention in this piece in which he has failed either by irresponsbility, or by pure ignorance (which is kinda impossible.)

[francooregano]

I find it hard to call this interpretation a failure. Either you failed to hear it correctly by irresponsibility, or by ignorance, which is possible.

[francooregano]

you, my dear, are an idiot. it is an etude with SOME of its difficulty in the crossing of hands. not the whole fu#&ing thing. don't envy and hate the man just because he is so good at what he does. earl and vladimir forever!

[aardvaark069]

Oh my! I suppose I am an idiot then. However, I do consider Wilds Chopin etudes to be nearly the best out there, along with a long list of other masterful playing.

[llamasownyou]

Why? Not using hand-crossing is easier and sounds better.

[elixiress]

Hmm that's pretty debatable. I find it easier using the hand-cross.

[dacrazyhyperboi]

i hope i didn't play this piece as horrible as he did

he played this piece grossly =[

[sephiroth7240]

This piece is really gorgeous. I had actually never heard it before until yesterday. So now I'm partially obsessed with it and I started learning it already :D

[bernardchang668]

delicate

[Layarth]

holy shit. This is the best "finish" of a piano piece i've ever heard.

[MISHA1119]

Exactly, Layarth. There are some Earl Wild performances that I don't much care for, and many that I do, but regardless, Wild is a world-class pianist at ninety-two. That's why the mean-spirited comments sparked my ire. Differing opinions among knowledgeable listeners create energy and enrich the spectrum of muscial experience, but proving that you are an imbicile just so you can see your comments in print is pathetic. Only people who really care about the music should post.

[MISHA1119]

z666z666z: Wild feels this piece to its very core, is incredibly knowledgeable about Liszt's music, and at 92 still plays almost as well as he did in his prime, when his technique nearly equalled Horowitz's. All serious pianists (which clearly leaves you out) are agreed on this point, whether they like Wild's playing or not. You are a moron whose comments have less value than recycled cat manure. Your tiny, defective brain is incapable of coherent thought, musical or otherwise. Get off You Tube.

[IDontWantMyUserName]

Is it illegal to have an opinion on a musical artist now or what?

[ixari]

You can't say that all serious pianists agree on a point, you know. There are far too many "serious pianists" (however you define that) in this world for you (or anybody else for that matter) to be able to be sure of that. Not that I have anything against Wild or his performance--the music is simply superb, and the melody is clearly stated. I understand you're defending Wild, but saying things like that to other viewers won't help the issue.

[goldberg72]

sono daccordo con jero ...horrible

[jero13595]

Sorry can you speak in English please?

[jero13595]

Earl Wind plays this piece horribly!!! Horrible tempo changes and horrible use of pedal! Just a show of technique! Go listen to Arrau!

[z666z666z]

Ugly version. It sounds like Un Sospiro with tabasco sauce..........

666

[jero13595]

Yup I agree. He totally spoils this piece. Arrau plays it 100 times better.

[z666z666z]

Oh yes. Despite Arrau was not my favorite, he played it as a real "Un Sospiro" .

Thos cheap pianist play it like "Un sneezing", after inhale cocaine......

Of course the difference as an artist between Arrau and this one is beyond imagination.

666

[jero13595]

What is your favourite interpretation then?

[z666z666z]

Well ...is so funny........the real best versions of my life where from a kind of unknown pianists... :-)

From the famous, Rubinstein is my favorite becuase is the version who sounds more natural and close to the idea of the meaning of "Un Sospiro".

666

[hongzai1993]

Im not flying now. im sinking.....

[hongzai1993]

im flying....

[WENCHINGTON]

No you aren't, and you are never going to make a difference in anything either.

[Keys22765]

Wench did you remember to take your dose of miserable bastard today?

[Keys22765]

Wench did you remember to take your dose of miserable bastard today?

[WENCHINGTON]

No you aren't, and you are never going to make a difference in anything either.

[tulrich125]

I'm studying this piece right now in my music history class. Very educational--I wondered how one would play something like this.

[okera123]

I am an Earl Wild Fan. The listening quality of this piece is superb an justifies my 'fan-hood'. He is excellent at combining technique with romanticism and freedom of expression with restraint. I like equally those who have less restrains (Cyffra, Horrowitz etc.), feeling free to bring out even further dimensions to a romantic piece like this even if unconventianal. Rodney Mills version is the latest along these lines on youtube I am lovin.

[jsthorne24]

wowweeeeeeeeee!!!!

[lukaszzzz19877]

Utwór dedykuje Klaudii -- życzę Ci żebyś kiedys dorównała Earl'owi Wildowi albo nawet go przerosła- stac Cie na to:)

[jazzlife1]

Earl Wild is a LISZT master!!!

[MaryNancy]

does anyone know if it is possible to transfer musical pieces from youtube into the itunes library??? I'd love this piece. Thanks

[love88keys]

you would get better quality downloading FROM itunes. Dichter & Arrau have excellent recordings of this piece. Mr. Wild is new to me; however, he might have a recording also.

[bookbije]

Great pianist, but the unusual changes in tempo don't really help the flow of the piece.

[donthuis]

I fuly agree. A sigh (un sospiro) is something with a meloidious continuity in it. See also my own contribution with Lamond's interpretation. I find this one (and Arrau of course) much more true to the spirit. Especially Lamond has a distinctive "rolling" type of momentum in it.

[63Attila]

Donthuis

Great point about the flow of Lamond's performance. I know a lot of people, many on Amazon Discussions who, will not bear listening to anything pre stereo sound.

I give Wild credit he was romantic in an age of literalists.

Peace-JOHN

[love88keys]

That is called rubato, and it is correct for a Liszt piece.

[donthuis]

I used to consider Earl Wild as pianist too much focused on the technical part of music. But with this performance, when he was already much older, he shows that musical expression is also there. But at some places he is still somewhat excentric, like these notes without the pedal and the rather extreme variations in tempo and loudness. Here he is still the same!

[fdartmouth]

I thought the constrasting "dry" sections were really interesting.

[xplorall]

Wild has edited a book on Liszt works which includes Un Sospiro. From what I can discern from this video, he uses most -- maybe all -- of the "facilitations" he suggests for this piece. As a side note, the comments about not needing the crossovers are hilarious. It's clear that the nitwits making these comments have not tried to play the piece.

[xplorall]

oops, I take back my "nitwits" comment. I reread the cited posts more carefully and now see ther points. Further, my nitwits remark itself, now rescinded, was purposely over the top as a parody of rude internet behavior

[PEACequaLsanityWORLD]

first off i want to say thank you to SISSCO for providing the incredible videos we all can have the pleasure of watching, for free. you are doing the community a service and should be commended!

2XpLoraLL! i believe the proper name for pundits is ninKumPOOPS but that is being poLite :)

peacEveryonEverywherEveryday!

[jiwagi]

Although I don't particularly care for this performance of the Etude...WHO CARES about the fingering...if you can play it accurately with different fingering...GREAT!

[chobo11]

n00bzor

[kiiroichan]

liszt's pieces are all supposed to be showy -- for performance purposes and like, form, he puts crossovers in for artisticness and it's part of the elegance of this song. if you play this song for yourself or your own purposes only, not for performances, then fingerings are arbitrary.

so yeah.

[VikingBerserker]

Actually the reasons for the crossovers have little to do with "artisticness". The piece is a study in hand cross overs. It is a very elegant piece though.

[flyurway]

I agree totally with celach. Though I feel Earl Wild is as great a performer as anyone I don't like this interpretation at all. And it just so happens I did look up "etude" on Wikipedia quite a while ago and that's just what it translates to, an "excersize", so I don't believe in changing the fingering the way he does. Oh, I also agree with Kevrus! :-)

[aldebussy]

Liszt etudes are not etudes technically.

[pianoAndEngineering]

They are pieces that focus on a specific skill required to play the piano and are therefore in fact etudes. Although I agree that Liszt etudes have a few too many skills that they "focus" on compared to Chopin's etude which are very focused on one skill (playing octaves, thirds, sixths etc.).

[Hasekawa7854]

lol, this is like a lazy version (but sounds good) of the piece, ... not sure if you should actually do that, skipping the cross-overs,

[nezkeys79]

if it sounds good it makes abasolutely no conseqeuqnce by playing or not playing the crossovers. I think its actually pointless to do that in this piece.

[royo90]

As Rubinstein said, Liszt often wrote music to show off technical skill, but there was ALWAYS music behind the notes.

[shentri]

Is this piece harder than Jeux d'eau?

[mykezs]

I love Earl Wild!!!

Amazing pianist... my professor studied with him... this interpratation is AMAZING!!!

[Wombom]

By far the best version of this piece!!

[libetta]

best version of this piece is the one by Claudio Arrau. I prefer a slower tempo than this one, as it makes for a more romantic setting. the sound quality is better too, maybe because of the recording.

[lazaroavila]

It's very nice. Congratulations.

[Praxsedius]

The alternate ending and additions to the second cadenza are available from the Hungarian edition of Liszt's works: Editions Budapest. I play the whole tone ending and the third cadenza addition. These make the work absolutely beautiful. As we know, List was obsessed with the whole tone scale and augmented chords, which he used in his later works quite often.

[PrinsTan]

Please post the sospiro the way you play it.

[roandreiuk]

One of bests pianists that ever walked face of earth! Bravo!

[roandreiuk]

Wonderfull :-)

[KevRus]

Ahh, good ol' Un Sospiro. Sounds so beautiful and simple yet it's BRUTAL to learn. :D

I love it though XD

[p2o2l2p2]

The ending from Hamelin performance is different, i haven't seen the sheets, but was that added by Hamelin or Did Wild forgot those notes, he did slip up towards the middle. Good performance, but i like Hamelins

[credman]

Both endings are printed in the score. I think this was the original ending. Liszt later came up with a more mysterious, harmonically peculiar ending which is what Hamelin played.

[ttag]

hamelin played liszt's alternative ending based on a whOle-tone scale. (replacing measures 72-77)

[beanbabo]

Earl Wild is one of my favourites- an under appreciated pianist in my opinion. Any tips on how to develop the right timing for the 6:7 that comes in at 50 seconds? Is it just a matter of subdividing time into 42 units and practice until it comes naturally? Please click on 'reply to this' if you respond.

[Praxsedius]

Don't worry about the arpeggiations marked as "7." They just come naturally. There is no subdividing necessary.

[Likeafoxow]

yeah, dividing into 42 units would be a waste of time. when you try to practice it slow, you should just place the notes close to where they should be and not really worry if thats the exact place where it should be. when you speed it up, things should flow better.

[Wombom]

This is an excellent clip. It is such a difficult piece to play. I'm only up to about 1 minute 30 seconds...I've been playing it for 2 weeeks now and the crossovers are so tricky. He makes it look effortless. Brilliant!!

[ace666999]

=omg this is such a hard piece , especially for the left hand doing those jumps and earl wild just plays so smoothly and as if hes sleeping

[crystal130h]

Crossing over the hands is not natural in that section (as it is in the opening section). At that point the melody stays in the mid or lower register and the upper register is a sort of arpeggiation that works well with one hand. He's not doing anything unusual there.

[celach]

I disagree. Un Sospiro is an etude. The etude is a study in crossing hands, playing a simple melody with alternating hands, and arpeggios. It is also a study in the way hands should affect the melody with its many accentuations, or phrasing with alternating hands. Earl didn't cross hands....

[cziffra1980]

It's a study in sound. You think Liszt would give a shit about what fingering is taken? This performance is 1000x better than the performance you have in your favourites, in which the melody sags and goes nowhere. Use your ears, not your eyes. If playing with two hands, the goal is to make it sound like one-hand anyway, not to have a different character for each hand.

[libetta]

whatever it is, the sound is and will always be the basis of a good performance

[celach]

Not in the case of an etude... that was sort of my point.  In any other case you're right, but this is an etude, so no.

[libetta]

what is your basis for etudes?

[celach]

I'm only saying that Liszt was a music genius, was he not? If he writes "m.s." meaning "mano sinestra" - "left hand" next to a note, then I'm sure that the note should be played with the left hand! Also, etudes are studies to help improve on a skill, un sospiro is an etude in hand crossing, so I think not crossing defeats the purpose.

Check out the wikipedia entry on this composition.

[libetta]

i wonder how you could judge an etude while closing your eyes.

[celach]

The point is, Earl Wild ignored what Liszt wrote. He wrote that some notes are played with the left hand and some with the right. I guess as long as it sounds the same, I can ignore everything else on the paper, since you think that "sound is and will always be the basis of a good performance"

[alanshezar]

What I found interesting is that he avoided using crossovers from 1:50 til about 1:35

[MoonTribe]

Woow, so beautiful!

[emtube]

I generally agree with crystal130h, but didn't find his rubato in the least disturbing. Wild completely owns this piece, and is completely convincing in all the variations of touch he implementts. And that golden romantic piano sound! Perfectly satisfying performance. To think that Wild used to be labeled as a Gershwin specialist... Thanks for posting!

[crystal130h]

Nice performance, Earl Wild is one of the greats.  He sure changes tempo often in this piece, though, and in odd places sometimes...like in the first 12 measures, he speeds up and slows down almost constantly...that's some extreme rubato. I like the way he left the pedal off for a half measure or so at about 1:42. Great sonority at the end.