As usual, Horowitz transcends the whole issue of who can play the fastest and the loudest. His is neither, but is the single most terrifying (in the literal sense of the word) interpretation I know of. And isn't that what this piece is about? Listen to the contrasts between loud and soft, the sforzandos, the subito pianos, the variety in pedal and articulation. Now THAT is astonishing--far more than playing it in 1:39, for example. :)
I tried to learn this piece but I didn't come any where near being good enough to post it online, let alone to the standard of Horowitz. His ability to articulate and play the dynamics (i.e. to pay attention to emotion) in such a technically challenging piece is truly creative and skillful.
What is so interestning by listening to Horowitch is his fingers, which is always totally flat, never bended a bit. This makes him weaker physicly, but he boulded up the raw power, needed to play chopin! Ask czzifra
Horowitz puts a lot of character and dynamic into this piece, which is a rare find among all the ones that are dry/straightforward or only care about going extremely fast.
This is simply genius. Horowitz often said that many pianists like to play fast to show of their technique or play to slow to show their insight and emotion.....Here Horowitz shows that with a slower tempo than lets say Richter or Cziffra he achieves in my opinion a better result. And I agree with the comment that 1:42 - 1:48 is simply mind blowing......Wonderful...Horowitz owns this etude!
Yes, it is magic that is why he is Horowitz.He has a musical quality that is lacking in other performances.I think I like others better at times then I hear Horowitz and think, wow how does he do that? Please don't get hung up on who is better, artists are different, who can say who is 'best'? For this piece I like Cziffra just slightly better, but who cares? I like them both!
Lol.... Horowitz always reminds me why he's my number 1 favorite of all time. I've been listening only to Valentina Lisitsa's version for a while thinking it was great! Then I decided to investigate with other interpretations, and after a while I ended up here.... Just, holy crap!! WHAT IS UP!!!?! Is there some kind of magic in Horowitz' interpretations or wtf?! This is far superior to anything else! There is so much more in his interpretations.... it's really amazing...
Undefineable depth of the soul's feeling, that is what Horowitz gives to the instrument in a way that is utterly unique...others do so too, but very, very few...combine that with his canny virtuoso style of playing...alas! Listen to his faster Scriabin Etudes for the latter, and the slow section in his March Funebre for the former...you will be left wondering "why?" and asking "how?".
Is it just me, or are Vlad's interpretations of these great pieces of music ALWAYS the best versions. Please, no more foolish comments about comparing other pianists to the Great Vlad!!!
This is as good as it gets. Horowitz had nothing to prove to anybody, so he played the work the way he wanted to, which was not at the breakneck speed that others did. You can find faster performances, but I can't find better anywhere.
@1Thompsonmusic Oh yes, of course... Because a russian such as Horowitz will never be able to give a passionate performance of a Chopin piece will he...
Rubinstein 1964 in Moscou gave an exciting interpretation of this etude. For me the most fascinating version available followed by Svatoslav Richter and Horowitz.
It's true that Valentina Lesitsa is verrrry good at this etude, and has the most views on youtube for it... but Horowitz plays it even better! He should have the most hits. Sure it is cool to see her hands move, and see it live
Great performance. Clear and concise, you can hear the notes better compared to other interpretations wherein they gradually make it sound like a blur or lose control of the melody and bass.
For God's sake it's an etude... and yes, I understand that Chopin's etudes are the first where real emotion has been put into them, but seriously if you're going to argue about interpretation do it on a more substantial piece?
@Aryamanable What are you talking about? A piece doesn't need to be full of emotion to be substantial enough to argue about its interpretation. What's this about emotion? Every one of Chopin's etudes, as well as every piece of music, each have their own concepts and ideas and the musician must interpret. This etude has its own meaning, plot and setting. It has its own tempo, its own interpretal markings, its own dynamics---everything!
@ilikehaku1100 Omg, totally! I'm listening to it on headphones and I read your comment, then I pressed down on the headphones and I was like..woah. LOL! Anywayz, I totally agreez. (:
Horiwitz is fantastic!!! But I invite you to listen to Aimi Kobayashi play this- There are two vids now she is 12-13 years old playing this- She has some fantastic moments-
Wonder what Horowitz sounded like at 12 years old playing this! Now thats a recording I like to hear!
@HeifetzRanew You like Richter's performance better because it is better. Much, much better. There is nothing special in Horowitz's playing. Thousands can play like this and hundreds can do it better. All these comments praising him to the sky are pathetic. You need to trust your own musical instincts and not be affected by some ridiculous hype. Horowitz was a so-so musician and not the greatest technician, either.
@MrPoliticon you need to open your ears. richter is a great pianist but i don't think you fully appreciate the musician that horowitz was. praising him is pathetic? you really need to read your comments before you post them...
@fireb0rn I see your ass is itching for a whip. You'll have to wait. Finish the school first and show your GPA.; I may consider then if you are worth my time :-)
Compare this to Valentina Lisitsa's performance. Horowitz brings stuff out I couldn't hear in Lisitsa's. Horowitz plays very clearly. The only thing I don't get is why he quiets down at the climax, because Chopin didn't ask for it in the music. But it isn't Horowitz's style to bang stuff out so I respect that.
What's amazing is that if you try playing this piece slowly with the music, good luck even HEARING the melody. Soo much practice.
@Arephid1 he often played in that way - listen to his 1960s carnegie hall recital of ballade op23 no1 in g minor - he plays the coda very softly in the beggining and utterly destroys the end of it.
the musicality is absolutely stunning! how does someone have so much control while playing at this tempo i beyond me, yet not surprising as it is played by Horowitz.
I am learning this piece, and have listened to about 10 different performances of it, and this is the first one that truly moved me, rather just just pumped me up.
Horowitz could play this piece twice this speed...if he wanted to show off...but for him music always comed first! I love Richter version, but this is more convincing in terms of musicality and cleareness of touch..
Welcome2mymind: very funny! I love the image of the townspeople chasing Richter out of town as he is carried off in an ox-cart, playing wildly all the time...
If you want to compare the two, please keep in mind that the recording quality of Richter's very fast performance is far worse. Richter does have the right articulation and I'm sure it would be amazing in better sound quality.
I just listened to Richter playing this, and it seemed like "look how loud and fast and powerfully i can play" but here Horowitz opens up a whole new vista of the piece, makes it MUSIC as opposed to a really hard thing to play, which of course it is as well.
I agree. I don't mean to sound cruel, but Richter reminded me of Mel Brook's Frankenstein playing this piece. I half expected the camera to cut away to angry crowds with torches, ready to burn the castle.
This is an excellent performance, not only because of the technical proficiency, but because it is played MUSICALLY! Chopin did not write the etudes as mere "exercises;" these were ARTISITIC studies. Those pianists that burn up the keyboard with this etude, no matter how great or how popular they are, do a disservice to the music. Frankly, it's UGLY!!!
strange: nobody talks about what impresses me the most, the pulsation of the rythm. which is, in my opinion, unique compared with all the other versions.
Hit the nail on the head, I must say! I think it's the incredible rhythmic impulse Horowitz brings to the etude that gives this particular rendition such power.
@bluestickman1 man, etudes are for speed AND not missing notes, not only the second! the fastest you can play them with no prob and keeping them sounding as an actual piece for technique is good, but what makes a good PERFORMANCE of an etude is choosing a fitting tempo which makes your technique shine and does justice to the musicality or the form of the piece!
@alejandrothefader yes i don't deny that etudes are for speed and not missing notes, but it's an ETUDE, etude means study, and not missing notes will be little bit important than speed...
And except for Chopin's Etudes, Lizst's and some more, all of the etudes are lacking musical value like Czerny 40 and 50. (Also I think RItcher is the fastest..)
@bluestickman1 yeah, well in the end it's all about taste, i personally love pianists that can play the etude in half the time it's usually played, but don't do it, in fact they take the piece at a tempo that everybody else does, but they give it another sound quality and impresion of control. this is one of these interpretations, you see that if he wanted he could play it way faster, but he doesn't! another example is cziffra! they play as they play because they want to, not because they must
There are probably six pianists who play this competently. RICHTER has the world's record, HOROWITZ for clenliness, Argerich, Kempff, and a few others who get a tradeoff for clenliness vs speed. And lastly Ciffra who combines lack of tempo with strange pedal to produce I don't know what.
no pedal! :D
RandomCoked 1 day ago
As usual, Horowitz transcends the whole issue of who can play the fastest and the loudest. His is neither, but is the single most terrifying (in the literal sense of the word) interpretation I know of. And isn't that what this piece is about? Listen to the contrasts between loud and soft, the sforzandos, the subito pianos, the variety in pedal and articulation. Now THAT is astonishing--far more than playing it in 1:39, for example. :)
keenanonie 1 week ago
I tried to learn this piece but I didn't come any where near being good enough to post it online, let alone to the standard of Horowitz. His ability to articulate and play the dynamics (i.e. to pay attention to emotion) in such a technically challenging piece is truly creative and skillful.
FayazYunus 2 weeks ago
What is so interestning by listening to Horowitch is his fingers, which is always totally flat, never bended a bit. This makes him weaker physicly, but he boulded up the raw power, needed to play chopin! Ask czzifra
MrAx10 2 weeks ago
this is hands down the best interpertation i dont understand how anyone can say another one is better
2pacAmazesSuperman 1 month ago 3
@2pacAmazesSuperman I completely agree! Total command of the piece.
huatut123 1 month ago
@2pacAmazesSuperman YES!!! and by far.... :)
lhiram23 1 month ago
Of all interpretations of a single piece i listen to on Youtube, it's always Horowitz's that gets my tears.
DantewarheitAO 1 month ago
@DantewarheitAO try Richter...
AKJY 1 month ago
watch?v=VDPE2_wvdXo
MrRrrrvvvv 2 months ago
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MrRrrrvvvv 2 months ago
There is a better recording of this etude by Horowitz made in the 1930ies.
janvandoedelpuk 3 months ago
i love it,nice
sp1710001 3 months ago
This is the best.
mitaibiru 3 months ago
Richter's is immensely better.
Shoesarequiteuseful 3 months ago
@Shoesarequiteuseful Under what criteria?
fierydog 3 months ago
Horowitz puts a lot of character and dynamic into this piece, which is a rare find among all the ones that are dry/straightforward or only care about going extremely fast.
pianojoseph84 4 months ago
Intense as a blackberry pie.
ObakeFilter 4 months ago
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This is simply genius. Horowitz often said that many pianists like to play fast to show of their technique or play to slow to show their insight and emotion.....Here Horowitz shows that with a slower tempo than lets say Richter or Cziffra he achieves in my opinion a better result. And I agree with the comment that 1:42 - 1:48 is simply mind blowing......Wonderful...Horowitz owns this etude!
mikeandvarda 4 months ago
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mikeandvarda 4 months ago
i only want to say a thing..and..what about richeter playing this..?
Fra10981 5 months ago
Love this interpretation: it shows that there is no need to show off speed in this etude.
345everything 5 months ago
this etude is fun to play... man it is a bitch at first though.
VisioninScience 6 months ago
what an amazing interpretation by Horowitz!!
It's full of intensity and the contrast between forte and piano makes me surprised!
I also like the accent he plays in the end of the piece. That is really wonderful!!
js2004nt 6 months ago
he was so awesome, really miss this guy.
VisioninScience 6 months ago
veri good nice
twgirl1 6 months ago
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1Thompsonmusic 6 months ago
Horowitz delivers the goods once again!!
trschaefer 6 months ago 2
o GOD i love this song.
it's as if my heart stopped and my mouth won't stop gaping.
lol. thank God for both Chopin and Horowitz.
tsunaru123 7 months ago
THAT WAS POWERFULL
enriquem90 8 months ago 3
THAT WAS SCARY!
drewoverlander 8 months ago 17
thanks sugayan
SatoshiChannel 8 months ago
mistrzostwo!
szekspirr 9 months ago
This reminds me of the flight of the bumblebee.
pianoxtreme 9 months ago
BEAUTIFUL!
CosmicValkyrie 11 months ago
best. Horowitz my heiland
Liptonical 11 months ago
chopin would be turning in his grave if he heard this. But its horowitz, so i can't say it's not amazing loll
wagneristhebest 11 months ago
Yes, it is magic that is why he is Horowitz.He has a musical quality that is lacking in other performances.I think I like others better at times then I hear Horowitz and think, wow how does he do that? Please don't get hung up on who is better, artists are different, who can say who is 'best'? For this piece I like Cziffra just slightly better, but who cares? I like them both!
trevjr 1 year ago
Lol.... Horowitz always reminds me why he's my number 1 favorite of all time. I've been listening only to Valentina Lisitsa's version for a while thinking it was great! Then I decided to investigate with other interpretations, and after a while I ended up here.... Just, holy crap!! WHAT IS UP!!!?! Is there some kind of magic in Horowitz' interpretations or wtf?! This is far superior to anything else! There is so much more in his interpretations.... it's really amazing...
Kinjutsuu 1 year ago
Undefineable depth of the soul's feeling, that is what Horowitz gives to the instrument in a way that is utterly unique...others do so too, but very, very few...combine that with his canny virtuoso style of playing...alas! Listen to his faster Scriabin Etudes for the latter, and the slow section in his March Funebre for the former...you will be left wondering "why?" and asking "how?".
edwar1or 1 year ago
Richter fast tempo... Argerich virtuosity... Horowitz magic !!!!!!!!!!!!
hebertotzet1 1 year ago
Is it just me, or are Vlad's interpretations of these great pieces of music ALWAYS the best versions. Please, no more foolish comments about comparing other pianists to the Great Vlad!!!
mrgeorgebailey1 1 year ago
@mrgeorgebailey1 It is just you.
lehrent 1 year ago
This is as good as it gets. Horowitz had nothing to prove to anybody, so he played the work the way he wanted to, which was not at the breakneck speed that others did. You can find faster performances, but I can't find better anywhere.
TomBarrister 1 year ago
Believe it or not, I've just found a brand new (never open) CD of Horowitz playing Chopin by $1.99 in a Goodwill store of Downtown Los Angeles.
hhvelasq 1 year ago
I don't blame people for thinking that horowitz was the best [2]
felipe1231984 1 year ago
este me gusto mas.
chopinesprit 1 year ago
Overdone technique. Too much. Empty performance, as always from Chopin interpretations by Russians.
1Thompsonmusic 1 year ago
@1Thompsonmusic Oh yes, of course... Because a russian such as Horowitz will never be able to give a passionate performance of a Chopin piece will he...
ridiculous comment!
Ally123234 1 year ago
@1Thompsonmusic What a bunch of bullshit.Go f@@ yourself.
Virtyozzz 1 year ago
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@1Thompsonmusic What a bunch of bullshit.Go f@@ yourself.
Virtyozzz 1 year ago
Comment removed
1Thompsonmusic 1 year ago
sometimes my sister play this
Aerosmissive 1 year ago
My favourite interpritation of this etude!
MrFortepianist 1 year ago 2
don't you love the finger xD
kinkajoes 1 year ago
flabergasted
123Haruto 1 year ago
I would have loved to see those fingers!
The55555SSSSS 1 year ago
Oh I wish he'd recorded all of them :(
goobleglob 1 year ago
Without a doubt, the clearest interpretation of this piece that I have ever heard. Just awesome.
ProkofievRules 1 year ago 3
Excellent.
TheLovelyPiano 1 year ago
He is such a good pianist. With horowitz many pieces I used to think were boring suddenly became interesting!
birtanem8 1 year ago
mm yes this is good. I think i know only one or two people who can play like this.. of course after weeks of practise.
merys96 1 year ago
Awesome, its to much music!!! A master piece!!!
Celexon 1 year ago
Only Horowitz can suport that range of dynamics beeing fast as well
professorakos 1 year ago 3
So clear Articulation..
nyuk36 1 year ago
Best interpretation of 1:42 - 1:48 . That is the only part I care about when I listen to this etude. It makes my mouth drop.
daytonmlivingston 1 year ago 20
@daytonmlivingston exactly what i was thinking!
HomerJ666 1 year ago
@daytonmlivingston how shallow!
Sph34r 4 months ago
@daytonmlivingston If you haven't listened to Gavrilov's live interpretation of this etude you should is one of my favorite of course with Richter's.
josemariomonzon 4 months ago 2
@daytonmlivingston
That's the easiest part of the whole study...
FelipeDeLaCuadra 2 months ago
@FelipeDeLaCuadra Well, mate, no... it isn't. It's just one of the less difficult....
8JustGoodMusic8 2 months ago
BEST INTERPRETATION IVE EVER HEARD!!!!!! BRAVO!!! XD
WHO ARE THOSE TEN PEOLE THAT DISIKED THIS!! THEYRE JUST JEALOUS HMPH~!
i like the part from 1:40 - 1:51 lol
saisayhai 1 year ago
Rubinstein 1964 in Moscou gave an exciting interpretation of this etude. For me the most fascinating version available followed by Svatoslav Richter and Horowitz.
uhartchristian 1 year ago
It's true that Valentina Lesitsa is verrrry good at this etude, and has the most views on youtube for it... but Horowitz plays it even better! He should have the most hits. Sure it is cool to see her hands move, and see it live
jwunschie14 1 year ago
sorry for the double post, but it maybe slow, but at least it's precise, clean, and perfect.
griveous112 1 year ago
The best one I've ever heard. I miss him.
griveous112 1 year ago
Wow
I always thought this piece shouldve been the one with the name toccata. Its so crazy on the fingers! It's like Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum on speed!
looney1023 1 year ago
wonderful !!
cct20054 1 year ago
i played this when i was in year 8. i used to crazy about this music. ive already pressed replay botton more than 10 times. I LOVE IT SO MUCH.
325ume 1 year ago
Awesome! One of the greats of this or any other century. TY.
paulostroff99 1 year ago
I need to get this CD!
tigerlrc 1 year ago
The Best Forever !!
lukimfe 1 year ago
This is an awesome recording of Horowitz! It is engaging for any type of listener!!
RoseMarieJamesJr 1 year ago
its sooo hard, maybe is jst cuz m a piano noob...
0126lishirley 1 year ago
Musicality at it's very best!!!!!!!!!!!
pianometal 1 year ago
Such intensity and clarity at the same time!
pipeorganloverNJP 1 year ago 2
horowitz made sing keys!
ArodenPianoWushu93 1 year ago
1:03 and 1:52 ... electrifying ...
mepds9 1 year ago
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mepds9 1 year ago
his version is superior to all others!!!
i love it at 0:06 it sounds like an entire orchestra starts playing!
TheGuyWhoJustShotYou 1 year ago 4
This is the best.
MadaraKalnina1 1 year ago
Horowitz shines as always
fretburner18 1 year ago 2
the ultimate interpretation
johnbaptistlulu 1 year ago
Great performance. Clear and concise, you can hear the notes better compared to other interpretations wherein they gradually make it sound like a blur or lose control of the melody and bass.
lucifer303 1 year ago
this is awesome^^, but i like Richers playing of the etude better, :P
Balgig 1 year ago
¿how to keep the time with the perfect dosis of technique? I think the maestro got the perfect idea of the whole concept. Genius.
Mnp1221 1 year ago
For God's sake it's an etude... and yes, I understand that Chopin's etudes are the first where real emotion has been put into them, but seriously if you're going to argue about interpretation do it on a more substantial piece?
Aryamanable 1 year ago
@Aryamanable What are you talking about? A piece doesn't need to be full of emotion to be substantial enough to argue about its interpretation. What's this about emotion? Every one of Chopin's etudes, as well as every piece of music, each have their own concepts and ideas and the musician must interpret. This etude has its own meaning, plot and setting. It has its own tempo, its own interpretal markings, its own dynamics---everything!
JohnnyStricklett 1 year ago
@JohnnyStricklett
I know I just wanted them to shut up.
Aryamanable 1 year ago
@Aryamanable Haha, ok.
JohnnyStricklett 1 year ago
@JohnnyStricklett
:)
Aryamanable 1 year ago
Also, may I presume you'll still be trolling youtube videos by the time I'm done with university?
fireb0rn 1 year ago
@fireb0rn Depends on how long it will take you to complete your studies. My guess is another 5 years, at least. I may be still around :-)
MrPoliticon 1 year ago
Listening to this on earphones and hands covering your ears bring out so much more of the piece's richness!
ilikehaku1100 1 year ago
@ilikehaku1100 Omg, totally! I'm listening to it on headphones and I read your comment, then I pressed down on the headphones and I was like..woah. LOL! Anywayz, I totally agreez. (:
WeirdsBestFriend 1 year ago
Horiwitz is fantastic!!! But I invite you to listen to Aimi Kobayashi play this- There are two vids now she is 12-13 years old playing this- She has some fantastic moments-
Wonder what Horowitz sounded like at 12 years old playing this! Now thats a recording I like to hear!
Speedsacspeed 1 year ago
Horowitz avoids the temptation to blur the notes together by rushing the piece. The clarity of the passages is astonishing.
HankDrake 1 year ago
best of best!!
jhl1116 1 year ago
There are some pianists where I think they had a pact with the devil or some 'hand-controlling demon', but seriously, HE is God.
MalformedMalice 1 year ago
Perfectly played.Both intonation and technique are impeccable,yet I can't help liking Richter's better.......
And it's not just the speed that attracts me in Richter,it's more the attitude...
This rendition is brilliant too though...
HeifetzRanew 1 year ago
@HeifetzRanew You like Richter's performance better because it is better. Much, much better. There is nothing special in Horowitz's playing. Thousands can play like this and hundreds can do it better. All these comments praising him to the sky are pathetic. You need to trust your own musical instincts and not be affected by some ridiculous hype. Horowitz was a so-so musician and not the greatest technician, either.
MrPoliticon 1 year ago
@MrPoliticon you need to open your ears. richter is a great pianist but i don't think you fully appreciate the musician that horowitz was. praising him is pathetic? you really need to read your comments before you post them...
Bei0001 1 year ago
@Bei0001 I read my comments. I even spell-check them :-)
MrPoliticon 1 year ago
@MrPoliticon
Richter's performance is better, but you're still a troll.
fireb0rn 1 year ago
@fireb0rn I see your ass is itching for a whip. You'll have to wait. Finish the school first and show your GPA.; I may consider then if you are worth my time :-)
MrPoliticon 1 year ago
@MrPoliticon
/facepalm
GPA? I lol'd.... troll harder.
fireb0rn 1 year ago
@MrPoliticon Follow your own advice.
demosj 1 year ago
Perfect speed, Perfect Sustain, no lingering notes and those amazing dynamic changes.
I don't blame people for thinking that horowitz was the best. He has cetainly made an unremovable impression on me with this
Zoaguyver 1 year ago 37
@Zoaguyver
THINKING he is the best? Name a better one, please.
fact remains: Horowitz = best pianist ever.
bolawarrior 1 year ago
he was so good he didn't even have to move! lo
t300zx842 1 year ago 2
i've been watching this etude on youtube, and this is definatelly the best. The others are just so fast....=/
quesote20 1 year ago
He's not moving.
BachScholar 1 year ago 3
how does he do that?!
Tiki656 1 year ago
perfect speed
Thomazzo95 1 year ago 3
Horowitz' interpretation FTW!
GintsFarodin 1 year ago
still the definitive interpretation of this magnificent etude. bravo maestro!!!
oanovahyan 1 year ago 2
Compare this to Valentina Lisitsa's performance. Horowitz brings stuff out I couldn't hear in Lisitsa's. Horowitz plays very clearly. The only thing I don't get is why he quiets down at the climax, because Chopin didn't ask for it in the music. But it isn't Horowitz's style to bang stuff out so I respect that.
What's amazing is that if you try playing this piece slowly with the music, good luck even HEARING the melody. Soo much practice.
Arephid1 1 year ago 5
@Arephid1 he often played in that way - listen to his 1960s carnegie hall recital of ballade op23 no1 in g minor - he plays the coda very softly in the beggining and utterly destroys the end of it.
ljoekelsoey4 1 year ago
the musicality is absolutely stunning! how does someone have so much control while playing at this tempo i beyond me, yet not surprising as it is played by Horowitz.
fuchion15 1 year ago
I am learning this piece, and have listened to about 10 different performances of it, and this is the first one that truly moved me, rather just just pumped me up.
ctbozzzz 1 year ago
Horowitz could play this piece twice this speed...if he wanted to show off...but for him music always comed first! I love Richter version, but this is more convincing in terms of musicality and cleareness of touch..
xcomposerpianistx 2 years ago 4
Music always comed fist? How inconsiderate of music.
dredeye 1 year ago 4
@xcomposerpianistx , you're absolutely right, this etude is played too fast by too many pianists; IMO, Pollini's version is the best one
Barbapippo 1 year ago 12
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xcomposerpianistx 1 year ago
Horowitz apart, I love Pollini version too. Pollini Etudes set a statement in the history of piano interpretation.
xcomposerpianistx 1 year ago
yeah pollini knows what hes doing with this one
scottyschumann18 1 year ago
@Barbapippo Valentina Lisitsa's version is also quite impressive
Vesivian 11 months ago
Welcome2mymind: very funny! I love the image of the townspeople chasing Richter out of town as he is carried off in an ox-cart, playing wildly all the time...
nicodagger 2 years ago
you can talk what ever you want,but he had the TONE!
krizanac19 2 years ago
no the piano had the tone
dredeye 1 year ago
Then why didn't everyone else have a piano with a comparable tone? Too poor?
demosj 1 year ago
All I'm saying is that tone is a quality of the instrument, he had good "technique."
zombievoodoo777 1 year ago
You are only partially correct.The instrument plays a role,definetly,but the bulk of intonation is attributed to the pianist himself.........
Here,Horowitz beat almost everyone(not sure about Richter yet though....)
HeifetzRanew 1 year ago
This is great. But so is Richter.
If you want to compare the two, please keep in mind that the recording quality of Richter's very fast performance is far worse. Richter does have the right articulation and I'm sure it would be amazing in better sound quality.
tweriovnzxclb 2 years ago
It's like a poetry of mixed emotions!
tsena6 2 years ago
I just listened to Richter playing this, and it seemed like "look how loud and fast and powerfully i can play" but here Horowitz opens up a whole new vista of the piece, makes it MUSIC as opposed to a really hard thing to play, which of course it is as well.
nicodagger 2 years ago 3
I agree. I don't mean to sound cruel, but Richter reminded me of Mel Brook's Frankenstein playing this piece. I half expected the camera to cut away to angry crowds with torches, ready to burn the castle.
Welcome2MyMind 2 years ago 2
This is an excellent performance, not only because of the technical proficiency, but because it is played MUSICALLY! Chopin did not write the etudes as mere "exercises;" these were ARTISITIC studies. Those pianists that burn up the keyboard with this etude, no matter how great or how popular they are, do a disservice to the music. Frankly, it's UGLY!!!
trustiful 2 years ago
Personally, this and the versions of Pollini and Ashkenazy are the best ones... Then come Richter and Cziffra...
ZioStronzo 2 years ago
In your opinion.
Lukecash12 2 years ago
This is the best perform of Etude 4 I've never heard! I'm a big fan of the Chopin's Etudes and this is an master piece (as the rest).
OceanbornSWT 2 years ago 5
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Valentina Lisitsa plays this beautifully - look at her version on youtube - amazing
darkwood22 2 years ago
At least Horowitz had tone.. sorry.
Webarton 2 years ago
strange: nobody talks about what impresses me the most, the pulsation of the rythm. which is, in my opinion, unique compared with all the other versions.
lhiram23 2 years ago 8
Hit the nail on the head, I must say! I think it's the incredible rhythmic impulse Horowitz brings to the etude that gives this particular rendition such power.
OzzyKingofKings 2 years ago
yep! ;)) kind regards
lhiram23 2 years ago
were did you got this recording its superbe
crackapolo 2 years ago
it's from a CD called "Horowitz Plays Chopin" :)
huatut123 2 years ago
@crackapolo Yeah it's revolutionnary etude is also brilliant. You've got some amazing interpretations on this cd.
rustyspo0ns 1 year ago
@crackapolo : Please work on spelling superbly !
MusicPredominates 1 year ago
Clear, fiery melody. Incredible!
chendoIs 2 years ago 13
Each note is just so clear, and the music just flows. Superb!
xcomposerpianistx 2 years ago 8
Musically speaking this interpretation is the best...as always with horowitz :))
SwePianoholic 2 years ago 32
@SwePianoholic In your opinion this is musically the best. People that actually know about piano would say horowitz is percussive.
SUPPLEANDFIRM 1 year ago
the best one I ever heard!!!
bluestickman1 2 years ago 37
@bluestickman1
Nah he plays it slow compared to Argerich. Actually Martha's is the fastest one i have heard on Youtube yet!
For she's the best :)
brassmonkeyjew 1 year ago
@brassmonkeyjew etudes are not for speed, it's for "not missing notes"
also, because it's Chopin's, people have to compare the "not missing notes" and also "musical beauty"
bluestickman1 8 months ago
@bluestickman1 man, etudes are for speed AND not missing notes, not only the second! the fastest you can play them with no prob and keeping them sounding as an actual piece for technique is good, but what makes a good PERFORMANCE of an etude is choosing a fitting tempo which makes your technique shine and does justice to the musicality or the form of the piece!
alejandrothefader 8 months ago
@alejandrothefader yes i don't deny that etudes are for speed and not missing notes, but it's an ETUDE, etude means study, and not missing notes will be little bit important than speed...
And except for Chopin's Etudes, Lizst's and some more, all of the etudes are lacking musical value like Czerny 40 and 50. (Also I think RItcher is the fastest..)
bluestickman1 7 months ago
@bluestickman1 yeah, well in the end it's all about taste, i personally love pianists that can play the etude in half the time it's usually played, but don't do it, in fact they take the piece at a tempo that everybody else does, but they give it another sound quality and impresion of control. this is one of these interpretations, you see that if he wanted he could play it way faster, but he doesn't! another example is cziffra! they play as they play because they want to, not because they must
alejandrothefader 7 months ago 2
I love you!!!!!!!!!
Cirapf 2 years ago 3
There are probably six pianists who play this competently. RICHTER has the world's record, HOROWITZ for clenliness, Argerich, Kempff, and a few others who get a tradeoff for clenliness vs speed. And lastly Ciffra who combines lack of tempo with strange pedal to produce I don't know what.
petie32 2 years ago 8
Nope, you forgot Pollini. Richter, Pollini, and Horowitz are the best. Cziffra is not as good as the top 3...
xxxxx123456789xxxxx1 2 years ago 7
Holy crap...His melody is so clean. Best performance I heard.
Istarilight17 2 years ago 5
Horowitz version is by far the best I have seen so far.
florian5193 2 years ago 8
This has been flagged as spam show
ASHKENAZY!!
anonymousQ45 2 years ago
the best ever!
jhondusky 2 years ago 5
This has been flagged as spam show
Horowitz was be a star , but not best piano player..
AREK100001 2 years ago
you don't even speak a good english
Alejandro270193 2 years ago