@leugimsierra this recording is clearer than the one berezovsky does. cziffra had better technic than "the only berezovsky"...there is no old or new. berzovsky is surely good...but "today onyl "sounds very much populismus to me. ask berezovsky about what he thinks of cziffra...i bet he also admires him, as we all do.
@callenishss Pianos from this era and even earlier are still around and perfectly maintained. They don't sound entirely different. I think a lot of what you're hearing is imparted by the recording technology of the time, although I agree that it does add a bit of charm to the timbre of the instrument.
@slappersplatter The 2-4 fingering isn't that bad if both hands are used to play fast octaves. But the same effect can be done with more normal fingering, as long you use the same technique, but then there is no reason not to use the 2-4 fingering =)
This has got to be the exceptional version! Well layered, dynamics are beautiful and tasteful, his improvisation is subtle yet completely within the style of the piece, he does not forget to properly phrase the bass line like most others do, and his incredible personality resounds throughout the entire piece! He is a true virtuoso! I would have loved to see him live in concert!
i find it pretty ironic that this is absolutely the best performance of this piece because of the limited sustain pedal, but his la campanella performance is dripping with sustain, which kind of kills that performance for me.
I don't get some people's problems with this. Sure, we all have our preferences, and for many, Cziffra may not be your preference. But I don't think it is possible to deny the genius performance he brings us here. Personally, there are other performances I prefer, but I come back to this one often to hear the absolute technical AND imaginative mastery of Cziffra.
@DancingSpiderman yeah.... it sounds to me like the sound track of a western movie from 20's ... mmmhh... I'm still thinking this is not the truth about this work.. and prefer Arrau's lecture...
With much respect to previous posters, but there are a selected few of posters here that are of excessive and quite irritating bigotry towards Cziffra.
With regards, Cziffra is a brilliant pianist. But why is he not named of the absolute BEST of the past century? In my humble opinion, and only in singular cases, he sacrifices musical phrasing for pure technical challenge, which although extremely exhilarating to the average listener, is not of great fidelity to the printed score.
and people wonder why cziffra was so good.. he was the greatest champion of liszts work.. you play music that challenging over a lifetime you are gonna get good haha. just look at a sheet of liszts music and youll see where the talent comes from.. practically equal dexterity in both hands.
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I've heard master pieces in performance by master Cziffra, but this is not one of them.
It sounds good (most the time) but the phrasing and meaning is not Liszt. (a ROMANTIC composer)... this work should be evocate a lyrical story... but the performance is too mechanical, I can't feel the romanticism neither lyricism that inspired to Franz Liszt .
@gnstjd518 I disagree. You can just hear from the mid section that it is romanticized. It isn't just a horse galloping, it is so much more then that. It is a story of a heroic tale, and that requires expression. Expression that is present in this piece, as played.
@ilikehaku1100 I've made my self more familiar with the story. The heroic taint that I described is the fact that Mazeppa (the title character) is being put under tribulation, but still survives. In fact, under Aristotle's definition of comedy, this would be one, as it begins in sorrow (the tribulation of Mazeppa) and ends in glory (his ascension to the throne.)
@gnstjd518 " songs" are for singing-piano works are for playing- sometimes referred to as music literature-though you got it right in the last sentence- Cziffra makes it real-a true virtuoso, its childs play for him
What separates Cziffra's from all others and I do mean all others is his spare use of the pedal throughout. With his gargantuan technic , he doesn't need any like others do to cover up their inadequacies. This performance is absolutely amazing. Cziffra focuses on the MUSIC. The prancing horse in the 6/8 animato section is incredible! He even tastefully adds the orchestral trill that is in the 4th meas. of the Allegro deciso section. No one comes close!
Cziffra doesn't have to think about accuracy! It's there. Most of this is WITHOUT pedal. There is no other version. He owns this one and a few more. ALL pale after this.
@CD122344 think you'll find berman performs this piece quite well, not nearly as fast, but definitely one of the great performances of this piece along with this one
While the middle section it clearly wondeful, it's too bad that Cziffra is so focused on accuracy and execution (which is remarkable) but not on the overall sweep and intensity. The ultimate performance of Mazeppa is Berman, as he takes the monstrous piece on head on.
cziffra is generally a great liszt interpreter, and although i love this interpretation, i loved berman's even more. he has a completely brutal aproach. his version sounds like a true mad gallop, every cord is smashed with incredible intensity, like a madman. howver, in this version one can appreciate the technical details with a lot more clarity.
i dont doubt though, that cziffra couldve made that as well, on a day with very bad mood =)
I hear these Transcendental Etudes and it simply blows my mind away how much technique there is in what was supposed to be a practice piece. :D I think Cziffra's interpretation and Berezovsky's interpretations are both great. I can not tell the difference between either, because I'm still a beginning Piano student, but I give them their props for being able to play some of the hardest of the hardest.
And...Listen to how much gun Cziffra has with this piece! He plays it, not merely performs it. The playing is so confident, he can inject humor into this heavy-handed fossil. Berezovski STRUGGLES to play it, and it sounds like that. Not even an attempt at interpretation; whereas Cziff gives us the irony of pieces like this. The worst thing to hear at any performance is struggling. Ouch! And I'm sure he didn't need a towel right afterward. Nagyan jol!
I can't tell whether your comment was meant sarcastically or seriously. But, I will say that after 40 years of playing and especially listening to pianists live, on records, on disc, I am indeed confident in my assessments. Not everyone may agree w/me, but I know I've thought things through thoroughly enough for me.
Hey, guys....Amazin' how the "no-pedal" sound has to "take some getting used to." THIS is the way Romantic repetoire was supposed to be played; pedal only serves to muddy the sound, and to cover for an imperfect or insecure technique. Ironically, it makes the performance even more muddy (see Berezovsky). Before hearing Cziffra, as I started hearing Berezovski, my first thought was "Why so much pedal?" You guys need to listen more closely to the real greats (Rachmaninoff, Hoffman, Friedman etc)
HAH! No pedal and smooth as silk, you gotta love the Cziff.
The interlocking octaves and jumps in liszt's works are playthings for Cziffra. You understand this if you've ever studied or heard his transcriptions...scary shit lol.
and Lol @ Arrau and Berezovsky's watered-down generic styles mentioned here.
His has always been one of my favourite interpretations...along with Lazar Berman. He captures the psycho genius that Liszt was. Must be in the Hungarian DNA...love it. What a gift to us all...
This is how all the pianists played 80 years ago... not so disciplined today... we have too many electronics now that get in the way :) haha! Great technique here, some of the best i've heard for Liszt!
This is the best version I've ever heard of Mazzepa.
Left hand is simply amazing, the clearness shown throughout the whole piece is marvelous, less pedaling than other versions in most passages makes this very special.
The middle part on the other hand shows a very expressive and romantic motive hardly reached by other pianists.
Cziffra plays this in the most authentic sense of a symphonic poem.
Wow all of you guys compare these pianists way to much. I understand there's a version you like best but this is hardly the proper forum, is this the way you talk about your musical tastes with your friends? Please just comment on this video we don't care what you think about other videos, chances are we've seen them since we wouldn't be watching this if we didn't play/enjoy the piano in the first place. If you leave such fanboyish comments you just sound like a tool.Just enjoy the music quietly
comparisons will not hurt any pianist. That is the reason why we te pianists like to compare versions and different styles. Otherwise, we can listen to a MIDI File of Mazzepa and shut up our mouth (if you want)
I suppose Cziffra played the part since 4:50 slowly because he wanted to make the trill at 4:56. Qutie funny for that, but I prefer the original fast speed which he can surely play.
He is not afraid of breaking the rules to make it alive. With that kind of sensitivity he can't reach everybodys heart in cold times like we have today.
Cziffra is a genius. We all can see the centre of the target after his hits. A talent strikes the targets wich we all have known before. Thats the difference. Thanks to everybody who made Cziffra possible and that he was born in times of recording.
I think Cziffra plays this in an entirely different outlook. It's different and I like it. His technic and emphasis on playing each key correctly is amazing, maybe costing a little bit of speed but adding in accuracy.
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This must be the most boring interpretation I've heard. I mean he started out great with a good speed, then when the "horse" began, he slowed down and it sounds kinda dry. I´m kinda disapointed when I hear this because I know Cziffra is a big virtouso
What makes this performance so remarkable is Cziffra's limited use of the pedal. This is the best Mazeppa I have ever heard. You can even imagine the prancing of a horse when the original theme is again restated after the descending chromatic chords and octave section. His dynamics are wonderful. I have yet to hear anybody living or passed ever play it like Ciffra. He owns this piece. He adds a turn found in the orchestrated version when the theme comes back in the major key. Amazing!
Have you heard Arrau's version? I've always listened to Arrau's version, and I just bucked up on this version. Although they are quite different, I can't quite decide which one I like best.
He began the piece at an incredibly fast tempo, and I was extremely excited that he would keep pace with it, but he didn't, so I'm not sure why he began it that way. The horse doesn't start slowing down until the "lo stesso tempo" section towards the middle. The "allegro deciso" at 4:54 was EXTREMELY disappointing.. that's when the horse suddenly kicks it in the ass and gallops faster than ever, and he played it slower than the introduction of the theme.
Holy crap, you're right. I was disappointed too. After listening to Arrau's version so many times, I was waiting for an explosion. I didn't get it. :(
I think this performance is staggering. At the very least, the interlocking octaves beginning at 1:59 are dumbfounding. They sound like someone blasting down the street on a Harley. Certainly Liszt intended this piece and its companions -- they're Transcendental Etudes, for heaven's sake -- to kick in the afterburners when appropriate. Yes yes. I understand the caveat of the word "appropriate." BTW, I think the Arrau performances is wonderful, and I've had very mixed feelings about him.
He also masters it by adding his own thoughts, which is simply amazing, the most complex song in history sounds so clean and simple, (despite the fact that he haven't use a pedal) He is very very amazing, it really is very mazzepa.
Simply the worst I've ever heard. (After Berezovksy!) Sorry for saying this, guys. Just a personal opinion and no offence meant. There are some nice moments in this interpretation but overall it comletely lacks power and is also highly unmusical. No wonder Liszt has for so long been considered as a mere technician and an inferior musician with such performances. Cziffra is either too slow or, more often, too fast. Almost all inner voices and melodic lines are lost with him... Pity.
I can't recommend anything. Music is so personal and intimate an experience that it's impossible to judge what is the best and how something would appeal to somebody.
I can tell only which is my favourite recording. That's the late one of Jorge Bolet (DECCA, 1985) - it's unusually slow but magnificent. His earlier one (Ensayo, 1970) is much more virtuosic but still a profound interpretation. The only one that comes closer (but it's still far away) to these is Claudio Arrau on Philips.
okay, so... I am 14 years old and I am looking for a Song by Liszt to play in my piano recital... I want it to be in a minor key and on the louder side, however, I am not educated very much on many composer's works. I was hoping someone here could help me?
Liszt did not write easy works I'm sad to say.His works needed a lot of stamina to play as well as his pieces' lengths were about 10 pages average(well his pieces for "concert" anyways).So if you want to play Liszt you should go and check out his other pieces before attempting any Etude of his.I suggest his consolations first since they're short but nice to listen to.
That´s really true, it´s like both. Liszt´s wrote what he felt at the moment, an example is Mephisto Valse no1, At the first, fast part Liszt means how he shows off with many girls in the bed, then at the slow part he regrets and think agian about hiw life. And then it goes fast, and so it keeps on. It´s obviously that Liszt was confused
That's just preposterous. There are different performances but it is simply outrageous to claim that Cziffra is only showing off. After all it is "Cadenza ad libitum". Do you happen to know what that means? obviously not.
wtf :S seriously, only interpretation I dislike from Cziffra. maybe it is the way to be played, but I prefer Berezowsky's, maybe because I am used to listen his interpretation of mazeppa.
yup.. FFL, you can be biased to certain interpretation but please don't start insulting the performers, especially when they're already like legend. you may end up becoming like mikecaffey!
Cziffra - the supreme interpreter of Liszt!
telephilia 2 months ago
Godly
B004017 3 months ago
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B004017 3 months ago
wtf no pedal??
TheRiskyBoxSpread 4 months ago
@TheRiskyBoxSpread
he can do it without pedal
MrSebas56 2 weeks ago
天才
0020H06236 5 months ago
THIS IS THE OLD PLAY'S LISZT, TODAY ONLY BEREZOVSKY
leugimsierra 7 months ago
@leugimsierra this recording is clearer than the one berezovsky does. cziffra had better technic than "the only berezovsky"...there is no old or new. berzovsky is surely good...but "today onyl "sounds very much populismus to me. ask berezovsky about what he thinks of cziffra...i bet he also admires him, as we all do.
paganviodio 2 months ago
1:57 OCTAVE MACHINE GUN
enriquem90 7 months ago
graceful ... immaculate .... simply the best version ever !
miciog79 7 months ago
this is the way pianos should sounds like, this old piano. dont like new clean sounding pianos, need this old piano sound
callenishss 7 months ago
@callenishss Pianos from this era and even earlier are still around and perfectly maintained. They don't sound entirely different. I think a lot of what you're hearing is imparted by the recording technology of the time, although I agree that it does add a bit of charm to the timbre of the instrument.
T3hL337Sesshy 5 months ago
This was in Nodame, right?
quazarphazar 8 months ago
@quazarphazar Actualy, in Nodame there's the Etude n.5 "Faux Follets"...
LTediusL 8 months ago in playlist Cziffra/Liszt
@LTediusL
They were actually both in Nodame at different parts. I remember it being one of her competition pieces or something. She certainly played it.
quazarphazar 8 months ago
@quazarphazar Then i should see again this anime...i don't remember she playing it...thanks for telling me!
LTediusL 8 months ago
sounds like he uses Liszt's fingering 2-4 2-4 must be the only pianist to do so!!
marcohorowitz8 8 months ago
@marcohorowitz8 lolol i do... mypiano teacher makes me and its freaking annoying
slappersplatter 6 months ago
@slappersplatter The 2-4 fingering isn't that bad if both hands are used to play fast octaves. But the same effect can be done with more normal fingering, as long you use the same technique, but then there is no reason not to use the 2-4 fingering =)
bb0ysmiley 3 months ago
wow, after i heard this im starting to seriously doubt berezovsky's performance of this... and i LOVED IT before i heard this...
rachmanny 8 months ago
@rachmanny I still like Berezovsky's better, but they are both fantastic :)
enricoshyster 7 months ago
That horse has steroids.
Laudan08 9 months ago 4
wow!
MrPatricklee89 10 months ago
awesome!!!
やっぱりリストの曲は
シフラだなっ(´∀｀)ｂ
naomickeychida 10 months ago
I love this piece most <3
jamieliin 10 months ago
This has got to be the exceptional version! Well layered, dynamics are beautiful and tasteful, his improvisation is subtle yet completely within the style of the piece, he does not forget to properly phrase the bass line like most others do, and his incredible personality resounds throughout the entire piece! He is a true virtuoso! I would have loved to see him live in concert!
evifnoskcaj 11 months ago 9
Songs are sung, pieces are played.
piali60 1 year ago 3
Thank God he lived in a technological era. It would be a disgrace not having his recordings.
dotcom97 1 year ago 11
@dotcom97 yeah... let's thank 'God' for that.
hymnofashes 1 year ago
@dotcom97 Unfortunately Liszt didn't :( I certainly would've preferred to listen to Liszt than Cziffra :D
Cleroth 1 month ago 2
@Cleroth I wish that too, it's such a shame. I think it's quite amazing that Liszt lived long enough to have his photograph taken though!
Udders666 1 day ago
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dotcom97 1 year ago
Wow... i belive that Cziffra was ones of the most fast interpreters. Also fast it´s pretty clean and precise. I like more than Berezovsky´s version.
lukstarfucker 1 year ago
@lukstarfucker I feel the same way...
ann03071874 1 year ago
i loive this guy he is a true liszt man 5 stars thumbs up what ever omg amazing
bethanylovesdan 1 year ago
i find it pretty ironic that this is absolutely the best performance of this piece because of the limited sustain pedal, but his la campanella performance is dripping with sustain, which kind of kills that performance for me.
farfle10 1 year ago
This is the most incredible display of virtuosisty ive heard. A video would complete me.
openmindspace 1 year ago
Pretty damn good, but in some of those more dramatic parts I personally prefer a bit more sustain pedal.
hellomate639 1 year ago
this is impossible....
surgere94 1 year ago 2
I don't get some people's problems with this. Sure, we all have our preferences, and for many, Cziffra may not be your preference. But I don't think it is possible to deny the genius performance he brings us here. Personally, there are other performances I prefer, but I come back to this one often to hear the absolute technical AND imaginative mastery of Cziffra.
OrangeSodaKing 1 year ago
he is like the John Wayne of Liszt playing; bravo; Berman is still my fave
dmmm1121 1 year ago
I used to think that Berman's was the best...I am questioning this. Wow.
bennettpiano 1 year ago
sounds like gunfight music.
DancingSpiderman 1 year ago
@DancingSpiderman yeah.... it sounds to me like the sound track of a western movie from 20's ... mmmhh... I'm still thinking this is not the truth about this work.. and prefer Arrau's lecture...
Ray0X0 1 year ago
@Ray0X0 If it were a soundtrack all played by cziffra, i would buy tons of copies.
GabMelonius 1 year ago
This is just amazing!!! He plays this piece with almost no pedal and not even one wrong note! Cziffra is the best!
joao975ca 1 year ago
WITHOUT PEDAL 0:08 - 0:12 Incredible!
Almost all of etude is played without pedal... Cziffra is monstrous!
massimiliano123123 1 year ago
NO FUCKING WAY!!!! I WILL NEVER EVEN CONSIDER TO START LEARNING THIS PIECE AFTER THAT!!!!! CZIFFRA iS THE MAN
ichadzis 1 year ago
Solo el Maestro Cziffra se da el lujo de adornar ya una pieza tan compleja. Grande y en paz descances.
belialah 1 year ago
amazing performance by cziffra!!!
eltachimetro 1 year ago
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4:56 BLEEACH
4785689 1 year ago
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4:56 BLEEACH
4785689 1 year ago
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4785689 1 year ago
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4785689 1 year ago
i sat in cziffra's lap when i was a little boy
LORDOFHELLL 1 year ago 4
WOW!!!!!
Giara1984 1 year ago
both thumbs up for great composition and superb performance.
theFirecat00 1 year ago 2
With much respect to previous posters, but there are a selected few of posters here that are of excessive and quite irritating bigotry towards Cziffra.
With regards, Cziffra is a brilliant pianist. But why is he not named of the absolute BEST of the past century? In my humble opinion, and only in singular cases, he sacrifices musical phrasing for pure technical challenge, which although extremely exhilarating to the average listener, is not of great fidelity to the printed score.
TheOutcome7 1 year ago
@TheOutcome7 Nonsense. "the absolute BEST" is only claimed by opinionated biased fanatics (as love may make you blind, ha).
theFirecat00 1 year ago 2
@TheOutcome7 i find it like he asked for musical and not technical challenge... he had mastered the piano at it's higher possible technical point
but
he wanted to play pieces in a way never played by others.... like he saw them... like he felt it!
alejandrothefader 1 year ago
2:30'-3:00' is the best part
48104goblue 1 year ago
@48104goblue no its 4:00 at 5:00
pyrorca 1 year ago
and people wonder why cziffra was so good.. he was the greatest champion of liszts work.. you play music that challenging over a lifetime you are gonna get good haha. just look at a sheet of liszts music and youll see where the talent comes from.. practically equal dexterity in both hands.
dbikeguy 1 year ago 5
I don't understand how he gets such an effect on the galloping horse.
Goddammit horse leaps, They always pissed me off. I don't know if it is my dynamics or what, but it sounds so bad.
FranzLisztian 1 year ago
@FranzLisztian Perfect use of the sustain pedal actually.
maxdesp 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
bleah
newFranzFerencLiszt 2 years ago
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I've heard master pieces in performance by master Cziffra, but this is not one of them.
It sounds good (most the time) but the phrasing and meaning is not Liszt. (a ROMANTIC composer)... this work should be evocate a lyrical story... but the performance is too mechanical, I can't feel the romanticism neither lyricism that inspired to Franz Liszt .
Ray0X0 2 years ago
@Ray0X0
Woahhhhh noooo
Romantic pieces too romanticized sounds like mush
This song wasn't meant to be romanticized anyway... its supposed to sound like horse galloping..
Cziffra captures the art and true powerful beauty of this peace.
gnstjd518 2 years ago 42
@gnstjd518 I disagree. You can just hear from the mid section that it is romanticized. It isn't just a horse galloping, it is so much more then that. It is a story of a heroic tale, and that requires expression. Expression that is present in this piece, as played.
thegreatapologist 1 year ago
@thegreatapologist "Heroic tale"? Do you even know the story of Mazeppa? There's nothing heroic about it; it's gruesome.
OriginalBasaliskos 1 year ago
@OriginalBasaliskos Like the "Iliad" is a heroic gruesome?
thegreatapologist 1 year ago
@thegreatapologist The Iliad is nowhere as morbid as Mazeppa
ilikehaku1100 1 year ago
@ilikehaku1100 I've made my self more familiar with the story. The heroic taint that I described is the fact that Mazeppa (the title character) is being put under tribulation, but still survives. In fact, under Aristotle's definition of comedy, this would be one, as it begins in sorrow (the tribulation of Mazeppa) and ends in glory (his ascension to the throne.)
thegreatapologist 1 year ago
@gnstjd518 " songs" are for singing-piano works are for playing- sometimes referred to as music literature-though you got it right in the last sentence- Cziffra makes it real-a true virtuoso, its childs play for him
Bruce88keys 1 year ago
@gnstjd518 Bloody ignorant
pastafantastica 4 months ago
@gnstjd518 Is it a song ?! oO
TheScarix 4 months ago
@Ray0X0 spot on! this is most definitely not an "authentic" 19th century interpretation. Not that that's a bad thing....
themfromspace 1 year ago
What separates Cziffra's from all others and I do mean all others is his spare use of the pedal throughout. With his gargantuan technic , he doesn't need any like others do to cover up their inadequacies. This performance is absolutely amazing. Cziffra focuses on the MUSIC. The prancing horse in the 6/8 animato section is incredible! He even tastefully adds the orchestral trill that is in the 4th meas. of the Allegro deciso section. No one comes close!
CD122344 2 years ago 7
Cziffra doesn't have to think about accuracy! It's there. Most of this is WITHOUT pedal. There is no other version. He owns this one and a few more. ALL pale after this.
CD122344 2 years ago 23
@CD122344 Have you heard Berezovsky play it?
ann03071874 1 year ago
@CD122344 think you'll find berman performs this piece quite well, not nearly as fast, but definitely one of the great performances of this piece along with this one
ftballfrk 8 months ago
While the middle section it clearly wondeful, it's too bad that Cziffra is so focused on accuracy and execution (which is remarkable) but not on the overall sweep and intensity. The ultimate performance of Mazeppa is Berman, as he takes the monstrous piece on head on.
PIanoReview 2 years ago
@PIanoReview
i agree on that one
cziffra is generally a great liszt interpreter, and although i love this interpretation, i loved berman's even more. he has a completely brutal aproach. his version sounds like a true mad gallop, every cord is smashed with incredible intensity, like a madman. howver, in this version one can appreciate the technical details with a lot more clarity.
i dont doubt though, that cziffra couldve made that as well, on a day with very bad mood =)
chrism216 1 year ago
Such a diverse interpretation :) I liek it, also Berezovsky performs it quite well
PartyIbiza 2 years ago 8
I hear these Transcendental Etudes and it simply blows my mind away how much technique there is in what was supposed to be a practice piece. :D I think Cziffra's interpretation and Berezovsky's interpretations are both great. I can not tell the difference between either, because I'm still a beginning Piano student, but I give them their props for being able to play some of the hardest of the hardest.
HelloKwak 2 years ago 2
Not all Etudes are just meant to develop skill in students. Chopin's and LIszt's etudes were true masterpieces.
LazyBastard69 2 years ago 3
As usual, Cziffra displays mind-boggling technique and an extremely unique interpretation.
dasklavierleben 2 years ago 3
with the taste of hungarian melodies
brandistocker 2 years ago
My mistake, it is the 4th.
herbatadom 2 years ago
Isn't the 4th etude in B flat major? This is the 12th etude.
herbatadom 2 years ago
WOW Amazing version of Mazzeppa. All the melodies are brought out superbly!*****
Katherine223411 2 years ago 2
And...Listen to how much gun Cziffra has with this piece! He plays it, not merely performs it. The playing is so confident, he can inject humor into this heavy-handed fossil. Berezovski STRUGGLES to play it, and it sounds like that. Not even an attempt at interpretation; whereas Cziff gives us the irony of pieces like this. The worst thing to hear at any performance is struggling. Ouch! And I'm sure he didn't need a towel right afterward. Nagyan jol!
SeanFitandSmart 2 years ago 3
You are remarkably confident as to what is right.
Haeronthegreat 2 years ago 2
I can't tell whether your comment was meant sarcastically or seriously. But, I will say that after 40 years of playing and especially listening to pianists live, on records, on disc, I am indeed confident in my assessments. Not everyone may agree w/me, but I know I've thought things through thoroughly enough for me.
SeanFitandSmart 2 years ago 4
Comment removed
alejandrothefader 1 year ago
Hey, guys....Amazin' how the "no-pedal" sound has to "take some getting used to." THIS is the way Romantic repetoire was supposed to be played; pedal only serves to muddy the sound, and to cover for an imperfect or insecure technique. Ironically, it makes the performance even more muddy (see Berezovsky). Before hearing Cziffra, as I started hearing Berezovski, my first thought was "Why so much pedal?" You guys need to listen more closely to the real greats (Rachmaninoff, Hoffman, Friedman etc)
SeanFitandSmart 2 years ago 5
HAH! No pedal and smooth as silk, you gotta love the Cziff.
The interlocking octaves and jumps in liszt's works are playthings for Cziffra. You understand this if you've ever studied or heard his transcriptions...scary shit lol.
and Lol @ Arrau and Berezovsky's watered-down generic styles mentioned here.
BloodyLovin 2 years ago 2
the trill at 4:56 is pure genius.
the first half is probably exactly how liszt intended it to be, but i still prefer berezovsky's version..
JstAnothrVirtuoso 2 years ago 3
I think it sounds better "pedalingless".....
jgsky 2 years ago
Sounds so dry...
FranzLisztian 2 years ago
Actually, I am going to change my opinion about it sounding dry.
It took some time getting used to the "no pedaling" but now I can actually enjoy this, sounds really good.
FranzLisztian 2 years ago 4
I agree with you, the no pedaling is very nice.
mahler151 2 years ago 2
excellent clarity.
seahyimin 2 years ago
僕はシフラをガチで尊敬します
rina9199 2 years ago
起頭就把琴聲展現乾淨透亮，
抒情部分把弦律完整表達，輕重得宜。
後半部很靈巧的帶動，讓整部作品更顯生動
。
尾部之氣氛，很漸進式地走出，
使最終的連環八度不顯唐突。
拿捏的水準不愧出自大師之手!
seremerow 2 years ago 2
說得好
its not dry btw
tommy9882 2 years ago
Amazing
krokigrygg 2 years ago
His has always been one of my favourite interpretations...along with Lazar Berman. He captures the psycho genius that Liszt was. Must be in the Hungarian DNA...love it. What a gift to us all...
giulyy2 2 years ago 2
This is how all the pianists played 80 years ago... not so disciplined today... we have too many electronics now that get in the way :) haha! Great technique here, some of the best i've heard for Liszt!
MoronPianist 2 years ago 2
Those jumps are fucking NOTHING for Cziffra.
kastlesucks 2 years ago 7
is he improving a bit this etude?
Angel94angel94 2 years ago
oh yeah, he did a little I think....^0^
jgsky 2 years ago
Ferenc is smiling now.
glaucodichio 2 years ago 2
I dare say that this is not Cziffra...
This is Liszt playing....
Oh my God!
And if it is Cziffra ????
1978christos 2 years ago
Engraçado o ré menor descendente da cadência do começo... Parece um glissando!!! Pelamordedeus! Que diabo é isso!
nurieycastro 2 years ago
We always know, Cziffra is the best interpreter of liszt
tommy9882 2 years ago
I would also recommend Petri's recording, this one is phenomenal though.
morvensky 2 years ago
This is the best version I've ever heard of Mazzepa.
Left hand is simply amazing, the clearness shown throughout the whole piece is marvelous, less pedaling than other versions in most passages makes this very special.
The middle part on the other hand shows a very expressive and romantic motive hardly reached by other pianists.
Cziffra plays this in the most authentic sense of a symphonic poem.
Beautiful.
alexggable 2 years ago 6
Wow all of you guys compare these pianists way to much. I understand there's a version you like best but this is hardly the proper forum, is this the way you talk about your musical tastes with your friends? Please just comment on this video we don't care what you think about other videos, chances are we've seen them since we wouldn't be watching this if we didn't play/enjoy the piano in the first place. If you leave such fanboyish comments you just sound like a tool.Just enjoy the music quietly
Drybones52 2 years ago 2
comparisons will not hurt any pianist. That is the reason why we te pianists like to compare versions and different styles. Otherwise, we can listen to a MIDI File of Mazzepa and shut up our mouth (if you want)
henseltetude 2 years ago
I was wondering... Why Horowitz did not play mazzepa(actually...why he did not play the Trascendental Etudes?)? It would have been amazing to listen
henseltetude 2 years ago
Because he always play the wrong notes
Desmonddd2002 2 years ago
I suppose Cziffra played the part since 4:50 slowly because he wanted to make the trill at 4:56. Qutie funny for that, but I prefer the original fast speed which he can surely play.
civilbb 2 years ago
I thought I just heard some horse hoofs... in those thirds...
at least that part is excellent!
mathpianist93 2 years ago
This is the mazeppa how it should be played.
konzolmester 2 years ago 2
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Arrau's version far better (for me the best)... this version is what ever you want, but never romantic... out of Liszt's lyricism.
Ray0X0 2 years ago
For this piece
Arrau (recording) = more dynamics
Cziffra = more picturesque (I prefer this)
mathpianist93 2 years ago
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He is not afraid of breaking the rules to make it alive. With that kind of sensitivity he can't reach everybodys heart in cold times like we have today.
Cziffra is a genius. We all can see the centre of the target after his hits. A talent strikes the targets wich we all have known before. Thats the difference. Thanks to everybody who made Cziffra possible and that he was born in times of recording.
barakjoe 2 years ago 3
just amazing!
KlassikFan2007 2 years ago
After listening Arrau's intepretation of Mazeppa,I think that Cziffra doesn't add anything new or charming to this piece.
Timotheos80 2 years ago
I wonder if he recorded this after his son's death cause it shocked Cziffra Senior a bit...
Anyways,Great recording.
talonboy5432 2 years ago
This is amazing @-@ i dont want to attempt to even PLAY THIS!!! @-@
MahoRoulete 2 years ago 2
I think Cziffra plays this in an entirely different outlook. It's different and I like it. His technic and emphasis on playing each key correctly is amazing, maybe costing a little bit of speed but adding in accuracy.
CornWithSugar 2 years ago
The only way,mazeppa is played correctly.
konzolmester 2 years ago
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This must be the most boring interpretation I've heard. I mean he started out great with a good speed, then when the "horse" began, he slowed down and it sounds kinda dry. I´m kinda disapointed when I hear this because I know Cziffra is a big virtouso
addeex1 2 years ago
What makes this performance so remarkable is Cziffra's limited use of the pedal. This is the best Mazeppa I have ever heard. You can even imagine the prancing of a horse when the original theme is again restated after the descending chromatic chords and octave section. His dynamics are wonderful. I have yet to hear anybody living or passed ever play it like Ciffra. He owns this piece. He adds a turn found in the orchestrated version when the theme comes back in the major key. Amazing!
CD122344 2 years ago 8
Have you heard Arrau's version? I've always listened to Arrau's version, and I just bucked up on this version. Although they are quite different, I can't quite decide which one I like best.
nDNrMatt2 2 years ago
beautiful and the most difficult piece I've seen.
edtskyline 2 years ago
I honestly think that this is the type (I repeat: "the type") of pianism Liszt expressed in his EARLY years - not after the 70's.
Neilhoven 2 years ago
No actually - more hysterical. I take back my former comments... they're deluded!
Neilhoven 2 years ago
I agree with celach! he is a master i like some of his fast bits which are really unsurpassed but maybe Berezovsky's interpretation is better.
PartyIbiza 2 years ago
Finally! A MASTER on YOUTUBE!
Neilhoven 2 years ago 23
Youtube can suck dick.
konzolmester 2 years ago
Very interesting interpretation.
Shyrk 2 years ago
He began the piece at an incredibly fast tempo, and I was extremely excited that he would keep pace with it, but he didn't, so I'm not sure why he began it that way. The horse doesn't start slowing down until the "lo stesso tempo" section towards the middle. The "allegro deciso" at 4:54 was EXTREMELY disappointing.. that's when the horse suddenly kicks it in the ass and gallops faster than ever, and he played it slower than the introduction of the theme.
Disappointing cause I know he rocks.
celach 2 years ago 7
Holy crap, you're right. I was disappointed too. After listening to Arrau's version so many times, I was waiting for an explosion. I didn't get it. :(
nDNrMatt2 2 years ago
I think this performance is staggering. At the very least, the interlocking octaves beginning at 1:59 are dumbfounding. They sound like someone blasting down the street on a Harley. Certainly Liszt intended this piece and its companions -- they're Transcendental Etudes, for heaven's sake -- to kick in the afterburners when appropriate. Yes yes. I understand the caveat of the word "appropriate." BTW, I think the Arrau performances is wonderful, and I've had very mixed feelings about him.
cziffra11 2 years ago 3
Fastest scales i have ever heard
morvensky 2 years ago 2
He's having so much fun with that piece.....Cziffra is a Liszt-playing God. He makes it sound soo simple and easy. How does he do that? Amazing
mark4ever01 2 years ago 3
He also masters it by adding his own thoughts, which is simply amazing, the most complex song in history sounds so clean and simple, (despite the fact that he haven't use a pedal) He is very very amazing, it really is very mazzepa.
Desmonddd2002 2 years ago
too bad it's only audio..
lottoformulier 2 years ago 3
4:56 CHANGED WOW
blizzaroth 2 years ago 3
Cziffra e' il miglior interprete di Liszt! Ce poco da dire....
EddyGuido91 3 years ago
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Simply the worst I've ever heard. (After Berezovksy!) Sorry for saying this, guys. Just a personal opinion and no offence meant. There are some nice moments in this interpretation but overall it comletely lacks power and is also highly unmusical. No wonder Liszt has for so long been considered as a mere technician and an inferior musician with such performances. Cziffra is either too slow or, more often, too fast. Almost all inner voices and melodic lines are lost with him... Pity.
Spiritakis 3 years ago
So whose recording do you recommend?
However,I think Cziffra's Feux Follets was rather well done.
talonboy5432 3 years ago
I can't recommend anything. Music is so personal and intimate an experience that it's impossible to judge what is the best and how something would appeal to somebody.
I can tell only which is my favourite recording. That's the late one of Jorge Bolet (DECCA, 1985) - it's unusually slow but magnificent. His earlier one (Ensayo, 1970) is much more virtuosic but still a profound interpretation. The only one that comes closer (but it's still far away) to these is Claudio Arrau on Philips.
Spiritakis 3 years ago
Hmm...sounds interesting.
Thanks
talonboy5432 3 years ago
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I concur. This version is technically amazing, but musically lacking. The only performance that I liked less is the one by the 15 year old kid.
Corleone1337 3 years ago
okay, so... I am 14 years old and I am looking for a Song by Liszt to play in my piano recital... I want it to be in a minor key and on the louder side, however, I am not educated very much on many composer's works. I was hoping someone here could help me?
ADECEFilms 3 years ago
Liszt did not write easy works I'm sad to say.His works needed a lot of stamina to play as well as his pieces' lengths were about 10 pages average(well his pieces for "concert" anyways).So if you want to play Liszt you should go and check out his other pieces before attempting any Etude of his.I suggest his consolations first since they're short but nice to listen to.
talonboy5432 3 years ago
Consolation 3 is the only piece by him that is really easy
FranzLisztian 2 years ago
Not, not really. Lol the 2-3 technique may be hard for other.
But I know a bunch of "easy" liszt pieces.
addeex1 2 years ago
Play transcendental etude no 2 A Minor
It´s good. In my opinion Grand Etude no 2 is better
addeex1 2 years ago
Cziffra - the greatest piano technique of all time.
broomxx 3 years ago 6
That´s really true, it´s like both. Liszt´s wrote what he felt at the moment, an example is Mephisto Valse no1, At the first, fast part Liszt means how he shows off with many girls in the bed, then at the slow part he regrets and think agian about hiw life. And then it goes fast, and so it keeps on. It´s obviously that Liszt was confused
addeex1 3 years ago
SHUT THE FUCK UP NOOBS!!!!! This is Artisty!
Free Artisty!!!! I f you do not like it, do not listen to it!!!!
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I think this Piece is beautiful, in really good performance
matatakakiban 3 years ago
For a better understanding of this piece look into the poem "Mazeppa" written by Victor Hugo. This poem was Liszt's inspiration for this piece.
matthew1722 3 years ago
That's just preposterous. There are different performances but it is simply outrageous to claim that Cziffra is only showing off. After all it is "Cadenza ad libitum". Do you happen to know what that means? obviously not.
mursum151 3 years ago 6
wtf :S seriously, only interpretation I dislike from Cziffra. maybe it is the way to be played, but I prefer Berezowsky's, maybe because I am used to listen his interpretation of mazeppa.
spartan1081990 3 years ago
amazing interpretation. people who insult such a great performer is such an arrogant worthless piece of jerky shit
mysteriousmania 3 years ago
Why do you dislike Cziffra so much? You seem to have a constant need to flame him. Mostly just for doing things "too virtuosic".
VikingBerserker 3 years ago
Some people just like Berezovsky's performance better :P
FredilYupigo 3 years ago
I really love this song. It's so dark and mocking. It's like having toys laugh at you and yet, I love it and can't stop listening to it.
pokerjocy 3 years ago
Insane. The way he manages to play this piece gives me a good mind-f*ck.
squishym 3 years ago 3
because is a cadenza...is free of tempo
agrandb 3 years ago
yup.. FFL, you can be biased to certain interpretation but please don't start insulting the performers, especially when they're already like legend. you may end up becoming like mikecaffey!
rvn10rvn17 3 years ago