Claudio Arrau plays Liszt Sonata in B minor (2/4)

[ipublica]

If I might not be overbearing with my input tonight, I would like to say after years of studying Liszt that what the secret is to render this music in an authentic manner is to first master the technique and then the sound quality. The mistake most pianists do with this music is to achieve at a maximum speed which destroys about everything. Arrau has this wisdom of his teacher Krause that you should always render a piece a little bit slower that you could actually render it. This is safety also.

[sorobji]

It may be a very personal interpretation - I think he follows the text to the letter, though - but it is highly convincing. LIke when I listen to him, it's like "there IS no other way". He tells a story, he's a painter, he's a consumate artist.

[superbemaison]

Too personal-boring!!

[arturon111]

@superbemaison what do you mean by boring?-Arrau plays the BEST Liszt sonata of any pianist....

[boxers7x5]

@superbemaison

LOL.

[MrPaevo]

With Arrau you get ALL of Liszt...

[fledgehog]

love this version, although the most passionate is Pogorelic's (though he surrenders a bit of musicality to passion), and the DEFINITIVE version in terms of emotion, playing, and just...everything...is zimerman's. hands down.

[Ray0X0]

@fledgehog Both are great pianists and they are among my favorites, but they haven't the interpretative technical perfection than Arrau. Arrau takes care of every single note played ... each note is studied and has a meaning, has a meaning that is exquisitely interconnected to the whole ... I have never heard another pianist achieve that interpretative perfection.

[boxers7x5]

@Ray0X0

Right one.

[beethomozart]

excellent performance of this fantastic work by the hungarian genius Liszt, Arrau knows exctly the technique to be played as Liszt wanted to , I would imagine just cause it sounds like Liszt

[Footballzeal]

@beethomozart true true , totally agree with you , one word for claudio arrau , passion , he got that passion on liszt

[ipublica]

@beethomozart Good remark that I appreciate. However, we do not really know how Liszt played. There is however a very important testimonial by Claudio Arrau who studied the sources and said that he was not at all the 'glamorous' dandy he was painted in many biographies, but an absolutely integer composer and musician, not looking for 'show' but authentic rendering of musical content. And yes, Arrau subscribes to this puristic paradigm, an integer musician and man, a wonderful soul.

[VampieraNL]

I have this piece played by Horowitz... it rocks!

[honron23]

This is sooo far my favourite recording of this work, his sound and technique are sooo amazing, as well as his performance in general

[libetta]

i believe in individuality but after hearing this countless times, i think there's no other way to conjure up Liszt's spirit in any other manner but this. Arrau's playing is so full of soul and passion.

p.s: i don't understand why people regard horowitz's 1932 recording

[boxers7x5]

@libetta

Arrau pretty much owned this work.

[gerardbedecarter]

*****

[fortissimo25]

thanks for posting this - the climax... he played it a bit delayed...

[mimibyrd]

I rather liked it though. I felt, it gave it more weight, you know?