Ashkenazy plays Ballade no. 1 in G Minor (AUDIO ONLY)

[MrPneunomia]

This is a very original interpretation

[axelcerodoce]

my favourite intrespretation is of januz olejniczak :) this is good too

[69querfahrer]

WOW

[llllShArPllll]

This piece stars to suck after 9:59

[mimochien]

As far as the piano is concerned, I don't think it is an instrument problem, but more quality of the recording. Listen to the unsurpassed Rachmaninov's preludes by the same Ashkenazy. The first Cd edition came with a harsh, metallic sound. Then they reissued it in the legendary recordings series. It is a dream. One would never believe it is the actual same recording !

By the way, the ballades also exist now in this legendary recordings series, along with scherzi. Not to be missed

[mimochien]

For once, good comments on youtube, no such inanities as the pianist does not have any feelings, he plays wrong notes, and so on. It feels good to read neutral objective constructive comments.

[Piethowen]

Ashkenazy is half jew - father and half russian - mother, but ina fact he is wonderfull pianist, I really like his presto agitato - Beethoven Sonata No. 14.

[sshuck]

@Piethowen Ashkenazy is helf-Jew, half-Russian, but he's actually a wonderful pianist? Jews and Russians aren't mutually exclusive peoples, and neither has anything to do with being or not being a wonderful pianist.

The fact this comment got two thumbs up - from a supposedly educated crowd - shows you what's going on these days, I'm afraid....

[meredith218461]

A superbly judged performance. Have always admired this great artist, especially during his pianistic heyday years (60s/70s).

[mapetite46]

To mindovermattjr:

In fact, the wonderful Mr Ashkenazy is Russian!

[MadMadMadTom]

Fortunately just about everyone who was anyone in the realm of classical piano has recorded this piece, so we can listen to dozens if not hundreds of different takes - some brilliant - some annoyingly eccentric (and some just plain bad - even by some very big names) - but if you had to choose just one to listen to for the rest of your life ... well I don't there is any better than this.

[mindovermattjr]

what with that picture omg best chopin interpreter is Ashkenazy. i think he must be polish because noone russian can play the piano that good. Chopin = Polish

[gojewla]

I'm assuming this is the early recording, is this correct? If not, this sounds better than any Ashkenazy recording I ever heard on Decca. This is really wonderful playing.

[VIIGerman]

I've got Vladimir Ashkenazy's Chopin experience albumns and!:P i think he's the best intermpreter for this beautiful compositions.. BUT! it's only my thought, i think, other people may think different than me

[seremerow]

每個音的落點是多麼地深沉啊!

拖長的拍子讓故事性更足了~

後面情緒高漲之處，很壓抑!

精力集中在音樂的情感面上，

音色儘管無多加著墨，但縝密思慮出令人凝神難忘^^

[isabruch]

SUBLIME

[kirkusinthecircus]

I first heard this song when I watched The Pianist in that scene where Szpliman was playing on the piano after he dropped the pickles. That interpretation of the piece in the movie was so stunning that it got me excited enough to look up the internet for it. I listened to tons of recordings: Gavrilov, Arrau, Zimerman, etc. I thought Zimerman held the best recording of it until I heard this one. Ashkenazy's rich expression and excellent finger dexterity outplay Zimerman's Polish spirit.

[VSKCREW]

@kirkusinthecircus have you heard Rubinsteins record? it's better than Zimerman.. a bit similar to this one I think. Although Rubinstein is more delicate in the fast sections I think.. :)

[cattleman6420012000]

This is truly fabulous playing and very good deep interpretation. Superbly sensitive.

[returnthisserve7]

everyone's talking about this guy, horowitz, and michelangeli...what about murray perrahia? its magic everytime he touches the piano let alone chopin's masterpieces...listen to it. (this is still in my top 3 fav recordings of this piece with no set 1 2 and 3)

[ConcertPianist]

Perahia is wonderful—another great artist, and, student of my mentor Horszowski, I might add.

[88jerome]

Yes I agree, I've heard his recordings of the Chopin etudes, he's amazing

[maxhansendk]

I am sorry to dissapoint the "Ashkenazy fans" here.

This is excellent playing but still not close to the master Vladimir Horowitz for me!

Listen to Horowitz version here on youtube when he was 65 years old. It is still unsurpassable!

Imagine how Horowitz sounded like when he was 30!

He has a much richer "sound-palette" then anyone else thanks to his fantastic tecnique. Look in slow motion at the "race horses" Horowitz fingers are. Especially the "pinky-finger when it folds under his hand.

[ConcertPianist]

I am afraid this is your opinion—and, for that matter, it will always be. No one pianist is exclusively better than another. Every musician has something about their playing that other musicians want—ask any pianist alive today, Argerich, Licad, Zimerman, and they will tell you the same. In fact, if we are stating opinions, I will go as far to say Horszowski is better than Horowitz—but, then again, I may favour Mr. Horszowski since I studied in lineage.

[infajoe]

why u always make someone to compare with Horowitz??

You can play this piece well as same sa ashkenazy?

[steven08123]

thanks for sharing...

[kdlm99]

This the best performance of this ballade EVER. Not just interpretively, but technically as well. He is every bit as much of a genius here as the composer. His finger movement makes almost everyone else sound clumsy. Michelangeli comes in 2nd for me. I've listened to dozens of recordings of this piece. Argerich and Rubinstein are not in the running. I only wish Ashkenazy had this inspiration in all of his playing. His second ballade is entirely unparalleled.

[gonzal0999]

is best RUbinstein ,_.

[petykuk]

you should also listen this from Martha Argerich! its amazing..

[VIIGerman]

the best interpreter for this beautiful composition.

[hinatachansama]

es lohnt sich aber nach der aufnahme von eugen indjic zu suchen.

[hinatachansama]

ich denke am schönsten ist ein nicht aufgenommenes spiel

[sharknosediesel]

For much of my life, Ashkenazy's Chopi, especially the Ballades, was at the top of my list. But in my dotage I find myself tending to Michelangeli as the ideal. His recording of the g minor Ballade is my current favorite. Interesting comment about Ashkenazy's choice of pianos.  I too have often felt that the piano was not up to the poetic range of his playing.

I agree with the "hollow and tinny" comment. As for the "restrained" comment, try Michelangeli. Sometimes less is more.

[royo90]

I agree with you about Michelangeli. His playing is so subtle. He doesn't care for grandeur or bravura.

[MillyProductions]

i love ashkenazy, his chopin is certainly his forte( oh the pun.)

[singsinsing]

Ashkenazy isn't someone whose Chopin I'd listen to, but he plays the ballades quite OK, certainly his best performances of Chopin. Benno Moiseiwitsch's recordings of the ballades are fabulous, one of the best ever, perhaps!

[skryabyn]

i dont understand ashkenazy.

he plays SO BEAUTIFULLY but chooses such TERRIBLE pianos! Take for instance the Scriabin sonatas- such playing, such horrid piano!

[9Zekia]

Interesting that you find Ashkenazy's piano choices terrible, as his favored piano is the Bosendorfer.

I believe that this recording was played on a 290. The extended range adds such richness to the over-all sound, but especially to the bass.

However, the Bosendorfer sound may not be your cup of tea.

For me, Ashkenazy is a gift from the gods, as is the Bosendorfer piano.

This is, by the way, my all time favorite interpretation of this Ballade. Perfection!

[skryabyn]

Indeed, Ashkenazy IS a gift from the gods! But I don't know- the piano sounds so hollow and tinny, though the softer sections do sound quite velvety. But in the Scriabin Two Poems, op. 32, the piano can't seem to stand the second one, though can any piano stand such a violent storm of chords:)? The bass notes in that recording are so tinny that the piano sounds toyish, metallic and his incredible playing is all but overshadowed by the timbre.

[cattleman6420012000]

skryabyn. Ashkenazy's musical abilities are a gift from up above. He is a fabulous musician and an incredible pianist.

[apollolock]

Finally, a restrained 1st Ballade version by a Russian. *ahem* Gavrilov and Richter, who are nonetheless phenominal pianists

[cattleman6420012000]

This is the best recording I have ever heard of this piece. Ashkenazy is an unbeleavably great pianist.

[elricame]

Una interpretacion muy muy buena

[buckland55]

The best pianist to play Chopin - so sensitive in his interpretations. I could listen to this tune eternally.

[nicoejz]

I think he's playing a pianoforte, because the bass strings seem very clear.

[Toweley22992]

Absolutely definitive. His Presto ending is like no other.

[onesoongee]

Oh My God

[Echoes1992]

What a beautiful play...

...and this is definitely the best interpretation!

thank you for posting it:)

[guillermoenoc]

La primera version de Azhkenazy de esta obra fue grabada en 1967 a sus 27 años. Es un poco mas rapida pero igualmente notable. Que expresion!!!

[UpMaGiC7]

By far the best interpretation of this piece.

[continue888]

Thank your for uploading!! I've been looking for his performance;)

[Mozartkugel82]

It's sublime alright! Best pianist that ever lived!!!

[meredith21846]

A beautifully judged performance.

[tenminutesgone]

Thanks for posting this, Haeron. My favourite interpretation of the Ballade in G - once heard, it's a tough act for anyone to follow - past or present!

Wonderful.

[julioanoguera]

few pianists manage to interpret all styles, from Bach to Prokofiev, so superior!.

obviously, just in russia!

[girgiii]

That's my most favourite performance of the ballad. Both Ashkenazy's playing and Chopin's piece are incredible. Thank you soooooooooooooo much for posting :)

[vladdegs]

A natural genius playing one of the greatest works of another great genius. Is there no limit to Ashkenazy's talents and perfectionism? An amazing man and a superlative musician to boot.

[hsudr]

Very beautifully played. I feel so moved. A great pianist plaing a most beautiful piece. Thank you for sharing this.

[pianopony101]

This piece gets me EVERY time... I always have to keep tissues handy.

[TwelfthRoot2]

I know what you mean. I have listened to Ashkenazy's recording of this way too many times (not enough actually haha) on my headphones before going to bed and I feel my legs moving when I hear this. Especially during the crescendos :-)

[HristoPetrofff]

Amazing performanse.There is everything in it.And most important is that it is real Chopin.

[cattleman6420012000]

A wonderful player and musician.

[Haeronthegreat]

Yep. Ashkenazy's a miracle. One of the greatest pianists ever and a brilliant conductor to boot :)