@meredith21846 berezovsky plays it at a similar speed (best part of this recording for me) and there is better audio. wish i could have heard this live. you should check out berezovsky's live vid :) he even puts more suspense into 5:00-5:27. its perfect IMHO
Every one labels this pianist or that pianist a great pianist and they probably are in some respects but that doesnt not make them great in every aspect of piano playing some are more suited to certain styles of music and composers than others.They even play certain composers pieces better than some of their other pieces and play some terribly.John Ogdon was a unique individual and was taken from us far too early and we missed out on so much more of his genius.
@espejosgigantes Jewish? Homosexuals? I understand actual ailments, but even as a Christian, I disagree with saying that Judiasm or homosexuality is an illness...
As good as he is, Ashkenazy isn't fit tie John Ogden's shoelaces. Ogden was one of a kind! So sad that he had to leave before his time. He had great potential to become one of the "immortatls"
ci sono molti famosi pianisti oggi che, se sparissero, non se ne sentirebbe la mancanza...ma Ogdon ci manca, grande, smisurato ed esagerato pianista, artista generoso e creativo...pianista che suona da vero musicista, con sprazzi geniali...
There are many famous pianists today who, if they disappear, do not feel their absence ... but we miss Ogdon, big, huge and exaggerated pianist, artist, generous and creative ... a pianist who plays like a true musician, with flashes of genius...
It's not 1986 - video quality, playing quality and youthful face make that clear. After his breakdown Ogden was a shadow of his former self. Maybe typo for 1968?
@cziffra1980 You could well be right. I wonder why it's black and white though. My main question is that I heard Ogdon play around this time and it was a complete mess technically as well as musically incoherent, whereas this LIszt is masterful in every way. It's hard to imagine they could come from the same period. But maybe he was just very variable after his illness.
@happehaha Given that this must have been a very important concert, I would think that all concerned would have made sure that his medication didn't affect his performance like it did in many others.
Can't believe that this tied with Ashkenazy as gold at that Tchaikovsky competition... this? compares with Ashkenazy? This is a great performance, by a pianist who is not in the same league as Maestro Ashkenazy.
@MrEnglishmath So this "great performance", which was recorded (if the info is correct) 13 years after a mental breakdown, doesn't justify his victory in a competition 24 years earlier? Non-sequitur. If in general, you don't think Ogdon deserved to tie for gold in '62, you're also at odds with jury members including Nikolaeva, Gilels, Richter...as well as Ashkenazy himself.
@MrEnglishmath This piece was one of his winning pieces in the competition, along with the E flat concerto. There is a CD of him playing it along with Ashkenazy playing Tchaikovsky 1st concerto and Dumka. It may be worth getting ahold of and comparing the two performances here and on the CD.
@MrEnglishmath Just as a point of information: a teacher of mine, a Russian who was at this competition, said most people felt Ogdon should have won outright. The tie with Ashkenazy (of course an incomparable artist - that requires no discussion) was political, otherwise it would have been the 2. Tschaikowsky in a row won by a non-Russian.
You have to LOVE how at 1:35 he pushes his glasses back & then just goes right for the kill. There are many first rate Mephistos ranging from Kapell to any number of great pianists such as Ashkenazy, Berman & others. However, when coupled with video, this performance creates an experience like no other. And how refreshing it is to watch a pianist who is all business and not too busy acting for the audience like Lang Lang. But make no mistake, this is virtuoso playing at the highest level.
Nicolas Economou owns this piece!
shilloshillos 7 months ago
This man is genius, and his playing reflects that. Amazing playing.
chrismanners1 7 months ago
@espejosgigantes YOu sound like Nazi propaganda...
SleepingTurtle1 8 months ago
Best live performance of this devilish piece I've heard with perhaps the exception of Richter.
meredith21846 8 months ago
@meredith21846 berezovsky plays it at a similar speed (best part of this recording for me) and there is better audio. wish i could have heard this live. you should check out berezovsky's live vid :) he even puts more suspense into 5:00-5:27. its perfect IMHO
amxmachine 5 months ago
Every one labels this pianist or that pianist a great pianist and they probably are in some respects but that doesnt not make them great in every aspect of piano playing some are more suited to certain styles of music and composers than others.They even play certain composers pieces better than some of their other pieces and play some terribly.John Ogdon was a unique individual and was taken from us far too early and we missed out on so much more of his genius.
TheGreatRichter 9 months ago
@espejosgigantes Jewish? Homosexuals? I understand actual ailments, but even as a Christian, I disagree with saying that Judiasm or homosexuality is an illness...
OrangeSodaKing 11 months ago
As good as he is, Ashkenazy isn't fit tie John Ogden's shoelaces. Ogden was one of a kind! So sad that he had to leave before his time. He had great potential to become one of the "immortatls"
Rastaleus2 1 year ago
strange appause... ;)
4785689 1 year ago
ci sono molti famosi pianisti oggi che, se sparissero, non se ne sentirebbe la mancanza...ma Ogdon ci manca, grande, smisurato ed esagerato pianista, artista generoso e creativo...pianista che suona da vero musicista, con sprazzi geniali...
There are many famous pianists today who, if they disappear, do not feel their absence ... but we miss Ogdon, big, huge and exaggerated pianist, artist, generous and creative ... a pianist who plays like a true musician, with flashes of genius...
gullivior 1 year ago
It's not 1986 - video quality, playing quality and youthful face make that clear. After his breakdown Ogden was a shadow of his former self. Maybe typo for 1968?
happehaha 1 year ago
@happehaha he doesn't look very young to me. Grey hair doesn't give any clues?
cziffra1980 5 months ago
@cziffra1980 You could well be right. I wonder why it's black and white though. My main question is that I heard Ogdon play around this time and it was a complete mess technically as well as musically incoherent, whereas this LIszt is masterful in every way. It's hard to imagine they could come from the same period. But maybe he was just very variable after his illness.
happehaha 5 months ago
@happehaha Given that this must have been a very important concert, I would think that all concerned would have made sure that his medication didn't affect his performance like it did in many others.
nostromissimo 4 months ago
What an amazing performance!
He was to die 3 years after this concert, in 1989, due to undiagnosed diabetes.
Sad too that from 1973 to 1983 he was absent from the concert platform due to a debillitating mental illness.
We must just be grateful that he was recorded,and that we can still play him on CD.etc
MrSwifts31 1 year ago 2
Can't believe that this tied with Ashkenazy as gold at that Tchaikovsky competition... this? compares with Ashkenazy? This is a great performance, by a pianist who is not in the same league as Maestro Ashkenazy.
MrEnglishmath 1 year ago
@MrEnglishmath So this "great performance", which was recorded (if the info is correct) 13 years after a mental breakdown, doesn't justify his victory in a competition 24 years earlier? Non-sequitur. If in general, you don't think Ogdon deserved to tie for gold in '62, you're also at odds with jury members including Nikolaeva, Gilels, Richter...as well as Ashkenazy himself.
micheldvorsky 1 year ago
@micheldvorsky yes, that's what i think. absolutely dreadful sound, and a struggling technique as compared with other pianists, let alone winners.
MrEnglishmath 1 year ago
@MrEnglishmath This piece was one of his winning pieces in the competition, along with the E flat concerto. There is a CD of him playing it along with Ashkenazy playing Tchaikovsky 1st concerto and Dumka. It may be worth getting ahold of and comparing the two performances here and on the CD.
OrangeSodaKing 1 year ago
@MrEnglishmath Just as a point of information: a teacher of mine, a Russian who was at this competition, said most people felt Ogdon should have won outright. The tie with Ashkenazy (of course an incomparable artist - that requires no discussion) was political, otherwise it would have been the 2. Tschaikowsky in a row won by a non-Russian.
assindiastignani 1 year ago
@MrEnglishmath This was after he had a mental breakdown. In 1962, he was much more mentally stable, and was also younger.
OrangeSodaKing 1 year ago
@MrEnglishmath At least he's not a complete bore like Ashkenazy. Honestly, he manages to take all the excitement out of most pieces he plays
mkeysou812 1 year ago
Great playing but why there is so much data reduction in the sound track??
IndependentClassical 1 year ago
O_O
PenisWurst030 1 year ago
His glasses were especially thick; too bad he apparently never got contacts. I liked the perfect octave jumps toward the end. A stellar performance.
nearenough3 1 year ago
You have to LOVE how at 1:35 he pushes his glasses back & then just goes right for the kill. There are many first rate Mephistos ranging from Kapell to any number of great pianists such as Ashkenazy, Berman & others. However, when coupled with video, this performance creates an experience like no other. And how refreshing it is to watch a pianist who is all business and not too busy acting for the audience like Lang Lang. But make no mistake, this is virtuoso playing at the highest level.
PIanoReview 1 year ago
@PIanoReview yes, yes...YES!
bennettpiano 1 year ago
beautifull... one of the most intensive and hightly virtuosistic performance live of the mephisto waltzer.. the right way to performe thei piece!!
devalmont79 1 year ago
6:14 onwards is just stunning. Amazing pianist.
micheldvorsky 1 year ago
It's great to see this colossus of the keyboard in performance - such unmatched power and virtuosity. Thanks for this valuable post.
VonSauer1 1 year ago
unbelieveable .....and otherworldly
pianistmusic 1 year ago
@pianistmusic oui,c'est bien ça,il est d'un autre monde,et le voir jouer est une chance
antoinezygfryd 7 months ago
great!
gcaee 2 years ago
Bravo!
111alexander111 2 years ago