Lazar Berman plays Liszt Douze Études d'exécution transcendante No. 12 "Chasse-Neige"

[dorfmanjones]

Arrau misses the final peroration the climax of the piece! But then again,we're on a different wavelength because Arrau's playing on that recording is patently threadbare; some of the tremolos clog up, (which is OK in a live performance but not in the recording studio.) Berman's Chasse-Neige is rhythmically stable in every respect; as far as dynamically uneven, I don't have a clue as to what that phrase even means. Enlighten me.

[arturon111]

@dorfmanjones : Arrau's version is simply the best. And the tremolos are as even as they can get,... Technically and musically is superior to any out there,... soundwise,... well, Arrau's sound is as legato, singing as it can get,...

[dorfmanjones]

@arturon111 Yes, I know people for whom Arrau can do no wrong. Several post here, apparently. But the Transcendentals catch him old and over the hill. It is questionable though, whether even in his salad days he could match up with Lazar Berman in these pieces. You'd probably have to go to Egon Petri for that.

[dorfmanjones]

This sounds like the stereo recording from the 1970's. There's nothing like it. Berezovsky and Arrau (Russell Sherman too) play this piece marvelously but only the young Bolet at Tanglewood in 1964 came close to this recording. Matter and Spirit in perfect combination. A great moment in the history of pianism.

[MartinVanBoven]

@dorfmanjones Thanks for the background info. The playing is OK, but in my opinion far too rhythmically and dynamically uneven to maintain or even invoke at all the atmosphere that belongs to this piece. Only one recorded pianist ever did that, Arrau. Noone else ever came close.

[mstalcup]

The melody, interspersed by tremolos - which eventually become alternating full chords played with both hands - is phrased as if a second pianist were playing the melody without contending with the challenges of the accompaniment. The chromatic scales are shaped in such a way that the "gusts of wind" are absolutely stunning. I especially love the way everything calms down at about 2:50 as if the piece were about to end - and then a hair-raising fury of a storm erupts. Truly profound.

[anonymousQ45]

the chromatic build up 2:52

[ann03071874]

His playing at the end of this piece is stupendous! I find Berezovsky's a little rushed, although its still amazing to watch!

[KlassikFan2007]

He makes such an amazing organic whole of this piece, from the very first to the very last note... amazing artist!

[ChrisWatch]

are these the douze etudes? Or the trance etudes?

[FranzLisztian]

@ChrisWatch

Transcendental, the Douze version of No.12 has an intro that Liszt removed.

[AlexAlcyone]

The story is mentioned in Walker's "Franz Liszt: The Virtuoso Years". He provides a lot of references so there may be a source ref, I don't know.

[rvn10rvn17]

arrau's version matches this one..

[ann03071874]

@rvn10rvn17 It comes close...

[Eristhenes]

This IS the quintessential version. Berman's Transcendental Etudes are definitive, phenomenal, unmatched, peerless!

[singsinsing]

At least this 'average' performance is better than Berezovsky's rather mediocre interpretation.

[ann03071874]

@singsinsing I think Berman and Berezovsky's versions pwn all.

[frederickfrederikfre]

Lugansky

[AlexPxr8]

This is pretty amazing.. such majestic power! But give me Arrau on this any day though for sheer poetry and depth. This is Chasse-Neige, the snow-drifting wind, not Orage, the storm.

If you are playing it properly, the piano dissolves and you are in a winter landscape. There's a story of how Liszt, travelling between concerts one winter night, sat out with the coachman and got fully covered in snow. If you can make the piano, concert hall and everything disappear, you are the master. ;)

[anonymousQ45]

id like to read that story

[aldebussy]

Interesting tremolos. They're kind of 'noty' though.

[concerto35]

I have heard many versions of this. However Lazar Berman's is the most substantial and most profound interpretation to date. Everything exists in proper proportions: the speed, the logical succession of dynamics and the deep, rich tone. I believe that Liszt would have admired this performance.

[Aul1kki]

In my opinion berezovsky's version is best. Every part is clear and there is no technical difficulty. It's fast and full of strong feelings.

[concerto35]

I have heard Berezovsky's performance. He is indeed an incredible pianist. His playing of the Liszt's Mazeppa #4 is incomparable. But in my opinion, Chasse-Neige by Lazar Berman holds something special for me. Again this could be a matter of taste. Have you played or looked at any of the scores of the aforementioned works?

[sirvio666]

Those low Ebs' at 3:14 are so powerful in his performance, earth-shattering. I wish I were in the presence of that piano during this performance.

[Aul1kki]

Berezovsky's version of this piece is unbelievable clear. There is no place where you can hear something like minimum pause or something. And it's so even. It's almost like metronomical, but still living. I think those things makes berezovsky's version best in my opinion. This is great too, but techically not even close. Also there is no unique musical idea, so this is just a little bit better than average version of this piece.

[celach]

@Aul1kki I agree, I love Berezovsky's

[Aul1kki]

I have scores of transcendental etudes and I have tried to play those, just noticing that I'm not good enough. Funny thing is there are pieces that you are allowed to play almost miserably. And I'm talking about recordings of some alkan pieces and so on played by professionals. Youtube is full of failed attempts to play these pieces and other hard works. It can teach you a lot, but why to put here something you can't play properly?

[ajeptorres]

@concerto35 have yopu benn heard kissin's or ovchinilov versions?? i guess that you'll reevaluate your sentence then you listhen them :)

[anonymousQ45]

@concerto35 listen to Mark Farago he has a very unique and powerful interpretation, its on here

[VikingBerserker]

This is an incredible performance!

[slothvader]

sure is. besides the tremolo technique, the finger independence is dazzling.

maybe liszt could play it better;  maybe not.

berman owns the t.e.s, imo.