Emil Gilels plays Stravinsky "Pétrouchka" (1/2)

[thisismymoniker]

Love the pedalling idea at 4:40, it sounds like Petroushka is drowning.  Then what a wonderful contrast with the staccatos at 5:40, (shame about the wrong notes there though the true harmonics are absolutely gorgeous). Overall this is the one of the most enthrallingly strange 2nd movement i've heard yet i think.

[demosj]

The Russian Danse is simply magical. No one has made the melody at 1:00 so lovely or the figurations at 1:20 less mechanical and more suitably mysterious.

[AttemptingToBeBusy]

Gilels sure is an interesting pianist... I'm not sure whether he's deliberately varying articulations for effect or if he's just inconsistent...

[WaldemarKoszlowsky]

Simply the best

[lovesGenet]

I didn't know Gilels could be so magical with his pedal and colourings. He is so romantic in early music I couldnt find fault his Rameau(the most gorgeous piano playing ever!)

This Petrouchka is so different! Lyrical ,gorgeous pianistic effects.pollini sounds hardedge n compare.Ilove THIS! he has tone color to rival Horowitz.I cant believe it to so long for these recs to made available.

the fancy ,imagination-Noone ever talks about the quiet naturalist Gilels is! His RAVEL will kill me!

[RabidCh]

Sokolov, Sokolov, Sokolov.

[reaperman2004]

It's okay... but if you love the Petruchka - you need to hear Pollini's or Weissenbergs... They truly played it to a level that just cannot be beaten.

The only reason I don't like this recording as much is that it isn't at the proper tempo... it's a tad slow and slows down the momentum of the piece.

But Gilels did do a decent job of it.

[Sinfoniette]

dear Andre, is this the recording from the Salzburg Festspiele? (or are there any other recordings that do exist?)

[truecrypt]

As I recall there are more recordings... at least the earlier one from Moscow and from Pargue.

This one should be from Prague, but as always I don't guarantee ;)

[GreggaryPeccary]

This is the definitive version to me

[archangelz1106]

Check out Wang Yuja. Killer!

[freeqwerqwer]

Too hurried, messy, and erratic. There's lots of power but was used ineffectively. Sokolov is the definitive version. I believe Gilels was the teacher of Sokolov or was the chairman of the committee of the 1966 Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in which 16 yr old Sokolov won 1st prize.

[WhyNne0w]

wow musicologists sure are perfectionists.......

[aewanko300]

Truly.

[danedaworld]

musicologist? musician ? composer? conductor? good choice of words!

[GreggaryPeccary]

Fuckwits give thumbs down

[mitubetu]

Mangnifico , Grandioso , Verdadero Genio.

[klausknulp]

I remember when Gilils played in Cologne 40 years ago. In his program: Mozart Sonata a-minor, Petroushka and Liszt Sonata. Encors: Rachmaninov some Preludes. After the concert somone asked him what was the most difficult part. He answered: "By no doubt it was Mozart!" I love Emil Gilils ..............

[doenen]

... I'm not so sure I agree. I mean, the entire thing itself is technically challenging to a mind-boggling extent (or maybe my hands are just freakishly tiny), but this is one of the less clean renditions I've heard. I don't know who plays the version I have on iTunes, for some reason the artist's name isn't there, but it's extremely well played, fantastical and jumpy (in a good way), while being very clean & precise at the same time.

If it helps, I do know it was recorded in Amsterdam.

[RabidCh]

I assume the one you're talking about is Kissin. My favorite is Weissenberg for his dry sound and heavy rhythm but Gilels has immense contrast in his dynamics and great energy. Cleanliness doesn't necessarily mean depth.

[doenen]

That's true, it doesn't, but clarity wasn't the only reason I liked the version I am talking about. It had great dynamic range and an almost dream-like kind of energy WHILE being clean & crisp, and that is an ability I find very admirable :)

[goldenagepianist]

why is it every time I see Stravinsky I think of a wise old turtle? LOL

Love the energy & spirit in this recording! Thanks for posting. Finally there is a performance with body and soul, not just pure perfection on notes...

[coasterman16]

This performance has a certain fantastical energy that many other performances lack...I don't know how exactly to classify this, but it one of the best recordings I have heard in a long time.

[sagalat]

Magnificent! Bravo!

[gerryrains]

Absolutely gorgeous!

[ondinegb]

His nuance is simply mind-boggling!from ppp to fff? Such a wide range of musical expression. I certainly would bargain with Devil in order to acquire such an amazing capability. It takes a superman to achieve such kind of feat on piano! Thanks very much for shaing these 2 vids.

[chad410]

This sounds like a young Gilels. I have another version

[weikko79]

I prefer Vedernikov's version, but Gilels is certainly second best (I find Pollini too "clinical"). I wonder if you could upload Vedernikov as well? Oh, and Arnold Kaplan, please.

[Pogouldiwitz]

I prefer Pollini's studio recording for the "Danse Russe." It's a slightly more reserved interpretation but it's a bit more "clean" (possibly due to studio environment?) and it has more of a rhythmic propulsion that I find very satisfying.