Emil Gilels plays Ravel "Alborada Del Gracioso"

[MrLiqouricestick]

I think this recording is Gilels at his technical best - sadly the quality of the recording, being old, is not the best. It is still an electric performance by a true legend.

[funkycatglasses01]

OMG those repeated notes!!!!

[andreimiricescu]

great interpretation, but...

just listen to lipatti's verions. out of this world.

[cantkeepitin]

@andreimiricescu Yes Lipatti is so great, but also he has a little advantage because his record is really historic, giving him a special atmosphere on top.

[alexikus08]

Great Music and Great Performance, thank you!

[uhartchristian]

Guilels was much better when he was young as he had time to study and concentrated only on that. Later he practised a lot less. Like Horowitz he was one of the elite pianists of the moscou conservatory. He decided to stay in russia Horowitz left. I don t know if he regretted his decision but I think he did. Well it was sad to see how he was under control of the communist regime when he could play outside of russia which did not happen often.

[username14657]

Sexy!!!

[proko514]

0:39 WOW!!!! Great Playing!

[wildejag]

Is Ravel mocking the lovers? No. I don't think so. He is cheering them on. Unless... he was mocking someone who would try to stop them. Think of mirror. This is a mirror on the wall in the Aubade of the Jester.

[weikko79]

Great playing from Gilels, not surprisingly.

[mikejr41387]

@weikko79 have you ever heard anything other than great playing from Gilels? has anyone?

[Scarbogn]

@mikejr41387 I've heard marvelous, amazing, energic, wonderful and supercalifragilisticexpialidoc­ious.

[Sinfoniette]

This really is my favorite part of the Miroirs cycle. Its a very interesting and exotic. Reminds me of a Spanish influence to me.

[MaestroTJS]

Geez, what gives you that idea? The title? The harmonies?  The fact that he makes the piano sound like a flamenco guitar?

Are you always so shocked by the OBVIOUS?

[grandwizardofyourmom]

Any reason you're being a dick to Sinfoniette? Probably just a dick in general? Gotta love the anonymous internet.  It's great to be a total dick to people you don't know.

[MaestroTJS]

It just seemed ridiculous to me that this person would note that a piece with a Spanish-sounding name, etc. would sound like it has a Spanish influence when that is the whole point.

That said, my comment may have been a little over-the-top.

My apologies to Sinfoniette.

[thegoodgeneral]

@MaestroTJS Hahaha.

[pjioayncoe]

Why is this movement called "The Comedian's Aubade"? Is Ravel mocking the departing lovers?

[formenlehre]

Fascinating approach! So rhythmically steady, yet the fast passages are just perfect. Amazing sound. I loved this performance.

[tHEnOOSEsWING]

Good recording.