Georges Cziffra - Chopin etude no.12 op.25

[mrjohanntomas]

THE BEST PIANIST EVER!

[viktorolaf]

AMAZING!

[iif5]

Cziffra's playing is so powerful as usual.

[tastyy24]

BOOOOOOOOM!!

[balladeop23no1]

What kind of piano can make such a BOOM sound... OMG LIKE Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.

[balladeop23no1]

OMG I found the possibility of thrash metal on the piano.

[crm4F240]

If you'd excercise your hands and create MUSCLES, you'll find the answer to the question about the BOOM. The Bösendorfer off course is very helpfull but the credits go to Cziffra. Thanks!

[jonbaum]

@crm4F240 It's not muscles that do it, it's arm weight. If it were down to muscles it would sound like hitting the piano and not like a "boom".

[zabuzato]

@jonbaum exactly ^ But it's not only the arm weight, it's the whole body ;)

[anonymousQ45]

what really makes this stand out is that BOOM just before 0:11

[anonymousQ45]

i used to think this version was too heavy. i like it now

[debussy843]

@anonymousQ45 That's interesting, since we argued about it forever when I tried to convince you the recording was superior and you were still in denial. Not that I needed validation but thanks for clarifying that I was, in fact, correct.

[ClaesTurtle]

Chopin poured his heart at and into the piano. Cziffra has brought it to the ears of modern day listeners. I fell in love with music again after the first few notes.

[Eztoez]

How on earth does he make those bass accents so dramatic? Unless he's adding in additional octaves or its a 97 key Bossendorfer....staggering sound

[darkblueangel1956]

@Eztoez

BOSENDORFER !!

[Eztoez]

I can't work out which one I prefer: Horowitz or Cziffra.

[DunNotCome]

omg lols i haf no idea how to make the epic accent on every start of the phrase haha.

[dancersover40]

My heat is torn out! This kind of playing is beyond human!

[RemovdSande11]

I love this man. He teaches me the piano even when is already long at rest...

[tombennettpiano]

@RemovdSande11 yes!

[petervanhintum]

his simply the master! It's the good tempo, the drama and dynamics!

I think the name ocean actually not fit. The piece is about love...

[SSchrevel]

@petervanhintum water (therefore also the sea) is often related to love and emotion!

[petervanhintum]

@SSchrevel

True, but it's so illustrating.... anyway, it's  great piece!

[hjiuhfhrehui]

@petervanhintum hmm i dont agree about love... its to rough to go about love :) ocean is fine for me ^^. like big waves coming in and smashing on a deck of a ship or something :3 a real storm :3

[petervanhintum]

his simply the master! It's the good tempo, the drama and dynamics!

I think the name ocean actually not fit. The piece is bout love...

[ndknarf]

I think, Valentina Lisitsa's version is the best in all youtube!

[Zoldi77]

@ndknarf I don't like Valentina's interpretations of chopin etudes..

[alejandrothefader]

@ndknarf not at all!!! she has some points, but no, pollini destroys her as in balance and performance and brilliance, in some sokolov gets double tempo than she does :P , so she isnt the fastest either nor the clearest, and cziffra nails some etudes she doesn't and beats her dynamics by far.... so, wrong... yet it's your opinion, so im not hating

[speedy4500]

What an astonishing performance. I can't stop listening to it.

[trschaefer]

He's just unbelievable. A wonderful rendition.

[MGordge]

It is such a shame that they dont have a video of this:(

That poor keyboard:L

[Musicman180]

shit he's doubling the bottom notes into octaves sometimes :O

[DzikenS94]

Nie ma potężniejszej wersji tej etiudy. Cziffra dzięki technice mógł nadać odpowiedni charakter, odpowiedni tragizm.

[simmo303]

Fair sets my nerves tingling.

[shadecross]

I was always said it... cziffra must be possessed by the devil

[inazuma3gou]

Tsunami is coming!

[Chopininoff]

jizz in my pants...

[777mrpiano777]

the man is a legend.

no pianist beats him.

he is a demon

[JupiterIV]

@777mrpiano777 You DO know of course that's what they said about the violinist Niccolo Paganini.

[777mrpiano777]

@JupiterIV Yeah i imagine hahah :)

i know theres always someone better hahaha :) but this guy tops it for me these days.

cziffra is amazing.

[NuovoCurioso]

Meraviglioso!

[loboris1995]

Richter is not bad either^^

[orchid75]

5 retards

[ThePaczki]

Epic

[wiitubeaccount]

the version i put in my favorites out of all the ones in youtube.

[lovesGenet]

This is sooo mighty if someone said it was young RICHTER I would believe it.this is phenomenal and titanic ! Have not ever heard it this powerful !

[6lues6rother]

Proud to be loud :)

[WaldemarKoszlowsky]

RIDICULOUS

[NuovoCurioso]

@WaldemarKoszlowsky

...come puoi pensare che sia ridicolo?????

Cziffra era ed è un Grande!!!

Tra l'altro rispettiamo almeno la sua memoria.

[kiitoob]

indeed...very energetic!

[mestreliszt]

I think that is the most poweful version on youtube I love it

[dandelion1967]

Great, amazing, but this atomic bombs were not written by Chopin. Maybe someone will play this study, each note with his octave, at much more speed, and we will forget Sciffra. And maybe will be a man with three arms, and will play this study at triple octave. Crap.

[AlexAlcyone]

Fabulous!!

[Malaka57]

Cziffra means "colorful, decorated" in Hungarian, and there is a little hint of 19th century braggadoccio here. I happened to have grown up with Cziffra's playing and I like it a lot. There is something phenomenally exciting the way he makes it vibrate through those repeated notes. ... and there is that extra note or two at 1:22....

[BodomHeart17]

he still being the best for me

[debussy84]

I understand perfectly your point of view. I'll leave it at that. Later.

[victorviolin]

Cziffra forgot one single and simple detail: it´s Chopin´s etude... not Liszt!! :-D

[TTakach999]

@victorviolin i agree Chopin is more refined and lyrical...but holy shit...

[victorviolin]

Cziffra forgot one single detail: It´s Chopin´s etude... not Liszt!! :-D

[debussy84]

Scratch what i said earlier, id probably still have ripped you apart if you said this was a bad interpretation. Chow!

[debussy84]

"In order to do that, you can't start too loud" Is that some rule i'm unaware of or did you just make that up. There's no deviation strategically, the build up, the climax, its all there for me. I wouldn't have a problem with anyone saying its a bad interpretation but you've never said that. Anonymous said its too violent to be chopin and then you brilliantly defended him/her saying i'm unfamiliar with the score. You both were/are wrong.

[debussy84]

Again, i said he adds octaves that aren't there so it's pointless telling where he deviates from chopin's exact instructions. I my opinion, this is the best interpretation and the essence of what chopin was looking for.

[debussy84]

As for you saying he simply does not follow what chopin wrote exactly, news flash, no one does. You'll have to be specific since that statement applies to all pianist and all their recording (if romantic). I'm not arguing that he follows the instructions bar by bar, i'm saying he captures the piece as a whole, as chopin was intending. Surely you don't think your (and my) interpretive skills are better genius pianist cziffra's?

[debussy84]

" there is no way to argue that his opening is forte"??? That makes sense?!I was unware there were specified decimal levels for p to ffff. The opening is written as f. What you're saying is fff at the start i'm saying is f. And someone else might say is ff. As for minor deviations (like his crescendo not ending on the exact bar, lol!), if you follow any pianist recording of any song bar by bar you will find minor deviations. I disagree that there are significant deviations to this recording.

[nmbanana]

@donaldcallen "but there are some where I just shake my head and ask "what was he thinking?""

he was thinking different then your average, heartless robot.

[debussy84]

Well, than we can agree to disagree and i think it's a matter of tastes. For me, the differences in volume and changes in tempo he added were very apparent this first time i heard it. Maybe his p if an f and his f is an ffff, but the differences were still there for me. The whole things builds up to the final major chorus. And where chopin has "ff" he adds octaves for even more volume and power. Unlike anonymous, imo its not supposed to be dainty, it should be angry, hard and violent.

[debussy84]

I've been playing this piece for about 10 years now (obviously nowhere near this good) and i still have an uxtext edition book of chopin's etudes that i bought years ago. Regardless of that, you're an idiot. I could point out changes in written tempo and volume of any recording by all the great pianists who have recorded romantic era compositions. Your post pointing out (bar by bar, LOL!) where cziffra strays only highlights that fact that you haven't noticed its ubiquitous in all recordings.

[anonymousQ45]

im so tired of everybody talking about Cziffra this is too hard and violent to be Chopin. this is not con fuoco, this is fff. when you think 'play with fire' you have to remember that first smoke simmers, then fire grows, and at its highest peak is when most powerful. Cziffra plays with nuclear blast (not a compliment) destroying the nature of the piece idk if you thumb me down i know wat im talking about. Ashkenazy displays complete musicality of this etude hands down

[debussy84]

"this is too hard and violent to be Chopin"... Way to showcase your lack of knowledge of Chopin's music.

[anonymousQ45]

@debussy84 pointless arguing on here its a bad interpretation Czzifra always pushes to far

[debussy84]

It's the best interpretation of this piece. I've bashed some of his other etudes that are posted on here, but this is amazing.

[SHAuriscope]

Undoubtably wonderful, but the tone is a little too harsh for my tastes. More the piano's fault than anything else.

[Liptonater]

wonderful... he must have added the bass to express more of his personal feelings regarding the piece

[LarsenPiano]

He's sometimes adding an octave into the bass to give it more volume and power.

[composerjoZ]

AMAZZZZZZZZZZZIIIIIIIIIIINNNGG­G

[kwastormayt]

OMG.

[lovesGenet]

CZIFFRA DOES WHAY CORTOT DOES but still stronger .He gives us 2 BASES. Tears through the music whenever the first c minor melody showa up. and he uses trhe lower left hand to add terrifying weight .He maybe out does CORTOT in CORTOT 's idea? ANYWAY my fave is ARGERICH live in this. SOUND is better too!I've got over 20 complete versionsGavr,Berezov,

Ashken,PolliniLortie,Novaespoo­rPerlemuter etc.many pianists in this but ARG wins out !

[1citycouncil]

@lovesGenet --Even Better than Sokolov's?

[BoristheONEandonly]

sokolov is No. 1 ! :)

[Pianoloverlux]

Absolutely fabulous! After listening to many other interpretations, this one stands out as one closest to my own undestanding of the piece (it would be stupid of course to say "the best"). Pity we cannot book a seat to his next concert!

[TheCinemaization]

Fantastic!

[maydengarNSBHS]

BEAST!!!!!

[Ray0X0]

Amazing... really. The great Georges Cziffra made an impressive and beautiful performance of this etude...

[sneakfast]

extremely good.. cziffra owns this etude so much

[spike2133876]

i hear double octaves being played in the bass at times. its very hard to do that. good job, i love it

[sirvio666]

So you knew the man? Heard him play?

You're a lucky guy.

[billyguns2]

I find this performance largely an exercise in banging; where is the singing melody? Listen to Richter, Cortot, or Backhaus in this piece to find the beauty in it.

[sirvio666]

What if I don't want to hear the "singing" in this piece, but rather the fight against sadness with anger? I find the anger displayed here quite beautiful as well. Beautiful in a more powerful, almost scary way.

[debussy84]

You're on crack! This piece is very much open for interpretation, i don't know why you obsess over their versions, which are very similar: passive, droning, much too quiet at some points, without climax, and feminine. Cziffra's version is contrastly very masculine, and the last "chorus" resolves the whole piece and is the obvious climax to any amateur listener. Only people who know the etude can "hear" your preferred vesions (that's not a good thing!). Many would prefer this interpretation.

[billyguns2]

What you hear as "masculine," I hear as unremitting banging; I was taught to make the piano sing. You also imply that being an educated listener who knows the piece well is "not a good thing." !!! Are you saying "ignorance is bliss?" Ignorance is abject misery; just look at the state of the world! As to others preferring this interpertation, so be it; I'm not out to change the world, just to share opinions. You weaken your position by resorting to insults.

[debussy84]

I was taught that the audience should be fully engaged and awake as opposed to looking at their wrist watch and yawning. I was also taught the "sing" doesn't mean pussying out chopin's music like so many mistakenly do. And yes, if you perform to group with a mix of elitist from the conservatory and teens who never listen to classical, everyone in the audience should be engaged and understand the music. You shouldn't have to hear a song IN ADVANCE to hear the melody in someone's interpretation.

[copyofacopy1]

Agreed

[johnalt16]

Wow.

[aniri666]

The recording is aweful, sorry. But the performace is great.

[EtrofOnaip]

I agree with aniri666 - Where did they place the microphone(-s) ? Above the hammers it seems, or maybe UNDER the piano...

[xiangyik]

Don't see your point at all, bud.

[lucinda2005]

love the drama. thank you!

[xiangyik]

And can whoever it is stop marking negativie comments as spam? That's just mean and totalitatian. If I can say "it rocks" I can say "it sux" as well.

[xiangyik]

Sorry, I'm afraid I do not like the bass octaves here at all. At certain climaxes I must say they work very well, at the start of the runs in C maj, and at 1.24 at the repeat of the theme for example. But for me when they are smashed so persistently the melodic flow just goes pssfht, especially since in the beginning it's just a pedal point C that muddles the main melody.

[alekrussote]

Bravo, very alive !!

[StrmUndDrng]

i have the feeling he plays octaves in the bass sometimes...

[debussy84]

he is, i must say, bravo, here is all of us completely fooled

[Ecthelon]

it sparkles ^^;;

[talonboy5432]

Cziffra made this from an Ocean Etude into a Etude about the Tsunami...Love the bass notes which he just slams with power.

[DSP1206]

the best pianist！

[pringlesgiraffe]

cziffra is god

[Ellinidara]

amazing interpretation.100 stars

[anacrusisztc]

why do you you like him? he's not the best, much too unsubtle. a good one would be horowitz, here's just overdoing it.

[Florestan1207]

Remarkable playing indeed. Cziffras force and clarity makes this piece come alive like I have never heard before. Stunning.

[ifigeniakatika]

Exceptional interpretation! Thank you 5*****

[lisztbest]

very very well played!beautiful sound!i play the same etude in you tube!TO LOOK IT WRITE DIEGO BENOCCI!BYE!

[mursum151]

Hardly, is it too slow? I see, Chopin's metronome marking for this piece is incredibly high and not many can even reach that speed, 80BPM for a HALF note.

[ljoekelsoey4]

thats 160 more commonly, which is fast and about the same speed as cziffra is playing here, i think, but i wouldnt quote me on that :P

[malditocalvo]

magistral. Nunca había escuchado así este estudio, con los rebotes de las notas repetidas con esa claridad.

[squishym]

Holy crap! I've heard a lot of Cziffra's performances but not this! I love the way he maintains the structure while slamming out those bottom notes with true ferocity.

[balikawasu]

i also play this, but i think only 70 percent of his speed! Cziffra's skill is sooo extraordinary!

[Mortimer123]

I agree with all the comments below. Cziffra's comment brings to mind Joachim Kaiser's comment about Arrau: "My God, how this man can play the piano!" This rendition puts a lot of people in their place. It is startling to be confronted with such mastership. I don't think I've ever heard the piece played this well. I will have to revise my opinion about Cziffra, whom I - stupidly - regarded as a "mere" technician. This is great art.

[Skyhawk8282]

Extraordinaly impressive.

I had never heard the Ocean Etude played like this. Overwhelming.

[citiuscaps]

this is so far my favorite recording of the ocean etude out of any pianist.... awesome

[Edward3600]

wow awesome.

[fisherroastedpeanut]

what a stunning technique!

BRAVISSIMO!

[cerzule]

Absolutely breathtaking. What a piece! What a performer! Simply amazing.

[brianCIM]

holy mother of god.....i dont know what to say. i am overwhelmed. it's just..........beyond belief.

[piano345]

Absolutely overwhelming.

[mursum151]

Awesome! thank you for nice Cziffra collection.