This is not the most difficult rhapsody... But this is a beastly performance, if littered with mistakes in the difficult octave parts at the end... But I guess that's typical Horowitz. Not bad by any means though, his power of expression is mind boggling.
@Therachh3 I think you're right about that! Can you imagine? - Rachmaninoff sitting in the front row judging your performance? My ultimate nightmare ;-)
Arrau too has recorded allof them.I have the Cziffra.He makes you forget everyone except Volodos, Novaes's poetry and inspired playing her music making is one of the forgotten wonders of recorded music! Did Rosenthal, Backhaus or Sauer leave us any of these.
Is this really the most difficult one? I'm playing this for my ARCT, and it doesn't seem TOO hard. The octaves at the end are a pain, but nothing too bad. I don't have it perfect or anything, but the No. 2 or 4 sound way harder. At least in terms of rhythm and timing, no?
What I wouldn't give for that. He only recorded #s 2, 14 and 19 besides this. And those he heavily modified. There's some pirate (arrgg) records of # 13.
@SFChristo he is a great piano player, but he does not have a good style, he can not get the tempo's right. although he does do pretty good with no. 6
That's an opinion if he has good style or not. He has great style, on the contrary from Horowitz, which has pretty low taste in MY opinion. He gets his tempo's right always, I'm not aware where you got that from. While his Hungarian rhapsodies, especially the 6th one, is most likely the best ever compared to a couple others, which can even be compared to his. Cziffra was the second best pianist after Horowitz, many claim that and I do too! :) Matter of opinion!
@TripleRhu Ah, I see now that he does not have 16-19. Leslie Howard has of course recorded the COMPLETE Liszt but I still prefer Cziffra's take on them (tempos, accents etc).
everything gets easy when you are able to do it. very easy peaces can be very hard to play if you cannit manage to play them right.... this quarrel has no sense....
horowitz is great as ever when in good health. its sad he wasn t often in later years . he was when I heard him in Paris with the mozart sonatas. Imagine an evening only with mozart sonats, yes that also was vladimir horowitz.... it was divine and changed my mind about these sonatas....
it isn't the most difficult rhapsody, it's true, not an easy peace...but i'm sure , it's not the most dif. from the 19 Hungarian Rapsody, so please change your title, Thank You
I played the 6th rhapsody according to the Horowitz interpretation and I must say it is hard. I haven't played the Horowitz Version for the number 2 , I played Cziffra's. And I can say that the 2nd one IS harder.
Besides you don't really have to play it to say which one is harder.
If I would tell you compare The Horowitz No. 2 and no.6.... , the no.2 is harder just by the sound of it.
If your still not believing me go buy the notes to all 19 rhaposdies
Have you seen the chords on the manuscript? Its one of the most complex. The tone set is by far the most eye-catching, wonderous, odd, Thing ive ever seen when it comes to the Rhapsodies.
So.
It IS the Hardest, it IS the most complex rhapsodys. And IS harder then no.2
it IS quite hard but i dnt think its the hardest. to me something very Delicate like 2nd hungarian rhapsody seems harder cuz it requires more details in notes and dynamics. just an opinion though :)
So special, how he builds it up to the climax at the end. I really like the way he begins the piece, slower than you would expect, but he sets the mood perfectly, so dramatic. And at he end it all comes out. What a story-teller!
that's the testimony of a true artist. not everyone has to play everything the same as the other or as is written (with regards to tempo), one cannot leave room for differentiation of the contents of each performance, which leaves the performance dry and unoriginal. i love how he plays the initial slow, then building up speed and attack to the climax.
Liszt's big endeavor made another historical Hungarian Rhapsody, after 3 not as popular ones, even though all were popular. Personally, this one and a couple other Hungarian Rhapsodies were my favorite Hungarian Rhapsodies.
I am an enormous fan of Horowitz. This is fantastic playing. Horowitz always played with so much interpretive and technical mastery. The man was a pianistic genius.
I agree with you but the hardest thing about this one is the repetition of octaves. This piece makes your arms tired because both your hands are jumping all around. Good thing for the slow middle part.
Not really I am slowly comming to a finish of the hungrian rhapsody and if you play it fast and try to play it like alexei grynyuk (like me) you really don't feel anything.
Probably you are right, I am not a pianist and maybe that is why I cannot judge accurately. I wonder if when we are feeling sad while hearing a piece of music for the first time we will always think of it as sad music after that. Maybe. Wish I knew. Congratulations on being such a great pianist . Alexei Grynuk sounds like the name of a great pianist :-)
You must of mistaken me for Alexei Grynyuk , I am not him , ( I wish I could be ) but I am not. I am not yet a pianist I will be after I finish music school :)
It is a great performance - the command of tone, dynamics and structure is sublime. Not sure where "most difficult rhapsody" comes from... I guess the octaves, but octaves are easy for some...
My guess is sometime in the early 1940s. Horowitz's is the most pulverizing performance of this piece! I dare say Cziffra's is also very impressive, and Argerich's version impresses, too. But Horowitz had laws only he could follow - Liszt would have been dazzled by him!
Na foto, é Rachmaninoff assistindo na primeira fila??
avalokiteshivara 3 months ago
It is not the most difficult Rhapsody...
lego10123 4 months ago
Liszt would be proud :D miss u horowitz
rafikiisking 6 months ago
unbeatable as always.
crowjane911 1 year ago
This is not the most difficult rhapsody... But this is a beastly performance, if littered with mistakes in the difficult octave parts at the end... But I guess that's typical Horowitz. Not bad by any means though, his power of expression is mind boggling.
MasterAzunai 1 year ago
Horowitz truly is EPIC!
youwel 1 year ago
Love the Slavic melancholy he brings to the slow section.What more can one say about those crazy octaves that follow.
meredith218461 1 year ago
omg that's rachmaninoff in the first row
Therachh3 1 year ago 4
@Therachh3 I think you're right about that! Can you imagine? - Rachmaninoff sitting in the front row judging your performance? My ultimate nightmare ;-)
rekab7070 1 year ago
TWO IDIOTS DISLIKE THIS?!
The55555SSSSS 1 year ago
@The55555SSSSS I'M SO GLAD YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO POINT THINGS OUT, Cpt. OBVIOUS.
HardHouseMusic4Me 1 year ago
@The55555SSSSS Maybe 2 Lang Lang fans :D
miliona1re 1 year ago
@miliona1re omg lang lang fans positively hate this - there is no ejaculation facial expression here after all......
giantmaxiepad 1 year ago
@miliona1re
You mean Bang Bang ! :D
The55555SSSSS 1 year ago
Is that Rachmaninoff in first row...
predoje 1 year ago
@predoje I think that is!!! Horowitz and Rachmaninoff were good friends, so it wouldn't surprise me. I can't really tell, but it might be! =D
modelstatue 1 year ago
Arrau too has recorded allof them.I have the Cziffra.He makes you forget everyone except Volodos, Novaes's poetry and inspired playing her music making is one of the forgotten wonders of recorded music! Did Rosenthal, Backhaus or Sauer leave us any of these.
lovesGenet 1 year ago
Is this really the most difficult one? I'm playing this for my ARCT, and it doesn't seem TOO hard. The octaves at the end are a pain, but nothing too bad. I don't have it perfect or anything, but the No. 2 or 4 sound way harder. At least in terms of rhythm and timing, no?
rileylendrum 1 year ago
Find Friedheim's version (student of Liszt) for an unmannered, beautiful version. This version is much more effect.
2ndviolinist 1 year ago
I can't find a complete recording of Horowitz playing the Hungarian Rhapsodies? Does it exist? Please help. :-(
NotHomelessAnymore 2 years ago
What I wouldn't give for that. He only recorded #s 2, 14 and 19 besides this. And those he heavily modified. There's some pirate (arrgg) records of # 13.
pianiplunker 1 year ago
it isn't the most difficult u.u
4785689 2 years ago
"Wouldn't it be amazing for someone to record all of Liszt's Hungarian rhapsodies?"
Check out Cziffra. He has a recording of all of them. A great Hunagarian pianist.
SFChristo 2 years ago 11
@SFChristo he is a great piano player, but he does not have a good style, he can not get the tempo's right. although he does do pretty good with no. 6
goblinrogers 1 year ago
@goblinrogers
That's an opinion if he has good style or not. He has great style, on the contrary from Horowitz, which has pretty low taste in MY opinion. He gets his tempo's right always, I'm not aware where you got that from. While his Hungarian rhapsodies, especially the 6th one, is most likely the best ever compared to a couple others, which can even be compared to his. Cziffra was the second best pianist after Horowitz, many claim that and I do too! :) Matter of opinion!
ClassicMusicOnly 1 year ago 2
@SFChristo Roberto Szidon and Cziffra ,they recoreded all :)
miliona1re 1 year ago
@miliona1re Right, just like i said in my reply. I was quoting another person. Cziffra's was the first complete recording I bought around 1985.
SFChristo 1 year ago
@SFChristo not all
TripleRhu 1 year ago
@TripleRhu Ah, I see now that he does not have 16-19. Leslie Howard has of course recorded the COMPLETE Liszt but I still prefer Cziffra's take on them (tempos, accents etc).
SFChristo 1 year ago
@SFChristo He played 16 and 19. He even has his own version of HR 19. He was such an excellent pianist.
TripleRhu 5 months ago
Horowitz is much faster than Argerich. Horowitz chooses to build up in speed over time which works greatly for this rhapsody.
ClassicMusicOnly 2 years ago
Horowitz is faster than Argerich in the final (presstissimo) part of the octave section
Stofferdoffer 2 years ago
everything gets easy when you are able to do it. very easy peaces can be very hard to play if you cannit manage to play them right.... this quarrel has no sense....
horowitz is great as ever when in good health. its sad he wasn t often in later years . he was when I heard him in Paris with the mozart sonatas. Imagine an evening only with mozart sonats, yes that also was vladimir horowitz.... it was divine and changed my mind about these sonatas....
uhartchristian 2 years ago
Compare to Rhapsody no 19 this is a walk in the park.
cody55909 2 years ago
@cody55909 ahah compared on the Liszt/Horowitz Rakoczy March ?
4785689 2 years ago
it isn't the most difficult rhapsody, it's true, not an easy peace...but i'm sure , it's not the most dif. from the 19 Hungarian Rapsody, so please change your title, Thank You
Lisztmaniac 2 years ago
And you have reached the conclusion that this is not the most difficult rhapsody after having played all 19 of them yourself, right?
troppofiato 2 years ago
I played 3. No. 2 , No. 6 and No. 19.
I played the 6th rhapsody according to the Horowitz interpretation and I must say it is hard. I haven't played the Horowitz Version for the number 2 , I played Cziffra's. And I can say that the 2nd one IS harder.
Besides you don't really have to play it to say which one is harder.
If I would tell you compare The Horowitz No. 2 and no.6.... , the no.2 is harder just by the sound of it.
If your still not believing me go buy the notes to all 19 rhaposdies
ClassicMusicOnly 2 years ago
I can play both..and No.2 is much harder than this!
loolwhut 2 years ago 3
yep, I agree. The 2nd rhapsody is the hardest to play properly.
marcohorowitz8 2 years ago
mm for me the hardest is the rhapsody n. 9 "Carnaval in Pest".
edopiano88 2 years ago
It sounds like these Rhapsodies had the audience clapping to the rhythm at the end. :D
jasonextreme 2 years ago
It is hard but I do not agree that it is the MOST difficult rhapsody.
The second one is one of the hardest in the world , so I think it must be harder.
ClassicMusicOnly 2 years ago
No no no.
Um.
Have you seen the chords on the manuscript? Its one of the most complex. The tone set is by far the most eye-catching, wonderous, odd, Thing ive ever seen when it comes to the Rhapsodies.
So.
It IS the Hardest, it IS the most complex rhapsodys. And IS harder then no.2
So.
Yes.
-joklangpwns
joklangpwns 2 years ago
Is it really? Wow... And I was just thinking about attempting these.... Silly me.
jasonextreme 2 years ago
it IS quite hard but i dnt think its the hardest. to me something very Delicate like 2nd hungarian rhapsody seems harder cuz it requires more details in notes and dynamics. just an opinion though :)
IsamuTakekura 2 years ago 2
HUMBLING is the word for that.
Pischnaholic 2 years ago
So special, how he builds it up to the climax at the end. I really like the way he begins the piece, slower than you would expect, but he sets the mood perfectly, so dramatic. And at he end it all comes out. What a story-teller!
vlotjah 2 years ago 3
that's the testimony of a true artist. not everyone has to play everything the same as the other or as is written (with regards to tempo), one cannot leave room for differentiation of the contents of each performance, which leaves the performance dry and unoriginal. i love how he plays the initial slow, then building up speed and attack to the climax.
libetta 2 years ago 5
Liszt's big endeavor made another historical Hungarian Rhapsody, after 3 not as popular ones, even though all were popular. Personally, this one and a couple other Hungarian Rhapsodies were my favorite Hungarian Rhapsodies.
Starbirdy9999 2 years ago
its so beautiful piece!
one from the hardest pieces for piano.
kempff95 2 years ago
I am an enormous fan of Horowitz. This is fantastic playing. Horowitz always played with so much interpretive and technical mastery. The man was a pianistic genius.
cattleman6420012000 2 years ago
This magnificent music sounds to me like the saddest music I have ever heard..
There is such a deep undertone of longing and reaching out with great searching. What a gift to hear it. Thank you.
LornaduPreez 2 years ago 3
Best pianist ever.....
krokigrygg 2 years ago
My God, it sounds like a bomb went off at those final chords where Horowitz smashes the bass notes!
SlyFox616 2 years ago
Volodya, I love you. You are ugly sometimes, but I love you as you are ugly. I speak of tone, no doubt. Sorry, wrong English, but I love you anyhow.
himitsunosallychan 3 years ago
I still think No.9 is the hardest.
Rlaw2222 3 years ago
yes, true... and more difficult the 13th, the 2nd, and i think maybe the 15th than the 6th. But the most difficult is the Pester Carneval (n. 9).
edem0419 3 years ago
5 stars!
KopiPendulum 3 years ago
well done work!
lllCarreralll 3 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
classical music is old-fassioned,anachronism.
relaxanimal 3 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
...and you are an ignorant fool.
been1414 3 years ago 3
spell is mistake
old-fashioned
relaxanimal 3 years ago
Definitely not the hardest Hungarian rhapsody...
alekosnat 3 years ago
I agree with you but the hardest thing about this one is the repetition of octaves. This piece makes your arms tired because both your hands are jumping all around. Good thing for the slow middle part.
BlackMasterJoe89 3 years ago
Not really I am slowly comming to a finish of the hungrian rhapsody and if you play it fast and try to play it like alexei grynyuk (like me) you really don't feel anything.
ClassicMusicOnly 2 years ago
Probably you are right, I am not a pianist and maybe that is why I cannot judge accurately. I wonder if when we are feeling sad while hearing a piece of music for the first time we will always think of it as sad music after that. Maybe. Wish I knew. Congratulations on being such a great pianist . Alexei Grynuk sounds like the name of a great pianist :-)
LornaduPreez 2 years ago
You must of mistaken me for Alexei Grynyuk , I am not him , ( I wish I could be ) but I am not. I am not yet a pianist I will be after I finish music school :)
ClassicMusicOnly 2 years ago
Specially for Horowitz!
BMX90 3 years ago
It is a great performance - the command of tone, dynamics and structure is sublime. Not sure where "most difficult rhapsody" comes from... I guess the octaves, but octaves are easy for some...
brynbstn 3 years ago
Phenomenal playing - technically, musically. No one can touch this - not Argerich, not Cziffra.
troppofiato 3 years ago 5
This may be the one of the most difficult but this is also one of the cheerful of the Rhapsodies.
aewanko300 3 years ago
liszt's and alkan's equal. what the hell, he probably would have surpassed them anyway, if anyone could surpass perfection.
johnbaptistlulu 3 years ago
When was this recorded?
shahkhan423 3 years ago
My guess is sometime in the early 1940s. Horowitz's is the most pulverizing performance of this piece! I dare say Cziffra's is also very impressive, and Argerich's version impresses, too. But Horowitz had laws only he could follow - Liszt would have been dazzled by him!
Noshirm 3 years ago 3
It was recorded in 1947
shrinkingglasses 3 years ago