Arturo Benedetti MIchelangeli plays Beethoven (vaimusic.com)

[G1os89]

00:40 he does look us! :)

[rmagnomarketing]

13 personi non conoscono un vero genio

[mirrors1]

Eppure manca qualcosa... è troppo elegante

[newFranzFerencLiszt]

RICHTER

[geertdehoux]

notes, notes, notes...

[JohannaSybil]

omg!!!! wow is an understatement!!!!

[paulostroff99]

Sensational! TY FOR POSTING

[noamkrief]

wow. my piano teacher was a student of michelangeli. Looks like him, plays like him. Same facial expressions. We miss you Alexander Lee Frick :(

[Madison897]

I can play this piece. And it's awesome. And this guy seriously needs to put more emotion into it. It's so full of spirit. Although it's still played amazingly. End of story. ^_^

[hymnofashes]

Sounds more like Bach. I'm illiterate, I suppose.

[Lenochka1107]

Very nice!

[nige1618]

@Lenochka1107 What's that at 0:59- listen carefully.... did the God of the keyboard clip a wrongy? :)))

[chipncharge94]

@nige1618 dont have to listen carefully for this. ^^

[priceeqn]

A God of pianists indeed. Once, I had just received a concert DVD of a Michelangeli recital (the Montreal recital) and invited a young woman to watch. When she asked what "Michelangeli like?" I immediately answered "The right hand of God." She and my roommate laughed, until he started to play that is...

[Likeafoxow]

man... his hands are ON FIRE!

[BiomekanikSok]

great

[Chopin1976l]

@brassmonkeyjew: you know so little about music. Your statements reek of idiocy. Michelangeli was and is still considered one of the greatest pianists of the twentieth century and had a formidable technique. He had more talent in his little finger than I'm sure you do in your entire body.

[MarioNintendoh]

@Chopin1976l I applaud your heart-warming comment! :)

[brassmonkeyjew]

When i first heard this i didn't like it but now i like it it grow on me he plays very mysterylike and it makes me feel like coagulated so i guess he a good piano player but just a little different then other piano players on eaurth!

[ilcolosso]

che spettacolo! una tecnica perfetta senza errori! e un'interpretazione fuori dal comune!

gradissimo!

[bennettpiano]

This is an excellent performance, controlled and clear. Love it.

[brassmonkeyjew]

I can play faster!

[Snafuski]

I am sure ABM could have played faster, but faster is not better. ;-)

[brassmonkeyjew]

@Snafuski

who is ABM? he must be one great piano player if he/she can player faster then both Arturo and me. :)

[flouz2]

@brassmonkeyjew what's the use ?????

[brassmonkeyjew]

@flouz2

If you aren't in it to win it, then don't bother showing up at all! He's hardly even trying in this video. And that's a shame because i'm sure he can do better if he gave a shit! I'm not saying he's not talented. I'm saying he could do more with his talent if he tried harder. If you see no use in trying, then you're a loser!

And I did not say i could play it faster then him. i said i can play it faster then the speed he chose to play it on this video. So stop your whining!

[Frozentoes1]

A gentleman, artist, poet, virtuoso; an aristocrat among pianists.

[QTZbootsie]

Bravo!!!  I will never reach that pinnacle in my piano playing!

[hedones]

ça vaut largement tai tai et morsay

[flouz2]

@hedones bien plus mon pauvre......

[Ruchfun]

Michelangeli,la ricerca continua della perfezione.Personalità irritante,

ma assolutamente uno dei più grandi.

[robertomorelli1986]

Potresti sbagliarti sai. Se leggi la sua biografia ti accorgerai che in privato e fuori dalle scene era molto più affabile e generoso di quanto tu possa pensare.

Ciao

[marcxopoco]

Wonderful performance of this scherzo. Some posters here would make more sense in their posts if they learned how to read music.

Michelangeli plays this movement EXACTLY as Beethoven MARKED it. in the main section each voice is crisp, clear so that each of the individual voices is easily followed as it enters. Beethoven marked those notes with staccato dots.

The contrasting trio with the arpeggios is played legato and blended.

.

[bennettpiano]

@marcxopoco AMEN!

[klavierflame]

@marcxopoco clap to your comment! michellageli is The Pianists' Pianist. you have to be a serious pianist yourself to understand and merit his inhuman pianism.

[jakmere]

He plays this piece in the same manner that he would play Scarlatti. I like it, but I would much rather hear Beethoven when it's a Beethoven piece and Scarlatti when it's a work by Scarlatti.

[3NUNS]

y is it the fact that the name and the work of Beethoven is denominated as such rather than von Beethoven.

[mees04101993]

when was this performance??

[giuseppedolce]

Niente a che vedere con l'incisione del 62. nessuno migliora invecchiando, purtroppo!

[Angel94angel94]

Che le sue mani siano benedette.

[thelomonkey]

Credo che questo piano fosse un po' pesantuccio per lui..

[halsamdu]

Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli: basta il nome

[francescaemc2]

@halsamdu

davvero! Hai ragione.

E che eleganza!

[marcussalieri]

quelle classe...aristocratique

[Bautisnemo]

100% Vrai

[robertomorelli1986]

Questa esecuzione lascia veramente sbalorditi. Una precisione, un utilizzo del rubato e della tecnica pedalica assolutamente brillanti. Soprattutto da 1:36 al minuto 2, lascia davvero senza parole.

[iguarni]

Hai ragione in pieno. Egli è stato un fenomeno della storia del pianoforte e non sarà mai dimenticato da chi ama la musica!

[rallentanda]

Maestro!

[mrchopin89]

wow..

[kedmann074]

Such command and control! I don't think they make musicians like him anymore!?

[pianolistenerk]

well, they don't make them humble if they ever did... i don't think anyone can play exactly like this guy, better/worse it's subjective.

[220392123]

OMG, how does your stupid fat head fit through the door! don't underestimate, yes, but don't overestimate either. you need to deflate your ego now, at age 14! someone will do for you if you don't, i.e. you will get twatted. i know someone like you and he used to have friends but now he has none.

[Crad4DRC]

Are you kidding me? Come on man, post some vids first

[leomulder]

Master.

[GBV1961]

...un grandissimo.....

[zhq97]

machine

[ecko1o1]

This guy cannot hit a wrong note. His fingers are like machines. If he was replaced by a machine, no one would notice. But that is where the problem is.

[3hlang]

what about 0:59?

[K189T]

It's only a wrong note...

[thescagno]

maybe you should play it??

[Musicman180]

Would you ever grow a mind of your own? If you actually listen to the musical aspects of Michelangeli's playing there is a deep knowledge and individuality in his interpretation of each piece. If he has a perfect technique, what of it? That's a bonus- you don't actually want to listen to wrong notes, do you?

[ecko1o1]

I would grow a mind of my own if I had seeds but unfortunately it seems I have run out.

[Musicman180]

What a pity...

[ecko1o1]

indeed

[K189T]

Hear the second Scherzo played him, it'll give you shivers. This guy is the contrary of a machine.

[militialbis]

Se esistesse un Dio questi sarebbe Michelangeli.

L'alfa e l'omega.

Nessuno primadi lui e nessuno dopo di lui.

Tecnica impeccabile, sensibilità espressiva, genialità, compostezza... tutto cristallizzato in un sol'uomo.

Ciò è incredibile ed ingiusto per noi poveri mortali.

Onore al Maestro!

[puffo3500]

perfezione tecnica e acutezza interpretativa, questo è michelangeli!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dottbd91]

che stile che ha quest'uomo!!!!!!!!

[musicist001]

.......Musicista.

[liuketto]

Era un opera d'arte vivente...per come suonava e per come si presentava...uno stile unico.

[Aleksejaleksandrovic]

Sono senza fiato per la sua grandezza. Come egli stesso ha scritto "La musica è un diritto, ma soltanto per colui che la merita".

[mahlerichter]

Ben detto Aleksejaleksandrovic !!!!!

[iguarni]

Che orgoglio essere suo connazionale!!!!

[musicist001]

Tre parole.... Unico, Magnifico, Divino

[gggccc888]

Incredebile, davvero fenomenale... io neanche se rinasco 3 volte arrivo a questo livello......

[Gandalf71]

GENIUS!!!!

[dige86]

non si può dire nulla quando si sente michelangeli suonare... Credo che in quanto a perfezione espressiva neache l'autore avrebbe saputo fare di meglio...

[Xonix821]

Eccezionale il tocco delicato con cui sfiora i tasti senza mai perdere nulla della espressività che fa un esecutore grande!

[Amadeus9966]

Il pianista di dio! San Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, ave!

[rabengeraun]

Excellent

[amantedipiano]

michelangeli è come sempre sinonimo di perfezione in tutti gli aspetti, e in questa performance non è da meno

P.S.concordo pienamente con arx88

[arx68]

Aggiungo un sentito "grazie" a chi ha postato questo filmato, e a chi divulga l'opera di Benedetti Michelangeli!

[arx68]

Grandissimo Maestro!

Ascoltare e imparare dove sta di casa la musica!

...al posto di ambizione, superficialità, pressapochismo e arrivismo delle nuove generazioni di impostori e pagliacci sfornati da accademie piene di incapaci e frustrati

[cortor3652]

Tecnically perfect, as usual with ABM, and at the cost of some emotional shalowness.

[rabengeraun]

Yes, it's a cold perfection, isn't it. I wouldn't mind the odd fluff in exchange for a little more warmth and character.

[lucadepu]

listen to him playing the marche funebre by chopin, it's no youtube. there you have your warmth, it's the most passionate thing i've ever heard and seen.

[rabengeraun]

Please don't get me wrong; I admire many aspects of ABM's art. He made a beautiful sound and his control of colour, nuance and shading was formidable. Perhaps I'm too much of a Russophile when it comes to schools of piano-playing to be a big fan of his. I will certainly look out the Chopin excerpt you have recommended.

Thank you

[voolare]

About Russian piano school and ABM, it might be interesting for you to listen to ABM's schockingly amazing recording of the Rach 4 (also on YT)!

Neuhaus (probably the father of the modern Russian school of pianism) manifested sheer admiration about ABM in his book "the Art of the Piano".

[fredpierce08]

I agree with mmh3719 about conveying excellence. It's not enough to get every note right. Czerny, Beethoven's pupil, wrote that B often dropped notes, but NO one could touch him for conveying feeling. AM used to refresh me by finding shape, feeling & meaning in puzzling works. I love his Schumann Op 26. Rubinstein also played rubato like ABM-with precision, taste & beauty. ABM's DG recording of Schumann Op 26 is the only recording that has ever made sense to me of that awkward masterpiece. L8TR!

[ruBenShiro]

AVE AL GRANDE MAESTRO!

[misotoma]

wow lol many ppl replied..

michelangeli really is a genius eh?

lately im beginning to see how unmatched this guy is.. at one point in his career. he was criticized for his later interpretations, just like i did. he is bold and extremely perfect.. I love this too.

[cellestialX]

I love this!

[tharnax]

Flawless. Not very exciting, but a technically perfect execution and a solid reading of the piece.

[pianolover19]

This guy can play the peice, but there is no Brilliance behind or in it! Kinda disappointed

[mishima1974]

I love the Great Vampire Michelangeli, but does he really need so much hairspray?

[zkool5]

HaHa, I like your humor!

[mishima1974]

He plays a clinker at 59 seconds.

[bookguy12000]

haha yeah ur right... wow he actually made a mistake...

[mishima1974]

Also at 1.46.

[mmh3719]

So what's the big deal? It sounds great, that's what matters. Or are you so caught up on right and wrong notes that you forgot how to listen to music? That's the problem with a lot people who play piano and listen to classical music (and why some people don't bother with classical music anymore), because all they care about is getting the notes right. Who cares if the notes aren't always right if it's great music? Or do you think famous musicians are famous for playing correct notes?

[mishima1974]

No. You misunderstand me. I don't care about wrong notes. I prefer pianists like Horowitz and Richter. Michaelangeli is too tight-assed. This is why he has the reputation of 'never playing a wrong note.'  He should have taken more chances, played MORE repertoire. HE'S the one who shouldn't have been so concerned with wrong notes, not me.

[brianCIM]

tight-assed???!!! go get the EMI recording of the chaconne and brahms-pagannini variations(its in their "Greatest Recordings of the Century series). throw in his gaspard de la nuit too. he wasn't tight-assed about wrong notes. his favorite pianist was cortot for christ sake's. his perfection lies in pedaling, colors, gorgeous tone. please do listen to those. you might change your mind.

[mishima1974]

Those are the early recordings.  Yes, I have those.

He got tight-assed as he became older. Oh yes.

[brianCIM]

ok. didnt mean to get uppity. i was just taken aback by your comment. when i listen to that cd(probably every day, lol) i seriously can't understand how a human being can play that way. the first time i heard the chaconne and brahms-pagannini variations i almost soiled myself. i think he had as great a technique as any pianist i have ever heard, if not the greatest.

[mmh3719]

Why point out a wrong note if you don't care about wrong notes? Unless you're just taking a cheap shot at the guy.

Your opinion seems to a matter of taste. Michelangeli was a perfectionist, and you don't like perfectionists.

I don't think he really deserved the reputation of never playing a wrong note because it sounds like he only cared about playing correct notes, which is definitely not true. His goal was the music that he was excellent at conveying. See e.g. Chopin's Grand Poloniase op.22

[mishima1974]

Listen. I love Michelangeli, but he was obsessed with wrong notes. He must have suffered from OCD. The symptoms probably became worse as he got older.

I'll say it again. I LOVE Michelangeli. He is one of the Immortals.

[PaoloBenedettiR]

Magical

[ginspa]

Un godimento assoluto

[Lauretta73]

hai ragione!

[chad410]

he makes the music dance under his fingers.

[Dauphin1729]

Many thanks for posting the source of this video! It`s so hard to find Michelangeli videos. Thanks again!

[omarfarahat]

OMG, soooooo beautiful...!!

[fdartmouth]

Op 2 # 3 Minuet - Love it!

[Pianowrestler]

A bit slower than the earlier b/w recording, very interesting to compare the two!

[sagalat]

Meticulous and exciting. At same time. Very deep. I'm 62 and need more time for most Beethoven.