Arrau is for me the greatest pianist of our century. This version of Chasse Neige is the best ever. Nothing compared with Cziffra who slaughtered it and turned it into a grotesque piano demonstration with too much approximation and no musicality *at all* .
Arrau masted both technic AND musicality. Rare pianist. RIP.
Ok another Liszt tale... :) When Liszt was on his concert tours he often traveled through the night in a horse-drawn carriage across the countryside. One winter night he apparently chose to sit up front with the driver when it was snowing and allowed himself to get completely covered in snow. He loved the elements and often composed pieces to them. In this performance Arrau casts a magic spell... I see Liszt, playing this by candlelight in a country mansion while the snow whirls all around....
I'm not an expert at discerning between what constitutes balanced or unbalanced music, in fact I've never studied the theory of music or attempted to play any written piece; however, I've heard this interpretation as opposed to Lugansky's , Cziffra's, Berman's, and Berezovsky's and I can provide you with my opinion:
Cziffra: violent
Lugansky: powerful
Berman: passionate
Berezovsky: turbulent
Arrau: ponderous
I'm not able to clarify becuase I'm not a professional. They're each beautiful.
he goes for the grand melodic line above all....the bravura is second to the music...here Liszt is treated like Beethoven which is all well and good but an additional element is needed which perhaps only the horowitzes and the Czifferas of the world can provide? I think this a fine interpretation but i was raised on Louis Kenteners versions which made my toes stiffen and hair stand up?
Merci de ne pas passer à la trappe les commentaires qui ne sont pas anglais, surtout quand ils sont élogieux... Cette interprétation est unique. On comprend pourquoi Martin Krause s'exclama, écoutant le (tout) jeune Arrau : "C'est le plus grand talent naturel depuis Liszt !". Encore merci, Maître. Vous demeurez le plus grand de tous !
nevskixx is right the technical challenge does not get in the way of the music , the musicality of the piece comes through, the elegiac quality of the playing is simply unsurpassed. Of course he was able to play all the Transcendental Etudes from the age of 11 and his piano teacher was Martin Krause who studied under Liszt!! This certainly helped I am sure
This performance is an exceptional achievement. Not so much as an etude , but a glorious tone poem, wonderfully conceived and "orchestrated". The piano's mechanical limits are forgotten and the playing just gives way to ecstatic music making. The etude has been mastered. Very satisfying.
A friend said that Chasse Neige wasn't so much a technical challenge compared to the other etudes. But the musical challenge is enourmous. "Making a musical line is almost impossible!" Arrau does a fantastic job hiding the musical difficulty of this piece.
@werq34ac That's exactly what happens, Arrau hides the difficulty of the interpretation in works that are very difficult, make them look easier than they really are.
Yes. I agree but I have heard it several times during my life. Just goes to show that many people will always be uncomprehending when it comes to the great Liszt.
Arrau takes such care with every note. It is also interesting to note that many Liszt haters will point to this incredible piece as an example of Liszt at his worst, what with all those tacky tremolos'n such.
Because in a lesser artist's hands than can sound tacky. And i mean 95% of Liszt perfrormances. the care Arrau takes in shaping them and his incredible ability to build awesome climaxes without ONE harsh sound make this a TITANIC performance. I honestly believe Liszt's music gets maligned as much, if not more, than any composer. To my mind, one of the greatest performances of ANY piece ever.
@brianCIM Yes. I agree with all you say. For me the whole set is the greatest. Arrau has such integrity as an artist and it shows through every note and phrase. Such depth of commitment to these pieces. They stand revealed for their miraculous greatness under his hands.
@aardvaark069 May I chime in... yes. Even those chromatic scales in the left hand.... they are carefully played, as in the score, they are slower at the end in par, and all that comes out clearly.... I love the high-jinx virtuosos, but Arrau does something with music that goes beyond all the noise.
@aituar77 I tell you, if it has music tempo doesnt matter in romantic music - of course i cant say it this generally....but really, where you need to be strict is Beethoven and Czerny. I love Chopin and Liszt because I can basically choose what my phantasy wants and there are so many ways to play it.
More than mere piano pyrotechnics. A deeply spiritual approach to music which might very well be cheapened into competition fodder by a lesser artist. May we all be in such wonderful musical shape at 75 as he was when he recorded this.
beautifully played...he's the king of this etudes!
ritorenello 2 weeks ago
hands down one of the most beautiful compositions that Liszt ever created
chutdigadut 1 month ago
Arrau is for me the greatest pianist of our century. This version of Chasse Neige is the best ever. Nothing compared with Cziffra who slaughtered it and turned it into a grotesque piano demonstration with too much approximation and no musicality *at all* .
Arrau masted both technic AND musicality. Rare pianist. RIP.
clementj2005 2 months ago
it really has something orgasmic in it!
Safran1946 2 months ago
Unbelievably beautiful! Just found an interpretation by a young German pianist who shows lots of promise, Adrian Brendle, worth listening to it
perezbermuda 3 months ago
Ok another Liszt tale... :) When Liszt was on his concert tours he often traveled through the night in a horse-drawn carriage across the countryside. One winter night he apparently chose to sit up front with the driver when it was snowing and allowed himself to get completely covered in snow. He loved the elements and often composed pieces to them. In this performance Arrau casts a magic spell... I see Liszt, playing this by candlelight in a country mansion while the snow whirls all around....
AlexAlcyone 6 months ago
Best Chasse-Neige for me
GoldbergerSuper 7 months ago 3
I'm not an expert at discerning between what constitutes balanced or unbalanced music, in fact I've never studied the theory of music or attempted to play any written piece; however, I've heard this interpretation as opposed to Lugansky's , Cziffra's, Berman's, and Berezovsky's and I can provide you with my opinion:
Cziffra: violent
Lugansky: powerful
Berman: passionate
Berezovsky: turbulent
Arrau: ponderous
I'm not able to clarify becuase I'm not a professional. They're each beautiful.
100111110001101 7 months ago 3
he goes for the grand melodic line above all....the bravura is second to the music...here Liszt is treated like Beethoven which is all well and good but an additional element is needed which perhaps only the horowitzes and the Czifferas of the world can provide? I think this a fine interpretation but i was raised on Louis Kenteners versions which made my toes stiffen and hair stand up?
478493 7 months ago
WONDERFUL!!!NO POSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE!!!
THIS IS THE REAL INTERPRETATION!!!THE ONE!!
FINALLY, A "FINALE" NOT PLAYED AT THE "RACHMANINOV"
WAY, BUT FULL OF CLASS AND CONSEQUENT
WE HAVE LOST MUCH WHEN HE PASSED AWAY
THANKS, MAESTRO!!!
paolaalessandra12 8 months ago
Merci de ne pas passer à la trappe les commentaires qui ne sont pas anglais, surtout quand ils sont élogieux... Cette interprétation est unique. On comprend pourquoi Martin Krause s'exclama, écoutant le (tout) jeune Arrau : "C'est le plus grand talent naturel depuis Liszt !". Encore merci, Maître. Vous demeurez le plus grand de tous !
micheltennil 10 months ago 2
A splendid interpretation.
gerardbedecarter 1 year ago
nevskixx is right the technical challenge does not get in the way of the music , the musicality of the piece comes through, the elegiac quality of the playing is simply unsurpassed. Of course he was able to play all the Transcendental Etudes from the age of 11 and his piano teacher was Martin Krause who studied under Liszt!! This certainly helped I am sure
waynekit 1 year ago
Arrau was the best lisztian ever. His set of these (wonderful) etudes was, is, and will be forever, the best.
newFranzFerencLiszt 1 year ago
This is the best performance ever!
nimrodmetal 1 year ago
This performance is an exceptional achievement. Not so much as an etude , but a glorious tone poem, wonderfully conceived and "orchestrated". The piano's mechanical limits are forgotten and the playing just gives way to ecstatic music making. The etude has been mastered. Very satisfying.
nevskixx 1 year ago 2
A friend said that Chasse Neige wasn't so much a technical challenge compared to the other etudes. But the musical challenge is enourmous. "Making a musical line is almost impossible!" Arrau does a fantastic job hiding the musical difficulty of this piece.
werq34ac 1 year ago
@werq34ac That's exactly what happens, Arrau hides the difficulty of the interpretation in works that are very difficult, make them look easier than they really are.
Ray0X0 1 year ago
Yes. I agree but I have heard it several times during my life. Just goes to show that many people will always be uncomprehending when it comes to the great Liszt.
aardvaark069 1 year ago
Arrau takes such care with every note. It is also interesting to note that many Liszt haters will point to this incredible piece as an example of Liszt at his worst, what with all those tacky tremolos'n such.
aardvaark069 2 years ago 3
Because in a lesser artist's hands than can sound tacky. And i mean 95% of Liszt perfrormances. the care Arrau takes in shaping them and his incredible ability to build awesome climaxes without ONE harsh sound make this a TITANIC performance. I honestly believe Liszt's music gets maligned as much, if not more, than any composer. To my mind, one of the greatest performances of ANY piece ever.
brianCIM 1 year ago 3
@brianCIM Yes. I agree with all you say. For me the whole set is the greatest. Arrau has such integrity as an artist and it shows through every note and phrase. Such depth of commitment to these pieces. They stand revealed for their miraculous greatness under his hands.
aardvaark069 1 year ago 2
@aardvaark069 May I chime in... yes. Even those chromatic scales in the left hand.... they are carefully played, as in the score, they are slower at the end in par, and all that comes out clearly.... I love the high-jinx virtuosos, but Arrau does something with music that goes beyond all the noise.
Malaka57 1 year ago 3
@Malaka57 Yes. Agreed. You have nailed it. I am always impressed by Arrau's impregnable integrity.
aardvaark069 1 year ago
@brianCIM Yes!! Absolutely agree!
AlexAlcyone 1 year ago 2
@aardvaark069 I can't imagine what kind of insensible (excuseme) idiot could say that...
Ray0X0 1 year ago
@Ray0X0 I have several comments here. Which one do you refer to?
aardvaark069 1 year ago
@aardvaark069 I comment what you said about Liszt haters ...' te12 is Liszt at his worst'... that is really absurd..
Ray0X0 1 year ago
Extraordinary masterpiece performed by Arrau... absolutely beautiful and a moving sensitivity ...
Ray0X0 2 years ago 4
BY far my personal favorite version of Chassre Neige. Others overhaste and choose unbalanced tempo. But Arrau does it the best fashion.
aituar77 2 years ago 10
@aituar77 I tell you, if it has music tempo doesnt matter in romantic music - of course i cant say it this generally....but really, where you need to be strict is Beethoven and Czerny. I love Chopin and Liszt because I can basically choose what my phantasy wants and there are so many ways to play it.
BlazeKenny 1 year ago
@aituar77 Kissin
newFranzFerencLiszt 2 months ago 2
In this C.Arrau performance i've really heard the wind and the snow.
Alethepianist1996 2 years ago 11
Absolutely superb! A perfect musician besides being a pianist. Never a show off.
chacoteris 2 years ago 2
more much more than a technical game,indeed!
a true introspection...
claudio....you will be ever my beloved ones!
ankhsnammon
Ankhsnammon 3 years ago
More than mere piano pyrotechnics. A deeply spiritual approach to music which might very well be cheapened into competition fodder by a lesser artist. May we all be in such wonderful musical shape at 75 as he was when he recorded this.
Varese52 3 years ago 2