Volodos Danse macabre (Saint Saens -. Horowitz)

[chipncharge94]

I hate people who think that great technic = bad musicality.

[cybroxis]

Wow this is a terrible piece. It doesn't compare at all to the orchestral version

[JoePatrych]

I have a question - does anyone know exactly when this concert took place?

[Vividvirtuoso]

Volodos has an amazing technique and his dynamic playing style can only be rightfully interpretated if you hear him live. The nuances he makes are much more clear then, compared to when you hear a recording like this.

[nornied]

No where near as good as Horowitz!

[trym88]

@nornied LOL

[RockLeePeaceGai]

Absolutely beautiful....

sooo fluid!!! I loved it! <3

[trym88]

he's a god, nothing else to say...

[MegaPianissimo]

Monstr, muzikantishe...slov  net............;)

[geertdehoux]

This is SUPERphenomenal!!!

[blankeroo]

I`ve been 'into' music, especially classical, for more than 40 years and I`ve never heard D.M sang. Like re6356 I thought it was strictly instrumental fare. According to Spitfire I must be an ignoramus like re6356. I can assure him that I AM NOT.  He sounds like a KNOW ALL; the music world is full of them, especially the classical realms.

[spitfire9b]

@blankeroo

I objected to the unwarranted insults made by re6356 & Co. against those people who correctly identified Danse Macabre as a song. You have troube with that? Because you never heard it or If it was never ever sung, doesn't alter the fact it was composed for voice & piano.

I'd never presume to know it all, but I may use a few bits of information I have acquired from the 60+ years as a student & lover of music to enlighten some arrogant ignoramous. BTW, if the shoe fits ........

[PiotrOblak]

@spitfire9b I don't know what teach you in Canada but from eastern europe books you learn that song is musical form that have vocal parts, there are many song »types« (i don't know exact English equivalent word) like Chant, sacral song that evolved from Canticle and Psalms, or Dumka Ukrainian song in form of ballade also it's musical form developed during Romantic period similar to Elegy.

[spitfire9b]

@PiotrOblak

Saint-Saens wrote Danse Macabre for VOICE and PIANO, which would classify his composition as a song because in music, worldwide, any composition written for voice may be classified as a "song." Since then it has been been played as an instrumental for violin and/or piano. It has also been orchestrated and played as an orchestral piece. IT IS NOT DERIVED FROM A CANTICLE OR PSALM.

[PiotrOblak]

@spitfire9b I mention Chant and Dumka only as a examples. Dumkas (in second meaning) are similar to elegies, could have vocals but is optional and even if they have they still are reconsider as elegy/dumka not song. Well it's probably naming differences/my fail english, forget it.

[PiotrOblak]

@spitfire9b Liszt write his transcription based on tone poem version (violin and orchestra) not vocal and piano version, then Horowitz arrange this – pure instrumental – piece to his liking. I mean that it doesn't matter that originaly this was a musical form with vocal, now it's not. When Liszt write piano version he employ composing techniques, create structure of it fallowing different schematics, this is enough to say it's not a song.

[spitfire9b]

@PiotrOblak

I'm sorry but you are missing the point. Saint-Saens ORIGINALLY composed Danse Macabre for voice and piano ONLY (which is a musical definition of a song). Let me put it this way: suppose I write a song for voice (lyrics) and piano only, and then you orchestrate my composition as an instrumental piece for orchestra. The source, my composition, is still a song.

[PiotrOblak]

@spitfire9b Let's take a example, if i hear song in television and write fantasia for piano, guitar or any other instrument (i.e. even for fantasia i have to fallow some rules) when i finish it wil not be song, musical form of piece that we are inspired with is nonexisting because i use different composing techniques.

[spitfire9b]

@PiotrOblak I disagree. For example: Mick Jagger & Keith Richards wrote a SONG called "Paint It Black." Later it was orchestrated & played by the London Symphony Orchestra as a short symphonic piece. That orchestration did NOT change Paint It Black from a SONG to a SYMPHONY, it is a SONG that was adapted & played in symphonic form.

Many classical instrumental recordings evolved from songs that were sung. Have you never heard of songs without words? And this is my final word.

Finis.

[PiotrOblak]

@spitfire9b What we hear on this video is Vladimir Horowitz arrangement of Ferenc Liszt transcription to piano of Camille Saint-Saëns symphonic poem. Original symphonic poem and transcription are not songs but a different musical forms so how you could call it a song?

[MALBGM]

when did horowitz get so fat?

[flouz2]

it's VOLODOS not horowitz

[MALBGM]

i know

we all know

[zombium]

someone have the sheet please ?

[a12bentm]

@zombium haha you dont want it

[savykvv3]

listen alexei sultanov concerto in RIQA 2001.....fantastic inerpretation!!!!

[2missbookworm]

This is Lizst's transcription? I think Cramer's is simpler, but this is just as lovely. ^_^

[SmellyBrown]

the four hands of ''The Florence Piano Duet'' is simply fantastic , but the 2 hands of volodos is just amazing, man , I hope some days i will play like this

[billybobmax2]

i hear rach 3 after 5:50

[re6356]

When I hear someone call a piece of music a SONG! I know that they know nothing about music so please keep your silly comments to yourself.

[JoFrSc]

I quite agree. It's annoying, isn't it?

[spitfire9b]

@re6356 and JoFrSc

Saint-Saens wrote Danse Macabre as an art SONG for voice & piano. To call this piece of music a song is correct & you are wrong. Perhaps, you should follow your own advice about people keeping silly comments to themselves when they know nothing about music.

Stephen Hawking said it best: The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.

Thank you "hein2214" for sharing this remarkable performance of Saint-Saens beautiful song.

[re6356]

As far as I`m concerned it is a piece of music for instruments. When I hear it as a song, I`ll call it a song. I wonder how many people have actually heard its vocal arrangement..

[spitfire9b]

@re6356

What would you call Beethoven's 9th Symphony - a song?

Haven't you ever heard of "songs without words."

Did you know that some operas have parts that are not actually sung, would you call such operas instrumentals?

Even if it was never ever sung, the fact is Danse Macabre was written for voice and piano & may be properly called a SONG. To insult people who name it correctly shows you to be an arrogant ignoramous.

Geez, arrogance and stupidy is a deadly combination.

[pinkfloyddwc]

wow! what an awesome video!!! definitely a treat :)

[katkula]

Just a one question: what is the use of the best technical abilities of all times if he can't perform as magically as Horowitz? Even if the latter had a slightly smaller technical possibilities he was more interesting to listen to. Same goes with Liszt who actually never performed Islamey because it was too hard for him but instead had tremendous variety of colours... This performance is in the league of Hamelin and other great technical virtuosos.

[hein2214]

You are right I think - but don`t forget that it is a hard Job to play on a modern Steinway D Model, which allows less colours than an old one with more light touch.

[geertdehoux]

@hein2214

That is also true, of course!

[geertdehoux]

@katkula

With all respect, but Volodos can do things Horowitz could not and vice versa.

Volodos is Volodos and Horowitz was Horowitz, that's why.

A cordial greeting,

Geert Dehoux, pianist.

[kKpeaceKk]

@katkula The Islamey was too hard for Liszt?

That's not right. He performed it and the Islamey was one of his favourites.

There was nothing too difficult for Liszt :)

Variety of colours is only possible with a perfection of technique.

[katkula]

@kKpeaceKk Yes, very well said. Perhaps I just had wrong information that Liszt wasn't performing the piece but it seems that that was the case.

[marcxopoco]

After taking his drugs halfwit @katkula writes that Liszt couldn't play Islamey because "it was too hard for him."

Next halfwit katkula will post that Isaac Newton couldn't do calculus because it was too hard for him.

[geoanton1]

@katkula who said that Islamey was too hard for Liszt? this is funny. Liszt was one of the first performers of Islamey

[agniky]

@katkula just shut your bloody mouth. volodos performance is really outstanding. Furthermore did Horowitz not have slightly smaller technical possibilities. The part of Liszt is simply false. Islamey is written in in 1869 when Liszt already retired from his virtuoso career. thats why he didnt play it . im not knowledgeable about this, maybe he did in private circles? I usually keep quiet when reading nonsensical comments, but this one is a direct attack on any sense, truth or history.

[chipncharge94]

@katkula well, in my eyes, he is the most musically gifted person i have ever heard. maybe you should listen to his schumann or scrjabin...

[moysesnyc]

Unbelievable how there's always someone who coughs. It's like they go there just to expel air from their lungs!

[salesgirl24]

this song and interpretation is =D x 100000000000000

[acorntechnique]

This interpretation is amazing, and it's not a song!

[refrmcetsryt]

Absolutely magnetic. If he really learned it by ear, I wouldn't be surprised. You would probably have to to get all the nuances correct. This is the kind of composition that reveals a piano's and hall's inadequacies

[refrmcetsryt]

I never tire of hearing this comsposition. There is so much to take in.

[JakWho92]

they are both reached a maximum of technique a human can achieve.. no difference in a technical point of view

[kowalityjesus]

that was an excellent rendition!!! however i wish the performer would have endeavored to begin at the tempo which he held throughout the performance.

The modulation to e-flat near the end kills me every time; reminds me of a horn call followed by a distant answer. Utterly sublime.

[aardvaark069]

Horowtz playing is superior because it is so finely etched in attack, pedaling, tone color and general diablerie and remorsless concentration of pianistic resource. And that's my verdict, so there!

[Pianoloverok]

Wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Pianist2833]

Is there anywhere that I can get a sheet music?? I only have Listz's transcription but I really want to see Horowitz's!

[truverdigirl]

He purportedly learns all of Horowitz's transcriptions by ear as most weren't written down.

[nevskixx]

Amazing playing. Horowitz applied more varied colour to this work in his recording and in the end I think was the greater musician, Volodos I must say is impressive though.

[willemvdr12]

Amazing!

For me it's three years practising or something! It's a spooky piece, I like it very much!

- Willemvdr12

[bubylugo88]

I love the Volodos' way

[demosj]

Wow, Volodis is something else. I listened to the performance of Sandro Russo, and for all its technical merits it lacked electricity, which is in abundance in Volodos' playing. Bravo!

[demosj]

I have never heard of either Howard or Pace, just saying.

For me, it is hard to tell whether Volodis a greater virtuoso or a poet. Have you heard his Schumann?

[wouterpathetique]

His Schumann (Waldszenen especially) is divine. I heard them a couple of weeks ago, and I didn't even think something like that was possible...

[ignisfatuus67]

I heard him with that program, too. It was absolutely breathtaking. His phrasing is divine.

[demosj]

Did you hear him play the Bunte-Blätter by Schumann at the concert? I've uploaded the first few pieces of the set from his Carnegie recital.

Anyway, I'm envious. He doesn't tour the US, and whenever I leave the states for Europe Volodos isn't there. Did we Americans offend him? :(

[SJM1977]

Sorry if someone has already replied but Leslie Howard is a Liszt specialist who has recorded Liszt's entire output for Hyperion.  Ia Pace studied under Sandor and specialises in contemporary compositions.

[Elizabeth1952]

just for fun, check out Vazgen Vartanian's version of this same work here on YouTube....

[John19182004]

Why is he in a chair and not seated on a normal piano bench?? Looks really weird

[aammoossquito]

lol.. mayb hes too good and pro and crazy , when he plays too loud the chair collapses lol.

too much heavy vibration from this pro

[1989bc]

Glenn Gould used to play on a shabby, broken chair. Never stopped him from playing brilliantly. Amazing pianists have their weird habits, I guess.

[orgelfan]

The piano is a Steinway&Sons it's very expensive there was not mony for the piano bench. :D !!!

[photoeditingchicken]

;) :0 ;)

[Hervinbalfour]

A piano benche comes standard with a piano. There is no such things as buying a piano with the option of not having a bench.

[acavazos91]

shidooo

[wouterpathetique]

He plays something different than the score says at 7.13: i don't hear the big leap in octaves in the right hand. He only plays the first leap. Weird.

[vysehrad]

wouter: As I understand it, it's his reimagining of the Horowitz transcription, neither of which has a score available in print.

[wouterpathetique]

I think I doubt that, since he plays virtually everything else the same as in the Horowitz transcription. I have the sheet music of the Horowitz transcription, it is definately available.

[vysehrad]

Okay, cool, I didn't know that. In general, Volodos refines Horowitz transcriptions here and there to his taste.

[wouterpathetique]

Yes it's true, he very often does. But even Volodos sometimes plays a whole piece as it is written! ;-)

[cerzule]

Extraordinary! I'm almost lost for words upon seeing this.

[Polskapan]

I just had multiple orgasms.

[SevenCircles]

is true that he only practice half an hour a day or something like that in general?

Anyone know anything about that?

[soyeonpark]

Yes..it is true.I have heard that he need not technical practice.I think Volodos has best technic around all the pianist..Only Art Tatum is better than he.

[SevenCircles]

Yep but Art Tatum is no longer with us

Leslie Howard and Ian Pace are the only classical pianists alive that can be compared to Volodos when it comes to learning difficult pieces quickly as far as I know

In piano history I would propably vote for the composer of the original version of this work actually and that is of course Saint- Saens

According to many people of the era he was even superior too Mozart when it comes to learning new pieces

[soyeonpark]

Yes,Saint-Saens was genius.

But I can´t listen his playing...

I think L.Howard and I.Pace are not so good,of course I know that they can learning quickly.

Also Marc-Andre Hamelin can learning very quickly,but I think Volodos is much better pianist.

[SevenCircles]

Saint-Saens was very old when he did the very few recordings he did and he was too involved in other things and he only touched the piano or organ if he performed live or recorded

Volodos is the most musical I agree

Howard and Pace are better at sightreading but Volodos is better at everything else

[soyeonpark]

Oh...Volodos can´t compare to L.Howard and I.Pace...anything..

Volodos´s sight reading also amazing as his technique,I have heard that he could learning just 3 days for Rachmaninoff Concerto no.3 and Prokofiev Concerto no.2..

There are a few pianist who can amazing sight reading.

Sergei Rachmaninoff,Ervin Nyiregyhazi,John Ogdon,Marc-Andre Hamelin and Arcadi Volodos..

I think these pianists can learning very very quickly.

Howard and Pace are not so good as this level.

[SevenCircles]

True but when it comes to sightreading Leslie Howard and even more Ian Pace are better. Volodos is better in every other respect though

[soyeonpark]

Haha..I think only Rachmaninoff and Nyiregyhazi can compare to Volodos when it comes to learning very quickly(sight reading or memory)and compare to another level is not pair..Volodos´s sightreading playing and Howard and Pace´s sightreaing playing also another level.How to play? How is important..

I saw Pace´s playing that Dusapin´s Etude.I find that if that was sightreading but not to compare to Volodos..Do you think that Pace can just 3 days Rachmaninoff 3rd Concerto?

[VikingBerserker]

Actually, I read that Volodos plays mostly by ear. That's how he learned these Horowitz transcriptions.

[SevenCircles]

the pieces Volodos has performed in public and recorded are easy to sightread compared to the new complexity works that Ian Pace has performed.

Ian Pace´s fingermotorics are propably not as good as Volodos so he has to work harder to play the pieces fast and clean.

Motorics, learning by ear and sightreading are 3 different things

[sdorr]

Not so. Rubnstein is the king of sight readers. He often learned a big piece that he never saw before, on the way to the concert - on the train - by reading the score! I believe Rachmaninoff is in the same league, but VERY few others. Check out Rubinstein's description of their conversations, in his autobiographies. Note that Rubinstein's repetoire was also much larger than anyone else's in his

league...a very small league. A COMPLETE musician, too bad he wasn't interested in composition.

[geertdehoux]

@soyeonpark

With all respect, but don't believe all the stories people tell...

A cordial greeting,

Geert Dehoux.

[geertdehoux]

@soyeonpark

And then: Arcadi's sight reading is not bad, but not SO good either...

[geertdehoux]

@soyeonpark

With all respect, but don't believe all the stories people tell...

And then, Arcadi's sight reading is not bad, but not SO good either.

A cordial greeting,

Geert Dehoux, pianist.

[geertdehoux]

@soyeonpark

With all respect, but Arcadi's sight reading is OK, but not "amazing".

Then, don't believe everything people say.

A cordial greeting,

Geert Dehoux, pianist.

[Achtelnote]

and what about hamelin?

[audreyhsux5727]

@SevenCircles heard of kissin?

[leonengard]

I want him more famous trough all the world. It seems like the hall is not so full of public...that´s a pity, because he deserves much, much more. He have an amazing technique, but he is also a very good musician. Special pianist. Yeah!

[sanjosemike]

This is probably how Franz Liszt sounded...I've played piano all my life, and I've heard nearly all of them (including Horowitz in person). It's hard to imagine anyone who had the same technical facility as Volodos. Probably he has the most technique of any pianist in history...including Rachmaninov.

sanjosemike

sanjosemike

[MisterAgurk]

this is not meant to sound disrespectful towards volodos in any way, but i guess that most "connoisseurs" would agree, that even amongst the contemporary pianists, there are quite a lot of them superior to volodos (from a technical point of view!), eg hamelin, to name just the most prominent one.

and personally i think liszt sounded probably more like leslie howard ;)

[cziffra1980]

I don't think Hamelin is definably 'superior' to Volodos in any sense at all. In terms of dexterity there's really nothing in it. In terms of sound-production capabilities, Volodos has the edge over Hamelin quite comfortably.

[SevenCircles]

Hamelin has played works that are a lot harder then the ones that Volodos has performed in public and his recorded repertoire is a lot bigger

Volodos is a greater natural talent no doubt and more musical too.

Too bad that he has recorded just a fraction of his repertoire

[clavicvp50]

I disagree entirely. I don't think there is anyone, Hamelin included, who can match Volodos for sheer piano technique

[afertyus1000]

i disagree both have their virtuosity and cannot be compared here on youtube, hamelin plays rare compositions of phenomenal difficulty and seems to have more poise and control in his hands and movements,whereas volodos seems to play more 'showy' pieces [apart from his schubert]with ease,i would'nt like to choose between the two

[loves2listen]

i agree with afertyus. i think one cannot really compare it that way. i heard many pianists (also on youtube) who would be able excatly as volodos to play these pieces. in my opinion it is not even possible to say someone plays "better" in the "upper league". every pianist has its own character, and thank god, cause otherwise every piece would sound the same. but playing a moszkowsky in volods's style is really a challenge

[suremate]

hofmann, friedman, Kapell, Richter, Berman, Saint-Saens, Cziffra need I go on?

[pinkfloyddwc]

what the hell?????

how does he do this crap anyway!

[orlandirafael]

WTF at 7:15!! That scaried me, the sound increases toward the listener creating a creepy sound, exactly how it means to be!

[volodosfan]

Wow! hes just amazing.

[Dotcom00]

lol best...comment....ever....

[fotino1]

It was a stupid coment. He is probably most fascinating pianist alive!

[largolegato]

Mamamia!!

[Shottty101]

Lol for a pianist that good you'd think they'd get him a bench to sit on XD

[kylelandry]

XD!!

[Hellspire]

from what i heard he didn't like the bench that was provided because it was too low or uncomfortable. not confirmed.

[Shottty101]

that would explain it, but a chair? XD I've done that before and I hated it. Different strokes I guess.

[DonFrankos]

what perfect technique and interpretation, simply amazing.. simply the best..

[soogoonu]

are we sure he got 'only' 10 fingers?

just a 18 fingered alien could play properly this piece!

[bubylugo88]

HE is the best....not Bennet,I'msorry for him :)

[ChopinARG]

GREAT! AMAZING!

[DualThunder]

i prefer the solo violin rendition.

this is still an impressive arrangement though.

[bluejaypozo]

fantastic

[neoguy9090]

Those are some quick finger..

[ivrykeys]

This video is so amazing... I MUST comment on how great it is again =)

[bubylugo88]

I'VE ALWAYS SEARCHED FOR THIS VIDEOOOOOOOOO AMAZING....I LOVE VOLODOS and THAT SONG!!

[SevenCircles]

From 4,37-4.45 is that doublenotes in fourths? Propably the fastest I have ever heard. Horowitz never played that part as doublenotes, did he?

[hibrow13]

Just scale passages in thirds. No double notes involved, either here or in Horowitz's playing.

[awpp7]

Arcadi does not have to practise very much... :)... he plays mosy pieces by ear... He studied only four days for rachmaninov's second pianoconcerto...

[darnmat]

and rachmaninov 3 for 3 days...

[SevenCircles]

I heard that he only practice for a couple of hours a week. Is that really true?

[FlorestanEusebius]

Truly amazing! There's only one thing: I miss the Horowitz-sound. It's like, after a long journey, eating or drinking at home the favorite local dish from your holiday address that you brought with you...somehow just doesn't taste the same.

[totumnasum]

u are very right

[ivrykeys]

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG

I thought only a recording of this existed....

VIDEO =)

[asdfusuck]

im kinda leaning more tawords what daoc2005 said

[klapsikopatiko]

Martha Argerich has the best technique, because she can unleash Hell when she plays. She's the only one with that gift

[VikingBerserker]

I don't think so. If you listen to Volodos's recording of the third Rachmaninoff concerto and compare to Argerich's, it is easy to tell who is better.

For one thing, Volodos's performance is flawless, with no mistakes, which is a sharp contrast to Argerich's which is filled with annoying dropped notes.

[VikingBerserker]

That doesn't mean that Argerich isn't amazing though.

She just played it way to fast, and made mistakes because of it.

She is still a million times better than I am, so no one yell at me for being pompous or anything.

[asdfusuck]

I love this song thanks for posting this

[daoc2005]

Greatest Living Pianist, you cant argue with that fact, I believe he has actually the best technque in the history of piano playing, only exception is Art Tatum, just look at how Volodoses hands are natually made when the camera zooms in on his other vids, they just perfect piano hands. Also he produces such a tone, yes Pollini, Ashkenazy etc may be good, and recorded more, but this guy is in a different league, no questions asked.

[CapriciousCapricrn]

Yee-haa!!! It's going on my Halloween list. This is just awesome. Bliss.

[jefftam1234]

JESUSSSSSSS

THX A LOT

[loves2listen]

FINALLY!!! YEEHAAAAA!! Thanks a lot

[cziffra1980]

Excellent! Have you got any more of these?

[lacrymosa85]

What if he was from Israel? would your comment be as complimentary? I think not.

[cziffra1980]

I'm afraid that, unlike yourself, not everyone is concerned with a pianist's race. You should really get out more.

[mrsbirling]

unbelievable!