Michelangeli plays Chopin's op 45 Prelude live

[jimsammann]

I think this is wonderful for the pedaling, but lacks the pathos of Claudio Arau's phrasing and rubato.

[rmagnomarketing]

Semplicimente Michelangeli, l'unico ed eterno

[paulostroff99]

Superb! TY A for posting.

[MrOlogramma]

I M M E N S O

[giuseppe76761]

ma cazzoooooooooooooo mondoooooooo vi rendete conto che sembra un arpaaaaaaaa porca paletta michelangeli sei stato e rimarrai il numero uno della raffintezza chiarezza e suono trascendentale

[iguarni]

@giuseppe76761 Non ti incavolare è tutta invidia. Solo cinque sei pianisti nella storia sono paragonabili a lui! Ma la bellezza del suono pordotto dalle sue mani magiche è IMMORTALE!!!

[Barbapippo]

me-ra-vi-glio-so

[darkblueangel1956]

Personalmente trovo migliore l'incisione in studio per la Deutsche Grammophon ! In quel disco ci sono sonorità tirate a lucido, con doratura finale, declamato etereo della melodia, ritmica quasi in secondo piano rispetto all'ondeggiare del flusso melodico, e tante altre magie iperboliche ! In questa interpretazione dal vivo, è tutto levigato a dovere, ma anche più fluida la lettura melodica, forse più crepuscolare e intima...

[GeorgeM1949]

It seems to me what is sometimes referred to as "lack of emotion" is that he presents the music, not himself. It is about the music. In an earlier posting here there is a reference to Pogorelich. For a while I had hoped he was going to be THE next great pianist. Sadly for him and us, fate had other plans. And lastly, the comments about the Bach Busoni transcription, I feel the same way. Too bad the sonics of the day, recording technology, were so primitive.

[PhillipLWilcher]

The best I have ever heard!

There will never be an interpretation of these immortal and so redolently suspended pages from Chopin better than this.

Just incredible!

[geertdehoux]

Thanks for posting this document of high value, Antonio!

And where was this interesting photo taken, please ?

At Michelangeli's home ?

[geertdehoux]

The great Michelangeli with his 'crystal open sound'!

I remember the young Pogorelich opening a recital by this piece!

Can anyone tell me why we don't hear this precious Prelude more often, please ?

Thanks.

G. Dehoux.

[chubbaustralia]

totally amazing... 

[IsyZalChopin22]

English please XD great Michelangeli!!

[ionelpiano]

incroyableeeeeeeeeeeeee.......­......

[FurutayoshimotoAgon]

How smart photo!

[fortezimo]

This is legandary.

[Andre1214]

The use of sustain pedal by Michelangeli was absolutely perfect, legendary, and much of young pianists could take it as a model.

[brianCIM]

@Andre1214 you are dead-on. He and geiseking are the masters of pedaling. It completely amazes me that his pedaling gives way to the richest color palette and he still retains perfect clarity. I have never even hear ONE pedal smudge. Incredible. just incedible.

[brianCIM]

@Andre1214 His pedaling is a mystery to me even after years of listening to him. He could conjure the most incredibly ringing, singing, even "wet" tone without it ever bleeding over or being unclear. And you are right, unfortunately pianists like Clang Clang have more views. It's a damn shame.

[cmonclair27]

Beautiful,glittery,droplet like sound. It also suggests big empty space surroundings all around. I can see where argerich got her approach to this prelude. Her rendition of this piece is awsome too(with a more bell like sonority and dynamic contrast). Ashkenazy and Arrau use a different(but equally great) approach. They achieve a kind of mellow, thicker mood in contrast this more ethereal version.

[NOUCHINI]

Quelle douceur!!!! suggérer plûtot qu'affirmer disait un certain liszt.........

Pour la technique, marie jaëlle bien sûr...

coude sous les touches, poids naturel, rebond des doigts...

Magnifique !!!!

[izeea]

michelangeli is so good, i'm trying to prefect my cadenza, but it just isn't working

[Verityseo]

A. B. Michellangeli--a true aristocrat

[morinoroba]

Bravo！！！thank you.

[orcamocha]

Excellent.

[rva25]

this is very interesting.. but I think Pogorelich has no rivals here.. he plays magnificiant!

[Lebowski53]

Not for me.

I prefer the Porgorelich version.

Bit too rushed.

[tonidist]

e perdi tempo a scrivere questo bel commento....michelangeli non è confrontabile a nessuno....è il pianoforte e basta....

[JoFrSc]

Keep to your lowest common deniminator.

[X52SY]

Wonderful piece. No words for The Great Maestro. I've also appreciated Nuccio Trotta's rendition (an unknown pianist on youtube worth listening in to. I'd like to invite watching his performances).

[philczech]

Oh dear, I have just insulted you cziffra on another post, yet now I am in complete agreement with you. This version is stunning, and the musical line (as you rightly call it) is so important, right up to the final uncrushed note, as it were. Well, apologies.

[genopal1020]

I truly admire Michaelangeli, but his inspiration in his playing seems more appropriate for the colors of Debussy. He is painting too much, where as Chopin had too much emotion to be THINKING color. He expressed love above all else, and Mich seems too much of a perfectionist to take such risks. He is a greater musician than artist.

[bassodivo]

you make a good point, the only reason some viewers have given you a hands down is because they dont have the intuition to intuit what youve observed, but i get it.

[brianCIM]

@genopal1020 uh...there are no risks for ABM. He had the most astonishing technique IMHO of any pianist of the 20th century. Risks are not possible for this genius. He could manipulate the keyboard like no other.

[genopal1020]

@brianCIM I agree, there are no risks because he was a master of technique, and while technique is so vital to a pianist, it is secondary to the artist. Some of the other great pianists of the century, such as Cortot, Fischer, and Schnabel were quite obviously less concerned with all the right notes than about the quality and individuality of interpretation.

[brianCIM]

@genopal1020 I think people have a very superficial view as to what technique really is. it's not about his ability to play without wrong notes. I think he would be offended if someone were to suggest that to him.  His technique and his artistry go far beyond simple right/wrong notes. His concentration on the SOUND of every note he played is perhaps unequaled in the history of pianism. Schnabel and Cortot could had ENORMOUS techniques. I love them both. Some splattered notes? yeah. don't care.

[genopal1020]

@brianCIM Again I agree with your point, and I am sure my view of technique has become a little superficial in my comments in regards to Michelangeli. I love his playing and artistry. But at times I notice in his playing a certain lack of emotion, and I think this is due to his temperament, which led him to focus more and more on the element of perfection in music. But to concentrate so much of your energy on perfection, the sense of flawed human emotions, like love, might become lost.

[genopal1020]

@brianCIM Again I agree with your point, and I am sure my view of technique has become a little superficial in my comments in regards to Michelangeli. I love his playing and artistry. But at times I notice in his playing a certain lack of emotion, and I think this is due to his temperament, which led him to focus more and more on the element of perfection in music. But to concentrate so much of your energy on perfection, the sense of flawed human emotions, like love, might become lost.

[brianCIM]

@genopal1020 I used to think the same also and then I listened to his Bach-Busoni Chacconne. One of the most inspirational and emotional performances i have ever heard. Put on some headphones, turn off the lights, close your eyes and just listen. It's hard to believe that its only 16 minutes. It embodies the experience of a lifetime. The second movement of the Ravel concerto(the studio recording) is about the most tear-inducing performance i have ever heard.

[cziffra1980]

Finally! A pianist who fully brings out the musical line, instead of swamping it with the accompanying octave. I cannot understand why other pianists do not do this. This is superb!

[frederickfrederikfre]

Il suo tocco,la musicalitá e la concezione della Musica traspassano i confini limitati del semplice e superficiale ascolto,arrivando a toccare le fibre profonde dell`animo umano,dove nasce,inizia e muore la Musica.

[argerich68]

Sono perfettamente d'accordo con te.

[brianCIM]

from the very first note his tone is so beautiful it makes me cry.

[ilovescarlatti]

Senza parole.... questo pianista è di un talento portentoso.... Che la terra le sia lieve Maestro.... Sono contento di essere venuto lì, a Pura, alla sua estrema dimora di modestia francescana .. E' stato un piccolo omaggio a lei, per tutto quello che ci ha donato e che ci dona...

[pollon2008]

SPAVENTOSO

[kelleypb2008]

Perfect, not too slow, every detail correct, above all, RUBATO...

[brianCIM]

absolutely gorgeous tone. thank you so much antonio. a rare treasure.