Gilels plays Beethoven Sonata Op. 26

[taostoner1]

This guy is truly a master of his instrument, precise but not mechanical. Emotional but not sloppy. Incredible.

[HoboSuperstar]

Does this guy know the tempo marking is Allegro?

[ungoliant6666]

@HoboSuperstar if Gilels puts a strike through "Allegro" and inserts "Epica Estremamente Dannati", you sit down, shut up, and like it!!!

[FingerMyFinger]

beethoven would have loved jazz

[JohnEBProductions]

Gilels has a habit of playing everything too seriously.

But God does he play everything well.

[piedijon]

Only pianist who comes close to Gulda's caliber when playing Beethoven.

[MusicisLife373]

beethoven - "in soviet russia piano plays player" Giels - "dont worry ludwig i wont let you down i promise" 7*'s out of 5*'s!

[RichterThePianist]

Unbelievabe!!!!!!! He plays Beethoven like a tiger, and sometimes like a mum with her youngest child. Beethoven is his nature.

[jenniferzhu2000]

All together, it is an amazing performance, but I would say that it is played way too fast, unlike Michilangi's. I wish I could play like you!

[rallestar1]

I can't hear Beethoven for Russia.

[John27346]

That's the first time I've heard this piece being performed rather than played.

[joule162534]

i like the way he looks at 1:08 :D

[WMHendersonUK]

I really like this performance. Notwithstanding other comments that it's perhaps a shade too fast, I just love how the notes flow so effortlessly, which makes me imagine how they probably would have done from Beethoven's fingers when he was improvising/composing this at the piano. Bravo!

[kevinvu2009]

I Like peoples hair style !!!

[mertmertmertos]

very very good! Beethoven is a history!

il était très très bon! Il est également très énergiques, mais il est très bon!

[pandalover1119]

Oops I meant It isn't No. 26

[marcinmain]

A little too fast in my opinion. But a lot of energy. At least Schiff plays the fast scales correctly. Gilels doesn´t. Gilels must, by the way, be one of the most energetic pianists ever. He is titaneous! He ROCKS!

[xiuje87]

wow, you are right. energy flow from the mind to the keyboard! yes! rocks!

[sexypianista]

Do you play all the notes correctly? How many plays all the notes perfectly in this world in a live concert???

[TheManSAberi]

fantastic

[tedly10027]

Gilels generally had a wonderful approach to beethoven and the individuality of his note-playing seemed to suit it well. but this particular instance seems over-wrought to me although great artist that he was Gilels probably had a very strong idea to play it this way. I think though..beethoven made a special effort to contrast the bolder, accentuated passages with the broken sixths passage giving a more refined texture which can be lost in the speed Gilels emphasized.

[audionautix]

this is faster than what Beethoven indicated?

[tedly10027]

this is what it seems to me. it's probably a very strong idea he has to play it that fast.

[audionautix]

What I meant was that Beethoven was very excited about an invention that a freind of his invented called the metronome. Beethoven was among the first composers to mark his works with tempi indications. I was just wondering if this was being played faster than Beethoven indicated.

[tedly10027]

i see. I don't recall from my music history studies exactly WHEN the metronome came up and beethoven utilized it. I believe it was rather late in his works, perhaps just before he wrote the Hammerklavier which was the most massive of all his piano solo works. those metronome indications there were genuinely HIS own suggestions. the earlier ones like the sonata above did not yet have actual metronome indications. eventually he discarded the use of metronome as he was unhappy with the results.

[m3rik6]

i just wish i were there to experience this fantastic live.

[miliona1re]

Beethoven rocks,Gilels too :)

[6022JP]

So dynamic!

Superb!

THIS IS GILELS!!

[marcinmain]

Too fast in my opinion. I think Andras Schiff plays it with much more respect.

[gerryrains]

Respect is a strange word in this context - besides Emil Gilels was a better pianist than the extremely good, but not superb, Andre Watts.

[Haeronthegreat]

Who mentioned Andre Watts? Andras Schiff is a different kettle of fish.

[disturbiapixie]

and, the superb, magnificent artist that he is, still no Gilels

[scottyschumann18]

gilels is in a different league, to Schiff, and Watts (not sure how he came into the conversation, though.

[rva25]

he plays very good, but Pollini plays op.26 much better

[bac21380]

extraordinaire fougue!!

[DreDre349]

WOW! Bellissimooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooo!!!!!

[GaryPansey]

Well, there's the Grand Canyon, Michelangelo's Last Judgement, and Gillels playing Beethoven!

[timm0222]

He is 'the master of piano'.

[tchebinai71]

isn't it a bit too fast ? i'm used to lortie's version which is very slow . Is this one ok ??

[DiabloPlayer4life]

well. It says allegro, so it should be faster, eh?

[saulboyjt]

Beethoven sounds so modern here...

[deandusk]

anyway, beethoven is.. far beyond time..

[johnnylifelive]

check out Kempff's playing of this...

[EgonSchielelebt]

I also. Er spielt den letzten Satz so gehetzt.

[kellnergram]

Was ist 'gehetzt' (for us english speakers?) danke

[suiteciliano]

in a hurry

[B337h0v3n]

I have listened to better performances...

[efitzge76]

I like Gilels an awful lot on certain pieces...unfortunately, this is not one of them. It really sounds rushed to me...technically, he can do it, no question about it. I like this one lighter and more playful. I have to amdit though, Gilels is an amazing pianist.

[pocoapoco2]

I agree. Plus, slowing it down just slightly would have most likely eliminated the fair amount of technical mistakes that he made in this performance.

[jengarocks12]

1:27

The classic hair slick back. Niiiiiice.

By the way. This guy blew the socks off this piece (meaning that he has extreme skills).

[ann11290]

They deserve a standing ovation!! To both Gilels and of course to Beethoven!!!

Thanks for all these wonderful emotions!!!

[lovesGenet]

wow . I never heard the last mov sound like this . the rude contrasts and elegant anger r Beethoven. I like this tempo but the force and power Gilels evinces wont happen with anyone else. I wonder what the var of the first movement sound like.I 've heard Richter n the funereal ii movement and I was shocked at what the music really is. Y do we students allways have such dead ,polite unalive conceptions. Great music is made by great personalities - thats allI can say!

[znbr1]

That's just a miracle...this man Gilels!

[TrippeR90091]

Well might be, but i think Beethoven is the one to celebrate for he is the creator of this great music

[random0018]

o shut the hell up. id like to see u play it then...go get a life rather than "critiquing" someone greater than u :)

heart me

[echipafantoma]

if the great ones wouldn't be criticized, then they wouldn't have the chance to be so great .

[random0018]

no shit sherlock but when ur life consists on getting on youtube to tell people that are dead that they cant play well, i think something is seriously wrong

[random0018]

no shit sherlock but when ur life consists on getting on youtube and telling ppl that are dead that they cant play well, then something is seriously wrong

[shangthemusic]

this is the proper speed if u think its too fast that just means u r crap.

[deandusk]

definetely ! richter goes even faster on his interpretation ..

[johnnylifelive]

I think it's too fast...and? Why is that wrong? By the way, I adore Gilels.

[johnnylifelive]

Listening again: way, way too fast: he steamrolls over all sorts of important details (the rhythmic divisions in the big descending runs, for example, to the exposed cadences too, which can't escape the resonance of what he's just played at this tempo). I believe it's simply marked allegro. The Richter I have isn't this fast, nor are Brendel, Kempff, or all sorts of others.

[shangthemusic]

I've heard many Beethoven players, but Gilels is the best, and my teacher suggest his CD as well.

If you are not as good as him, then you can't talk.

[fuckthatpussy11]

Why not?

[johnnylifelive]

it should be "if you can't play as good as HE" not "him." If you can't use the english language as good as I, maybe you shouldn't talk. You're not as good as HE, right? So why do you get to offer opinion, but I don't? I'm a Ph.D in music, a composer, and published music writer. I've looked carefully at the piece, have you?

[shangthemusic]

"Ph.D" who gives a shit. It doesn't mean you are good just cos you are a Ph.D and composer and can tell the difference between "HE" and him.

And how pathetic are you, I'm talking about music here, not language, you simply can't find any better way to insulting me.

[johnnylifelive]

Didn't sound like you were talking much about music; To suggest that one can't comment on his playing because one's not as good a player is really stupid.  Oh, by the way, this performance is way too fast.

[shangthemusic]

That's what you think man, don't explain too much and trying to sound like professional, cos you're just a arrogant shit, let other people decide for themselves whether this is too fast or not.

[random0018]

sooo mr. phd...dont u have more to do than sit here and argue with ppl on the internet? shouldnt u be working or something?...and its if u cant use the english language as "WELL" as i can...not good. if u know the english language so well and can gripe ppl out because they cant make comparisons correctly u might wanna check and see that u know ur adverbs from adjectives first :)

[johnnylifelive]

uhh, yeah, it was kind of like, uh, a joke. This is what I don't understand: it's ok for shang to offer opinions of praise, but noone else can offer opinions of criticism, and it's ok for you to correct my grammar, but not ok for me to correct his? I only mentioned the degree (which, I'll agree, means next to nothing) to respond to the :if you are not as good as him, then you can't talk." Why even bring it up if you're not going to deal with the sonata?

[random0018]

u can offer all of the criticism that u want. i dont care. ask whoever told u it was wrong why they think that. and i never told u that u cant correct his grammar. its just funny as hell that u did and then u cant even speak correctly. honestly i dont care. talk however u want to and i will to. and technically right now ur not dealing with the sonata either. ur arguing with a 17 year old girl on the computer and i have nothing better to do right now so i might as well argue bk

[kmjaemo]

I agree with you that Gilels sometimes plays his Beethoven too rapidly, I think you are emphasizing too hard on details. One can't see Beethoven as a detailed composer, you must see of him as a WHOLE, the whole arch of a building. You can't just admire the designs of the left colummn, but the whole building. Little details emphasized are great, but Gilels understands the whole thing.

On a side note, I, despite being 13, am sure that I am a better pianist than you.

[johnnylifelive]

agreed, partly: The trajectory of the whole is important...but if there's a composer who's more concerned with details of all kinds, please tell his/her name...noone deals with details more than Beethoven. I'm glad you play..but why waste everyone's time with the salvo about chops?

[ubrikkean19]

I'd just like to point out that you were wrong with your grammatical correction in the first place, and your own grammar is abysmal. You must have had a damn good proof-reader to get anything published.

[johnnylifelive]

what?

"if you are not as good as him, then you can't talk." You're saying that's correct? That was my correction..if you think that's correct, you're simply wrong. Look it up.

[pakuapete]

Wow. I've just reviewed the amazing number of comments this Video generated. Wanted to shout out to you because at first I missed your mentioning being only 13! Bravo for your insightful & 'mature' [gulp] remarks. Gilels was not only famous as a performer in USSR but one of its best & favorite teachers. this johnnylifelive, too. Beethoven's genius was exactly his ability to detail pianistic problems and consistently transcend them. Other Masters? Schumann, Brahms and occasionally Franz Liszt.

[johnnylifelive]

what I really love is his late recording of Op. 110....

[slobone]

He brings out something in this movement I hadn't heard before. The B section in particular sounds like a foreshadowing of the Appassionata.

[mathpianist93]

quite a literal performance. If you want elaboration, ask me.

[CheapRobot]

that guy in the front row is not impressed

[huskymale06]

I think he's just listening very intently

[Pladask]

It's hard to tell them apart. I once fell asleep during a violin concerto, and people were impressed at how concentrated I appeared to be.

[CheapRobot]

running the fingers through the hair ftw

[kajohada]

how can someone play the piano so percussiv,hard-strinking into the keys not soft n organic in sound.the instrument doesent sound it screames!- what a pity!

[CheapRobot]

but he strikes with such precision. the screams of joy

[mephistodimitrov]

actually, almost nobody has such a singing sound but exactly Gilels!

[philaufan6]

Then let's hear you play it then.

[magnumpela]

That's the beauty of the piano - it is at heart a percussive instrument which can scream in agony at one moment, and weep pianissimo the next. This interpretation was on the loud side but the dynamics fit the piece superbly.

[gabrielusa911]

this guys emotion is simply outstanding i luv it

[alanlehman]

Amazing performance! Thanks for posting.

[301250]

Scnabel,Kempff,Solomon,Pollini­,Arrau,Rosen,Gilels,Richter,Go­ode Richter,Goode,Barenboim,Brende­l et al.whether in complete or incomplete cycles, distinguished themselves in certain sonatas only as we are talking about 32 pn snts. that encompasses an individual's lifespan. sd goh (malaysia)

[lacgs]

Gilels is to Beethoven like Glen Gould is to Bach - after hearing him - you really don't want to hear anyone else play it

[AlwayzCurious101]

I agree

[Kwstello]

Check out richter then mate :-)

[Edward3600]

From my point of view, Gilels is a pure Rachmaninov at heart.

[mac1024]

@ jamespmul123

it´s not a rondo, it´s a sonata form

[Willo87]

Yes, Op 26 is a sonata. But this part of it is a Rondo.

[mac1024]

The last movement is also a sonata form.1-27 First theme 28-32 bridge, 32-48 second theme (dominant), 48-52 bridge, 52-80 repetition of the first theme (exposition is repeated, second theme is dropped),80-96 developement, 96-100 bridge, 100-128 recapitulation first theme, 128-132 bridge, 132-154 second theme (tonica), 154-169 coda

[johnnylifelive]

Sounds like a Rondo to me...I'll look.

[johnnylifelive]

yeah...definitely not sonata structure..pretty clear rondo form...

[4444matthew4444]

he is right

[packer812]

Maginificent! Gilels was a great Beethoven pianist. I would love to see him perform the Hammerklavier sonata.

[Tamadrum1111]

Lol, But I think so too

[Opoczynski]

Let's not be mistake counters when it comes to great performances. And this was a great performance. The rapidity of the finale seems a logical consequence of much previous introspection. I caught Sonata No. 18 on the radio the other day, in mid-performance. I thought it was Pollini, Brendel, or Richard Goode. It was Gilels. It was another breathtaking performance! Let's face it, Gilels is one of the foremost Beethoven performers. There is a spiritual kinship between Gilels and Beethoven.

[BrucknerEnthusiast]

Opoczynski: Yes, I agree, there is a spiritual kinship between Gilels and Beethoven. As a teacher I aim to be analytical and to avoid generalities, but 'spiritual kinship' is the only way of describing it. Some mistakes from Gilels don't matter if the listener understands what Gilels is aiming at in his interpretation. He had the wisdom to reject superficial striking effects which other pianists cannot resist. Only Richter could achieve comparable 'directness'.

[Opoczynski]

Thank you.

[chupashuevos]

overall, a great piece and played well

[toyu17]

sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeetttttttttttt

[Scarbogn]

Beautiful he is the best performer of Beethoven in my opinion, anyone knows where can i find the Sonata op 110 performed by Gilels?.

[jamespmul123]

this is such a bizarre realization of this score... I don't like it. It's faster than humanly possibly I think- even Gilels makes a whole mess of mistakes, and the sound just doesn't translate. Its too frantic and not full of enough joy

[exactlythat]

If you really feel this way would you please show us yourself playing this song the way you think it should be played jamespmul?

Gilels was pretty much the godfather of the Russian pianist crew.

[thepianomaniac]

I don't believe a whole mess of mistakes was heard by anyone but you, this performance was outstanding, and the tempo "allegro" is greatly defined by Gilels' playing.

[HarutTheSorcerer]

He is a real pianist, and not just some big-headed freak with no knowledge of life.

[Hyperbolic777]

A bit shoddy. There were at least 3 mistakes in that, it was rushed and heavy handed. I've heard better amateurs.

[HarutTheSorcerer]

Well if you have found time to download and watch the movie, you have wasted precious practice time. Someone has become better than you by 15 minutes. Oh darn.

[KennYWooD2]

Get a grip...obviously you don't have a clue.

[exactlythat]

Lol!

Gilels was pretty much the godfather of the russian pianist crew w/e.

I don't think any amateurs can play it better than him and any professional doubts it too.

Can you play with out making any mistakes infront of all those people who come to criticise you?

[btnikk]

Arrau is also great, but as far as Beethoven interpretation, I prefer Gilels.

[BrunoLien]

FABULOUS! The best reddition I ever heard. Gillels was one of the 2 or 3 greatest pianists of the 20th century, everyone knows that, and it's obvious hehe.

[bearjr]

forgot to delete some parts of my comment, of course :( I was in a hurry because of a storm here

[bearjr]

Horrible - don`t listen to this. Get Arrau. Before hearing it with Arrau you won`t know what this music is about>>>One of the most beautiful of all times. Delete this know what this music this music for the forst time, and realyze that`s one of the most beautifull classical music I heard so far, and this is the worse.

[sverdlov17]

Arrau is a bloody faggot when he plays Beethoven!!! All those damn ritardandos, and romantic flavor to it. Pure gay when he plays the sonatas. I have to admit that Arrau is a great Chopin perfomer, but he just makes Beethoven sound queer.

[kajohada]

nonsense!

[philaufan6]

I'm waiting...I want to hear you play it the way it's meant to be.

[dastotem87]

nice work !

[lipotito]

Excelente Gracias por todo muy bueno video ajaj

[Iain0408]

I can't believe people say this about gilels when there are videos of arrau much more deserving of damning.

[bloodyx989]

I love your dynamics on this peice

[paulogazola]

Anyone sees this is a nice Beethoven's scherzo. Any serious pianist hear this song with respect. Beethoven's always improve his music, just like all the great composers - the last sonata has some elements os jazz. If you don't like it, don't hear it.

[jamespmul123]

is this english? and no, its not a "song" and its not a scherzo, its a rondo marked simply "allegro". what the hell was the point of your comment? i dont like you

[tedly10027]

hi paulogazola -- i suppose you love jazz...and you pointed out well that the last sonata has those triplet jazzy rythms and syncopation indeed. very good point!

i hope people won't be so hard on others that use more common words today - like "song" to refer to classical pieces. sure there are technical terms - sonata, rondo, cavatina, fugue, exposition, transition, etc.etc. etc..- but in the end - if people enjoy the music and find it a good experience - it doesn't matter WHAT we call it.

[sab3156]

There are A LOT of terrible mistakes in this rendition. Dunno why.

[speedstream001]

^^ pure idiot.

[pian000]

pure crap

[achilless]

go jump off a cliff

[Cinemusician]

You and your tourettes syndrome. Boring.

[beethovenbd]

WOW..thanks for putting this up, I bought me some cd's of gilels performing, amongst them are the complete beethoven concerto's and a few sonata's...I've got THIS rendition on cd..it's great to finally be able to see the man perform them..many thnx.