Emil GILELS plays CHOPIN Ballade live /SU record

[maestrojimbo]

This is bold, daring, poetic story telling. Not for mental midgets.

[Phil19P]

Eva Can you tell me where this recording was. Was it at the Festival Hall in London

[EvaHartwig]

@Phil19P -

It is the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire.

[thejesusfreak919]

I'm 15 and just learned the piece, anybody want to comment my interpretation?

watch?v=_jrAvWvPkAA

[fcg2367]

Bravo!!! Wonderful!!!

[ultracoolhomies]

BRAVO

[sugarve]

Davvero un gigante del pianoforte!!!!!

[vivacecilia]

When the piano become sing!!!! marvellous

[donaldcallen]

I think this is the work of a very great artist who was also a powerful virtuoso. While I love much, but not all, of Vladimir Horowitz's playing, I have never much cared for his G-minor Ballade, which I think is more Horowitz than Chopin. Gilels is far more respectful of the score, but his wonderful musicality and great technique combine to produce a thrilling performance.

[sean4496]

Horowitz is the legend in performing Chopin pieces ; of course,it's my opinion.

[fingaz000]

This is beyond the sort of banal criticism one finds here. Please recognise this as a great performance by a very great artist, and count your lucky stars that it exists for us all to hear.

[gianpaga11]

Fantastica e commovente esecuzione di un grandissimo artista che amerò fino al mio ultimo respiro! Cari amici di You Tube, vi invito a una piccola preghiera. Grazie!

[mrsmetz1]

I am very glad that so much videos with mr. Gilels are posted to you tube these days. This is certainly a name to be remembered, certainly also in relation to the Rachmaninoff preludes. Thanks for posting (R.Metz, the Netherlands).

[musiccritic1910]

@mrsmetz1

I truly agree with you and also want to express my thanks to R. Metz

[lovesGenet]

we all love Hofmann in 1& #4 .But Gilels really respects Chopin.Hofmann is trying to stay interested or something because he varies textures and does all sorts of new or pianistic things. Anyway this & earlier rec Gilels show us a pianist in love with Chopin's style & writingso different from all the really famous versions.SEARCHING,very much a narrative account! 'm shocked.

This isfabulous .I feel like I'm discovering this ballade again.Obvious things that nooneelse does esp. last 6 pages!

[uhartchristian]

if you compare with Zimmerman this here is more intense, more volume in sound. Guilels use more of his body than Zimmerman and this weight of body he uses to create the unique sound , like Richter did. Thats why this was such an exciting pianist specially in his earlier career....

[rva25]

Zimmerman has such wonderful and exactly"chopin" sound. Gilels plays too strong and i think sometimes too fast. well... that's my opinion...

[adjpiano]

This is an incredible performance. Thank you for posting.

[kcolgnes]

Gilels is one of my fav pianists! I find his intepretations, honest and full-blooded, just as in this Ballade. Amazing intepretation!

[desalinhad0]

some parts are so fast and badly played u cant even recognise the ballade...

[uhartchristian]

you are wrong. this Balade is not too fast played. The slower versions are slow because the pianists are not able to do it in a quick tempo. Here every single note is here . No mistakes. So what disturbs you? just the tempo? ridiculous...

[desalinhad0]

well... i was talking about some parts of the piece. when u say there r no mistakes here, either your earing isnt that atuned, or u should play the piece and find out. among others, around 7 min, its a mess... and even if he was playing it correctly, its just not the right intention (but thats my interpretation) but dont take me rong anyway he is very good

[ClassicOnly]

@uhartchristian Just because it can be played fast does not at all mean that it should be played fast.

[Bret6464]

@uhartchristian Exactly, every note is crystal clear and Gilels' performance has surreal musicality and passion, he was all about artistry and "feeling" the composition for himself and for his audience :-))

Everything Gilels performed was extraordinary and we are fortunate to have a chance to hear this. Thanks to EwaHartwig for sharing :-))

[uhartchristian]

well I do play this ballade also (the other three too) and my ear is not as bad as that... (had also good teachers ...) but thats not important, I like this way of interpretation more than the so correct version of Zimmerman for example, which is not bad and really good also.. There are different possibilities of interpretation and Gilels had tremendous possibilities which he does not hesitate to use.

[savykvv3]

this is the best interpretation.strong and revolutionary.

[rva25]

I like Zimerman and Michelangeli much more

[Sinfoniette]

I adore the Hofmann rendition the most, especially the Golden Jubilee recording... have you heard it?

[AnnMarry19]

and Richter :)

[hayastanjan]

i love this interpretation! gilels proves again why he is one of the best!

[istreba]

c'est dingue quel son c'est incroyable merci a vous EvaHartwig

[chad410]

my teacher received occasional lessons from him too at the Moscow Conservatoire and I thought what a bizare coincidence.

[Neishapour]

Perhaps slightly fast for my taste but otherwise beautiful. Sviatoslav Richter remains supreme but there are other interpretations such as those by Rubinstein, Ashkenazy, Cliburn and some others that are worthwhile. Thanks for uploading this beautiful rendition.

[pianoben89]

Mir ist diese Interpretation zu schnell. Sonst aber gut.