I've been listening to the first two bars of this piece. So beautiful how the whole piece evolves from those simple, beautiful repeated C's; this is exactly how I've imagined the piece to start.
Cool post here, Pianoplayer! Very nice to have the score along with the music. Reminds me of why I quit the piano a number of years ago, it's hard to play music at this level!!! Love to listen to masters play and follow the music. They make it seem easy when it is clearly not easy!!
What exactly about makes you cringe? Was it the crystal clarity, the flawless precision, or what? And don't give me crap like "it was void of emotion". I am really sick of people faulting a pianist for executing each note. it's almost as if to say if you don't make mistakes you have no emotion or play robotically.
zimerman's interpretation exudes feeling, and there's no argument i make for that if you can't see it.
Cortot's is amazing as well, but i'm posting to defend Zimerman.
Cortot may have recorded this later on, when he had quit practising, and his reliability had slipped a good bit. In his prime, hardly anyone could play more brilliant passage work than Cortot.
I was disappointed at the end; he plays the whole thing above speed, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but then he doesn't keep it up in the end and slows down relative to the speed he had for the rest. I liked half of his interpretation: his rubato is excessive in my opinion in the slower parts and either he's missing a lot of the octaves in the bottom or he's changed some of the chords.... But otherwise the rest is generally good.
@ZaMRai I can count only 3 apparent octave misses in the Presto con Fuoco. There are more in the Agitato coda though. I like this interpretation a lot, the rubato thing seems to be a manner of the past that's been toned down in modern piano playing. (also keep in mind that the Agitato section usually is played slower than the rest)
@Marsmallos: I would beg to differ. much of the rubato heard today is instead unnatural and often simply erratic, as seen with Yulianna Avdeeva (2010 Chopin Comp winner) most prominently in her performance of the B-flat minor Sonata.
It is the more logical, more natural rubato that is lacking in today's performances. For instance when passively listening to this recording, I can't detect 'rubato' except in the coda. That's how natural it is
have you ever listened to Freddy Kempf's interpretation of this piece? it's on his CD "Freddy Kempf plays chopin". i would strongly reccomend it. You may think it is too fast but i really like the contrasts in speed.
This guy tried really hard, and this piece is one of the most difficult out there.... But if you want to see true brilliance, watch a live recording from Krystian Zimerman.
cortot's phrasing never ceases to amaze me. he really brings the music to life.
fledgehog 9 months ago
@Pianoplayer002 It's Presto con fuoco
summonshire 1 year ago
Comment removed
PoesSoul7 1 year ago
The best execution is of Fou Ts'ong pianist
gilles2777 1 year ago
i dont know if you guys have heard bosworth play this peice it sounds really good look up bosworth plays ballade 2
seazk303 1 year ago
This is how you play Chopin.
aubreyprosper1994 1 year ago
Op. 38, Philippe Entremont, 1961:
watch?v=IYuRRr9E9vk
thanks and regards to all
classicvinylbiz 1 year ago
me gusta más la versión que viene en el cd de la banda sonora de el pianista
s3kiam 2 years ago
I've been listening to the first two bars of this piece. So beautiful how the whole piece evolves from those simple, beautiful repeated C's; this is exactly how I've imagined the piece to start.
dreamerpiano 2 years ago
Cool post here, Pianoplayer! Very nice to have the score along with the music. Reminds me of why I quit the piano a number of years ago, it's hard to play music at this level!!! Love to listen to masters play and follow the music. They make it seem easy when it is clearly not easy!!
Gman6755 2 years ago
i prefer zimermans version a lot more
VeSpAdRiVeR 2 years ago 2
What exactly about makes you cringe? Was it the crystal clarity, the flawless precision, or what? And don't give me crap like "it was void of emotion". I am really sick of people faulting a pianist for executing each note. it's almost as if to say if you don't make mistakes you have no emotion or play robotically.
zimerman's interpretation exudes feeling, and there's no argument i make for that if you can't see it.
Cortot's is amazing as well, but i'm posting to defend Zimerman.
tharhodyhomieKdollaz 2 years ago 4
People like to criticize Hamelin for that, too. To them I say, bullshit.
goobleglob 2 years ago
well said, bravo.
deathgoose9 2 years ago
Cortot may have recorded this later on, when he had quit practising, and his reliability had slipped a good bit. In his prime, hardly anyone could play more brilliant passage work than Cortot.
daniel15671 2 years ago
This was recorded in 1926 if I am not mistaken
Pianoplayer002 2 years ago
I was disappointed at the end; he plays the whole thing above speed, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but then he doesn't keep it up in the end and slows down relative to the speed he had for the rest. I liked half of his interpretation: his rubato is excessive in my opinion in the slower parts and either he's missing a lot of the octaves in the bottom or he's changed some of the chords.... But otherwise the rest is generally good.
ZaMRai 2 years ago
@ZaMRai I can count only 3 apparent octave misses in the Presto con Fuoco. There are more in the Agitato coda though. I like this interpretation a lot, the rubato thing seems to be a manner of the past that's been toned down in modern piano playing. (also keep in mind that the Agitato section usually is played slower than the rest)
Marsmallos 1 year ago
@Marsmallos: I would beg to differ. much of the rubato heard today is instead unnatural and often simply erratic, as seen with Yulianna Avdeeva (2010 Chopin Comp winner) most prominently in her performance of the B-flat minor Sonata.
It is the more logical, more natural rubato that is lacking in today's performances. For instance when passively listening to this recording, I can't detect 'rubato' except in the coda. That's how natural it is
CaradhrasAiguo49 11 months ago
yes, it sounds like a tank trying to hit all the right notes. granted, it does hit all the right notes. it just misses the musical point.
redrothko 2 years ago
I hope you mean Zimmerman. Cortot is the best I have ever heard
Marsmallos 2 years ago
have you ever listened to Freddy Kempf's interpretation of this piece? it's on his CD "Freddy Kempf plays chopin". i would strongly reccomend it. You may think it is too fast but i really like the contrasts in speed.
monobrow638 2 years ago
Zimmerman definetly owns him...
comsalx 2 years ago
Alfred Cortot, definitly
AZazaxe 3 years ago
This guy tried really hard, and this piece is one of the most difficult out there.... But if you want to see true brilliance, watch a live recording from Krystian Zimerman.
sclyfes1212 3 years ago
Demidenko also not bad.
flute1982 3 years ago
Great! Beautiful performance...
berlioz1830 3 years ago
For years I thought that Perlemuter's rendition was definitive but i now think this betters it
schubert06 3 years ago 4
It's the very best. From a live performance.
xujia1001 3 years ago 7
wow sooo beautiful and careful.. thank you!
deathshot7 3 years ago 5