Liszt - Valse Impromptu (Cziffra)

[fledgehog]

watching his face from 2:30-2:50 you can really tell how deeply he feels the music

[dkurgano]

2:35 ---> music

[f1f1s]

There is so much fun in seeing the «Liszt playlist» in the right...

In Russian, «List» also stands for a «leaf» or a «sheet of paper». So much for sheet music—awash with one composer’s spirit.

Whereas «Cziffra» stands for a «number», «digit». Madlovba2/3 once told me that «Cziffra» means «flamboyant» in Hungarian. Really.

[bahamutstudio]

Le meilleur !

[gesolreut1]

grazie per questo video,trovo che cziffra in queste interpretazioni abbia dato il meglio della sua ispirazione

[MrsSaxobeat1]

I love his facial expressions! makes it seem so easy..truly one of Liszt's best interpreters!

[ImmortalSpecies]

A pleasure lisztening to this :).

[1Jiller]

Absolutely beautiful. One of the most tranquil pieces I've ever heard

[mrnanovideos]

Sounds like Chopin but has a Liszt touch.

[G1GAR0]

@mrnanovideos

Not at all

[123mazeppa]

@mrnanovideos More like the opposite :P

Sounds Liszt with a Chopin touch ;-)

[CziffraTheThird]

Horowitz or Kissin has nothing on this one im so sorry to say that. Cziffra was considered thee best interpreter of Liszt. he actually so good that everyone literally thought he was the reincarnation of Liszt. true fact.

[Jim0734]

@CziffraTheThird - great user name. Will look out for your comments. No need to preach to the converted! Type "I love Cziffra" into Facebook.

[Jim341046]

It's fair to say he has some talent

[Jim341046]

If you've only got a minute, listen to the end.

[Jim341046]

Precision and beauty

[mikex01234]

That was wonderful playing.

[claudioxpena]

Demuestra realmente lo que es un buen pianista! Simpleza... Y Grandeza !

[rojocomolagrana]

He llorado como un niño pequeño oyéndolo.

[Jim341046]

Ouch - the ending is just too good. If I was in the audience I think I would burst into tears!

[only1is]

@Jim341046 Cziffra has fire in his veins. His interpretation is untamed yet completely in control. He is as nature its self would be at the piano.

[Jim341046]

He's really enjoying this....and so am I *_*

[Jim341046]

I don't think any player past or present has found ANY piece such a doddle as Cziffra - he just looks so completely unfazed...with anything other than his own creations.

Some modern virtuoso are trying his fiendish 'improvisations' but they can't match the legend for speed and accuracy.

[tagnshare1234]

in the first 10seconds his face is like <; hmm.. this isn't very hard!

[Zanypem]

Published by Schott - can be hard to find. Blackwells in Oxford stock it.

[jwaz91]

If anyone knows where I can get the sheet music for this piece please let me know. I tried looking for it through the petrucci score library online and I did not find it (and that has almost everything!).

[gaurav91011]

I love how he gives life to his music.

[csingo100]

Àlomszép

[jenofontesi]

he invented the last chords they are more simpler on my score

[RamboJohn0123]

So simple, so impossible....

[AZENA1997]

БОЖЕСТВЕННО!ЦИФРА-ГЕНИЙ!



[Mattouven]

reminds me of the girl i love...i cried

[GroovyPiano]

The ending is so beautiful! The whole song is beautiful but the ending arpeggios really sound like they're being played on a harp. It's amazing how master pianists can do that!

[zypp33]

As pure and crisp as mountain air.........to read chrism216 info re 3 yrs capture and damage to his hands and the possibility that he was without a piano for that period could bring you to tears....ultimate torture.

[Jtking3000]

such clarity :')

[Axotrotl]

this piece is so amazing,when i look that a hungarian genius wrote it,it sounds on a while asian and on a while european romantic,it is so magic and beautiful-plus Cziffra-gipsy hungarian genius virtuos!

[willy1986tralara]

este tio es inmortal

[DPPurdue]

Can you imagine what it must have been to see and hear Liszt play? All we have are accounts of people who heard him and those accounts are astonishing.

[NuovoCurioso]

Cziffra..... indimenticabile, magico, speciale...immortale!

[Mazeppa6]

You know, this man was known for the thunder and lightening of his technique but just listen to the delicacy and softness at 2.41..there really is nothing to say, except that this is extremely good music. My criteria as to whether I keep a girlfriend is if she is moved by this!

[chrism216]

you can see the wrist band in this video by the way. look at his right hand

[SwePianoholic]

What an astonishing performance :)

[cerzule]

He plays with such joy, spontaneity, and elegance, yet can also be ferocious and overpowering when necessary. You can tell that music flowed through his veins as naturally as blood. Wonderful to watch!

[xoSerenade]

^.^ i like this. thumbs up! waaaay up!!!..higher than that! thanks for posting this <3 i love it.

[scout6686]

the precision of this guys playing is amazing

[Chopininoff]

Cziffszt :D

[C0L050]

no not is necessary "10 years" if nothing piece of music its imposible remember maybe liszt said: " oh shit I'll need 10 years for compose and play very well" but he practice and played very well before that 10 years ;) only is the love for music and the patient

[Diffomega]

@C0L050 Actually....liszt was a prodigy, recognized at the age of 6, he played extremely hard pieces with a greate ease.

so sir, you fail

[bennettpiano]

I really like his outline of the bass...and of course his lightning fast right hand too! so much emotion maybe some would say it's "heart on sleeve" but I like it.

[bennettpiano]

I really like his outline of the bass...and of course his lightning fast right hand too!

[alekkthewolf]

Cziffra has the proper balance of soul and precision. Love him.

[iOnlySignIn]

Cziffra = massive pwnage. No offense but he makes many famous young pianists nowadays look like 6 year old students.

[aardvaark069]

very impromptu. I think every liberty should be taken when it comes to impromptus and caprices.

[Marina96424]

sin palabras ...

[theanguished1]

Ahhh! He has tarantulas for hands

[sal50811]

It seems he had such elastic and flexible fingers too...

[chrism216]

@sal50811

maybe you did not know this, but during his 3 years in captivity after trying to flee hungary, cziffra was forced to do heavy work, and was tortured. the tendons of his hands were stretched during those torture sessions. in later years, cziffra used to put on a leather strip around his wrists to support his tendons while playing.

thats why i find this so absolutely beautiful and amazing. after having suffered those things, to still have such a tremendous technique.

[bennettpiano]

I'm really growing to love Cziffra...a true "interpreter". Makes the music his own. At first I'm a little shocked but after I listen more it makes more and more sense. No one else should ever play the pieces his way but for him it's perfect.

[gerardbedecarter]

A stunning interpretation!

[EFAJE]

Not sure im happy with the definition of Mr Cziffra as the reincarnation of Liszt...this man was absolutley brilliant in his own right. I have never seen such viruosity. His hands are NEVER in the way

[MrBenhoven]

Brilliant. such clarity

[orovalleydude]

Thanks for posting! It is a pleasure to watch and listen to him play...

[pagloo]

favorite pianist, favorite piece.

[kocicakka]

i love it and him.........

[AVIDEOGAL]

WOW - I discovered Cziffra today - home from work sick - how miraculous was this guy - one of the best I've ever heard thanks to the miracle of you-tube - this is quite a substantail composistion to give even more evidence that Liszt was the greatest composer ever - or as someone said he threw his spear farthur into the unknown than anyone else....

[lehah]

It is regrettable that Liszt never lived to see this man play his work so beautifully.

[guitarclasic4693]

yo creo que a Chopin le hubiera gustado esta pieza si es que no la escucho...

tiene cierto caracter chopiniano

me gusta ...

gran interprete este hombre

[refaful]

écouter et écouter un régal quel interprète merci merci

[BifSlamkovich]

This virtuosity of Cziffra is awe-inspiring. This piece is absolutely sublime when played by Cziffra. Cziffra is out of this world!

[moonstyla]

Oh wow beautiful~~~

[GALLOTCHRISTIAN]

Cziffra réalise l'indispensable ! il donne l'impression que la musique prend naissance sous ses doigts....

[libetta]

if i practice for 10 hours everyday for the next 10 years, who knows, i might get to play half as good as this

[Angel94angel94]

@libetta To be honest you could even reach his level

[libetta]

@Angel94angel94

on this piece, why not? but Cziffra is gifted with what could be the most talented fingers that ever played the keyboard. i'm not very athletic playing

[klaus1509]

@libetta

vale adelante.

[spartan1081990]

@libetta pratice 20, maybe you'll be better, seriously

[martinl19]

@libetta LOL! not even 24 hours a day would make anyone play this well and this naturally... it´s intrinsic....either you bring it from birth or you´ll never have that facility...perhaps one out of ten thousand pianists have this gift...... Cziffra certainly was THE chosen one !!! what an extraordinary artist!

[minasgekos]

@libetta I did that, and ended up with destroyed ligaments. My career ended. So, don't...

[libetta]

@minasgekos

was exaggerating of course. healthy practice could never be more than 5 hours each day

[only1is]

@minasgekos Not everybodys ligaments would be destroyed. Each man must know his limitations.

[TheSJeon]

@libetta over practicing is bad for you

[Jim341046]

@libetta He's so able, it takes about 10% of his ability to play this sublimey

[muspan]

@libetta uh...i tried what you said, "for 20 hours everyday for the next 10 years," and i'm not half a good as this...

You'll be good, but not as good as you want to be. :*(

[GMoralesRCflight]

Everything about this performance is perfect !

[refaful]

parfait

[bhh1988]

this video hasn't been working for me for at least several weeks. Is it just me or does the video have problems

anyhow if you wanna listen to cziffra's playing this piece, there's another video uploaded of this, i think by sissco or sissy or something like that

[daftpunkdroid]

lol i had the same problem but it was because i had the video on HQ

so check if u put the video on HQ

[bhh1988]

ahh thanks

[silverbud]

He would have made a good James Bond and Belmondo, too. ;-)

[charmingemily]

:) yea i like his style (personal) too

[piano345]

Love his rubato and teasing caprice. Nowadays a lost art. To play from the heart to the heart was Cziffra's style and that's why his playing is always memorable.

[chopinandliszt]

Lisziffra!!!

[krokigrygg]

What a performer he was..

[Paulo78180]

2:49 Quelle tendresse dans le regard, montrant un véritable amour de la musique

[Rachoszsky]

this is such a lovely piece, excellent played

[hjiuhfhrehui]

Cziffra... you are my hero !!!:D

[Bipek1]

505807, what are you, 7 years old or what? If you cannot write anything more constructive that this or if you can't write anything clever at all, just shut the fuck up, right?

Or you just wanna show off? Wrong place for a man of your inteligenec, man.

[kastlesucks]

What The fuck 505870!!??????

[demosj]

He's certainly well-endowed pianistically.

[piergatto68]

grande cziffra

[brandix30000]

perfect piano perfect piano player!!!!!!!!!!!

[lupenzo71]

prodigioso!incredibile!!

[deangelized]

The way his fingers move so naturally so UNNATURALLY fast like that, i think it kills him every time he plays slow. Its just the way his fingers move so beautifully fast with such elegance, that makes me think that way. Truly, a prodigy.

[obelisk1516]

What a superb artist. I feel so fortunate to have access to these magnificent, historic renderings. Thank you, Virtuoso Pianist.

[blue0dope]

what year is it from?

[blue0dope]

you can see the music take life in all his gestures...he doesen't just sing, he lives the play!

[Musicadoro]

I love it!!!!

[Lukecash12]

You know, i just noticed after going back to this performance again that the higher register of the piano is flat and it becomes more apparent the higher you go. Anyone else notice that? Did the tuner punch the wrong temperament into his strobe or something?

[hothairybtm4u]

get help

[sirvio666]

You realize how OLD this video must be?!

You'd have no complaints if you had actually been there, I'm sure.

[Lukecash12]

Oh no, i would never complain about this kind of a performance. I was curious though, do you notice that the octaves were tempered a little flat also?

[YeorRecneps]

the video is like 60-80 years old. what do you expect.

[MichaelJackson1234]

No, it isn't so old... Cziffra was born around 1920...

[Kalen1457]

His stature sort of reminds me of that of andre watts.

[ascote06]

Most beautiful hands

[Katiuszkasanda]

Légèreté,grâce,finesse,sens inné du rubato,quelle merveilleuse interprétation,divin Cziffra!Merci.

[AmericanAstronaut]

This is an excellent piece, very light-hearted and playful. Cziffra plays it especially well, and you can tell he loves the piece. He even goes as far as to add his own details not originally written by Liszt (for example, the very last chord is not notated in the sheet music, but is a great touch added by Cziffra).

[cfwpiano]

Cziffra's playing is so mind-numbingly beautiful! This is a perfect interpretation. I can only wish to play this well some day.

[obsidius994]

u can se the perfection fo this piece with cziffra....

[spartan1081990]

I can barely play Chopin's 20th nocturne, this piece is so luxurious and relaxing that it makes me feel joy and pride every time I listen to it, such a stress reliever.

[FreeTheJambon]

This piece is one of the best things that happened to piano music.

[BlackMasterJoe89]

No im just saying liszt music goes really well with cartoon like stuff. I honestly have more love for liszt's music than anyone lol.

[razputinzzz]

Such a delicate piece. Don't see why he completes the octaves left hand in areas but it is effective. The gait is always moving and really shows his feeling of the music.

[Lukecash12]

I've never heard rubato so spot on...

[bludika]

this is Cziffra's many favorite encore pieces btw

[Lukecash12]

Sweet Jesus i wish i had poise like that...

[messireloup]

Simply divine! I'm in awe.

[voolare]

What elegance, taste and unlimited technique!Breathtaking!

[Aul1kki]

There are no words for this! Just an amazing performance!

[gorgalsi]

Cziffra is really a genius. A haven't seen a better performer of Liszt

[reddoghud]

I love Cziffra's interpretations of Liszt. Look at his face! You know he loves this.

He's such an awesome player. It's a shame we don't hear anyone play anything like this nowadays.

[v4liumfrance]

that guy hasn't got luck in his life.

he lost his son .

[MagicWoodpecker]

His all life was tragic!

And that performance is fantastic.

[brozors]

imo the main theme of this piece is one of the most joyous in all of romantic music. Cziffra really brings out the happiness of it

[SalQrazy]

This is some real piano playing

[sirvio666]

Cziffra puts so much heart into this piece, its as if he was with Liszt while he was writing it. His changes in tempo are just so perfect and add so much to the feeling. The true genius of Cziffra.

[anferlo]

let's say he assumes the meaning of Impromptu.

[Rickyr389]

A GREAT PIECE!! beautiful, and very well played by cziffra

[staccato1975]

Cziffra is for me the peak of romantic piano interpretation.

[Rob6456]

you're not cziffa. get over yourself.

[schumannetudes]

you sound like your from america

[Creibold]

Liszt was once quoted to have said that of all the songs he had ever penned, this was, and always would be his favorite. I agree, I think it embodies all of romantic and creative aspirations (he wrote this when he was younger) without being to flamboyant and show-offy.

[gmunden75]

quel magnifique piano ! brillant tout en étant authentique , inspiré , son d'une pureté rare , libre mais sans nuire à la ligne !! artiste d'une grande probité hélas il n'en y a plus beaucoup de nos jours où abondent les clônes insipides ou au contraire irrespectueux du texte et de la musique !!! ça fait du bien d'entendre cette qualité d'interprète

[Jw22DeeJay]

this is great. can someone tell me where i can find liszt's valse melancholique online??

[galaxyrainguy]

Cziffra's hands were so powerful and fast when he was younger. His Liszt playing is stunning for command and style. 'nuff said, can't say anything the music doesn't say better.

[piano345]

This is wonderful - improvisatory, nonchalant and capricious. I wish more pianists today had Cziffra's style.

[pianodroit]

exceptionnel...

[misotoma]

im so lucky u put this video up t.v.p. i really thank you alot.. I've never heard of this b4 .. only b/c of your vid. thx so much, its so beautiful and commands alot of technique.. Liszt's perfection. ty so much

[west1234]

Brilliant....Exceptional!!!!

[PianoManSteve]

I also totally agree. I enjoy other people's performances, but Cziffra's versions are almost always my favorite.

[PianoManSteve]

I just realized that you said you couldn't enjoy others' playing. So I don't TOTALLY agree. My stance is just a little different.

[ibclappin]

some people may prefer someone else's performance of this piece over Cziffra's but generally for this piece and everything else Cziffra has played, no one will ever come close to playing like him. i couldn't enjoy others playing a piece after i hear Cziffra play it.

[strukurukus]

i totally agree with you clappin

[GuybThreepwood]

As big of a fan of Cziffra I am, I prefer Horowitz's interpretation of this piece :)

[cziffra1980]

Interesting, considering Horowitz never recorded it. I presume you're thinking of the Valse Oubliees (although I'm not sure how you can 'prefer' a recording if you remember it so little as to not realise that this was a totally different piece).

[zkool5]

Haha GuybThreepwood. Think before you comment! LOL!

[uo12345678910]

Beautiful playing ! cziffra is one of the best performers of liszt music :D

[mimfri]

Wow! I got dizzy just watching his hands! Beautiful despite the pyrotechnics.

[steinwaysons]

That's it! :D thanks