16 Pianists Play Tchaikovsky Octaves

This is a response to the previous octaves video. It has some newer pianists and better sound quality than the other one. The pianists are:

Andrei Gavrilov
Arcadi Volodos
Arthur Rubinstein (1963)
Daniel Barenboim (2003)
Emil Gilels (1973)
Ivo Pogorelich
Lang Lang
Martha Argerich (1994)
Mikhail Pletnev
Nikolai Demidenko
Olga Kern
Rafael Orozco
Sviatoslav Richter
Van Cliburn (1958)
Vladimir Ashkenazy
Vladimir Horowitz (1941)

The parts with orchestra are from the '94 Argerich/Abbado recording.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Argerich
• Barenboim
• Concerto
• Demidenko
• Gavrilov
• Gilels
• Lang
• Octaves
• Piano
• Pletnev
• Pogorelich
• Rubinstein
• Tchaikovsky
• Volodos

[Bach1Beethoven]

I think the fastest ones are Horowitz's and Argerich's, but I think speed is not equal to interpretative quality. Moreover, is not possible to judge a recording of a piece that lasts more than 30 minutes, like this one, by listening to just a couple of measures.

[physicsgeek21690]

Agreed on all points. However, once in a while a short, vapid display of technique can be fun. Why else would anyone play Liszt's Grand Galop Chromatique or Islamey, or many other 'empty' displays of technique?

[RoccoOnPiano]

Horowitz comes in at the end and just destroys all of them lol!!!!!!!

[LousyPianist]

Yaay Olga Kern!

[MoebiusTripper]

There is the famous story that when Horowitz played this concerto in Hamburg, Germany for the first time, the conductor suddenly turned around in amazement on hearing Horowitz playing the opening chords. And right after the octave ending the concerto, the audience went nuts and even began ripping out the seats in the music hall.....Horowitz wasn't even suppose to play that day, but the scheduled pianist got sick and the conductor even told Horowitz to just follow his beat, but was he amazed.

[ThePVGS1]

I like Horowitz and Rubinstein best.

[DarwinIsInCharge]

Van Cliburn takes the cake - he actually plays the notes and doesn't abuse the pedal. Giles also was. tatestful

[numestube]

sorry ... it's so interesting, but than prevailed the memory of Saint-Saëns "pianists" in his Carnival of the Animals

[shilloshillos]

I would have found this more amusing when I was obsessed with this piece and all those pianists at 16. However now at 40 its fun. Argerich rips through everything, kinda ridiculous though, isn't it?

[hrspwr69fstbck]

if only i could play this as fast as horowitz, i would be proud, but the best interpretation was defitately by the pianist at 4:00. It made sense of the ascend before the fast descend and slowed to a perfect end ready for the orchestra to take over

[fredericfranc]

...the octaves, ferociously beaten out like this, still surprisingly expressive...you can recognize Richter, and Argerich, and Horowitz by the style, blindfolded...and Lang Lang surprisingly ineffective...

[MrYou2ber]

@ueblondon Martha is so amazing!