15 Great Pianists attempt Brahms’ most INSANE sequence of music (Paganini Variations Book 1: Var 14)

[@johnphillips5993]

I love how Kobrin (my teacher!) doesn’t exactly go for speed, but for sound. He produces a very organ-like sound here (and in the rest of Book I), which is better than just blowing through this

[@igo.spekkyjarvonvreich]

(you should tell your teacher to take better care of his spine)

[@johnphillips5993]

@ oh he has the best posture in the world

[@OpinionatedSkink]

Kissin's 100% for me. Absolute machine in this. Would love to see what Lim Yunchan does with this one day. He has the chops for it surely, after demolishing Feux Follets

[@daniele8716]

Machine? I don't think Kissin is just that, the Asiatic versions sound like machine-playing, not him

[@JoePatrych]

From where is this live performance? I have the one from 1/23/95 in Carnegie, and its equal to this

[@peterholetschek9803]

LIM is a copy machine, a totally unmusical robot, he will never be accepted as a MUSICIAN

[@peterholetschek9803]

Who is LIM Y. ?... a copy machine without musicality at all

[@peterholetschek9803]

Exactly, all these asiatic rhythm machines should be banned from all stages

[@HaischkaEST]

I'm not the biggest Kissin fan, to be honest, but this style is exactly where he shines. It's deliberate, powerful, and bravura. Wonderful!

[@HerrEdge]

None of these recordings should be judged as direct comparison of the respective pianist’s abilities EXCEPT the live video performances. Pianist’s work (with varying degrees of performer’s complicity) are subjected to rigorous mistake-scrubbing. I know from personal experience in the recording booth. Even without my request, the tech was already busily deleting squashed notes and splicing takes to create a note-perfect performance. Let’s stop the brainless hero-worship of note-perfect recordings. They’re fake. We classical pianists are not pop musicians. The struggle of live performance is a massive undertaking: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual. Accordingly, I am delighted to find some fantastic feats in this excellently edited video, along with the telling and informative mistakes made by some genuinely consummate artists, all of which I have the utmost respect for. This piece is a BEAR. A terrifying, awe-inspiring beast. Clara Schumann’s ‘Hexenvariationen.’

[@markfowlermusic]

That section at 2:58 I can’t physically reach the bottom E key when you have to switch to the broken octave part in right hand and left hand plays the part I’m on about, because you have to play the D sharp and E in succession with index and thumb, I can’t reach down to hit that low E with my pinky when it gets to it, can reach the F sharp etc…

[@BrianPaick]

You forget how absolutely superb Zilberstein is just because she's not often mentioned in the same breath as Kissin or Argerich or Sokolov. That power! Like Richter at his best (which he unfortunately is not here, based on album cover it's late in life)

[@franksmith541]

Women can't really play with much power. I prefer Tzimon Barto's live performance, available on YT. Big guy who plays big.

[@markwilliamson8047]

@FrankSmith It’s obvious you haven’t listened to the right women pianists (including Zilberstein in this video). Either that, or you’re just blatantly sexist.

[@BrianPaick]

@@markwilliamson8047 Let the incel be, he gets bullied enough Also Tzimon Barto's var 14 is a soporific

[@franksmith541]

@@markwilliamson8047 No, I have recordings of Idil Biret's Rachmaninoff Sonatas and Douze Grandes Etudes of Liszt and there is a fullness and power to her playing. I admire her very much, as I do other women pianists. It's just that men of equal technique play with more power. It's simple physics. I once saw Hamelin break a string while playing the concluding pages of the mighty fugue of Reger's Bach Variations. The power Yefim Bronfman brought to the cadenza of Rach 3 while I was sitting in the front row will always be with me - as well as to the Islamey in another concert I attended. Another great memory is of Garrick Ohlsson playing the Busoni Concerto in the late 80s. Colossal sound that I have not heard produced by a female pianist. I have attended concerts of several well-known female pianists in the Rach and Balakirev pieces mentioned, but they don't come close for big sound (as Bronfman). "Chords like cast bronze", as Busoni's Liszt playing was once described.

[@antiksur8883]

​@@franksmith541This is just a series of anecdotes. It's pointless to respond with "oh, but I say blah blah blah.."

[@The_Guy_Who_Asked_06]

Seeing all those broken octaves makes my wrists hurt.

[@ArgerichStan]

Brahms loved his broken octaves!

[@WalterReade]

I don't know what a broken octave is, and my wrists still hurt from this.

[@acactus2190]

@@WalterReade its probably better if you don't...lol

[@h-ye7um]

I assume Hamelin likes them even more

[@chazinko]

Have always loved Arrau's Paganini Variations. The articulation and quality of sonority are always connected to the expression of the music, even at its greatest intensity. And Gilels, though older here, played the Brahms Paganini Variations in the 1938 Queen Elizabeth Competition in which Michelangeli was also a contestant. It would be very interesting to have heard the younger Gilels play this work especially based on his other early recordings such as the Liszt Figaro Fantasy.

[@filmscorefreak]

Kissin is flippin amazing. But musically, I love Pogorelich's version the best, really brings out the macabre!

[@MarcMichaelC.Heydenreich]

Pogorelich wie häufig, willkürlich und maniriert ohne Sinn.

[@sebastian-benedictflore]

Woah, Michelangeli. Too much pedal for my personal taste perhaps but absolutely incredible. He goes beyond technical feats and uses it to create something special that I've never heard in this passage

[@szdxw]

The overused pedal is what create something special. The reverb of the bass really emphasizes the phrasing of the melody.

[@sebastian-benedictflore]

@@szdxw yeah, absolutely. I probably wouldn't do it myself but it sounds amazing when he does it.

[@nilsfrederking62]

I like the different approach of Francesco Libetta. Jong Hwa Parks version is very good in the sense that the duck tempo brings out the melodic structure better.

[@Geisterschiff]

You should nickname this wonderful vídeos as a great Brazilian writer Nelson Rodrigues titled his chronicles in the newspapers "A vida como ela é" meaning "Life as it is". THIS is reality, a life taking risks in front of people, getting scratches, making mistakes and great music alltogether and above all showing deep sense of humanity. Congratulations🎉Great job!

[@Piflaser]

Brahms called it "Studien für Klavier" witch means piano etudes. He wrote it for Carl Tausig, who played it often in concert. Clara Schumann studied the work, but never played it in public.

[@aidankoop2110]

Kobrin was astonishing. So good.

[@balsamicvinegar4454]

The camera cuts in the Zilberstein are out of this world. I felt like I was watching inception, every two seconds a new cut. The entire video is so cool.

[@daniele8716]

And evidently not live....

[@JoePatrych]

Too many for a classical music video (I say this as a livestream director) - more suited to a video game

[@JoePatrych]

@@daniele8716 I am sure edited heavily

[@starfire.chuang]

The audio is live.

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

16:35 and special thanks and respect for the very dominant female Mrs. Zilberstein. I love this kind of boxing Brahms knock-out instead playing it with mourning grimaces.

[@jeromedinchong5278]

Wow this is so dramatic! I just love Evgeny's, Yuja Wang's and Jong Hwa Park's versions. Thumbs up !

[@PastukhSkota]

For me, it's Kissin. Not only is it faster than most, but he also brings the most amazing clarity. I was astonished i first heard his studio recording... jaw Dropped!! -Michelangeli- great speed, but is more muddy than the Ultra crispness of Kissin. (And that he cut out one of the harder bits!?.... I'm with You on this surprise is this realization! )

[@alexchristodoulou]

Kobrin played with the best character. Kissin with the best clarity (given the frantic speed)

[@Pseudify]

One thing is for sure - this piece has the full attention of every single one of them! Most appear to be quite thankful when that section is over.

[@yeetthebeet]

wow kobrin's interp is really beautiful

[@Paganini-Liszt]

1:04 How I play this is I cross my hands. I play the lowest octave parts with my left hand, and the highest octave parts with my left as well.

[@Lecter1010]

Kobrin's rendition is so underrated. He played even better in Cliburn 2005

[@ArgerichStan]

His Cliburn performance is astonishing. There is something though about this early performance that I am obsessed with - it is so POWERFUL, he goes for such a massive sound that no-one else really attempts despite never losing the clarity of articulation. In the Cliburn he lightens up slightly, maybe because of the piano or maybe just because over time he modified his interpretation.

[@Lecter1010]

@@ArgerichStan Can’t agree more! Kobrin had some mad phrasing and tone control. Not like others did not play the piece well but Kobrin gave more depth and resonance to the music. Thats what made him special in my opinion.

[@JoePatrych]

Agreed - the Cliburn 2005 Semi-Final performance is actually bette rthan this one, and in much better sound.

[@mcbainst]

Did yall see what Ivo did there?!?? Outlining the original Paganini theme, around all the "fast" notes.

[@musicalofferings4439]

The most musical. Best one.

[@jtrevm]

I did a blind test - classing as first, second, third, no. Three firsts; three seconds; four thirds; five nos. For the firsts: Kobrin, Zilberstein and Libetta in that order. Remark on Kobrin - 'command, he knows'. On Zilberstein - 'command, she wants'. On Libetta - 'sharp and punchy'. Of my three seconds I liked Pierdomenico. 'He's enjoying it'.

[@MarcMichaelC.Heydenreich]

Toll, wie sie das blind heraushören! Ich gebe zu, ich bin immer etwas voreingenommen :-)) .

[@GrayNotes]

Zilberstein nailed it! Powerful and well articulated but still without rushing just through it. Other interpretations sound a bit mannered ... like they just want to let the world know that they have a unique musicality ;)

[@danielhughes441]

Too slow

[@ShutUpZewenThisIsNotBased]

​@@danielhughes441you are

[@romkrasorg]

Lilya Zilberstein - Super! Bravo!

[@celloguy]

Wonderful video! Thanks for creating. Had never heard this piece. (Weirdly Wang us down a tone)

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

The Paganini Variations never cease to amaze me. Because in them Brahms showed that, had he wished, he could have written piano music on the same difficulty level as Liszt if he wanted to. He just didn't want to. His expressive goals lay elsewhere.

[@armandoyague6819]

This is harder than liszt, 4 variations are bordering unplayable. Also the difficulties are quite original, many variations sound easier than they are actually, teach you how important is to place right your hands, in a manner i never felt with Liszt. Liszt difficulties are more about show than actual challenges( yes, a lot of octaves, very fast)

[@pianocontortions7038]

It's not at all hard to write something hard, just saying... just use huge jumps like this.

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

@@pianocontortions7038 No one said anything about it being hard to compose a technical difficult piece. But composers usually write for Piano only in the range of what their own technical abilities can manage. So if Brahms wrote this it means he could play it.

[@armandoyague6819]

@@pianocontortions7038 okey, write your own paganini variations and we talk later xd

[@robhaskins]

I agree with you about Kobrin.

[@mateussphilippi5029]

I liked tuning of the piano in Yuja Wang video.

[@Montu-pc5gp]

pov when its a half step lower

[@tomolavson1834]

Pretty fun listening to these contrasting performances... Overall, so much of book one is difficult.. Please listen to THE great master...Julius Katchen and the recent recording of Gayvrylyuk to really hear what it can do... and I agree Kobrin is really musical ..Unfortunate he wasn't playing a New York Steinway rather than that harsh tin bucket

[@reachmehere5]

Aline van Barentzen's 1941 recording of both books is the best that I've heard.

[@tobiaspeter6555]

Noone really nails it. Kissin wins, however, the overall prize. Never heard Yuja Wang hit so many wrong notes. But honestly: kind of fun to hear this passage that brings even the world's best pianists beyond their limits.

[@marksmith3947]

I'm glad the organizers gave An the correct piece to play this time

[@AlessandroContimusic]

Listen to Julius Katchen, unbelievable! (only on record as far as I know)

[@ArgerichStan]

Katchen is divine in Brahms, possibly the greatest. It's a shame there is no live recording of him playing this...his studio is unbelievable as you say.

[@andrewharrison8975]

As far as I am aware there is no extant recording of these variations by Egon Petri so I assume this extract is culled from his prewar studio recording for English Columbia; I suppose there is a sort ‘live’ element to the recording process back then as the complete variations had to be recorded in 4/5 minute segments direct to disc, but of course if the artist made a mistake he could record another take. It would be interesting to see if this particular recording was a 1st ‘take’

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

Thank you Mr. Es-bahn, this is really a wonderful work. And to think about it, with a "solution" which can not be found easilly .... And, after all, (and after many listening sessions) my preference goes to Mrs. Kolesova (silver medal) and, by far the GOLD medal : Wilhelm Backhaus. 6:56 (at 7:20 the rigid Backhaus becoming completely crazy, mad .... ) Why ? Because these two pianists are not able to dominate (emotionally) this piece, but are dominated by it. Taken in the flood ot the passion, overwhelmed, submitted, and like some wonderful Titanics. You see ?

[@flonzaley6092]

A good few years back a performance by the late British pianist David Parkhouse of the Paganini Variations was selected as the best by Piano Quarterly. Luckily the inimitable Procopolis has transferred it from his huge collection of LPs and posted it. Parkhouse stands up well in this steller company. A 'studio' performance but the 'studio' conditions were so poor that it might have been easier to play live.The real point is: how do the closing sections work as a culmination to the set? I remember Yuja Wang played each book as one enormous wave, with only a little breath in between. I also think it should be noted that the cuts are made mostly by pianists of the 78 era - and may not be their choice. The 78s of Michelangeli were a very odd mish-mash, superlatively played but cut about ruthlessly. Here I can't help thinking that the women do best: especially Kolesova. But Pierdomenico, whom I'd never heard before, is extremely fine.

[@JoePatrych]

That is correct about the cuts in the 78 versions - there were record company imposed time limits that forced those decisions (as well as tempo considerations in many recordings)

[@eytonshalomsandiego]

not for the first time do i find Kissin's breathtaking and my favorite...

[@Highinsight7]

the tempo I play it at... is very close to Tianxu An... very clear and on the safe side...

[@ondinehd6889]

Lilya Zilberstein: the best performance! (Jong Hwa Park: very crisp, interesting, but not always "clean.")

[@juanmarinez877]

Curiously, Yuja Wang's video is slowed down, the tuning does not correspond to what the piano should have, it is heard almost in A flat instead of A major, is there anyone determined to harm it?

[@DrDLL99]

The uploader always picks Yuja's worst performance on KZbin. I think he (or she) has a bone to pick with her.

[@ArgerichStan]

@@DrDLL99 I’m not sure what you mean. I worship Yuja, but it is not my intention to single out someone’s “best” performance of something unless the title suggests so “who played it best” etc. I am more interesting in different situations and versions of someone’s performances. There is another video of Yuja playing the Brahms slightly more polished but the camera angle is awful so I chose this one. The tuning issue is weird and someone else made a video on it (kzbin.info/www/bejne/paatmqOOedFld5Y) but for me it doesn’t affect my perception of it. Besides this video, I don’t see how any recording I have chosen of Yuja is her worst. Her Chopin Ballade, Rach 3, Prokofiev 7 and Lavapies are all excellent.

[@Pogouldangeliwitz]

I mean: a little better or a little badder, Miss Wang sucks anyway... 🤷‍♂️

[@ArgerichStan]

@@Pogouldangeliwitz she does not suck…..how anyone would reach that conclusion is beyond me

[@Pogouldangeliwitz]

@@ArgerichStan I came to that conclusion by listening to all her recordings and comparing them to interpretations by Solomon, Feinberg, ABM, Schnabel, Gulda, Gilels, Lipatti, Hofmann, Argerich, Volodos, Pletnev, Schiff, Rubinstein, Horowitz, Friedman, Kempff, Sokolov, Brendel, Gould - but what do I know...?

[@gabrieleferrari9383]

Michelangeli is something else! Wow

[@AntonioPaterno]

Michelangeli's version (despite cuts) is out of this world 😮

[@alhfgsp]

Michelangeli is an extraordinary pianist but the Brahms Paganini Variations are the the weakest I've ever heard him (in part because of the cuts). I'd rather hear his Beethoven or Chopin.

[@daniele8716]

​​@@alhfgsp You must be kidding! His version, despite all the cuts, is unsurpassed. Only Kissin came close, but in the studio. Michelangeli was able to play this live without a single false note at a demonic speed and without ever losing control of sonority and of the big line. Pianistically it was and still is a miracle, revered by generations of students and critics.

[@alhfgsp]

@@daniele8716 I've never heard another instance where a pianist (or any classical musician for that matter) cuts a large section of the music for a reason other than a memory slip. It was disappointing since it was one of my favorite moments in book 1. As I've stated, he's a great pianist. His rendition of Beethoven's 5th piano concerto is incredible. But that nonesense with intentional cuts is just ridiculous.

[@berndbrackman4443]

​@@daniele8716Michelangeli plays flawless, in a great speed, but not at all demonic. One hears a lot of things, but certainly not the devil. As is usual with his versions of almost anything I heard of him.

[@JoePatrych]

@@alhfgsp See my comment elsewhere as to why those cuts are in the Michelangeli recording.

[@kpunkt.klaviermusik]

Richter surprisingly slow (compared to the others) - my favorite.

[@maxp07]

I like so much Julius Katchen interpretation but unfortunatly is not in this list.

[@PastukhSkota]

Did Earl Wild ever record this live? I know his amazing studio recording... but was hoping theres a live version floating around here!

[@JoePatrych]

I have tons of live Wild, but have never seen a live Brahms Pag

[@franksmith541]

How come you didn't include Tzimon Barto's live performance, available right here on YT? This is a big guy with big hands, well-suited to this music.

[@Aurevilly]

Yuja Wang sloppy and in pain, never thought I’d see that 🤔 Kissin imperial here

[@ArgerichStan]

Wang starts off strong and then starts to derail. Her studio recording is (obviously) much stronger - and given her technique I’m positive she could give a better live performance on a different night but it’s a shame that the one video we have of her doing it isn’t her best

[@DrDLL99]

@@ArgerichStan there’s another video of her playing it live, wearing a purple dress. She’s much better in that one.

[@richardhunter132]

I do find myself asking if this is actually musical?

[@skimask7776]

My favorites for this are 11 and 15.

[@elijahcalloway118]

Crazy how Yuja is like 11/2 a tone down from everyone else, yet she still played that with no effort and musicality.

[@paulstrickler5684]

Guess I’m musically stupid: I don’t understand this comment. What does 11/2 indicate?

[@hshshs2007]

Jong Hwa Park at 15:26 is really outstanding and it was a shame that this is my first encounter with him in here.Bravissimo

[@LisztianGR]

Nothing interesting in it. He just struggles to - and succeeds in - not making a mistake and pressing (almost) all the correct notes. A feat by itself, don't get me wrong, but music is not gymnastics - and not everything is for everybody to perform.

[@hshshs2007]

@@LisztianGR this is so unfair really. He's such a great musician and deserves all the appreciation and recognition.

[@LisztianGR]

@@hshshs2007 I was referring to this particular excerpt that I listened to - haven't heard of him in general. Will look him up when time allows.

[@prototropo]

First three are unbeatable.

[@dorfmanjones]

Petri's rendition is studio I believe; not live.

[@jphmz]

Claudio Arrau was not included, but in my opinion he plays it way better than all of the pianists included in this video.

[@jamespicht1128]

Do you know of a live recording online?

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

And yes, Mr. Kobrin, absolutely great. (just a little too young for the toxic inspiration of the piece, but don't worry, he will be soon depressive-agressive as all and play the work heavenly)

[@cantkeepitin]

A pitty that there is e g no Pollini record

[@jfpary7336]

You forgot Julius Katchen.

[@diogomori9624]

Judging by the strained facial expressions of these brilliant pianists, you can imagine how fucking bizarre this is. I know that Brahms was an extremely virtuoso pianist, but did he match Lizst and Chopin?

[@aerohydra3849]

This piece in particular is IMO even harder than the vast majority of Liszt and all of Chopin's pieces. It's pretty well known as one of the hardest works in the standard repertoire.

[@diogomori9624]

@@aerohydra3849 Yeah I can imagine because it is deeply impressive.

[@nicholasfontana5088]

The video editing in Zilberstein's is unwatchable. Got vertigo from trying to watch that one lol.

[@meddem7060]

Synchronizing video and audio is such a difficult task....

[@TheVoitel]

All very cool versions, but I really like the one by Francesco Libetta. Many of these interpretations fail to play the top notes _ben marcato_ as Brahms asks for, instead they drown everything in lots of pedal. Kissin is great and articulate (unless in the end where the pedal kind of get’s out of control in one spot, but it is too fast. At this tempo the trills in the bass just do not make sense anymore. Yuja Wang is quite clean and articulate, but a bit too heavy on the pedal.

[@gaopinghu7332]

What's it called though?

[@Highinsight7]

sooo many darn GREAT pianists... my favorite...??? Francesco Libetta ??? Richter...????

[@peter5.056]

hahah, I spent a summer about 25 years ago learning.... ...that I was never gonna be great at this particular piece, lol...

[@ilWadjet]

Wilhelm Backhaus🥰

[@kk-ht6uw]

My top 4:Gilels, Backhaus, Michelangeli, Kobrin

[@raymondgood6555]

Gilles was by far the worst

[@grumpyoldpianistplus]

No.11 is the clearest, with little use of pedal!

[@Eliascmd]

Kissin is the winner 👏👏👏 I’m shocked by the disaster Gilels had !

[@ArgerichStan]

This piece is so unplayable that i’m not surprised if it’s ability to derail anyone, no matter how great! Haha

[@Paroles_et_Musique]

You know he was 65 years old, Kissin was 25 ;)

[@epicaunleashed8764]

No. Julius Katchen and another dude played better

[@JoePatrych]

@@epicaunleashed8764 For me, a holy grail is to find ANY live Katchen with Brahms - his complete set of the piano music has never been surpassed.

[@epicaunleashed8764]

@@JoePatrych i don't think you'll ever find any live katchen recordng, but agreed. His Brahms is unsurpassable.

[@Charlie-xx2wj]

I like Silberstein and Kissin. Silberstein has the right idea but the form is not so apparent.... and Kissin has crisp fingering but was played a tad fast though.

[@jaykeyz9094]

One of the best versions I've heard is by pianist named Daniel Lessner, you should check out his performance live at Carnegie Hall

[@Dizzyfingers2]

This is marked Allegro. Brahms groups at the 32nd note. Kissin, Michelangeli, Park and Zilberstein play it much too fast and it shows with their mistakes. One cannot bring out the harmonic phrasings at that speed.

[@fredfeinberg3995]

Where are Kissin's mistakes?

[@Dizzyfingers2]

@@fredfeinberg3995 @0:16 for starters ...

[@gojewla]

Is there an early recording of richter playing this? Unfortunately this one is from the 80’s when his playing generally became extremely pedantic.

[@daniele8716]

No there isn't. Richter learnt this very late, which is curious. He also disliked Michelangeli in this piece (it's in his diaries). I adore Richter but his version is pale and I very much prefer Mchelangeli's or Kissin's. Gilels learnt this as a young man and it is really a pity that no early vesion survives.

[@hjhseo1114]

Holy shit Park's hands look INSANE

[@paolobigi59]

Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli

[@pghagen]

I miss Shura Cherkassky! He recorded the complete Paganini Variations by Brahms!

[@JoePatrych]

I heard him do it live - there is nothing that man played that wasn't on his own terms and unique.

[@markfowlermusic]

Kobrin too noisy and too slow, they are Demi semi quavers so the only performance I rate is kissin and that is what I’d consider a perfect performance of this ridiculously difficult section of music. But then one has to consider that kissin is not playing live and rather it’s a studio recording which could have been edited to make it sound much better audio wise and mistake free… I think the other are all live which means they probably played all the others back to back which is astronomically harder than just sitting in a studio and being able to handle them all individually at your leisure.

[@calebhu6383]

The kissin performance here is indeed live.

[@markfowlermusic]

@@calebhu6383no mistakes how?

[@tarikeld11]

Wow, I would've guessed it's Balakirev or Godovsky!

[@ArgerichStan]

Brahms is usually not known for intense displays of virtuosity, until he is!! Haha

[@herrbrahms]

I don't trust any pianist who doesn't reach for the A0 at the climax of Var. 14, bar 22 of the variation. When Brahms wrote these variations in the 1860s, he hadn't yet received his glorious Streicher instrument with the last three bass keys.

[@fiokomjutub972]

Michelangeli

[@georgenorris2657]

I agree that kobin is best here. He maintains control throughout and keeps the phrasing clear and musical. That piano though: horribly harsh tone and certainly not the pianist´s fault.

[@marcraider]

in this specific part you can hear and see in the writing a lot of Beethoven's influence

[@avb20540]

Kissin is a monster

[@chadvindin9933]

Don't forget Alexander Gavrylyuk kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWnLdnyEjMuqfsk

[@ArgerichStan]

Didn’t know this recording existed- it is excellent

[@alonagrau4279]

Кобрин...фантастика!👏

[@nicolacampanella502]

Michelangeli...sempre ineguagliabile

[@tylerstoner7051]

Hang the cameraman on yujas performance. Panning to her face on the most insane part smh

[@danieliwuala4093]

Kissin and Libetta

[@Coby-K]

I feel like Var. 11 from Book 2 is a bit worse (just from me trying them out)

[@ArgerichStan]

The whole piece is insane and unplayable. Var 11 in Book 2 for me is the second most horrible for the hands, but at least it semi-maintains the same pattern throughout - what is cruel about Var. 14 Book 1 is that it keeps changing the demand on the pianist - there is a common theme of requirement bizarre shifts and incongruities of repeating note patterns between the hands but none of it really makes sense between the hands

[@Coby-K]

​@@ArgerichStan, that's fair. Most pianists also aren't playing Var. 11 at Kissin's tempo, which I think also helps.

[@ArgerichStan]

@@Coby-K Kissin is insane! I love him. Maybe I will make another comparison video on variation 11....there are some wild ones!

[@Coby-K]

@@ArgerichStan There are for sure! I would definitely watch a comparison video on Var. 11

[@adigozelov-enjoyer]

@@ArgerichStan Please do!

[@litoboy5]

Great

[@HerwigZack]

I cannot believe it! Why the hell didn't you include the fabulous recordings by Julius Katchen. To me he is toweringly superior to everybody presented here, mavbe with the exception of Kissin. And you also left out the remarkable version of Agustin Anievas.

[@ArgerichStan]

Katchen’s recording is not live

[@KeithOtisEdwards]

So . . . all the great pianists hail from the Eastern Hemisphere? Is that because the sun comes up there first?

[@StefanSchneider-p9p]

Oh oh ... Geza Anda! This is a really fine, distinguished version: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKewoaOEj86Larc

[@sirsamfay99]

So Julius Katchen is not good enough to be on the video!

[@ArgerichStan]

He has no live recording!

[@carlhopkinson]

God-like music !!!

[@danielhughes441]

Kissin is BY FAR the best

[@叫爸爸-u6x]

Yeah, agree. Clearly Kissin def the best for this piece.

[@normalnik]

Micgelangeli impareggiabile!!!!!!

[@sharky_spike]

rhe best ive heard is julius katchen ...hands down👍