25 Great Pianists attempt the DEVILISH leaps in Liszt’s Mephisto Waltz no. 1 (LIVE only)

[@scherzomazeppa726]

When I was 16 (45 years ago, lol) and living in Chicago, I had a crush on a girl who liked to play classical music. I heard a "big pianist" was coming to town so bought two "stage" tickets since the rest were sold out, asked her out, but was rejected, so went with my dad. Turns out the "stage" tickets were for seats on the actual stage, and the "big pianist" was none other than Vladimir Horowitz. In the first half he played Clementi and Schumann and for the second half, ended it with his rendition of the Mephisto Waltz. I will never forget it...the last notes, he just ran his hands down the piano in opposite directions and ended up in a crucifix-type position before looking up. The crowd went nuts...we were all on our feet--except for this elderly lady who was sitting next to me, didn't stand, and was kind of scowling. I then asked her what was "wrong" or if she needed a hand to stand up. She replied "No, I'll sit. He plays it much better at home." When Horowitz turned to acknowledge the group of us on stage, he saw me whispering with his wife and sort of threw me a little smile...like "Yeah, I know"...he then went on to play 6 or 7 encores. Anyway, that was my very first taste of "real" classical piano, and though I never learned to play, became a huge classical piano addict ever since that day (and eventually all classical in general). I really don't need to see the whole slew of others playing the Mephisto Waltz to know my absolute favorite (though it is cool to hear different interpretations)...that first time with Horowitz driving the keys was IMO absolutely definitive, and can still hear every note in my mind today (and yes, it was much better than the recording he released of it afterward).

[@duartevader2709]

Im so jealous, wish i was there, going to a horowitz concert where he plays this, man, i have more than one kidney, its worth it selling

[@charliegold3227]

Im honest: that’s one of the best stories I’ve ever heard.

[@yazuky3453]

bro this story was so fun to read, im so jealous but at the same time im happy you got to experience that!

[@GrimaceHehe-v9b]

Wow

[@giovannib27]

Insane story, best possible outcome to a rejection lol

[@umutcandemirpianist]

the contrast of Sultanov's playing is just amazing WOW genius

[@Neo_867]

Yes, I think the piece should be played exactly like that, but unfortunately, apart from Sultanov, there are not many people who adjust the contrast like that

[@ЛарисаМалышева-у9с]

@@Neo_867 Именно так! Из всех 25 отрывков у Султанова наиболее драматично и контрастно в сопоставлении!💕

[@МаринаЛаричева-ч5ч]

Absolutely Alexey Sultanov! Clear, precise, powerful, so frightening that you physically feel the electric charges piercing through.

[@dwacheopus]

Horowitz jumpscare

[@Pianoman_B]

😅

[@NN-rn1oz]

Lim makes it sound so easy it's just unfair for the rest of the world.

[@tannerhenley4067]

Lugansky, Sultanov, and Lim 👌

[@dmburke007]

When Alexis Sultanov won the Cliburn Competition in 1989, he played this piece and broke a string! he was so powerful!! Like a shooting star he fizzed out because of his terrible Neurological condition!.

[@marksmith3947]

He had familial hypertension. His diastolic pressure was insanely high. He knew he would die young

[@mariapap8962]

His untimely death was such a huge loss for the pianistic world.

[@mariapap8962]

​@@marksmith3947😢

[@ЛарисаМалышева-у9с]

Об Алексее Султанове написано много неправды и она с лёгкостью подхватывается. Благодарю, что вспомнили про его победу на Клайберна. А вот про "падающую звезду" совсем не верно! СУЛТАНОВ СВЕТИТ ВСЕМ, кто СЛЫШИТ МУЗЫКУ! И даже в этих 25 отрывках из Мефисто его трактовка наиболее драматична и контрастна! Трагедия ранней смерти Великого Султанова не в наследственности, о которой здесь тоже в комментариях пишут - его родители живы и сейчас - им за 80лет! И уж точно он не думал о том, чтобы так скоро покинуть нас. АЛЕКСЕЙ ОЧЕНЬ ЛЮБИЛ ЖИЗНЬ, что доказал даже в тяжёлом и долгом инсульте, когда продолжал играть работающей правой рукой (за левую руку играла его жена Даце), и выступать...уже перед другой публикой. Америка Алёшу приняла и полюбила ( хотя и наплодила о причинах его болезни разные неправды), а вот в России до сих пор молчание на "официальном" уровне. Скандальный конкурс Чайковского 98 года во многом стал отправной точкой болезни Алексея. НИ ОДНОГО КОНЦЕРТА в России не было у Султанова за его жизнь!! Победа на конкурсе (любое призовое место) дало бы ему эту возможность! Но, если бы Султанов вышел в финал конкурса 98 года, то конечно стал только Победителем, а это не устраивало функционеров конкурса. И, кстати, юного 16-летнего Алёшу и в конкурсе Чайковского 86 года тоже не пропустили в финал, хотя он шёл явным лидером! Американцы, кстати, сняли большой документальный фильм об этом конкурсе и много кадров уделили Алёше Султанову. - Это единственная возможность УВИДЕТЬ его там. Сохранились только аудио с этого конкурса. А видео на конкурсе в 98 году снимал отец Алексея. Единственная сохранённая "официальная" запись - феноменальное исполнение "7 Сонаты Прокофьева". Владимир Горовиц, кстати, Алексея Султанова ПРИНЯЛ и ПОЧУВСТВОВАЛ в нём то, чем жил сам - ИСТИННОГО МУЗЫКАНТА!💕

[@ЛарисаМалышева-у9с]

@@marksmith3947 Это надуманная неправда об Алексее Султанове - одна из многих, к сожалению. Родителям Алексея за 80 лет и они живы и сейчас ( октябрь 2024). АЛЕКСЕЙ СУЛТАНОВ ОЧЕНЬ ЛЮБИЛ ЖИЗНЬ!! И не предсказывал свою раннюю смерть.

[@wip1664]

Arthur Rubinstein. I don't know if he had captured Lizst's intention, but it sounds heavenly devilish. Very balanced, but not too scary. Alexei Sultanov is outstanding in the "scary" work. Less scary, less loud but more thunderous, crisp and more precise in every way. Predatory in style, well done! Yun Lim is more heavenly devilish, a bit more 'scary' than Rubinstein. Thanks for sharing this video. I wish each pianist had more time in this very enlightening comparison video. Mr Horowitz is always great, and tastefully musical on the piano.

[@joeyblogsy]

Rubinstein’s sounded like a train wreck 😂

[@Aoichanpiano]

I actually disliked Rubenstein’s and Horowitz’s the most, they’re so messy

[@zestofpiano3509]

My favorites are Gryaznov, Lugansky, Sultanov, and Lim

[@LukeFaulkner]

John Ogdon's 1976 Moscow recital is the best Mephisto 1 I've ever heard - it's online somewhere. There's also an amusing bit where his glasses are slipping off so he promptly pushes them back on before the double glissando.

[@peter5.056]

it suddenly struck me as extremely amusing - humans love to play the same pieces for piano, millions and millions of times over, but we (succeed or not) mostly all have fun trying to do it, obsessing over it, losing sleep and hair over it, drive ourselves half crazy over it, but we love it.

[@Chris-d1r3q]

*growing hair because of it🤦‍♂️

[@mantictac]

Man, I love Trifonov's playing, but he is the reason why Couperin suggested that keyboard students look at their faces in a mirror while they play.

[@SeekingTheLoveThatGodMeans7648]

It's not enough that they can tickle the ivories well, they have to project a personal presence to a camera today. Trifonov goes wild with passion in his face and WHO SHOULD CARE? And the overall passion doesn't just come out in a few tricky measures. He is the shark from Jaws, ready to devour the piano. In an earlier concert giving age without that merciless camera, he'd have gotten nothing but salutes. I wonder if Chopin sometimes looked like this? Or where Chopin would be if he had flourished in an age with film, if not video cameras? Lugansky is one of the crispest and cleanest, I believe. He is that way on many pieces. And he does it without a lot of muss or fuss.

[@pianoredux7516]

For me Trifonov's clownish mugging, nervous tic, pianistic tourette's, whatever it is, unconscious or conscious, is a disgrace. It fatally detracts and distracts from whatever he plays good or bad. There's no excuse for a putative artist making those faces in public, certainly not the excuse of "divine madness". He belongs either in the circus or on a shrink's couch.

[@timesfire]

😂😂😂

[@DomFileoreum]

Did he say that in a book?

[@mantictac]

@@DomFileoreum Yes I believe he said that in L'Art de toucher le clavecin

[@islumperisluggo1830]

I'm honestly quite disappointed that Cyprien Katsaris' recording of Mephisto Waltz isn't on this list. I'd heard most of these recordings of the piece, and when I heard Cyprien's... I was dumbfounded. He makes this part of the piece sound like it's a warmup. It's flawless, more speed than anyone on this list, has an incredibly clean tone, etc. Cyprien is sadly very underrated in my opinion. He takes what many of these pianists tried to do, and did it with little to no effort.

[@ArgerichStan]

Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think he has a live recording. There is a live video of him performing an arrangement with orchestra and then there his phenomenal studio recording which is what I assume you are talking about. I don’t include studio recordings on these lists for obvious reasons but I’m sure with his abilities he could reproduce it in a live setting

[@mariapap8962]

I agree that Katsaris is well underrated, but so in the late Nicholas Economou, also a Cypriot pianist, who has a phenomenal performance of the Mephisto on Loft music.Dmitry Shishkin's version is amongst the very top ones, as well.

[@remsan03]

Lugansky, Matsuev, Debarque, and Yunchan Lim: Jaw drop. Richter and Lewenthal: Bull in a china shop. Just kidding. I adore Richter. :) Trifonov: I'm not his fan, but despite a couple of slips, his leggierissimo was insane. "Leggiero" makes it more difficult. Ashkenazy: Jesus take the wheel. Pogorelich: Very good for his post-retirement era. Also... "I don't know what 'leggiero' means." Horowitz: He's a legend in every way, but this piece was far from ready.

[@ArgerichStan]

Horowitz’s entire performance of Mephisto to me is pure camp hahaha

[@remsan03]

@@ArgerichStan Haha. "Pure camp"? Now, I've got to check it out.

[@ArgerichStan]

@@remsan03 yes it is the kind of performance that is, objectively, really not great but I cannot deny that if I was there in the hall, I absolutely would be entertained!

[@remsan03]

@@ArgerichStan Interesting. A lot of people did say that watching Horowitz live was thrilling to say the least. In his prime up to his 60s, he pushed beyond what is seemingly the limit of himself. Case in point is his Carmen Variations, or Scriabin etude, or Prok's Toccata performance. It was full of pyrotechnics. It may not be as pristine and as clean as Kissin's, but boy, it took your breath away. He was so charismatic.

[@danielwilkins6302]

So tired of boomers making apologies for Horowitz. Yes, at a time he was legendary. But people refuse to acknowledge that he went way downhill in the end.

[@PastukhSkota]

Yunchan Lim... wow! The speed, accuracy, and articulation!! I also vote, Stephen Hough. (Though not sure there is a Live video. His early recording... and seeing him live playing a 'Halloween' concert. (In the late 90s)

[@Wosudhehqaxb9169]

It’s Vladimir Horowitz.. you just don’t get it

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

For me, Horowitz, Pogorelich and Sultanov. No wonder, three nuts.

[@mr.hashundredsofprivatepla3711]

Raymond Lewenthal just slamming his hands on the keys at the beginning of his performance

[@marcellomarianetti1770]

I have never heard of Gryaznov but his playing here was one of the best in my opinion, same goes for mr Nojima

[@bloba6969]

he has a great italian polka arrangement

[@mariapap8962]

He makes brilliant piano transcriptions,(apart from being an amazing pianist)

[@reubenmoisey897]

He is one of the best transcriptors of all time. They're extremely pianistic, beautifully written. Check out his tchaik Romeo and Juliet transcription.

[@nickcy27]

Only Nicolas Economou nails that piece in every detail.

[@Pianoman_B]

Was looking for this comment.

[@Aoichanpiano]

what about Andre Laplante?

[@jewgienij131]

Sultanov!!!!

[@Szyszyjan]

Katia Buniatishvili is the only human that can move her hands faster than the speed of light.

[@김현민-i6q]

Tiempo, Lugansky, Richter, Ashkenazy, Matsuez, Nojima & Yunchan’s performances are outstanding. Especially Ashkenazy makes my jar drop.

[@igwilo421]

I think Horowitz embodies the spirit of Mephistopheles the best

[@joshtwae72]

why is no one mentioning buniatishvili's playing

[@mariapap8962]

Because it definitely isn't on the top of the list. There are pianists not even mentioned here that play this particular piece much better than Khatia.

[@sneezy484]

Because it’s awful

[@benharmonics]

All of them are very impressive. To me, the ones that stand out are Trifonov, Lugansky, Nojima, Horowitz, and Sultanov. Trifonov, Lugansky, and Nojima because they play in such a dry way, which is refreshing after hearing lots of heavily pedaled versions. Horowitz is interesting because he plays so slowly, which completely changes the vibe from thrilling to menacing. And I’m a bit biased toward Sultanov, because he’s my teacher’s favorite pianist, but I still think his version is the most powerful and exciting of the lot-especially the rinforzandos!

[@donna25871]

Teifonov has obvious incorrect notes all over the place.

[@benharmonics]

@@donna25871 That's true. Lugansky is much cleaner.

[@andrecastro2609]

I believe Nicolas Economou has a live recording in video... and it is one hell of a recording, I dare to say.

[@mstalcup]

Best overall I feel was Yunchan Lim, followed by Lucas Debargue and Sergio Tiempo.

[@Shost7]

Lim = Legend ! Malofeev is ver elegant also

[@sovietunion4875]

Ashkenazy practically slowed down time to play those leaps that fast O_O

[@NN-rn1oz]

Speaking of leaps, I'm thinking of the coda of a certain Schumann piece.

[@ArgerichStan]

I also have a video on this!!

[@NN-rn1oz]

@@ArgerichStan Ok I'll watch it. Thanks!

[@aam9265]

Sultanov the best

[@user-qp1zx2kl5r]

Gryaznov's devilish sound is my favorite

[@aapshh]

Nikolay Lugansky’s live in Japan 1991 is incredible

[@sunnyy...]

pogorelich woooow

[@falkeprophet]

Horowitz scared the shit out of me 😭

[@BenSadounJeremie]

My choice: Horowitz , Pogorelich, Sultanov, Cziffra. With 1 st prize for Vladimir Horowitz meaning it ain’t necessary to play faster to create urgency 😅

[@thegreenpianist7683]

For my money Sultanov, Gryaznov and Hough (not on this list) play this passage the best. The leaps themselves are not even the main difficulty, it's executing the intended effect of light/dark contrast within the leaps, and the aforementioned pianists did it best in my opinion.

[@ЛарисаМалышева-у9с]

Именно так!! Контраст Света и Тьмы. Драматизм и контраст самый мощный у Султанова! 💕

[@grampinator]

I absolutely love this !!!!!!!!

[@alexandrosavdeliodis751]

Junchan Lim wins. Flawless victory 😎

[@joeyblogsy]

Was that the last guy? Yeah it was very clean and convincing

[@epicaunleashed8764]

Sultanov beats him by a mile

[@Algorox]

​@@epicaunleashed8764 Sultanov's clarity is unparalleled.

[@joshsima97]

@@Algorox also a lot slower though

[@nss4472]

Malofeev not bad, eh!

[@AhimSaah]

It's interesting to listen back to back like this. Sadly, I have to say my favourite is Horowitz, he's original, his version is the embodiment of Mephisto. Most people play at a speed at which you don't actually hear the leap anymore, it just sounds as appoggiaturas. I respect how much Horowitz doesn't give a f*uck and just plays the way he wants.

[@hisukserjeant5204]

S Richter, D matzueve, G ohlsson, Y Lim. Stand out! I must admit Y c Lim has unbelievable clarity!!!

[@Justin-ou6gq]

Sultanov best interpretation

[@aam9265]

Yes!!!

[@gabrieleferrari9383]

My god Pogorelich makes it sound like ragtime

[@elioperezcolina]

Ya lo dije Williams Kapell Allí no esta Oiganlo

[@elioperezcolina]

El mejor? Kapeell

[@yagiz885]

6:05 its both interesting and enjoyable that cziffra "plays" with the rhythmic phrasing in this excrept

[@Hollenkreuzer-w9g]

Khatia is similar to those talentless metal guitarist who wants to play as fast as they can to prob superiority

[@VladimirLim-bq5qk]

Should be said, that Yunchan was 16 in this recording. But also that it’s not a live recording of him.

[@ArgerichStan]

It is a single camera take which for me counts as live.

[@jedrzejsteszewski6694]

Richter ❤

[@inraid]

John Ogdon ?!?!?

[@ArgerichStan]

I forgot about him! He played it in that famous Moscow recital live. It's quite stunning.

[@dgspindoctor]

John Ogdon in Moscow is the best Mephisto ever captured live.

[@tobiaspeter6555]

How can Horowitz sound like he is practicing at slow speed?

[@WilliamWoll-xd8cc]

Cziffra 1958 is missing...

[@ArgerichStan]

Is that recording live?

[@snorefest1621]

I realized these 20th-century masters (ie. Horowitz, Rubinstein, Wild) didn't play them the cleanest or the fastest, probably like how the composers would have played them. These new pianists are just so good (technically speaking)

[@imagod4796]

but they played it better than the "new" pianists

[@snorefest1621]

better is subjective@@imagod4796

[@mkryu]

You should check out Valentina Lisista’s leaps! Among these you have here, my favorite is Sultanov.

[@私の高木神社はどこ]

Not including Andre Laplante is a criminal offence

[@randompianistis4670]

Laplante’s version is not live

[@markfowlermusic]

Can hear mistakes is quite a few of the recordings shown here, how ridiculously difficult to have to try to play it flawlessly though, especially if you were recording it in a studio for a new album or something, unless they can edit out mistakes of course, but live you’d expect some slips etc… yuja wang is very accurate with that speed though and I don’t hear any mistakes so she’s not human!

[@mariapap8962]

Is there a recording of Yuja playing Mephisto?

[@timesfire]

Good ol’ Khatia. You can always count on her to blast her way through at maximum speed. Don’t understand why that always seems to be her focus. 😂

[@TheRealChopin]

Has to be for the entertainment hm?

[@jamesbigfan364]

waldstein third mvt. octave glissando different pianists next?

[@GingerIndiana]

I love Claudio Arrau's version! So stylish. Lazar Berman is my second choice.

[@khurshid_piano]

Yunchan Lim wins i guess🎉 But definitely there is amazing performance of Katsaris.

[@romkrasorg]

Nikolai Lugansky

[@eddydelrio1303]

But don't forget the leaps in the LEFT HAND, some of which are greater than an octave!

[@alexnewson6013]

Some of these might have needed to reconsider having this in their repertoire?

[@eddydelrio1303]

Lim!!!!

[@pocoapoco2]

The only two I heard get all the notes correct were Ugansky and Malofeev.

[@pan3511]

Lubyantsev is missing!! He has the best performance of this part

[@Matt-hw2lo]

Im really surprised that Dmitry Shishkin isn't on this list, imo he has the best Mephisto watlz, but other than him I'd have to say I like how clean Sultanov because of his more full sound.

[@stephenarnold6359]

You would never guess from some of these that this passage is marked p to begin with

[@RetroRonin-nf1qg]

BRUH- WHERE IS GIUSEPPE ANDALORO... HIS INTERPRETATION AND PERFORMANCE IS SO SATISFYING!

[@ВукМиловановић]

My vote goes to Gryaznov

[@central9823]

Pletnev’s live performances is hands down the best I’ve heard

[@jamesbigfan364]

Andrè Laplante is the finest out of all these and for the whole piece in general. Should have been included in my opinion

[@pianoman551000]

I was really surprised at Horowitz's much slower and deliberate playing of this passage. Nevertheless, it was enjoyable to hear ALL the notes in the section. Too many of pianists overused the damper to cover their inability to play the correct notes at a much faster tempo.

[@A2363-i2k]

I really like Pogorelich here

[@mariapap8962]

Katsaris's version. Starts slower but the leaps (8'26) are super fast and clear. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIWqZGSsi8aXbM0

[@damienheemskerk]

Malofeev wins this one by a landslide for me

[@GTXTi-db5xu]

evgeni kissin

[@David-mq5sl]

Ashkenazy hands down, truly DEVILISH

[@carlosguaymas6507]

A la mayoría le falta claridad...la versión de Horowitz es la única que tiene claridad, velocidad y explosión tonal

[@pianista-mediocre]

Katsaris+orchestra>>>>>>>

[@pianoredux7516]

It may be of historical interest to note that in the early 1960s the peerless and short-lived piano connoisseur Jan Holcman, who had heard absolutely every performance up till then, was awed by Ashkenazy's traversal of this passage. Since then many pianists have adopted Ashkenazy's prestissimo approach. Before him, though, few if any attempted it. However, this approach can be overdone, as is the case with the Olympic gymnast Ms. Khatia B, who here as usual plays presto possibile ma non con musicalita.

[@thibomeurkens2296]

Of this video I like ashkenazy the best, my favorite is Cziffra but the recording in the video is quite mediocre

[@leonardmartin6048]

Lugansky was great, he sounds very precise, crisp and leggiero, slightly more impressive than Trifonov. Nojima sounds great too. And Yunchan is amazing as well.

[@СергейЛагутин-с4ж]

Где Плетнёв?

[@SavannahPianoGuys]

Andre Laplante's recording of the Mephisto Waltz without doubt is the greatest rendition of this piece... Even the Leap section holds substance, it's fast but not extremely fast where you can hear pianists rush.

[@nicolasgoulet4091]

When I hear this I feel really good about my take on thèse leaps

[@alexandrebeauharnais6849]

There seems to be an arbitrary error in the selection of recordings. Matsuev is misspelled in the commentary.

[@nss4472]

1,4,6,7,8,18,22,24🎉😂

[@nss4472]

And the 1st priiiiize goes tooooo... Lucas Debargue! 🎉🎉🎉😂

[@kk-ht6uw]

1 Ashkenazy 2 Lewenthal 3 Gryaznov

[@giannix1234]

You can't put together live with studio recording performances.

[@Piflaser]

Best version known is by Ludwig Hoffmann.

[@giacomoboganini7823]

3:05 --> Leslie Nielsen

[@ritabustamante8447]

When you play something as difficult as Mephisto Valts at such a fast speed it usually ends up dirty. It is better to go a little slower and make what you are playing understandable.

[@ArgoBeats]

The best is Nicolas Economou, here not present.

[@markandrews4797]

Everyone listens to the octave leaps in the right hand but ignores the left hand! Pianists (including me) tend to get paranoid about audible fluffs in the right hand, but then end up fluffing the left hand instead (or as well).

[@tackontitan]

Rubinstein's was quite unique with its use of pedal

[@pedrobraga6633]

wtf was horowitz on

[@ArgerichStan]

I want what he’s having

[@Dan1099ilo]

he used to allow himself much freedom when it comes to liszt. take for example the hungarian rhapsody n 2, he did a complete revision of it and also wrote it down. but, yes, he very likely used drugs :)

[@aeroslothy]

Shishkin did this best

[@yovchokrushev1543]

Easy to play quickly when the notes are inaccurate

[@gojewla]

Not really. The physicality of it is the real problem. Otherwise, everyone would be able to play it at Ashkenazy’s or Richter’s tempo.

[@yovchokrushev1543]

@@gojewla Do you know well this music ?

[@gojewla]

@@yovchokrushev1543 yes. I have played it.

[@yovchokrushev1543]

Ok. Send me record

[@gojewla]

@@yovchokrushev1543 If I put it out there, I will let you know.

[@JeffKwak221]

say waht you will about musicality and interpretation but in terms of technique, speed, accuracy, and dynamic, I'd say yunchan lim beat them (I thnk he's 16 lol).

[@JeffKwak221]

I listened to horowitz again and I think I feel liszt's silly mephisto prank symphonic poem transcription vibe from him the most