Alfred Cortot - Chopin Impromptus (1933)

Alfred Cortot plays Frédéric Chopin's impromptus Opp. 29; 36; 51; 66 "Fantaisie-Impromptu". Rec. 1933.
00:00 Impromptu No. 1 in A-flat major, Op. 29
03:45 Impromptu No. 2 in F-sharp major, Op. 36
08:42 Impromptu No. 3 in G-flat major, Op. 51
13:07 Fantaisie - Impromptu in C-sharp minor, Op. posth. 66

[@erictrudel2624]

He removes the bar lines and plays like he’s improvising the music on the spot. The music is between the notes. Incredible voicing and pedaling. Endless pleasure…

[@luciaguidi1775]

I have no words to describe a genius

[@Schubertd960]

The bel canto, the unique articulation, the effortlessness and freedom... Cortot is simply one of the best interpreters of Chopin I have heard.

[@VooBag]

This is the best recording on KZbin.

[@ladivinafanatic]

I agree!

[@ladivinafanatic]

OMG that first one is so OPERATIC!!! Love it.

[@MusicLover-oe3ig]

Finally, I play Fantaisie Impromptu after my piano teacher has passed, and before I had a chance to listen to her idol pianist's interpretation, what a shame! Thank you for the uploading!!

[@SpontaneityJD]

This is the closest to Chopin's playing that we'll ever get... It actually feels like a true impromptu.

[@bryanpayne3793]

Cortot studied with one of Chopin's pupils

[@noelheyden8990]

I am not so educated just an amateur player but I have selected Cortot as my go to for inspiration in playing, just feels wonderful.

[@elliottpower2931]

+Noel Heyden Definitely one of my favorite pianists, and probably the best Chopin interpreter there ever was.

[@TheTTstudio]

And what a good choice you have made.

[@etiam161036]

Val O'Brien s

[@blonda.bacoviana]

A good choice! Also look up for Dinu Lipatti.

[@pamelafrancis4476]

Cortot played both sets of the Chopin studies during the war, in London. Truly brave!

[@lorraineprieur]

Pure beauté , élan et vie!

[@CarmenReyes-em9np]

Ozan braviiiiiisimo !!!¡!! México 🇲🇽. 🫶 🖐️👋👋🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶👋👋

[@CarmenReyes-em9np]

Tambien de los grandes autores ,ya existia la fotografia,en las peliculas muy antiguas sale como eran las camaras fotograficas 😱

[@CarmenReyes-em9np]

No sabia que fuerás un gran pianista ,no lo cuenta en. Ios libros ,,,,,,,❣️🙏🏻. quedamos a deber.

[@OAERICLE]

Thank you for this upload. I've so far listened to 6 or 7 recordings of the F-sharp major impromptu and this one comes closest to what I think it should sound like. Perhaps its because I'm biased -- my teacher studied with Cortot in Paris, and he always impressed upon me that the second-last section marked "leggiero" should "sound like shimmering silk (looks)". And too, is borne out his reputation for handfuls of wrong notes, but they are forgivable in that section with great leaps - the overall interpretation is pretty strict but with wonderful plasticity without excessive rubato. His reputation as an great interpreter and teacher seems secure.

[@EmdrGreg]

There are parts of the F-sharp that are breathtaking, actually, and I'm not generally a Cortot fan. When those octave jumps begin, he plays with an amazing pianissimo that seems almost impossible to me, and the leggiero section is confident, accurate and beautiful.

[@zamyrabyrd]

I have been breaking my head and fingers over the 2nd Impromptu for years. So naturally, I listen to every possible pianist. I liked and appreciated Rubinstein very much but Cortot's approach seems to me the closest to Chopin. "Shimmering silk" is really apropos for the filigree of the last section before it all wraps up. This is what I didn't get out of Arrau. He makes the piano sound like an organ in the Impromptus (or maybe the recording engineers) and squeezes every last drop of articulation, a bit like too many trees for the forest. Rubinstein is interesting because he doesn't cheat with the tempo. This is the clincher for the super quick 32's, in other words, EIGHT to each quarter. Most pianists take liberties with the tempo. Cortot's speed is about the fastest on record.

[@bendixon5845]

Cortot brings out the French spirit in Chopin (poetry) and Rubinstein the Polish (drama). One cannot really compare them, simply listen in awe to both of them...

[@CarmenReyes-em9np]

El que corregia las copias con algunos errores. Gracias Cortot 🇮🇷🙋🏻‍♀️🎶🎶💕🎶

[@CarmenReyes-em9np]

Es Cortot ,no en concierto. ( lealtad)..🎶🎶❣️🙏🏻🙋🏻‍♀️🇮🇷

[@geraldomaul7228]

O inigualável Cortot.

[@HyunSeoCho]

👍👍👍👍

[@CarmenReyes-em9np]

20. 24. 🙋🏻‍♀️🇮🇷

[@thecozytrader00]

8:42

[@CarmenReyes-em9np]

Julio 20-----_24. 🎶💌💌🎶🎶🎶🎶💌Ozen. 👋👋👋👋👋

[@EmdrGreg]

He looks crazed in some of his photo's, doesn't he?

[@noelheyden8990]

+Greg Scott looks sensitive and aware. to me he looks like a deep person who I would have loved to have the aquaintance

[@EmdrGreg]

People see things differently; I'm ok with that.

[@ganjamozart1435]

Greg Scott He was a famous opium addict back in his day... Probably high off his face...

[@EmdrGreg]

Ganja Mozart Didn't know that. Did you see that old clip of him doing a master class? Instead of teaching the student he sat down and played the piece-- he looked at the camera and went on about his interpretation. He was showing off. I get it now; he must have been high as a kite.

[@ganjamozart1435]

Greg Scott He is the greatest interpreter of Chopin for me regardless his love for the opiates but yeah... He probably was off his face...

[@AA-qj2bn]

コルトーのピアノは希望が見える。🍀不死鳥。フェニックス。🍀からだの弱いショパンも実は不死鳥。🍀

[@EmptyVee00000]

Such disrespect for Chopin is unsurpassed, except maybe by Horowitz.

[@OzanFabienGuvener]

Definitely more respectful and close to Chopin than Robotic Ashkenazy :)

[@ladivinafanatic]

@@OzanFabienGuvener well Cortot is certainly much better than Ashkenazy. Cortot is one of my favourite Chopin interpreters along with Koczalski, Rachmaninov, Hofmann, Lhevinne, Rosenthal and Risler.

[@OzanFabienGuvener]

@@ladivinafanatic I agree. Maybe Ashkenazy's early recordings (1950s) were good, but this academic conservatory Chopin is far from true authentic Chopin. Pianists like Cortot, Rosenthal, Risler, Hofmann etc. come from the 19th century and know real bel canto opera. According to Chopin, knowledge of opera and singing was essential for piano; all legato, rubato, timbre, phrasing are based on the 19th century operatic tradition.

[@ladivinafanatic]

@@OzanFabienGuvener I wholeheartedly agree with you. I don’t like Ashkenazy’s early recordings either but there are also much more boring pianists after him…… well, I only listen to Chopinists before Yakov Zak and that doesn’t include Horowitz and Rubinstein because there are so many others that are much better than both of them. And Chopin was 1000% right, knowledge of opera and singing was essential for piano, that’s also why I became a big opera lover.

[@alainspiteri502]

@@ladivinafanatic divinafanatic-ozangunever : the Top Aschkhenaz is 1955-80 unforgettable Achkenazy 'Rachmaninov-Prokofiev it's necessary to have Russians composers in this erea by V Asch , vinyls were at the Top in more ; Asch is far from Chopin after records 1980' too meticulous too scientific piano so his Chopin is perfect no more , music is not scientific

[@CarmenReyes-em9np]

México 🇲🇽🎶👏👏👏Braviiiisimo. !!!!!;!!