Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli masterclass in Arezzo, 1959 (with english subtitles)

Documentary "Il maestro dei maestri"
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli masterclass 1959 documentary.
With Maner Lualdi (the journalist)
Couple of fun facts:
- Ludovico Lessona, according to many source, was probably the favourite pupil of Benedetti Michelangeli.
- Harasiewicz won the 1955 Chopin Competition, and in that year, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli was in the jury, but he left the jury before the end of the competition in protest, because he thought that was Vladimir Ashkenazy who should have won the first prize.
At 26:32 you can hear Michelangeli humming Debussy's Clair de Lune and give some hints to the pianist (Isacco Rinaldi).
Then he plays two pieces
- Canción no. 6 from 12 Canciónes y Danzas by Federico Mompou
- Chopin waltz in E flat KK IVa/14 (spurious)

[@alessandroalberto3726]

Non posso che piangere , di fronte a queste ... vivissime e commoventi immagini, pensando all'amato Zio Lodovico !!! (Chico per tutti gli Amici !!! ) Grazie !!!

[@marctaras9455]

One of the greatest pianists of all times. He had such a beautiful sound.

[@frederickfrederikfre]

Stupendo aver unito i quattro video che sono qui su youtube e che formano questo bellissimo ed unico documentario. Grazie.

[@DanieleDerelli]

Quando anni fa caricai per primo il documentario non era ancora possibile caricare video più lunghi di 10 o 15 minuti (non ricordo di preciso), per questo avevo dovuto tagliarlo in quattro parti. Quando poi hanno dato la possibilità di caricare video più lunghi mi ero ripromesso di ricaricarlo nella sua interezza e con i sottotitoli in inglese, ma è una cosa che ho rimandato per anni... Lieto che sia stata apprezzata

[@valentinagerardi2331]

@@DanieleDerelli grzie!!!!!!!!!

[@manuelzanin4049]

@@DanieleDerelli bene attendiamo :)

[@emilgilels]

Thanks for sharing!

[@lyrianmusic]

What a wasted opportunity. Instead of getting up close with the wisdom of Michelangeli, we get a half hour of inane questions from the reporter.

[@pierredevarro5001]

I agree.

[@christopherczajasager9030]

Pompous and often banal

[@christopherczajasager9030]

No where as insightful or instructive as THE master of giving master classes, Gyorgy Sebok!

[@redrakham8060]

True

[@elbiolins]

Grandisimo pianista, intérprete y músico A. B Michelangeli

[@Wolfgang262]

From this documentary I get the impression that Arturo was a bit camera shy.

[@afritimm]

Not camera shy, he was filmed playing many times. But shy if talking.

[@Wolfgang262]

@@afritimm You are probably right about that . It takes a tremendous amount self -confidence to walk out on stage and preform like he did .

[@lindamcdermott2205]

Bravissimo!!!! This should be required viewing for all students of piano!

[@Daniel_Ilyich]

I like how he initially mentions the pianos are muffled by mattresses and how the windows must not be opened. Then the pianos have the cover opened and he eventually opens a window.

[@afritimm]

It is the clarity, lack of extremes, rarely loud, a sort of purity.

[@Johannes_Brahms65]

Great document! Thanks!

[@antwerpsmerle1404]

This documentary is so bad that it is compelling to watch. The nadir is the “interview” with Renzo Bonizzato. The unctuous presenter asks “who is the greatest LIVING Italian musician?”, so I took it that he was feeding the interviewee to respond “why, Maestro Benedetti Michelangeli, of course!” But I was wrong, as it soon became clear that the presenter meant “composer”, not “musician”. Bonizzato refuses to name names, so the presenter is forced to suggest some. Bonizzato remains silent after every suggestion and manages to sustain an expression of gormless inscrutability throughout. In the end we never get to hear who was at the top of his list, because at long last, some 27 minutes into a 33-minute programme, it’s time to meet the Great Man himself. Our bumbling presenter creeps up on him from behind and puts a constabulary hand on his shoulder. I was expecting him to say, “I’d like you to come with me to the police station to answer a few questions”. But ABM Is a man of few words it seems, so we have to content ourselves with a five-minute recital. The whole thing reminded me of an Alan Partridge chat show, in particular the one where Alan repeatedly told the audience that the highlight of the show would be an interview with Roger Moore (who never arrived, of course). Well, I guess I should be grateful that we DID get that mini-recital, but I’m now looking forward to re-watchlng ABM’’s amazing studio recital of Book 1 of Debussy’s Preludes - utterly magical!

[@catuozzomuccone]

Frederic Mompou ❤️

[@RanBlakePiano]

I met him with Carmen at aclinic barxccelonalst few wekkhsc

[@prassitelexk4336]

Al tempo era anche Mario del Monaco, W l'Italia vera . Renata Tebaldi e la Immensa Maria Callass... GRAZIE., la memoria è VITA.

[@tagstefmusic]

Il paragone tornio/dodecafonia è davvero infelice!

[@pe-peron8441]

Concordo, ma purtroppo frutto di concezione abbastanza comune chi non ha grande affinità con la musica, o ne ha quantomeno una visione abbastanza di superficie di vecchio artefatto puro e intonso; o nel migliore dei casi era solamente una battuta molto poco divertente nel cui contenuto non credeva neanche lui, ma l'aveva detto giusto per

[@tagstefmusic]

Meglio non dire che dire giusto per

[@andream.464]

It’s crazy how these super-talented pupils never made it to e top (aside from Argerich and Barenboim, but not from this particular school in Arezzo, if I remember correctly)

[@theamethystfish]

What a gem to be able to see this documentary! Does anyone know the title of the composition Paul Ayash was playing? I can’t seem to find any information on Paul Ayash on Google...

[@vaniapimentel7076]

It was his own composition...

[@theamethystfish]

Vania Pimentel Was it published? Do you happen to know the title?

[@gungrir]

bellissimo video.Completamente errato il giudizio sulla musica elettronica del pianista però vabbè

[@manuelzanin4049]

Bene, ci spieghi il motivo.

[@novembrinewaltz90]

@@manuelzanin4049 Perché discriminare il suono prodotto da uno strumento elettronico? Non ha senso. Il pensiero musicale è quel che rende grande un artista, non lo strumento. Che discorsi...

[@simonemolinari1803]

Which Scarlatti sonata is Lodovico Lessona playing at min 9.05? Which K...?Thank you so much anyone could help me

[@najibismail7446]

Sonata in C major K.420

[@wardropper]

In what sense was this a masterclass...? Honestly...

[@constantinqueins9313]

In the sense, that it was a class of masters.

[@carillon9885]

It is not very clear in the title... actually Michelangeli used to give masterclasses to his piano students in this palace in Arezzo, so this is not a video about Michelangeli teaching during a masterclass, it is more about ‘how it was to live in this particular context’ (his masterclasses lasted long time, and his students were considered like guests, so they actually lived in this palace during all masterclass period, as they explain in the video around min. 6.30)

[@antwerpsmerle1404]

Paul Mina Storm Yes, it’s a truly unbelievable piece of w*** (or do I mean s***?). I especially liked the alienation effect achieved when the camera pulled back to reveal......? Why, a camera crew making a documentary about pianists! Is this perhaps the first known example of reality TV, 40 years before Big Brother?

[@andream.464]

I’m Italian and the subtitles really suck!

[@cwslai]

I always joke with my pupils that they should be put into music jail if they don't practise.

[@mori-patte]

I see, this way I would be life sentenced 🤣🤣

[@luciaboasso4546]

Quella impagabile classe del giornalismo di altri tempi. Il materiale su cui discutere, poi, adesso sarebbe introvabile. Mala tempora currunt.

[@MrMortadeloyfilemon]

e un bellissimo documento, sí, però questo giornalista è insopportabile. Domande pessime e sensualisti. Parla troppo, interrompe sempre. Niente di nuovo

[@alessandrodelmonte5765]

ma perchè in questo paese ove impera la sinistra " radical chic" non si è mai dato valore e ossequio alla genialita', all' umilta' e alla dedizione alla vera cultura (musicale), offerta da questo GRANDE UOMO ?

[@prassitelexk4336]

Io lo ascoltavo al Bagnoro nella sua villa , i dischi fonit cetra li vendeva fino a qualche anno fa' il decembrini , piazza G.Monaco..... tutti registrati ovvio, al teatro Petrarca. Oh, io ero la, un caso...Forse, ma so' fiero di essere aretino e Italiano!,,,ora so' vecchio.... ma è come se avessi 20 anni.

[@quattrolune]

Perché non imperano né i radical chic né tantomeno la sinistra.

[@bhh1988]

What's the piece he plays at 28:10?

[@DanieleDerelli]

As you can read in the description: Canción no. 6 from 12 Canciónes y Danzas by Federico Mompou

[@bhh1988]

@@DanieleDerelli Ah yes it's in the description. Thank you!

[@FeeLikesChriZ]

Can someone please tell me what piece he's playing at 28:12.

[@DanieleDerelli]

Canción no. 6 from 12 Canciónes y Danzas by Federico Mompou. It's in the description

[@FeeLikesChriZ]

@@DanieleDerelli I'm sorry, didn't check the description. Thank you for your reply

[@BillDeef]

Probabilmente uno dei migliori del suo tempo però è diventato un grande mito e qua non dice neanche una parola. Ho conosciuto una amica sua e anche lei era ipnotizzata da lui. Un po’ esagerato, non vi pare? Neppure Beethoven faceva tanta impressione ai contemporanei.

[@fonzflex5608]

Per niente esagerato.

[@user-be1lr3jl2i]

What's the piece Harasiewicz plays at 11:30?

[@momeara7482]

According to the commentary, it's a piece by Szymanowski.

[@user-be1lr3jl2i]

@Jaewon ShinThank you very much for the information.

[@user-be1lr3jl2i]

@@momeara7482Thanks.

[@jimmyhayes4682]

This video was so bad and the people in it were so stiff and unnatural that it actually becomes comical.

[@granadorebig-boss-nass5599]

I'm sorry, I don't speak italian. There is one thing that I don't understand in this wonderful video. I don't see why does the reporter say that AB Michelangeli is dead to the student. Is it because he already becomes a legend or something like that? or is this just for joking?

[@DanieleDerelli]

Well, the subtitels are there for not italians... He didn't say that ABM was dead, he said that Casella was dead. He asked him who was the greatest italian living musician, and after suggesting Alfredo Casella the student started to agree with him, but the journalist stopped him right away because the maestro (Casella) was dead, so he (Casella) couldn't be the greatest living italian musician.

[@Pogouldangeliwitz]

I think "Lualdi" is the Italian word for "buffoon squared"... Whereas "Gavoty" is French for "buffoon cubed" (if you're knowledgeable about ABM you'll know what I'm talking about)... 😋

[@antwerpsmerle1404]

Kuki Cha I didn’t know what you were talking about but - thanks to Google - I now do. I’m really looking forward to verifying your assertion that G = L ^1.5, where L and G are Lualdi’s buffoonery and Gavoty’s buffoonery respectively. QED!

[@Pogouldangeliwitz]

@@antwerpsmerle1404 graag gedaan! 😉

[@antwerpsmerle1404]

Kuki Cha Hartelijk dank. Ik ben een duif. Ik ben geen Belg! 🇧🇪😜

[@thenewalex]

Da notare i dialoghi forbiti e garbati, l'Italia di altri tempi, oggi solo fastidiosi anglicismi fatti apposta per confonderci.

[@Bashkii]

Total waste of a documentary. I guess in the 50's that was the way of recording a M class. Pathetic!!

[@Ellatigojusticiero]

Que hombre tan pragmático, tan arrogante y austero, no hubiera podido tratarle más de un par de minutos sin salir muy enojado. No soporto la arrogancia, y creo que la grandeza está precisamente en la sencillez....Imagino que su carácter lo distanció mucho de la realidad y por eso tiene un limitado repertorio y no muchas personas lo conocen en el mundo...me parece que fue terriblemente insoportable, que malo, de todas formas murió igual que cualquier otro mortal y el el cementerio todos somos iguales.

[@BillDeef]

Estoy completamente de acuerdo. Mitomanía pura.

[@marcellominasi41]

Ma di voi due nessuno si ricorderà.

[@BillDeef]

marcello minasi lo triste è che non ti basti che la tua familia ti ricorderà. O forse non puoi contarci? Tanto, quando il mondo intero ti riconosce, non telo accorgerai. Sarai morto. ATB ha lasciato solo una striscia nella storia e finirà come le migliaia di pianisti “grandi” prima di lui che oggi non si ricorda neanche il nome. Io non ho capito perché sono i pianisti che sono i più arroganti di tutti.

[@marcellominasi41]

Bill Deef nemmeno perdo tempo con uno come te.

[@matheom.5400]

"He is the greatest pianist of the XX Century" (Sergiu Celibidache).

[@bubffm]

Complete nonsense