Claudio Arrau plays Ravel's Gaspard de la Nuit

[@dougjohnson8513]

What a gift it is to listen to Maestro Arrau transporting us to other spheres, across dark oceans, taking us to places only visible in dreams. A master of the piano. A humble and serious man with a gentle laugh. A supremely dedicated artist. Thank you for sharing this with us!

[@JamesVaughan]

This is the first time I've heard any Ravel from Arrau…his "Ondine" is amazingly atmospheric, the magic and the mystery in the music fully captured…I don't think I've ever heard it played so magnetically, even by Ravel protégé Vlado Perlemuter. "Le gibet" has a sustained tension and almost a ghoulishness I've never heard from any other pianist. "Scarbo" is menacing and magnificent. Arrau's performance is so uncannily evocative, I'm surprised he didn't play more Ravel, at least in the latter part of his career. This is outstanding playing in every regard and must be on anyone's list of "best" recordings of this masterpiece.

[@nihilistlemon1995]

James Vaughan I agree. Would also recommend Wayenberg and Michelangeli's Tokyo recital in 1973. Both are touching, electrifying and terrifying in their own way.

[@meredith218461]

I agree wholeheartedly, Arrau creates spellbinding imagery throughout. His ondine is amazing as you say. What has always impressed with this great pianist is his refusal to use challenging virtuoso works as vehicles for vainglorious display, Gapard has often fallen victim to this from lesser so called keyboard Titans.

[@Ca1vin-X]

Timeless, breathtaking. I never tire of "Le gibet" especially...

[@gfweis]

This is magical from the first bar. Arrau immediately put me in a spell. And here too, for me at least, he simply manages to vanish, making my attention pass right through his playing, and putting me directly and exclusively in touch with the music. It's quite mysterious how he achieves this, and is a high art indeed. Many thanks for posting this.

[@nikikantzios6559]

This is one of my favorite pieces, but Arrau's playing is so expressive, it's like a whole wonderful new work. Thanks for posting -- sublime.

[@mlahteenoja]

The thing about Arrau's allure is that he transcended sheer technical virtuosity - it's just pure and effortless expression.

[@snaaptaker]

This is as good as it gets, folks. Thanks so much, Erwin. This is a miracle. ☺

[@luizfernandg]

Although Michelangeli's version is still my favourite, Arrau's is equally great! Great artist, great musician who desrves all our respect and admiration! Bravo maestro!!!

[@paulobarcelos2308]

The greatest pianist ever.

[@wallyssalas]

Ravel's 3 Poems in Gaspard de la nuit are such mysterious and difficult compositions for piano, that any performance can fall short of properly conveying their true meaning, or musical message. Impressionistic piano pieces often can be a trap, even for the greatest of pianists. Well, Arrau does not allow himself such mishap. In this tricky set of compositions for piano, where playing Ravel's musical adaptation of a poet's inspirational outpour, can be even confusing for the best of interpreters, Maestro Arrau can indeed successfully validate Ravel's heart and soul on the piano keyboard, most likely to the pleasure and satisfaction of Ravel himself, were he alive, and listening incognito amongst the audience during this concert. In his long, illustrious career, Maestro Arrau took on all musical challenges and succeeded in all of them. I don't think he ever became an artist, he was born an artist and gifted with special and unique sensibilities and talents. That is well known and accepted as fact. Only someone like him, can justly be considered the musical genius of the twentieth century. No exaggeration felt or expressed.

[@themusicalgerbil192]

IT'S BACK! I heard this performance of Arrau a long time ago, before it was removed from KZbin. How I have looked forward to hearing it again.

[@lunchmind]

Ondine reminds me of a blue shark cruising off the coast of race Point in Provincetown MA at midnight.And Arrau plays it with delicate touch and imagination.

[@berlinzerberus]

Profond, sonore et avec un merveilleux toucher! Il sait jouer du piano. :-)

[@nihilistlemon1995]

Ça promet. Il peut peut-être faire carrière.

[@johnlovric5896]

berlinzerberus.. Really? But not like You..?

[@thorstentopp1269]

Arrau is my favourite pianist. Apart of great interpretations of Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms and of course Liszt he is - for me - simply the best playing Chopin and Debussy! Never understood both Préludes (Chopin´s op. 28 and Debussy´s two livres) better that hearing his interpretation (pieces I loved and work with more than 30 years). Technically unbeatable, he let us see the structure, the compositon´s logic and the soul of the music. Compare Chopins nocturne c sharp minor op. 27,1 to Barenboims try to play this stuff....Barenboim, a really great musician and pianist, don´t understand what he´s playing but Arrau discovers a miracle.

[@bilahn1198]

Claudio Arrau is the only pianist I have ever heard play The Waldstein of Beethoven without ruining it by playing it too fast!

[@tomowenpianochannel]

Agree - Michelangeli is always held to be one of the greatest in Debussy' Preludes and Images. And they are, incredibly structured and rehearsed, dramatic and compelling. But Arrau's Philips recordings of the same repertoire are so much richer in sonority and overtones; like a warm fire in winter, compared to Michelangeli's iced drinks for the summer. Arrau's late Debussy recordings are my favourite of all for that composer. They have that 'magic' ingredient.

[@arturozeballos1]

que maestro de maestro. dónde lo pongan esta siempre entre los primeros.

[@sirdicaudore]

Unmistakable, unique signature!

[@238assante]

it's a chance to hear Arrau play this work. There are many many absolutely fantastic recordings of this set. I find many things wonderful in his interpretaion, other things less ideal. Buit it is a live version so things happen . Still unique, still beautiful. This picture of him at the end must date back to the 1920's , looks very young, no mustache ... ?

[@fabiodosreis528]

Deeply beautiful!

[@vulkanosaure]

Arrau is my favorite pianist and i completely missed out on any ravel from him, I'm really not disappointed, his gibet is so enchanting..

[@giuseppemariaperego8937]

"Claudio Arrau non è morto...È immortale! La Sua Arte vive in mezzo a noi! Giuseppe Perego Monza 16.2.1962

[@Jasongy827]

Timeless, it’s just timeless. It’s kind of crazy all the great pianist performers was never apart of my generation, yet I understand how they play. These players will be lost to the wind only to those who listens to music as listening to how water drips into the a beautiful lake.

[@MartinVanBoven]

Thank you so much pianopera! :)

[@reginaldbarnes632]

This is very dreamy and thoughtful. Not so fast as most. I like it very much. As a lifetime pianist, I can only admire anyone who can play this music at all. I must recommend Lucas Debargue's live performance for the Tchaikovsky Competition...It is simply electrifying.

[@lyrianmusic]

It might not appear to be natural territory for Arrau, but then you have to consider his deep affinity for the music of Debussy, and then it all makes sense. A wonderful recording.

[@paulprocopolis]

Although perhaps not natural territory for Arrau, he brings a unique sound and intensity to the music, giving every note 'meaning'. It's good to hear this broadcast recording again!

[@pianopera]

Agreed. I don't always agree with his rubato, but it's unique in its intensity.

[@trevorarmbuster2173]

"If two do the same, it is not the same." ~ Cecile Staub Genhart

[@trevorarmbuster2173]

If Ravel was not "natural territory" for Arrau, he certainly gave a corking good imitation of one for whom it was. In this stunning realization of possibly THE most complex, daunting set of pieces ever written for the piano that could properly be labelled "music" is one of the best on record. In fact this is some some of the very best playing I've ever heard Arrau produce.

[@berlinzerberus]

I fully agree with Trevor here, I even like Arrau's rubato!

[@giuseppemariaperego8937]

Best marks

[@Rokudammela]

His Ondine is amazing...

[@julia-hj8rb]

Claudio, la derecha más suave en Ondine. Se traga la melodia.

[@jagareco]

1963 live performance, where?

[@themusicalgerbil192]

If I remember correctly, this was from a recital in Lugano, at which Arrau also played Brahms' Händel Variations and Liszt's Mephisto Waltz No. 1, because he was basically a suicidal madman.

[@adriandurand4531]

In Italy. The complete concert was available on an Ermitage CD, with an amazing program: Haendel Variations (Brahms), Gaspard de la nuit and finally -icing on the cake, a truly amazing Mephisto Waltz no. 1 which to me is an absolute reference.

[@arturozeballos1]

recital de lugano 1963

[@n_en.0]

🤐💥💖

[@julia-hj8rb]

Claudio, en Scarbo más punta y menos yema.

[@tomtriffid]

I feel that "Le Gibet" should be played much, much more evenly than that. The bell tolling in the distance obviously has a very measured cadence and that is destroyed playing it as Arrau does here. (It also highlights a major error at 11:26, which is unfortunate.) Still, overall, this is a remarkable performance.

[@pianopera]

I agree that a more measured, strict "Le Gibet" would be more in line with Ravel's style. But on the other hand, Arrau's sound is enchanting and he creates a haunting atmosphere with it. At 11:26, I don't think that's a "major error", just a small mistouch. Please remember that this is a live recording.

[@tomtriffid]

Fair enough, thanks for your comment.

[@adriandurand4531]

By far, Le Gibet is the most difficult piece of the triptych (though demanding little digital virtuosity). It's an intense blend of horror and indifference, or melancholy - very typical of Ravel.

[@geuros]

it's good. Really good, but not in the same league as others. Lortie, Grosvenor, Debargue, and for me mainly, Pogorelich - feel free to absolutely disagree, but Pogorelich's is the ballsiest interpretation I have ever heard. Such energy and precision is unheard of any other pianist in Scarbo.

[@Yhiith]

ya, basically all studio recordings

[@mathisabbing7566]

Yes, Pogorelich is really the best interpreter of Gaspard.

[@tomowenpianochannel]

Arrau's performance is gold standard. There aren't many live recordings of this stature... Hamelin, Ashkenazy, perhaps Debargue's recent version. In the studio, Pogorelich is platinum standard - out of this world for clarity, power, dynamics, imagination - and then the gold standards include Thibaudet, Michelangeli, Lortie. How fortunate we are to have all these pianists, and this masterpiece to listen to.

[@geuros]

@@mathisabbing7566 he has also extremely good performance live

[@geuros]

@@tomowenpianochannel true

[@pvonberg]

Michelangeli is the greatest in this. But Arrau gives a fine performance.

[@nonickname5012]

Who is this Michelangeli people keep bringing up. The man who created the Last Supper and Judgement? Whoever he is, he cannot be a match for Claudio.