Cyprien Katsaris plays his Fantasy on “Happy Birthday to you” for Yehudi Menuhin’s 70th birthday

[@jacklin3587]

Rare genius ! In the era of Liszt , every pianist on the stage was expected to create improvisation like jazz in the modern time. But this kind of classical musicians already disappeared in this century.

[@Santosificationable]

You're right. We must bring back what is fundamental in music - creativity and spontainety.

[@陳秋華-w2j]

Go watch KYLE LANDRY'S live improvs on twitch

[@paulbu6003]

They're still plentiful of them around 😂

[@tuetran7464]

But did Liszt play Bach as well as Glenn Gould?

[@hyseo1121]

World class level pianist can improvise with every material and motive. All they are genius. The more difficult and artistic thing is to interprete masterwork properly.

[@aldoringo439]

Its difficult to appreciate how incredible this composition really is and how many hours would have gone into making it.

[@paolotaglia1]

That's an improvisation

[@JesseDavis7373]

​@@paolotaglia1 still is prepared. Great improvising takes great preparation

[@marinadela1361]

Jazz pianists improvise all the time!

[@Santosificationable]

Loved it. I find this to be both entertaining and highly informative. Of what I know in the old days of Liszt classical piano music was much like this. Performances during that time didn't have the standardization and formalistic detachment we have in many concert halls today. And people LOVED the music. It manifested their sentiments. Music was not just "appreciated", it was really experienced. And you can see how Mr. Katsaris simulates the master - a performance by music of a great composer (Beethoven) followed by his own exciting variations/improvisations on a familiar tune. Today all classical music is objective and everybody already knows how it's gonna sound like. I prefer it like this. The setting isn't too big, there is someone to dedicate the music to as an act of friendship, and there is REALLY a connection to the audience. This is why I like even Liberace, despite his over-the-top grandiosity. In the past music was A THING OF THE PEOPLE. Now it's just FOR STUDY. The only flaw in the past is that classical music was highly exclusive, listened to large only by the elite few (aristocracy, clergy, etc.). But if we could somehow emulate the way music was seen and felt before - coupled with today's accessibility to any form of music - then that would be awesome. That's just what I think.

[@flashedarden1060]

You absolutely nailed it with the “Music was not just appreciated, it was really experienced”. As a piano and composition student at a superior conservatory, it really makes me sad how people listen to music “analyzing” it instead of just letting the music move through their soul and feelings. It seems most of my colleagues listen to music looking for and referring to different, innovative or cohesive terms - listening through the knowledge they’ve acquired from their musical education, which is a lot and makes them very cultured people. And that’s just in the piano part - the composer’s listening, in my opinion, has lost all meaning of what music once was. But then again, who am I to judge how people enjoy music? I’m just thoughts of what I see on my day to day life.

[@metteholm4833]

Now, I have enjoyed this SO many times, that my brain replays it, when I am half asleep in the night.

[@seanstmd29]

That's a nice gift for an old friend. Very clever performance

[@artisuryavanshi7785]

0:20 Mozart 0:44 Beethoven 1:04 Tango 1:23 Brahms or Prokofiev 1:36 Film Music 2:22 Chopin improvisation on Chopin's "Fantasie impromptu" 3:24 Chopin Waltz op.64 No.2

[@marvinwarkentin5765]

Thanks. Do you know Name of the Tango ?

[@paulbu6003]

@@marvinwarkentin5765 tango is a style, I don't think there's a specific piece

[@marvinwarkentin5765]

Paul Bu okay thank you

[@John-thinks]

At 3:24 it's Chopin's Op 64 No 2

[@itegil]

tango is not a style; it is a genre.

[@TinyMaths]

I wanted to comment on so many parts of this, the dramatic playing at 0:44 with the very serious (almost angry) look he had on his face even though he's playing 'happy' birthday; hilarious. Then I really, really enjoyed the Tango, it was so delicious, played in minor, but seemed so jolly; sweet and sad at the same time. This seemed to be much more than just music being played, but rather, a story being told.

[@marinegrasselli2779]

Katsaris is fantastic !!!

[@retf054ewte3]

this is the best arrangement on happy birthday.

[@e.conboy4286]

@@retf054ewte3 : Victor Borge had arranged a clever ‘Happy Birthday’ . KZbin has the performance.

[@SpontaneityJD]

Wow I have no words.. there is no one on the planet alive today who could arrange something so special.

[@86Leinad]

Have a listen to Ivan Bessonov, I think you'll like it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/enPNXmyapc1grKM

[@sprunzloffio]

Maybe Stefano Bollani.

[@LoGStein]

He's still alive though.

[@desarguesbaptiste5577]

@@LoGStein that's what I was thinking 😂😂

[@jordan._.07]

Marc Andre Hamelin could, but you are right, very few pianists can do what he can.

[@inazuma3gou]

I want a b-day song from Katsaris

[@karon8537]

He is a true musician indeed 🙏🎶✨💞 Perfection

[@RiccardoBonci]

Stunning! True musicianship at work!

[@metteholm4833]

This shows an incredible pianistic and musical excess!

[@metteholm4833]

Only a genius could do this!🤩 - at this level.

[@malakchelligui4885]

What a talented musician , this is rare nowadays...

[@Benjamin3344]

I love his wonderful performance!

[@satokomatsubuchi6661]

I fell in love after watching this video…!💓💓💓 What a wonderful friendship, kind humor, and service mindedness…✨🍀🎶 I respect Mr.Cyprian Katsaris from the bottom of my heart…!💓💓💓💐

[@DrMarileneTeixeiraBalbi]

Very, very beautiful!

[@axelcanu9012]

Wonderful ! This is absolutely amazing ! Bravo, Mr Katsaris !

[@aldoringo439]

Axel Canu are u bent?

[@tropicjam7343]

You are a genius in poetry!

[@esauponce9759]

One of a kind! ❤🎹

[@SmeagolTheBeagle]

Truly Magnificent - Mind blown.

[@erick-gd7wo]

Simply genius, Lisztian style.

[@irenecarputo1280]

I love him!!!!!!!

[@vikingprincess68]

Love it!

[@angelobonacci461]

Molto bravo esegue con facilità cose molto difficili

[@eurooscar1]

Não é para qualquer um! Katsaris é um grande improvisador, de magistral técnica e senso musical.

[@clavis55]

Great!!!

[@brittlindgren]

Great, entertaining and fun! I will check the link and watch the complete show later. Thanks Piano21Label! And thanks for the share, Markus! /Britt Sweden :-)

[@marianancyborgesmarques9013]

Excelente criatividade !

[@marianancyborgesmarques9013]

Adorável apresentação das obras de Shumann.

[@frederikesavary2155]

Wunderschön

[@pianoplayer56723]

Wow! I love this.😊

[@maximoalbertowongfajardo6358]

Espectacular Happy Birthday, con unos geniales y originales arreglos.

[@vincentghadimi5560]

Bravo !

[@pianoplaying-kblee1262]

He shows me there are lots of improvization With same melody 👏

[@HypernefelosK]

ΤΟ "ΕΞΑΙΡΕΤΙΚΟΣ" ... ΕΙΝΑΙ ΛΙΓΟ. ΘΕΙΟ ΧΑΡΙΣΜΑ !!!!

[@gahero31]

Fantastic!

[@tiagooliveirapreludios-imp9682]

Wow!! It's so good to hear and to watch this..!

[@dwacheopus]

If this was an actual improvisation, i'm so excited

[@shin-i-chikozima]

His performance is the culmination of joy

[@victoriafernandes5599]

Great Artist

[@Musicforever3000]

Genius Katsaris!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@qiyang1714]

how lovely 😄

[@ANTONIVSLVCIVS]

Wonderful!

[@つのなおこ]

すばらしい！

[@paero5947]

Perfekte Liszt-Adaption!!

[@semprebrio]

charming !

[@tula7141]

Wow. Wow wow wow wow. All I can say is wow.

[@PLeighG]

Genius!

[@222mozart]

outstanding Beethoven's playing

[@simonesorella226]

genio!!

April 22nd, 1986.

[@piano-dtm]

This video reminds me of Victor Borge's great performance.

[@martinposavec5255]

i like this thing he does fom 1:51 to 2:05 , anyone knows where he got that from?

[@calebhu6383]

It's just a Liszt style cadenza

[@chessematics]

Sounds like the transition of Hungarian Rhapsody 6

[@41_balisingh20]

1:26 is that the starting of Pastoral symphony ?

[@bw2082]

Bali Singh yes

[@Varooooooom]

Modern day Liszt, in every sense of the word.

[@MultiTutsie]

😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@espressonoob]

what did he do from 1:57 to 2:05 to get that sound? I'm lost.

[@chinija71]

It reminded me of the Aquarium of Saint-Saëns' The Carnival of the Animals.

[@SpontaneityJD]

Magic.

[@laurentp.2086]

It's a succession of diminished seventh. Three chords in several positions.

[@eberhard9039]

Da traf Menuhin auf einen nicht minder Würdigen. Genialer Katsaris!

[@maxwellchin9642]

At 1:05 what's the piece he's improvising?

[@Artemusicstring]

Tango from Argentina

[@kasajizo8963]

It isn't a piece. It's happy birthday in the style of tango.

[@sungjinlee2835]

Such a splendid trascription...Is there any sheet music of this?

[@SpontaneityJD]

He made it from scratch. Ask him for it haha

[@am-ir2bx]

Train your ear

[@sungjinlee2835]

@@am-ir2bx I wouldn’t have commented like this if that was possible.

[@TheCactuar124]

Does anyone know the name of the song starting at 4:00?

[@notomeradini8201]

Chopin valse op 64 no 2

[@03data]

The 30 seconds before that were of the same piece. As the other person commented, it's Chopin's Valse Op. 64 No. 2

[@cloud-dv1wb]

Please someone link the sheet music if you have it I'm begging

[@drkInxgud]

wait yehudi's 70th birthday means that its 1986 and cyprien is born in 1951 ... so he is 35 in this video???? he looks way older wtf...

[@alexandersonmei]

@@zackl7467 but his hands tho

[@fierywomanpacnw7004]

@@zackl7467 It's his real hair. He was prematurely grey.

[@tonedeafprd]

@@fierywomanpacnw7004 wow probably musician getting old faster

[@fierywomanpacnw7004]

@@tonedeafprd I worked with him in the late 70s, hung out a bit and chatted -- he was going grey then. It was a charming look because his face was so young.

[@tonedeafprd]

@@fierywomanpacnw7004 wow hello veteran, i'm newcomers at piano world, this august will be 1 year i had a digital piano, and now i'm learning chopin ballade no. 1, can you give me a tips to deal with that piece ?

[@m.erubik]

1:57

[@steinwaygrande9736]

For the record, Victor Borge started his own variations on Happy Birthday way back in the 1950s. Since then many pianists have tried to follow in Mt Borge,s footsteps, but none have ever come close . Sure there are some good performers such as Cyprien who does an incredible performance. But the winner is still Victor Borge

[@brent3522]

Cyprien's Mozart variation sounds like Borge's Mozart

[@CK-kd5pn]

There's no way you're saying Borge's variations of Happy Birthday is better than Katsaris' fantaisie... in terms of musicality, technical ability, and creativity, we're shown a better performance here. Borge's strongpoint is his humor that was able to be easily understood by the masses, but humor is not the only factor you should be considering.

[@Svetlana_gusli]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@neonorbjer9735]

Beethoven style lowkey bangs

[@u357me8410]

ファンタスティック!　fb友さんから ご案内いただきました（笑）。

[@mataneasutenan316]

he was the man who re-incarnated of beethoven+chopin+liszt 😳

[@ליליהווייסמן]

ЛЕСК с любой точки зрения!!!!!!!!!

[@ViolinStimme]

can we get rid of this irritating web advert? This mouther seems to have hijacked a number of good videos. It is a great nuisance to have to switch onto mute and time it until we can get to something worthwhile!

[@墨深音雨]

I actually see several habits of chord using vary from classical musicians to new age,with a blend of creative arrangements whilst the rythm matches to each other,of course,theres no way to get a glimpse of his trainning day after day...

[@wigwagstudios2474]

8D

[@timetosleepnow6677]

fantastic performance but i do think the end is relatively weak.

[@PerciJackson1]

Not from this world 🙆👑

[@BrianPaick]

Menuhin looks so happy, it's a shame he also looks 95

[@valeriehitier9026]

Il s’éclate!!!!! Excellent

[@goktugblack]

Katsaris looks 50 here (he is 35) Menuhin looks 90 (he is 70)

[@rogermuraro1013]

Au début s'est la chanson d'anniversaire mai après s'est quoi n'importe quoi

[@burnsport1]

is Cyprien of the Diaspora?

[@chrisbelay4389]

70th? Menuhin Looks like a 80 Old man.

[@tavo2040]

Para mi que es trampa,,,, cgi

[@Paganini-Liszt]

3:23 That was dirty

[@superpotiron]

@@Paganini-Liszt Hein ?

[@CaseyRocky]

Liberty without the printed score. Best Katsaris performance.

[@miltonmoore8369]

THE ARTISTRY WAS SENSATIONAL.👏👍🌠 (HE WAS DRESSED AS EITHER A GRANDMOTHER OF ANTIQUITY, OR A "DRAG QUEEN."🙈🙀😩😖🤔)

[@haroldstoneking3482]

70? He looks like 120.

[@kaspianocz6330]

Denis Matsuev is better xxd