Cziffra plays Grand Galop Chromatique by Liszt

This is a different performance of the piece from the one presented already at this site.

[@veryangrystorks]

I can't decide whether this inspires me to practice, or to quit.

[@pianoforte17xx48]

Both are routes that can be chosen according to how this affects you. If you saw how powerful he is, and you are thirsty for such power, then this should motivate you to progress, and to progress, you need potential with persistent, long term patience. If his power made your mind week and you felt nothing in front of him and his power just demanded your mind, then you won't seek power ever as long as you don't feel the need to.

[@Wosudhehqaxb9169]

I bet cziffra wouldn't want you to quit

[@pianoforte17xx48]

@William Guldfred exactly ;)

[@NoferTrunions]

There will always be those better, much better. and also those worse, and much worse. One has to be comfortable in their own skin and their position in the Food Chain.

[@pianoforte17xx48]

@@NoferTrunions food chain.. that sounds, kinda terrifying..

[@hostrauer]

I just love, love, love his glance at the camera at the end. Cziffra's expression is like, "See? No biggie."

[@FumecriHimecri]

I love that, too. In Japan, that kind of face is called "doya-gao"(hows-this-face).

[@pianosenzanima1]

"I am finished, thank you."

[@szilike_10]

That was good :)))

[@danielb4560]

"OK, your turn, let's see what you can do."

[@MrThrond]

@@FumecriHimecri "not bad, huh?"

[@brentaudi9354]

Only on Cziffra! So sad this wonderful pianist did not get the attention he so deserved!

[@piano345]

Cziffra was a popular pianist from the late fifties when he first appeared in the west until around the mid 1970s when a more Urtext edition purist mentality came more into fashion. He never played in the UK after 1974 and after the death of his son Gyorgy Cziffra Jr. in a fire in 1981 he rarely played in public and never performed with orchestra again. Very sad - but at least he left us with an extensive recorded legacy.

[@pianoforte17xx48]

Great people don't need attention. They are already great as they are.

[@bigPianist99]

1:34 left hand like god

[@kevinhartmemes3821]

That’s insane!

[@sergejvasiljevitsjrachmani2808]

Yes incredibly good

[@よひろさだひし]

かっこいい！

[@6funswede]

This is how this piece should be played! It was Liszt´s own showstopper, and this performer is a fellow Hungarian, and an utter genius!

[@MarquisEstelle]

This was one of the Liszt's most commonly played concert tunes when he travelled Europe. He retired form touring at age 35 and stopped taking pay for playing because he was so rich already. He was one of the greatest piano viruosos ever.

[@LoverOFhopeANDcompassion]

Are you talking about cziffra or lizst?

[@zainlam9965]

@@LoverOFhopeANDcompassion liszt

[@dwacheopus]

Omg stopping taking a payment just because you're already rich.. what a noble person!

[@therealtruetwelfth798]

Not quite right

[@miklosteleki7523]

Well, that is not true, sorry to say it.

[@TunaFishA444]

That triumphant glance at the camera at the end is priceless. How can he play so fast (and accurately)? Enhanced neural pathways? Born on Mars? One of the greatest.

[@pianoman551000]

Very much neural wiring going on. Vladimir Ashkenazy has the same thing with performing thirds, at least in his younger days. NO pianist could come close to his speed and exactness when performing thirds.

[@cziffrathegreat666]

I think cziffra's take on op 25 no 6 comes to a similar comparison at the least here@@pianoman551000

[@sylvestrelauriotprevost]

the best virtuoso after Liszt !

[@debeastdueeast]

Liszt was not in his right mind when he composed this song. No one could play it. Cziffra isn't a person.

[@holup437]

Liszt isn't one either

[@sirl33t84]

It isn't a song.

[@hotelinjapan389]

Nor Valentina Lisitsa.

[@JTSJTS]

@TheTage Show PEDANTE

[@hamletsmill258]

The great thing is: he was.

[@karlakor]

This is some of the most phenomenal piano playing I have ever heard in all my 54 years. Cziffra truly owns this piece, and I can't help but wonder whether Liszt himself could have played it any better. And some people say that technique and the ability to play fast are not important! Let anyone without sufficient technique try to play this piece!

[@Musicadoro]

I wonder how can he play soooooo wonderful, after a hard life like he had. He was a genius and a very very srong man. I love him and I am very proud of him! Liszt, Cziffra, Hungary forever. :)

[@komethead]

I think this is the fastest tempo I've ever heard.

[@piano345]

Amazing - Cziffra plays like a man possessed. When he performed this virtuoso work in his early recitals he always brought the house down and had everyone cheering.

[@charlesdavis7087]

Finally someone captured the spirit of the piece. Changes in volume and speed only add to the wonder of the piece.

[@LisztianGR]

What a fucking PRIVILEGE to see this man perform. I guess this is as close to actually seeing Liszt himself perform as it can get. All bow to quite possibly the greatest force of nature the instrument has ever encountered.

[@김현민-i6q]

+LisztianGR Supernaturalpower of instrument? lol

[@KV4671]

+LisztianGR fucking? privilege. Don't insult the masters Thalberg was perhaps ever more gifted. Lizst himself stated that Thalberg was the only pianist he was afraid off. Cziffra is perhaps ever more gifted (technically-wise) then the both of them.

[@LisztianGR]

+Michaël Wisse Don't forget about Alkan.

[@KV4671]

LisztianGR Alkan was great also

[@CziffraTheThird]

+Michaël Wisse Actually, if I am not mistaken, it was the other way around: it was Thalberg that was speechless and greatly intimidated by Liszt. And as @LisztianGR stated, it was actually Alkan that had Liszt keeping up on his knickers not falling down pertaining to the absolutely mastery of the keyboard.

[@votety]

The proof that he is the greatest: I have looked all over for recordings of this piece by different pianists, and of all the ones I found (which is not many, mind you), Cziffra plays it about twice as fast as anyone else...

[@Galantski]

Jaw-dropping virtuosity! Cziffra would be presented with a laurel wreath from the Abbé Liszt himself for this performance.

[@andretofteland2779]

Humanity's finest specimen.

[@MrWallyworld88]

incredible, awesome, phenomenal, just CZIFFRA

[@ManlioGiordano]

Yes, this wonderful performance is really fun and entertaining; of course, the Grand Galop is not asking for any "religious depths" and Cziffra's just having a good time really transfers effectively to the listener!

[@michaelalbutt9940]

At the age of 16 I went to the RFH to hear Cziffra and this was included in his recital. What an evening!

[@bludika]

dang, you must be very old now, how old are you? i wish i saw Cziffra live too

[@michaelalbutt9940]

@@bludika 76 and still listening to Liszt

[@bludika]

@@michaelalbutt9940 nice! do you still remember his playing? was it as showy and amazing as it looks in these old videos? he just has this powerful playing sound that i love

[@michaelalbutt9940]

@@bludika When I saw Cziffra I had recently acquired an LP by Tamas Vasary playing Liszt. On it was the Hungarian Rhapsody No 6 which ends with those ever accelerating octave passages. Czffra began playing at about the speed that Vasary reaches about half way through. The first half of the recital was Chopin. In the Funeral March sonata Cziffra brought such an intensity to the music that time went into suspension.

[@cziffrathegreat666]

Wow ! That was in his prime years!!

[@SELMER1947]

Jamais un pianiste n'a respecté à la lettre ce que doit être un véritable galop...sauf Cziffra ! Ceci est proprement hallucinant !!!!

[@messiahere7798]

Exactement, et je pense d'autant plus que le fait que Valentina ne pourra jamais, bien qu'elle l'interprète déjà très bien hein, l'interpréter avec la même hargne typiquement masculine de Cziffra.

[@sergioorlandodias5062]

Вот так играет Великий музыкант довольно редкое произведение. Браво !!!

[@carlokazaku5381]

The best interpretation of this galop chromatic. Cziffra 👌

[@fellow19yearold21]

I think that this man is the closest to touch the virtuosity level of Liszt

[@michaelmiller1215]

I had never heard of this amazing piece until now. Technically unimaginable!

[@Reaper978]

One of the best performances of anything on youtube.

[@Galantski]

I love how at 2:38 he drops his hands from the keyboard, while looking away from it. Showoff! If Liszt played this even better than Cziffra, it's hard to fathom how virtuosic such a performance would be.

[@charlesthomas5956]

2:38

[@theniceone223]

one of my favorite pianists

[@ddavidrp]

There is a another video of Cziffra playing this one over there where you can see, well, you cannot see, his hands playing...He plays so fast and accurate that your eyes cannot percibe them. Wow!! One of my favorite pianist!! Amazing!! 6 stars!!

[@EwaMaria5]

Franz Liszt’s Grand galop chromatique, S.219, from 1838 in E-flat major is one of his typical bravura pieces. Gyorgy Cziffra attained enormous audience success with this piece :)) Bravo !!

[@cavalcantied9054]

Phénoménal. Je crois qu'il avait deux mains droites... Au delà de l'impossible. Interprétation, technique et précision. La définition parfaite du Virtuoso.

[@frankienamenlos010]

Tout á fait d'accord!

[@Mattyb2001ukPiano]

WOW!!!! 1:36, that was Amazing, 5 STARS!

[@donaldfuck]

"5 stars" sad

[@that1guy910]

@I STILL HATE MINIONS SO MUCH thanks lol

[@that1guy910]

@I STILL HATE MINIONS SO MUCH hahah u aswell

[@ВалентинаПетровна-в6о]

Ответишь русскому спустя 14 мать его лет....

[@charlesthomas5956]

1:36

[@ironspokes]

genius genius genius genius GENIUS

[@merissala]

that was utterly amazing and i was about to cry.

[@christianedouschkadudan4322]

MERCI DE COEUR PROFOND À CE GÉNIE; LE MEILLEUR DE TOUS LES TEMPS. ---

[@leonardolucchesifilmmusic]

Amazing piece, amazing pianist... the best ever lived!! :)

[@yansendelacuesta555]

I THINK CZIFFRA WILL B A MORE CHALLENGING RIVAL FOR LISZT THAN S.THALBERG

[@jimhall167]

Great fun! Thank you for the post.

[@piano345]

A brilliant technique like Cziffras tends to bring out envy and the green-eyed monster in others with more puny gifts. Cziffra's super virtuosity suits this piece perfectly!

[@CD122344]

The passage at 2:22 is just one of the great, remarkable passages in all of Lisztdom. And there are many, many more.

[@charlesthomas5956]

2:22

[@skunkiee]

breathtaking

[@GunPiano]

Thanks for posting this super good vdo. He is genious.

[@zkool5]

AHHH This is so enjoyable! I feel so up-beat after listening!

[@12intermusic]

Nobody CAN play it better!!! You need to be a genius of piano to play like this to this tempo presto indicated by LISZT!!! Only Cziffra can do it!!!!

[@MarcoManuelS]

I had to double check if I hadn't left the 1.5x speed from a previous video.

[@thenotsookayguy]

Happy 100th Birthday, man.

[@Eleeveen]

Yes! I saw this video once at least four or five years ago and I've tried finding it a few times since with no success. Better like it before it gets away again.

[@玉盛-x7y]

ああああああめっちゃかっこいい！！でもどうみてもカツラ！

[@Mek369]

Such Power. Full command. Amazing

[@diegoradu]

I am a pianist to and I am now on this Melody , when i will finish it , please enter , Cziffra and Liszt are the BEST!

[@moutardinsky]

thank you so much for this magic version !!!

[@sibelio]

His furious hands seems to be unconnected from his absolutely calm body. Awesome.

[@0530pianist]

Fantastic!!!!

[@warddavis]

can you imagine being at a recital of his!! riveting!!

[@Galantski]

Very, nice Mr.Cziffra, but do you think you might be able to play it just a wee bit faster? LOL

[@piano345]

cziffra plays this showpiece of Liszt with tremendous joie de vivre! Liszt liked the improvisatory style in his Hungarian Rhapsodies. He didn't object to freedom with the text. A score shouldn't be a museum piece set in stone. Cziffra isn't disrespectful - listen to his Mozart, Scarlatti and Beethoven.

[@tae709]

速さに気を取られていましたが、何度も聴くうちに緩急あり、表情豊かな演奏をされていていることに気付きました。bravo!

[@darylmichael7]

I don’t know what to say. Listening to his accuracy; watching his fingers move at mind-numbing speed. It’s out of body-outside human.

[@Thaumazo]

amazing skill and concentration

[@zongorapiano9659]

He finished this just 3minutes. I'll use this video as a timer instead of a sandglass.

[@maxreger100]

Master of the mad rubato!

[@corentinviguie2925]

Pk il n'y a plus d'aussi bon musicien aujourd'hui !!!!

[@sumGabriel]

You're right. Musical performance isn't the most important thing in this piece. But look at 1:36. His left hand...that's superhumanly. Grand galop chromatique is a piece to show your abilities. (sorry for my english...) I Think no one is able to play it like that

[@HomelyCooking]

Love Cziffra's expression in the final seconds of the video. "OK, you try that."

[@HereORNowTODAY]

Unlike other videos of this, this guy is clearly legit :D

[@hymnofashes]

As usual, Mr. Bond, the pleasure was all yours...

[@georgecziffra]

"simplifies it" lol... No, he makes it much harder my friend. He does a similar thing with the bass in the Hungarian Rhapsody no. 6 by Liszt

[@LousyPianist]

This piece done by this pianist is really something...

[@IK-zq2lu]

音楽は自由だ！！

[@evifnoskcaj]

@MrJohnscott1 Definitely. He did attend the Franz Liszt Academy of Music when he was 9 (the youngest student ever admitted).

[@CD122344]

Cziffra's technique is so awesome, that he could have played the entire thing without the the pedal and did indeed play a good portion of it without the pedal. The Galop is also an amazing piece. Consider the daring passage at 2:22; also his use of modality and other advanced harmonies throughout. And remember that this piece was written in 1838.

[@Galantski]

It's interesting to compare this clip to others of Cziffra playing the Galop. While the performances are all good (Cziffra owned the piece, of course!), I like the camera work here for showing his face more than the others. The one first put up by longinglove benefits from some great closeups of his hands, while the concert in Japan clip, which suffers from really horrid sound, has nice camera work shot from behind and to his right (maybe someone can give it new audio). Thanks for the upload!

[@georgesandchopin]

I have not seen the third hand, but I have really heard it. SUPERB.

[@maxscriptguru]

@123mazeppa You completely crack me up. Funniest thing I've heard all week. I think Liszt would be super pleased with this simply amazing video of one of the greatest of pianists.

[@Bildungsrebell]

Great Alternative record, I like this one even more.

[@11jupitercowboy8]

JEEEEEZE. This performance is actually a little more inspired than the famous one on that "great pianists" video, though the film quality isn't as great.

[@hadricalifornia]

Holy blood of Christ! This is so good!

[@lllexoduslll]

I'm a beast at Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

[@Kaoji]

So fast. His movements all seem perfect in context. Damn.

[@hotbebimauz]

GOD daaaammmmnn this is soooooooooooooo fuckin good im speechless how can he play this piece sooo fast and still so clear?!!!!!!!!!!!!! unbelieveable technique!!!!!!!

[@jamesbigfan364]

HOW IS THIS SO HIGH QUALITY FOR 2006 VIDEO STANDARDS?

[@thenotsookayguy]

It's in 240p, but ok.

[@thenotsookayguy]

2:30 Feels good, man.

[@goncalocurto]

That looks so easy for him that he might be thinking "what am i going to have for lunch tomorrow" while playing

[@giudiciadanna4550]

Fantastico e trascinante.

[@CD122344]

Loved Cziffra's final look at the camera - like he was gonna say:"How's 'at!

[@OmnisPiano]

강철 손가락 P.S 이곡은 리스트가 앵콜전용곡으로 작곡했다고합니다. 쇼피스입니다 테크닉과시를 위한

[@michaelboyd4233]

In all the videos I've seen of him this is the only time I've ever seen him have to focus that much. His speed and additions even challenge him. But just a bit.

[@김현민-i6q]

I have forgotten my words...

[@CarlosRA69]

me atrevería a decir que este pianista es el más virtuoso de la historia del piano.

[@sianmorley-smith190]

Just clearly he's the best!

[@pianist7137]

Man I love the left hand octaves at 1.36.

[@Galantski]

Any list of most difficult piano compositions by Franz Liszt that doesn't include this at the top or very nearly at the top is to be rejected as unworthy of consideration. From beginning to end there is not no real breather for the pianists. Most of them opt to fudge it by playing the start slowly, then building up the speed. The only two I know of who play it with the level of technique and virtuosity Liszt undoubtedly wanted are Gyorgy Cziffra and Valentina Lisitsa--the best other can hope for is a consideration for an also-ran spot.

[@thenotsookayguy]

I'm gonna go on a limp and say, not really. This is certianly one of the more difficult popular pieces, but once you dive deep into Liszt, you'll find that this is merely the tip of the iceberg regarding Liszt's technically difficult compositions.

[@agarciagv]

Nadie como CZiffra!!!

[@Jim341046]

@genomos90 What I find so scary is that he doesn't look that 'pressed' - more in the tank as it were. I love the way he looks into the camera at the end. There is no technically better pianist who ever lived period.

[@rowanbelt3612]

It is incredible how well Cziffra can play this piece, and few if any of us will ever achieve such a technical capacity. However, Liszt’s piece has almost no emotional effect. The obsession with tricks like this is toxic. Any robot could do the same thing. What is interesting is music that communicates some unique emotional message. Everyone can bring that to the table with some degree of competence, and that’s how we can leave a legacy-by connecting with other people. (That’s not to doubt that Cziffra was quite capable of expressive performances, which he was-and I also don’t mean to criticize the channel owner. I just see some people in the comments saying “I should quit piano” and that’s the wrong thing to get out of this.)

[@evifnoskcaj]

I'd give anything to hear Liszt play!! :P

[@Jim341046]

The left hand in this piece at 1.37 to 1.40 is faster moving that any piano I've seen on You Tube. I wouldn't be surprised if his hand is moving faster than someone running! He's jumping 2 octaves in milliseconds.

[@HomelyCooking]

You have no idea how much I want to be that piano right now.

[@salvatorevizzini6278]

If you look closely you can see that he has 2 hands and 5 fingers on each one. Ah and... He is a human

[@thenotsookayguy]

I see..

[@bigPianist99]

Cziffra stays the best