Dinu Lipatti plays Schubert Impromptu in G-Flat Major (with preluding)

A recording of Dinu Lipatti's playing Schubert's Impromptu in G-Flat Major D.899 (Op.90) No.3 at his legendary final recital at the Besançon International Music Festival on September 16, 1950. EMI first issued Lipatti's performance of two Schubert Impromptus from the recital on a 5-LP French Columbia set in 1955 and then the complete recital in 1957, first on French Columbia and Angel Records (in the US) and when the performance received such universal acclaim it was released worldwide. Particularly noted was the fact that Lipatti played warm-up arpeggios (preluding) prior to the Bach and Mozart works in the program - however, for reasons completely unknown, EMI never released Lipatti's preluding prior to the Schubert Impromptus or the Chopin Waltzes, despite these having been recorded and existing on the original Radiodiffusion Française broadcast recording.
Presented here is the applause and preluding prior to Lipatti's performance of the G-Flat Major Impromptu, complete with the Schubert Impromptu as formally issued. It should be noted, however, that the performance as broadcast and released is not exactly how Lipatti played it: there is a sudden edit with several bars missing from the broadcast tape, and in 2015 the reason why became clear when my colleague Werner Unger and I located and transferred an original Radiodiffusion Française transcription disc of this sole work from the recital. On this original disc we can hear Lipatti hit a wrong note in the left hand, which for some reason was edited out of the broadcast performance by cutting out several measures of music. It appears that EMI used both the broadcast tape and the unedited transcription disc to seamlessly edit out the wrong note, which took place during a musical subject repeated later in the work. The complete as-played performance was only issued for the first time a few years ago on the Solstice label's superb remastering of the concert recording - www.solstice-m....
We can hear the warm applause and exquisitely beautiful arpeggios that Lipatti played prior to his heartfelt reading of this marvellous work by Schubert, which he plays with a soaring melodic line, phrasing that truly breathes, wonderfully poised layering of voices, natural timing, and a burnished sonority that truly sings.
The photographs used in this video were taken by Besançon-based photographer Michel Meusy during the recital and are used with the permission of his family.
If you wish to support The Piano Files, please consider membership at my Patreon page: / thepianofiles

[@mypeparo]

The first time I heard Dinu play, i had never heard of him. I was looking for a Schumann piece my mother used to play and found an LP entitled Dinu Lipatti - Grieg and Schuman Piano Concertos. I heard the first few bars and every hair on my body stood on end. I took it home, put it on the turntable and lay on the floor to listen to it. By the end of the recording the tears were streaming down my face and my heart felt as though it would burst. This man could make the piano ‘sing’ as I’d never heard it sing before. You could hear his soul coming through the music. I wish he’d made more recordings before his death at 33 years of age. Considered one of the greatest pianists of the century, i wish his very few recordings were included in all classical music streams on all media including devices like Apple’s HomePad. He touches the soul like nobody I’ve ever heard.

[@martincook318]

The Grieg Piano Concerto was Originally Recorded in 1947 on a Blue label Columbia 12inch 78rpm Record set and I do agree with you the Recording is still a Remarkable Performance even though its over 75 years old and was first Reissued in 1955 on a 10-inch Blue and Gold LP Record Number 33C-1040 and was later Transferred to a HMV Concert Classics and later in the HMV Treasury Serious Coupled with the Schuman Piano Concerto

[@58flixbu]

It's possibly the greatest art to "sing" Schubert on the piano, to breathe naturally, to forget about the ten fingers having to accomplish all this. Lipatti was one of the magicians who were able to make the piano "float" through the music - wonderful!

[@user-vl8gn1kf8e]

Especially the left hand plays so expressively.Dinu Lipatti stands in my pantheon of pianists.

[@Iamwisewoman]

When I saw the moving image of this heavenly artist, I was moved to tears. I so wish someone had recorded him while playing. But at least we got to see him moving around a bit. Thank you so much for posting.

[@heinrichryter7442]

This music makes me feel back to my kidness. My mother had a disc with Lipatti and I heard it every day up and down. She heard Lipatti live in Berne. She told me that in last period of Lipattis Illness swiss radio news brought every day Bachs "Jesu meine Freude" played by the great Dinu. Its such a gift to find him here. Thank you:)

[@francescasassu2009]

Senza persone come Dinu, il mondo avrebbe avuto meno colore. Grazie perché sei esistito 🙏❤️

[@metteholm4833]

Exactly! This is singing. Probably the best, I ever heard - the ultimate rendition.

[@petertarsio7168]

The old tradition of preluding was what many pianists did where a short prelude or preamble was played before the selection to be played.

[@kanekokazuko7034]

初めてクラシック音楽を聴いたのは、60年前８才のとき、父が手動の蓄音機でこの即興曲３番でした。子どもながらあまりにも美しいメロディに涙ぐんでしまいました。今、リパッティの演奏を聴いて、哀しみで涙が止まりません。なぜあんなに早く天国に行ってしまわれたのですか❓😭

[@petergraham8681]

My favorite Schubert piano piece & Lipatti, especially in his last recital, still gives the definitive performance for me. There has never been another pianist I know of to match the pure spirituality of Lipatti’s playing. He remains one of the immortals for sure.

[@rpauker13]

Thanks so much for posting this last recital. My aunt studied with the same teacher as Lipatti, Florica Musicescu, so I have always loved him. He was the same age as my aunt, but died so young. Dinu Lipatti was one of the GOATs.

[@lorenzley1324]

One of the greatest masters with an extraordinary vision and musicality. He didn't only play music but he understood music and the music lived in him.

[@JohnSmith-gv1fp]

Absolutely excellent, Lipatti was truly one of the greats

[@vioreldinca66]

Too good for this dramatic world!

[@notmytempo464]

The prelude was so touching, the timbre of the Piano so lovingly evoked through such simplicity. Ponderous and inspired. Magic...

[@francescopiras7180]

Lipatti: una luce in un tempo oscuro. Il volto del pubblico di Besancon esprime ammirazione per questo grande pianista.

[@isabelanica8001]

It seems to me the most beautiful interpretation. I would like to hear everything else he sang. Dinu Lipatti. I think he gave the most vibrant interpretation. Expressiveness and not as loud as today.

[@jackcourtier-dutton2201]

I personally think Horowitz's interpretation is better

[@norahdealmeida5847]

@@jackcourtier-dutton2201 Better never make a comparison between two artists. When that happens, keep your opinion to yourself. It’ much better like that

[@Arianna3699]

@@norahdealmeida5847 I totally agree . I like both Lipatti and Horowitz but no comparison. Great artists can create own beauty and universe .

[@kanekokazuko7034]

あまりにも、美しく、切ないピアノに涙がとまりません。

[@metteholm4833]

This is the most lyrical expression! Singing!

[@martincook318]

When ever I Dinu Lipatti Playing this Schubert work on one of My own Records I never get at all tired of listening to it and I can keep on hearing it over and over again as its in a two LP Columbia Record set his last Resital on Saturday September 16th 1950 Unfortunately I have only got that two LP Record set on the later Red label and not the Blue label and all of the other Dinu Lipatti Records are on the Blue and Gold

[@DavidMillsom]

As was mentioned in the description, there is now a two CD set from the original taping that continains all the announcements and preluding.

[@ioanaradu7498]

Prin muzica lui , Dinu Lipatti rămâne nemuritor!

[@curaticac5391]

The last photo is heartbreaking; Lipatti is pale and exhausted and one can read a deep sadness in the countenance of the people sitting on stage, especially in the eyes of the couple sitting in the first row.

[@ghislainecasaburi5537]

Magnifique interprétation pleine de sobriété et d'émotion!

[@darjeeling6432]

How I wished I was among the audience.

[@marie-francehily8336]

La joie de l'écouter ! quelle sensibilité....

[@ionvinca4248]

Cântecul de lebădă al domnului Dinu Lipatti. ( The swan song of Mr. Dinu Lipatti.)

[@Julia-ei2wf]

Genial! Atat si nimic mai mult!❤️

[@mariadaconceicaocostaperro7762]

Eternamente fantástico.

[@jessbarker6842]

Exquisitely sensitive and evocative.

[@izabellamardo1074]

Belíssimo!!

[@user-tt2yk5jk6z]

Beautiful!

[@giuseppecardarelli3666]

Molto bravo! Delicato, preciso, esecuzione emozionante! Beppe

[@giannantonio]

Straordinario. Grazie.

[@joaquinperez972]

Sensibilidad, Armonía, Disciplina y Ofició Grácias Lipatti Por Existir.

[@IgorDmitrievpiano]

Как просто и благородно!

[@jeremyd1021]

For me this has always been the version of this Impromptu. Lipatti's faster tempo as opposed to say, the plodding Horowitz, allows the full range of emotions of this work to show, from initial serenity, to despair, to hope, to doubt, fate and finally to some form of resolution. Sadly there was no resolution for Lipatti, a star that shone for too fleeting a time, like a butterfly

[@davidgrayson6725]

You are right to praise the immortal Dinu Lipatti, but please, not at the expense of Horowitz, whose live Vienna performance is miraculous in its own way.

[@paulmetdebbie447]

As much as I like Lipatti, this performance feels a bit rushed. I don't think the piece needs this tempo to blossom fully, on the contrary. Listen to Zimerman for instance, slower but with more impact. But Lipatti's tone is gorgeous.

[@anthonychang9759]

Beautifully said.

[@yaelpalombo4093]

Sublime!!!!!!!!!

[@JanDanRandall]

Thank you so much, enjoyed it

[@_PROCLUS]

💝💝💝 Thank you very much for the wonderful upload

[@martincook318]

For what ever Reason there was in the Past he was still one of the Greatest Pianist of the Past and to die like he did at the age of 33 just six years before My Birth and thank God for the Gramophone as I've got some of his Records in My own Record Collection Reissued in the 1950's by the Columbia Gramophone Company on Vinyl and I also admire Vladimir Horowitz and Daniel Barenboim as another Greats more so in there Recordings such as Vladimir Horowitz and his Farther in there two Recordings of Tchaikovsky B flat Minor Piano Concerto Recorded in 1941 and 1943 and both with the NBC Symphony Orchestra and Daniel Barenboim is Marvellous on both Beethoven and Mozart

[@TJFNYC212]

Who are the people deaf in one ear and non hearing out of the other who gave this thumbs down....

[@ThePianoFiles]

One truly does wonder...

[@andream.464]

@@ThePianoFiles it’s most likely misclicks... Once I accidentally put a thumb down on a Lipatti video and wanted to kill my self lol.

[@Lillars]

Merveille !

[@ryangray575]

To say nothing about the playing (what else may be said about how wonderful, perfect, and divine it is?) - I have just noticed what looks like a wedding band on Dinu's left ring finger... never noticed this before!

[@yakshaver1]

Amazing! Thank you for the effort put in the clarifying text as well!!

[@albertojoya1233]

Una grabación de Dinu Lipatti tocando el Impromptu de Schubert en sol bemol mayor D.899 (Op.90) No.3 en su legendario recital final en el Festival Internacional de Música de Besançon el 16 de septiembre de 1950. EMI emitió por primera vez la actuación de dos Schubert Impromptus de Lipatti desde el recital en un 5-LP French Columbia ambientado en 1955 y luego el recital completo en 1957, primero en French Columbia y Angel Records (en los EE. UU.) y cuando la actuación recibió tanta aclamación universal, se lanzó en todo el mundo. Particularmente notado fue el hecho de que Lipatti tocó arpegios de calentamiento (antes) antes de las obras de Bach y Mozart en el programa; sin embargo, EMI nunca lanzó (por razones completamente desconocidas) la preposición de Lipatti antes del Impromptus de Schubert o los Vals de Chopin, a pesar de estos han sido grabados y existentes en la grabación original de radiodifusión francesa. Aquí se presentan los aplausos y la presentación previa a la actuación de Lipatti del Impromptu mayor G-Flat, junto con el Impromptu Schubert tal como se publicó. Sin embargo, debe tenerse en cuenta que el rendimiento como transmitido y lanzado no es exactamente como lo jugó Lipatti: hay una edición repentina con varias barras que faltan en la cinta de transmisión, y en 2015 la razón por la cual se hizo evidente cuando mi colega Werner Unger y Localicé y transferí un disco de transcripción original de Radiodiffusion Française de este único trabajo del recital. En este disco original, podemos escuchar a Lipatti tocar una nota equivocada en la mano izquierda, que por alguna razón fue eliminada de la presentación de la transmisión cortando varias medidas de música (tuvo lugar durante un tema musical repetido). Debido a que EMI solo tenía acceso a la cinta de transmisión y no al disco de transcripción sin editar, tomaron la misma música de una parte posterior de la partitura y la editaron sin problemas en la interpretación. La actuación completa tal como se jugó aún no se ha emitido ni emitido en su totalidad. Pero aquí podemos escuchar finalmente escuchar los cálidos aplausos y los arpegios exquisitamente hermosos que Lipatti tocó antes de su sincera lectura de este maravilloso trabajo de Schubert, que toca con una línea melódica altisonante, fraseo que realmente respira, capas de voces maravillosamente equilibradas, natural tiempo y una sonoridad bruñida que realmente canta. Las fotografías utilizadas en este video fueron tomadas por el fotógrafo con sede en Besançon Michel Meusy durante el recital y se utilizan con el permiso de su familia.

[@theonak]

Just wow🤩😍

[@kiviolinur07]

Que maravilloso toca!

[@JanDanRandall]

Truus Dykstra, Loved it, thank you

[@elsasanders2175]

Celestial

[@albertojoya1233]

Siempre se ha dicho que en este, su último recital, Lipatti toco a base de inyecciones para aliviar el dolor producido por el cáncer. Un acto heroico.

[@saltburner2]

Indeed, he was on the then new hydrocortisone injections, paid for my many of his admirers, including Yehudi Menuhin.

[@thomaswilliams2585]

The most sublime and lyrical recording of this sometimes pompous-sounding piece!

[@calebhu6383]

Pompous? I've always thought that this piece sounded tragic, despite its major key

[@youngbaeji2824]

I remember you.

[@jeffreycoleman3465]

I love Horovitz’s playing of this piece but I realise I prefer Dinu Lipatti’s. Horovitz is marvellous but to him the impromptu is about closure and death; Lipatti’s is about life, and courage, and I feel that’s what Franz Schubert meant here.

[@hironariinbe7351]

あの伝説のピアニスト Dinu Lipatti 若い頃この人の演奏をいくつか聴いた さしたる感動も感じなかった そして今You -Tube で再会した シューベルトの甘美なピアノの小品 曲そのものがきわめて美しいものであるだけに この演奏だけではこの伝説のピアニストの言われるような凄さ 天才性を感じることはできない

[@carloseduardobarrosrodrigu6318]

The best álbum of Chopin waltzes is his

[@user-su5rs9yt9j]

Vraisemblablement cet Impromptu de Schubert est une composition écrite pour Dinu Lipatti.On a l'impression que Schubert,ayant le don de la prophétie le lui a destiné cette pièce musicale.Il a été le seul capable de la jouer de cette manière impeccable.

[@user-us2kf4ct5k]

내가 정말 좋아하는 피아니스트 입니다 이 브장송 연주회를 끝으로 그는 타계했지요

[@pedroeldiablo811]

Wow.

[@peterelliott5720]

A sublime performance! Interestingly his is the only one I've heard at a similar tempo to Sokolov's

[@valeriurosetnic7290]

Sokolov cited Lipatti amongst others as having inspired him in his years of studies.

[@chopincortot]

ブザンソンはすべてがリパッティの白鳥の歌だ。

[@alirezagolestaneh6080]

Hey hey men 2 person dislike this record oh my God ........:((((

[@francoispallud1215]

c'est la grace

[@antoninopirrone2541]

🌺💐❤️💕💕💕

[@johnpluta2666]

Is that an angel playing?

[@bluepool210]

aaaa

[@edwinmamo6942]

The Question is why before every piece he plays arppegio? I listened to several pieces played by him and i noticed before every piece he does that!

[@ThePianoFiles]

It was a common tradition in the Romantic period and into the 20th century not to play the piece on the program immediately upon sitting down, but to 'warm up' a little bit. There are recordings featuring Hofmann doing the same, and we hear Backhaus doing the same as late as his own last recital in 1969. The practice is called 'preluding'. What Lipatti and Backhaus did specifically with this was to modulate from the key of the previous piece on the program into the key of the next work, as a kind of 'bridge'.

[@edwinmamo6942]

The Piano Files thanks for useful information

[@henridestouches6948]

Some build music on silence, for others music is continuity...and Lipatti belongs to the last ones.

[@falamimire]

@@ThePianoFiles And so did Willem Kempf.This tradition ended after the 1950s

[@ThePianoFiles]

@@falamimire I'm not sure about Kempff but Backhaus certainly did - he does it in his own last recital in 1969, which was recorded.

[@giuseppepuccidibenisichi8660]

Ok ok

[@elbarnio_2129]

0:28

[@sean8470]

incredible virtuosity but rushed which takes away from the emotion of these piece. Dinu is too robotic here the tempo takes away from the dynamics...listen to horowitz

[@eleonora78]

He was dying ,what you have expected ,we all rush to meet our destiny

[@zuhairbakdoud1360]

Dinu Lipatti was a great pianist. But this piece by Schubert is empty cliche. I would spend 1 minute to learn

[@Saltan1908]

vraiment?!?