Gilels - Prokofiev Sonata no. 3 in A minor

Emil Gilels plays Prokofiev Sonata no. 3 in A minor. 1959, London.

[@ewaldsteyn469]

After listening to a number of other very fine performances of this sonata (Trivonof, Argerich, Graffman) I still believe that Gilels remains the undisputed master of this sonata.

[@talastra]

I started with Graffman, so my ear disagrees :)

[@ewaldsteyn469]

@@talastra No problem. Enjoy Graffman and will enjoy Gilels. Just glad that there are different recordings for different tastes.

[@talastra]

@@ewaldsteyn469 Is there a studio recording by Gilels? And yet, having just wished for better recorded sound, this version is really delicious (with apologies for live recording): kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5u2iYt-gq2Cm80&ab_channel=semu

[@MrInterestingthings]

but Trifonov's imagination is unimpeachable:the textures and way he makes the Sonata many more personalities ...

[@AsrielKujo]

for me the undisputed best is without a doubt Nikolai Petrov, have you heard his PERFECT rendition of this sonata?

[@РиммаСкороходова-п3ч]

. Брависсимо!! Какая смелость и напор ,а в то же время и потрясающая ясность всей партитуры!!

[@6022JP]

Emil Gilels is a real genius. His performance is astonishing.

[@paolofranceschi6874]

Grazie! Che piacere, vedere gilels... anche solo in video. ❤

[@kojiattwood]

Now THAT'S piano playing. Utterly phenomenal.

[@zcde345]

Another masterful performance from Emil Gilels. Nerve, motor propulsion, tender lyricism/these qualities always marked his playing-he understood that Prokofiev was a master of the sarcastic joke, but he is of the Russian school which also means contemporary romanticism! First-rate in every way/an exceptional way of handling rhythmic complexities and changing meters in a smooth way. Wow!

[@PAVELARTEMIEVPiano]

Incredible performance! Bravo, Genius GILELS!

[@chrisvazan]

OMG. Just listened again. This is just too good to describe. Insane. By FAAAAAAAR the best (recorded) version of this piece. I'm overwhelmed.

[@2002FREDERICK]

The List of gifted pianists =Emil Gilels!!

[@meredith218461]

During the Cold War period there were really only two Soviet pianists who took the Western World by storm when they were eventually allowed to travel, they were of course Gilels (shown here) and Richter. Although it has to be said at the time (1959) there was also the burgeoning international career of the young Vladimir Ashkenazy. Russian pianists particularly in home grown repertoire seemed unbeatable during this era, that is until American Van Cliburn came on the scene to upset the status quo by playing Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev with the same flair. Thank you for this valuable historic upload, Gilels in his heyday was a certainly giant of the concert platform.

[@ВладимирШуберт-й6е]

Верно. Был гениальный русский пианист Владимир Софроницкий, о котором на Западе ничего не знали, поскольку за пределы СССР он не выезжал, а также крупнейший пианист Генрих Нейгауз (учитель Рихтера и отчасти Гилельса), который тоже на Западе не гастролировал, кроме того крупная пианистка Мария Юдина, которая была невыездной.

[@franciscopetracco5553]

van cliburn doesn't come close. you just can't compare the Russian school to American pianists hahaha

[@SebastianWill]

This piece shows the mastery of Gilels like few others. It sounds chaotic, when others play it. With Gilels everything makes sense. Magical!

[@ibclappin]

this will not get old. everytime i watch this video it's somehow an adventure

[@npelletier89]

I love the chords at the very end. The progression at 6:22-6:25 is amazing. Deadly accuracy too in the parts where both hands are going wild.

[@Flutist11]

Prokofiev was a GENIUS when composing for the piano!

[@CHoRoNOwawds]

This is actually a very, very hard piece....

[@MildSatire]

Tyler very very very

[@juliechang2337]

very very very difficult.

[@mahmoud2817]

I'm learning this piece for a competiition it's veryyyy challenging!!!!!!!

[@sarahgirges7173]

I know what you mean! I am learning it right now for a competition this fall (fall 2021) and I am having a hard time! 😣🙂

[@JOHNDOE-fr2jw]

@@sarahgirges7173 spirits up! you can achieve it surely!!!

[@johnspradling7906]

The only thing I can add to this stunning performance is that Gilels in person was more off the scale than even this tremendous performance. His Liszt Sonata in Vienna in 1973 was truly once in a lifetime. It was one of those occasions that had you wondering if he had scaled it in a way that he would not be able to finish. He did, and it tore the house down. A truly great pianist.

[@LaClassiqueFille]

I really enjoy this recording. I'm preparing this for my university auditions next year, and the more I listen to it over and over again, the more I love it. It's so bizarre in such a beautiful way.

[@Tschungermeister]

Stunning. Not only the bravura, but also the tonal control. This is only my opinion, but I think it's really unfair that Trifonov's rendition of this work, decent as it is, has more views than this. He simply stands nowhere next to maestro Gilels.

[@robertailman5092]

I think it's simply the matter of technology. 1959 is a fair distance in the past.

[@6022JP]

Emil Gilels is my favorite pianists. Thank you for this fascinating play to uploading. What a overwhelming technique!

[@vcupiano]

i honestly don't know how this can be topped

[@radoslawbasinski9966]

For me this is the best performance of this sonata. It's heavenly, pleasure to listen. I also like Krystian Zimerman playing it.

[@kuglagerfeld]

AMAZING PERFORMANCE!

[@micheldvorsky]

You're most welcome. I think both Gilels versions are fantastic. The late one is played more like a tonal study - it's unusual to hear Prokofiev played so musically. Agreed that this one is more exciting -- the coda is especially phenomenal. I especially love how Gilels goes from ff to ppp at 6:15.

[@MrInterestingthings]

Gilel's power, his fantasy , timbres and textures ! i thought Trifonov was incomparable in this music with such good recording equipment but this film is unbelievable ! The end of 4th minute and how he brings the demonic scathing back after the childhood.5:36 how does he pedal all that and keep right hand clear ?

[@josephschambach6348]

I love 5:35 to 5:46!

[@Choen444]

Heavy metal was born at 2:46 I love this piece

[@eduardof.e.rosemary2190]

genius, what a beast.

[@gkollias14]

Incredible.

[@skimask777]

I’m and American and I truly believe Russian pianist plays Prokofiev sonata no.3 better than any other pianists. This kind of music comes to us with special experience, like Negro Spirituals, who best can sing and play them better than black Americans. With this sonata both Giles and Richter bring something special to the table.

[@lucianovalle7178]

STRAORDINARIO!

[@sangwoohan2649]

귀한 연주영상 잘 보았습니다.

[@fatcat22able]

I'm glad he's your favorite. My teacher had him for a teacher, which is quite interesting. He is one of my favorites! (=

[@PianoScoreVids]

I really like the fact that gilels hair changes dramatically within a piece, just compare the beginning with the end ;)

[@MaxGavOhio]

Awesome!

[@James-z5p3y]

Best interpreter of this sonata, hands down. As he got older he slowed it down a touch. Made it even better.

[@BlazeKenny]

AMAZING

[@agnesqs]

absolutely love

[@Angelxueling]

Bravo..

[@micheldvorsky]

@marcohorowitz8 agree...love Richter in the A major Sonata, especially.

[@IIlIIlIIlIIlIIlIIlIIIIlI]

he is the only one who plays this sonata convincingly...

[@maltehenrikgohr]

Very beautiful played! Trifonov playes also very good but this is fantastic and perfect work!

[@Mpiman]

I would not even dare to put Trifinov into the category of Gilels! No comparison.

[@alexandervavoulas6843]

33 negative votes on this MASTERPIECE??? Where is humanity headed????

[@marydeng2195]

you counted 😭

[@mariapizzuto1294]

👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@chrisvazan]

I don't like what he does at the beginning. But the end is just....stunning. Gilels was a master.

[@putispensorhere5791]

Does anybody know whether this version is available in Spotify?

[@errecosta]

0:36 Can't get that on time! XD The very first thing my teacher made me study was that bar, haha.

[@heiditina77]

就該這樣彈! 最貼切此曲的版本!

[@BWV846]

Wow....ow...owo...wow......

[@wintersnoo]

Anyone knows who's the best pianist of our generation?

[@michelangelomulieri5134]

In recent times, I rather stick to Yefim Bronfman as to Prokofiev piano sonatas

[@unterdemweiden]

nobody underestimates. Even Prokofiev didn't enjoy playing his own work!

[@ablablei131]

@MadMadMadTom hi, can someone send me a link where I can find Richter's recording?

[@micheldvorsky]

Unfortunately, Richter didn't record the A minor Sonata.

[@светланаавласович-ш1я]

...because he said himself that he couldn't play it better than Gilels.

[@AlbertoOlallaPianist]

@tornado2000000000000 I'm sorry, but I confused this sonata with the 7ª

[@paolofranceschi6874]

1:29: 😢😢😢

[@Peaceful333s]

1:29 2nd Theme

[@shawnwilliamson9267]

Way too much pedal for me to hear the clarity of the notes but i like his energy

[@aalb1970]

Gilels in his prime

[@rezmogm]

You all should listen to Daniil Trifonov's version. Who??? Yes, Trifonov from this year's Arthur Rubenstein competition. It's got it all.

[@slakva.school]

Ну отчесал)

[@eminbayly6077]

да уж...))

[@pianistkhangnguyen27]

5:29

[@gkollias14]

Για μία ακόμη φορά ο Emil Gilels εντυπωσιάζει και δείχνει το επίπεδό του. Στην προκειμένη περίπτωση δεν νομίζω ότι μπόρει να υπάρξει καλύτερη εκτέση απο αφτήν Gilels. Ο τρόπος που φέρνει το piano στο fortee και που δημιουργέι μια ιστορία καπώς συρρεαλιστική είναι μοναδικός.

[@v9v2]

4 people don't know who Prokofiev is

[@florinmatasaru3428]

yes , i agree. i believe that russian pianists are incredible sensitive. i won't imagine rubinstein playing this piece. actually i strongly believe he wasn't able to play it . technically maybe. but it doesn't matter. rubinstein was just a computer playing the piano. look at Gilels. he is one with the the music he plays. this is one of the best piano performances ever. i love you Gilels

[@florinmatasaru3428]

i agree my comment is irrelevant but rubinstein is a computer playing the piano. just kidding a bit but , serriously , could you send me a video with Rubinstein and show me the emotion in his eyes. please, i don't wanna be rude but.....anyway thanks in advance

[@ImvN8Lex]

Oh boy you have no idea what you are talking about. "Show me the emotion in his eyes", sorry what? Would you say Horowitz is playing like a robot too cause he sure looks like one while playing. It's a ridiculous statement, Rubinstein is arguably the best pianist that ever lived.

[@ewaldsteyn469]

@@ImvN8Lex There is no such a thing as (even arguably) the best pianist that ever lived. There are quite a group of magnificent pianists from the previous century. Who among them each lover of great piano playing will call the best depends very much on personal taste and preferences. So all there really is for every listener, is YOUR OWN ALL TIME PERSONAL FAVORITE PIANIST. Although I have a high regard for Rubinstein, he is not on my personal list of 8 all time favorite pianists. He is about no 9 or 10 on my list. But you are welcome to have him no 1 on your personal list - I cannot argue with that.

[@sirshitsalot007]

way to splat the last few chords...

[@AlbertoOlallaPianist]

Could you tell me where fuck can I find the first movement???? ahahrhg

[@arnifreyrg]

@wintersnoo Marc André Hamelin. Hands down.

[@th3wing3dpaint3r]

@vonMohl I'm surprised how no one has attacked you yet! Under normal circumstances, Prokofiev enthusiasts would be calling you something on the lines of "stupid ignorant". Are we learning to accept individual differences or what? Anyway, I don't think Prokofiev wanted his music (especially piano music) to be "pleasant". It's meant to be aggressive & violent. He's an acquired taste, but once you're hooked, it's really worth it!

[@theonlycrazyj17]

pres the 1911 button

[@ethansaltmere]

in my opinion, a little unclean and a little too heavily pushing forward, he should 'stop and smell the roses more.' however, the tempo is perfect, and his passion is evident. great pianist.

[@unterdemweiden]

I don't think Prokofiev is very Russian. Russian is something like Tschaikovsky. Prokofiev is even less Russian than Shostakotitch in his film music. He is rather something universal.

[@Prometeur]

Not a big fan. I don't get why people say this is the best performance of this sonata - although he does demonstrate incredible tonal control, he literally ignores many of the dynamics and accents that Prokofiev had notated. Also, his tempo in some parts is really off, and he had several mistakes (which I care the least about). Totally overrated in my opinion.

[@th3wing3dpaint3r]

Discourse shapes reality. Also, it's much easier to confidently echo well-established opinions of the past (e.g. Liszt is the best pianist) than to come up with new ones. I think this is objectively a very clumsy and unbalanced performance. If I had to guess, I'd say he'd practiced this so many times that he got bored performing it.

[@hamslice5601]

So yeah I kind of like Trifonov's version better than this despite it being hailed as the best for this sonata. You should check his out.

[@ewaldsteyn469]

I again think Gilels is the best. Don't be fooled by the better sound quality of the Trifonov recording. He does not build up and maintain the tension of the piece as effectively as Gilels does it. The Trifonov is for me certainly the second best recording I've ever heard of this sonata, but Gilels remains unequaled.

[@unterdemweiden]

I do think this version is quite normal, though not bad. I occasionally find the version of Christopher Goodpasture(I even don't know who he is) and find it better than this one.

[@ewaldsteyn469]

This magnificent performance 'quite normal'!!! - and Christopher Goodpasture better than Gilels here! You must be joking on both accounts- or perhaps you are just trying to be different than the rest of us.

[@vonMohl]

I never was a big fan of prokofiev, it's not pleasant to the ear, simply

[@princeandrey]

Have you heard his first violin sonata?