György Sebők plays Liszt -- Sonata in B minor (1959 rec.)

An early recording -- made in 1959 -- of the Hungarian-born American pianist György Sebők (1922-1999) playing Franz Liszt's masterpiece, the Sonata in B minor.

[@anhypotheton]

He sustains such a beautiful line of high notes. Everything falls into place.

[@horatiodreamt]

Thank you for uploading this. I heard him once in Chicago when he visited there in 1974 (or maybe 1975). He played this sonata and the Liszt/Bach piece "Weinen, Klagen" at that time. It was, for a me, a memorable recital. At that time he was a piano teacher at the Indiana University school of music

[@morinoroba]

Very beautiful, great artistry.

[@paulprocopolis]

A very sound, intelligent, deeply felt and grandly conceived account! The control is impressive although once or twice I feel he could have 'let go' a bit more in the earlier stages. It might be easier to count which great (and not-so-great) pianists haven't recorded the Liszt sonata than those who have!

[@mikeriley6278]

No wonder those not having been ingratiated to the 'classical music' arts want no part of it. Guys like you. How was that? very sound, intelligent, deeply felt...……….blah, blah, and more blahshit. Go find your yogi.

[@christophscholz7484]

That providence at 0:31 and 0:33 is one of the most intense and original musical ideas I've ever heard in any piano interpretation

[@mikeriley6278]

Wow, you must be really something special, Dooger. Thanks for filling us all in. Now go back to your tweed jacket.

[@danielceccaldi9676]

Impressionnant, on dirait Cortot ressuscité.

[@pianushko]

Very diabolical!

[@pianopera]

As good as Katin's live performance is, this is more to my liking...

[@pianushko]

Yes, I figured. :) Your favorite?

[@pianopera]

This Sonata of Liszt has so many layers, because Liszt himself was such a multifaceted man. There's the diabolical side, the religious side, the gypsy, the philosopher, the virtuoso, the intellectual etc. And several musical ideas came from or were influenced by the world of opera and literature. It's one of those towering pieces where I can never be completely satisfied by a single performance...but Sebok is definitely in my top 10!

[@pianushko]

This sonata is an absolute masterpiece, and Sebok is an amazing artist. Yes I guess it's hard to pick a favorite, but if I had to it would probably be Lazar Berman.

[@punkpoetry]

Would cast a vote for Maria Grinberg, I simply find her recording the most moving... (with special mentions to young Argerich and Sofronitsky. Of course the famous interpretations - Horowitz, Gilels, Richter, Arrau, Bolet and all the rest - are great as well)