Liszt: Ballade No.1 in Db Major, S.170 (Fischer, Pierdomenico)

[@AshishXiangyiKumar]

0:00 - Fischer 7:56 - Pierdomenico Fischer’s playing has a wonderful improvisational quality to it, evident right from the introduction - the dim./ritard. she puts in the opening rising line, and the little accelerando she gives to the descending chords right after. She takes the first theme at a relatively relaxed place, but just listen to how it sensuously she ploughs it into the keyboard - the rubato and dynamic control here is superb. Fischer also has the best performance of the middle section I’ve heard by far - very often the march can end up sounding scraggly, but her brisk tempo and a whole host of creative interpretive decisions make this bit surprisingly unforgettable. For instance: when the A Motif enters, she retains its whimsical, staccato character the first time (4:16), but softens it with pedal into a kind of murmur the second time (5:31). And at 5:10, in the middle of a dramatic buildup, she inserts an unexpected diminuendo to make space for a more precipitous crescendo at the top of the phrase. Pierdomenico puts in a meltingly beautiful performance here. It’s tauter than Fischer’s, but butter-smooth in all the outer variations while remaining no less detail-oriented. See, for instance, how he emphasises the rhythmic dissonance of the variation at 10:00, the feather-light pianissimo he conjures at 9:38, or the teasing out of the much-neglected second voice in the LH of the final variation at 14:26. He also makes the excellent decision to abruptly increase the tempo for Var.3 of the march (12:11) - the climax at 12:39 has an almost desperate, wild-eyed quality.

[@CharlyPAL98]

The sensitivity and emotive participation of the first pianist got me completely.

[@colorsofsound4782]

Which Fischer played this? Edwin F?

[@danskyler]

Thanks for posting these performances and your insights

[@angelob.1089]

@@colorsofsound4782 The pianist is Caroline Fischer.

[@tedpiano]

Love that Chopin Ballade No. 1 quote at the very beginning

[@AntónioNahakBorges]

This is not chopin

[@micoveliki8729]

​@@AntónioNahakBorgesdid you read whst he said?

[@MatthewPorter-hq9mb]

Perhaps re read what he has said…he is saying that the opening is very similar to Chopins Ballade no 1. …which it is

[@Highinsight7]

@@MatthewPorter-hq9mb which... it is...

[@deliadefina1996]

It looks more like beginning of papillons, schumann

[@sunnywang8068]

three uploads from Ashish in a day? this is a dream come true

[@harryrees627]

I know, right? Only good thing from quarantine

[@AndreiAnghelLiszt]

3 LISZT UPLOADS AS WELL, FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!

[@AshishXiangyiKumar]

One's a reupload, I'm afraid!

[@jonjoe9657]

@@AshishXiangyiKumar Please upload more Liszt

[@jmchord]

@@jonjoe9657 know this is a year late but there are other channels dedicated just to liszt kzbin.info

[@smikkelbeer6352]

Oh my god this is so beautiful. Never knew Liszt wrote ballades.

[@AnnaKhomichkoPianist]

yes he did! and they are amazing :)

[@jonathanDstrand]

pssssst - the second one is better

[@jasonlucas2561]

His 2nd ballade is out of this world.

[@Roice-sq5wj]

Sad that he only made 2, when i first knew that he composed ballades i thought there were like more.

[@jf2602]

Try his 2nd ballade. I cry every time listening to that piece.

[@AshishXiangyiKumar]

Knowing people, there's probably going to be a good deal of chat about the final variation (which by itself seems to justify the price of entry). So to save everyone the effort, here are the timestamps for it (these make a pretty good point of comparison too): 7:04, 14:25.

[@Entertainer114]

Love that you included this comment. And you're right about people who come to chat about this piece (...I'm one of those people, ha). So, speaking of the final, glittering variation: have you heard Stephen Hough's recording? For my money, neither of these two recordings come close to his execution (at least in the final section). I noticed that Fleischer doesn't noticeably follow the "accelerando" noted by Liszt... her descending arpeggios tend to remain at near constant tempo. Hough increases his speed while retaining a crystalline brilliance throughout, with no "white space" for lack of a better word. The effect is really memorable, and, in my opinion, closer to what Liszt asks for in the score. Maybe though, because Hough's was the first recording of this piece I ever heard, I'm now biased toward it. Sadly I can't seem to find his recording on youtube or spotify. But just a heads up that it's well worth hunting down! Thanks for the great content, Ashish!

[@AshishXiangyiKumar]

Eric Nyberg It’s not possible to upload anything by Hyperion on YT, unfortunately!

[@AshishXiangyiKumar]

@@Entertainer114 So! I've just listened to the Hough. It's _very_ good, though I'm not a huge fan of everything he does. He nails the improvisatory stuff in the beginning (he's really good at this sort of stuff, eh?) and the last variation, as you mention. But his tempo makes the main theme sound a bit too staid for me, though there's still nice things happening (staccato on the chromatic mediant runs!). In some variations the accompaniment (which is really what changes) is also played really quietly, which blurs the distinctiveness of the variations somewhat. The near-total lack of pedal in the middle section really works for some (most) bits, and not so much for others (taking Var.3 of the march dry seems to rob it of its force -- I think Hough was aiming for a really rigid, march-like sound, but I think of that variation as more melodic). And the return of Motif A is played "straight", without the sense of fun Hough gives it in the opening of the work, which is a bit of a missed opportunity.

[@Entertainer114]

@@AshishXiangyiKumar All fair points! And I'm sure you're listening more closely to it than I had in the past. And you're assessing the piece more holistically than I did ha. To be honest I haven't heard Hough's recording in some time (the CD is with my parents). My main memory of it is just how stunning his final arpeggios were. It made such a strong impression on me years ago, that I haven't found another whose ending section truly takes my breath away, ha. At any rate, very glad you found that Hyperion recording and could give it a listen. Shame those recordings aren't uploadable onto KZbin. Your channel is a real delight for ex-classical piano students like me, who still want to learn about scores, and hear arguments for certain superb recordings. Your knowledge of form, and your library of recordings seems as deep as it is wide, and I'm enjoying the discovery of new recordings every day on here. So thank you for sharing that with all of us!

[@AndreiAnghelLiszt]

@@aidankwek8340 A comment is already pinned.

[@AnAmericanComposer]

That A Major modulation is fantastic in its simplicity

[@bachagain1685]

Why don't you have a verification badge?

[@CatkhosruShapurrjiFurabji]

3:24 how simple, yet transcendental!

[@lizzybach4254]

This ballade reminds me of Christmas, probably because of its playful nature, beautiful.

[@lavatrex]

fr

[@fredericchopin4821]

This is simply an example of Liszt’s less heard gems. Grand, quaint and telling a story at the same time , what a fantastic piece :)

[@thefredericchopin6581]

Are you me or am I you?

[@fredericchopin4821]

theFredericChopin Wait are we twins?

[@thefredericchopin6581]

But there can be only one! >:)

[@fredericchopin4821]

theFredericChopin Looks like I have no choice. I challenge you to a piano duel

[@thefredericchopin6581]

Ok, sure. But I shall win because I have ‘the’ in front of my name, meaning that I am the real Chopin :)

[@foxiszt]

The Vivamente at 7:05 also at 14:25 sounds so beautiful. One is bright and fast, one is soft and delicate. Thanks for upload 2 recordings.

[@just_peachy7344]

Foxiszt 100% agreed! I love both parts and will now be listening to this for 5 hours straight

[@CatkhosruShapurrjiFurabji]

Reminds me of the first legend with all the fluidity and lightness

[@facundogonzalez6423]

One of the most interesting "hidden" pieces by Liszt. I learned it some time ago with the famous 2nd one, and both together works so well..

[@Doryopaint]

I love the series of notes at the begining, they are almost unexpectedly introverted and simple.

[@julianmellado]

One of my favourite little works by Liszt. Although I still prefer Jean Dube's rendition of the First Ballade (I find it a bit more delicate), I want to thank you, Ashish, for your work here. It's always a delight to be able to compare so many wonderful versions of these works!

[@n2g747]

I always enjoy reading your description, keep up the good work!

[@jahman514]

I am very glad that you uploaded this! As you pointed out in your description, it is very sad that this beautiful piece almost always gets overlooked by the 2nd Ballade. The ending section is so great, and it manages to get better every second.

[@thefredericchopin6581]

Everyone talks about Liszt’s second ballade, which, granted, is superb, but I think this is grossly underrated. That simple yet beautiful waltz at the start, the march (which is really earwormish) and the incredible cascading demisemiquaver runs at the end makes this ballade amazing. My only problem is the Più animato segment at the end - I think it sort of cuts off the feeling of the cascading runs. Thanks for uploading.

[@reimakousei793]

It's so underrated, it's my favourite ballade from liszt

[@segmentsAndCurves]

Kinda stand out from the crowd, aren't you?

[@reimakousei793]

@@segmentsAndCurves what do you mean by this?

[@segmentsAndCurves]

@@reimakousei793 Most people's favourite Liszt ballade is the 2nd, which is also my personal favourite.

[@segmentsAndCurves]

@@reimakousei793 I just want to appreciate your unpopular opinion.

[@reimakousei793]

@@segmentsAndCurves ah, that's fair enough haha

[@romandubois6473]

Great job, making people discover new pieces and interpretations, you truly are a good one

[@charlottewhyte9804]

beautiful piece

[@boqueefawigg354]

Fischer definitely interprets the B section much more playfully and elegantly than Dube’s interpretation. Thanks for the upload

[@Prometeur]

Man, pumping out the Liszt!

[@TroyLan]

Jean Dube gave this soul a piece! Incomparable!!!

[@bateman7573]

14:25 reminds me of the beautiful middle section of the Dante sonata.

[@Wkkbooks]

Divine piece -- like it much better than #2. But it ends rather abruptly! Thanks much.

[@segmentsAndCurves]

"like it much better than #2" Keep it together... come on...

[@Tizohip]

Second is better is not from this world

[@ethantan2873]

Please could anyone teach me, HOW on earth do you play the chromatic at @12:48 so fast? Like what's the technique??

[@bateman7573]

I believe since both hands are used, the hands are crossed over alternately allowing for less delay comparative to using only fingers.

[@elrichardo1337]

that flourish at 2:28 reminds me of the rigoletto paraphrase somewhat

[@theo5069]

It reminds me of his sixth Hungarian rhapsody right before the second theme

[@marcalexandrefontenay9801]

Caroline Fischer tire merveilleusement les traits de Liszt de sa 1 ballade moins connue que la seconde avec des rapprochements avec certaines pièces des Harmonies poétiques et religieuses !Un délice !

[@simonr6553]

Thanks for the upload and interesting commentary. I heard it for the first time today and I'm not sure I'd call it a masterpiece, but it's an intriguing piece and may grow on me - I love the typically quirky introduction and embellishment of the more lyrical theme. It's a strange work, both in terms of its content and title - unlike its successor, which is much closer in spirit to the great Chopin ballades, it doesn't sound like the kind of music I would associate with the romantic piano ballade, as epitomized by Chopin, Brahms, Grieg and Faure. It seems part serenade and part heroic march (and TBH the melody there isn't one of Liszt's strongest) but it's an original work and deserves to be heard more.

[@giorgiociomei5030]

Un'ottima interpretazione, che valorizza un brano che non è mai stato dei miei preferiti di tutto il catalogo Liszt, ma in questa esecuzione lo apprezzo di più

[@jjjohn561]

2:05 so beautiful and wonderland-like

[@vaclavmiller8032]

Hmm. I don't know what it is, but this ballade isn't quite my cup of tea - some of it approaches (dare I say it) 'silliness' to my ear. Hopefully I'll grow to love it as I do the second.

[@trutwijd]

Kinda with you here - the first part was nice but the second part just seems messy and has that Liszt show-off for the sake of showing off kind of feel.

[@AshishXiangyiKumar]

Then just enjoy it for its silliness! There's nothing shameful in music aiming to be fun. I really enjoy how Liszt is able to take crass material and do really cool stuff with it -- the silly march theme becomes weirdly dramatic (maybe in a self-parodying way) in var.3, for instance.

[@trutwijd]

@@AshishXiangyiKumar Liszt has always been more difficult for me to appreciate - not sure what it is, I don't feel like I have any kind of bias about his music other than it being a bit more bombastic than others, but that's his style. I'll keep trying. I did listen to the 2nd Ballade and enjoyed it. Part of what I'm looking for now too is music that's good to work to, Liszt does not often bode well to background music. :)

[@aronlescsinszky1127]

Vaclav Miller Is your picture the Night Wind Sonata by Medtner?

[@vaclavmiller8032]

​@@aronlescsinszky1127 yup - the introductory motive

[@alessandropavan1801]

14:25 It's so beautiful

[@Crankkooo]

Ashish do you have any comments on the ballade written by Debussy? Is it in the same tier as for example the Chopin ballades? Or the Liszt ballades?

[@paulschwarzberg6484]

A very illuminating quote, by Prof. John Gillespie "The Hungarian Franz Liszt remains an enigmatic musical celebrity. Was he a genius, a composer of daring originality who created new musical forms and eloquence? Or was he a charlatan, a facile performer who designed his compositions to pamper the artificial taste of the public? To be accurate, one must concede that there is some truth in both propositions"... I found this thought about Listz when I was reading his work 'Five Centuries of Keyboard Music'. I have known last days his Ballad nº 1. When I heard how Listz resolved the piece, I remained totally schoked... He composes an extraodinary muical idea when he concieves,as a continuation to the previous thematic material, the melody as a march after measure 63. Wondeful, epic, but also full ot soft poetry, invention... Then, the composition advances...After measure 158 aprox. Listz try to take us to an, enchanted, timeless, emotion fully, realm, so we can forget our sad and so cotidian existence (specially measures 179-184), but... what do they mean measures 185-191? I guess I am not anybody to read the riot act to a great composer, a genius, maybe the greatest piano perfomer ever, but I can say, humbly, that the resolution of his Ballad nº 1 (noty a fake, evidently), may only be the result of a fatigue, maybe laziness, of someone who thought about himself he was a god (and a performer, he was...) who did not consider as necessary to take in account not the idiotic, conventional rules of the age style, but the most elemental rules of logic in the creative process, not just music, but any kind of art... I am not pretending trolling (sorry if someone thinks it)... I was so fascinated with the most of characteristic melody of this work (the 'tempo di marcia' one) that I became frustrated with the resolution of this piece. I do not think Listz tried to surprise his listeners.... Laziness? 'The most important thing is done... I am a virtousistic (in fact, maybe, the greatest piano perfomer ever)... Why should I work more than the bill?...' This is just a personal opinion, sorry...!

[@GUILLOM]

Yeah I also believe it's just a lazy way to end the piece

[@jashepoon]

so am I the only one who hears a LOT of the Spanish Rhapsody in this?

[@K10-chopinetliszt]

You’re not alone! I hear it as well…

[@jukeban646]

Yes indeed he’s using some parts of the middle theme of the Spanish rhapsody/fantasy

[@K10-chopinetliszt]

@@jukeban646 That's a really good observation! 👍👍 Thank you for pointing it out.

[@botondkerenyi1154]

​@@jukeban646 Same

[@lovelynotes3065]

Is it only me or the first theme is actually jota aragonesa from Liszt's spanish rhapsody

[@djsuia1265]

Ashish, have you listened the Chopin's 4 ballades played be mr Charles richard-hamelin, I think they're the best recording I ever heard and it would be wonderful if you published them

Hamelin surpasses Zimmerman in the ballade n.º 1?

[@VicenteMReyes-vs9nh]

Is the 2nd pianist Leonardo Pierdomenico?

[@soonjaelee5049]

11:22 Espanol??

[@abrahanerns8107]

Creo que si.

[@roberacevedo8232]

No sera italiano? Rápido no esta escrito con acento en la partitura. Si, lo mas seguro es Italiano, ¿Porque Liszt lo ecribiera en español? El tipo no hablaba el idioma.

[@jinkim7386]

@@roberacevedo8232 Estoy de acuerdo, no hay ningun razon de escribir espanol. Italiano es comun cuando se describe en la musica

[@GUILLOM]

italiano.

[@GUILLOM]

@@orangutan1262 You really struggle with the verbs XD

[@BrianPaick]

Caught a Liszt bug, I guess -- gotta finish the Cello Suites, though !

[@AshishXiangyiKumar]

The suites are already all uploaded, believe it or not, just unlisted. The task of writing a proper (and succinct) analysis of each of those is basically what’s been holding me up. I expect I’ll get around to it sometime in the next few weeks!

[@aidanstrong1061]

@@AshishXiangyiKumar We're still waiting :D

[@olibeets]

I feel like this one may have actually killed that infernal mouse

[@GonzaBuckRP]

What about Jean Dube's version?

[@AshishXiangyiKumar]

I became more and more unsatisfied by the performance of the middle section, so it’s now unlisted, unfortunately.

[@GonzaBuckRP]

@@AshishXiangyiKumar thanks for answering

[@angelixirable]

Listen, I'm no expert on romantic music, and you can call me crazy, dumb, or late to the party... but hear me out. Today I clicked on a stunning performance ; it was Schubert's Ständchen (Le Chant du Cygne). This piece I thought I didn't know heavily reminded me of Ballade no 1 op 23 by Chopin. So I started to dig. If you look for information on Schubert's Ständchen, you learn that it was published in 1829, and that Liszt made a transcription of it in 1840 - the Sérénade. If you look for information on Chopin's Ballade no 1 op 23, you learn that it was completed in 1835, but dates to sketches Chopin made in 1831 during an eight-month stay in Vienna. You also get a Schumann quote saying it's great. But Schubert is never mentioned anywhere as an inspiration. Isn't it weird ? I mean I might have a shitty ear, but I'm pretty sure we are talking about the same melody here... Liszt making a transcription of Schubert's work five years after Chopin's Ballade just to prove a point is quite the passive-aggressive behavior I can imagine him demonstrate. So what does this have to do with Liszt's Ballade no 1 ? Well I don't really know. I just thought I would check this one out, as if it could give me some more info on Chopin's Ballade, you know... Except it did. "Composed between 1845 and 1848 ; in the original edition it contained the title "Le Chant du croisé" or "The Chant of the Crusader""... After listening to it twice + reading the description, I'm not merely entertaining the thought that the beginning of Liszt's Ballade is an homage to Chopin op 23. I'm actually *fully convinced* that the whole piece is written as some sort of statement, of silly revenge over Chopin and "Le Chant du Cygne". I wonder why there's no other info on this, but it just can't be a coincidence.

[@Giannaena]

Fantastic 🌹

[@limesquared]

Second one lovely.

[@farrelpermadi5471]

I hope I can/will arrange it into orchestra

[@lud0425]

Any idea why bar 3 it's written Dmin/F butt it's played D/F ? Thanks

[@JramLisztfan]

There’s an F# accidental on the first eighth note

[@lud0425]

@@JramLisztfan got it, thanks

[@QDQDQQD]

14:00

[@GUILLOM]

4:49 12:11

[@ValzainLumivix]

Guillom

[@GUILLOM]

@@ValzainLumivix hi

[@Schubertd960]

Lots of similarities to the Spanish Rhapsody. Appreciate the nod to Chopin's first ballade too.

[@GaleRianes]

His spanish rhapsody midle part

[@inho_f.k4893]

리스트 발라드를 몰랐네 광기에 그런 재주쪽이어도 역시 쇼팽,드뷔시 같은 감정은 있었구나 리스트 진짜 좋아하는데 역시 모든 발라드들은 다 좋은거 같다 쇼팽 발라드 4번이 생각난다 정말 난해하고 역시나 복잡한듯 발라드를 더욱 심화되고 깊게 파고 들게 만든다

[@flatmarssociety1169]

Just curious, are you planning to make videos of more Schubert sonatas by any chance? D960 was spectacular

[@AshishXiangyiKumar]

Yes! But, you know, adulting, work, etc.

[@terranbricklin]

I kind of forgot that Liszt wrote anything other than his second ballade lmao

[@morganmartinez8420]

Please upload weber's piano sonatas

[@AshishXiangyiKumar]

I would, but there aren’t any really great recordings of them out there.

[@morganmartinez8420]

@@AshishXiangyiKumar check out Michelangelo Carbonara's ones, he recorded all of them and I think his playing deserves recognition. There's also Dino Ciani who did this waaay back in the 60's but was sadly forgotten.

[@AshishXiangyiKumar]

@@morganmartinez8420 I've got the Carbonara CD but amn't the hugest fan of it, I'm afraid. And just in general, I don't feel comfortable putting something up unless I can survey 6/7 good recordings of it, to get a sense of what the benchmarks are. Will check out Ciani, however.

[@michaelrogers5495]

Who Fischer? Annie?

[@tomcarterpianist]

It's Caroline Fischer.

[@some__random__guy]

Bobby Fischer 😆 😆

[@jeffreylastname6863]

14:00 chopin black keys etude lol

[@Park-bq3mu]

the thema sounds like spanish rhapsody?

[@vincentedelmond5404]

Someone convince me this is different from Chopins ballade

[@thenotsookayguy]

It has Liszt's name on it.

[@Xyriak]

Chopin's ballades are masterpieces.

[@TroyLan]

Nice another variety aside from Jean Dube

[@iknowimaysoundgaywhenisayt386]

Why do i hear. Chopin berceuse in the beginning

[@claudioparrella183]

A me piace più Pierdomenico

[@negan556]

Подражает Шопену

[@zamulgj2073]

Pretty average compared to his other ballad....

[@monition5655]

Anointing melody. His 2nd ballade is much better.

[@marioaragon7276]

Well i don’t think that my self. Yet both ballade have such incomparable beauty themselves.

[@Superbdragon]

Liszt contribution to music is more about how to make it more difficult to play, but his melodies are kind of lame compared to Chopin or Tchaikovsky. The sounds effects he makes with the piano are amazing, but what would his music be without so many (unnecessary) fireworks? What I'm saying applies to 80% of his music. He certainly has glorious musical moments within his compositions, but they are few.

[@AshishXiangyiKumar]

TatuPanda PandaTatu This is kind of a crude stereotype. The Annees, the Sonata (and its close relatives), the Harmonies Poetiques, all of the groundbreaking late works - a huge amount you’re overlooking here. And sure, stuff like the TEs are hard, but are much, much more about texture and colour than virtuosity - the technique is merely a means to an end. Odd too that you’re fixated on melody - many other things are equally important, and usually when you listen attentively to classical music you quickly realize how little melody can matter in the broader scheme of things. No-one ever criticized the first movements of Beethoven’s Symphonies (5th? 7th?) for lacking melody, because it’s beside the point.

[@therealrealludwigvanbeethoven]

@@AshishXiangyiKumar Well said.

[@thenotsookayguy]

Liszt has written some amazing melodies.

[@segmentsAndCurves]

@@therealrealludwigvanbeethoven "the first movements of Beethoven’s Symphonies (5th? 7th?) for lacking melody" Haha get roasted!

[@Trooman20]

The guy got roasted rip

[@Manx123]

Not that substantial of work, especially compared to second ballade, which though, unlike the first ballade, I have hardly any idea wtf I'm listening to.