Argerich and Kissin play Lutoslawski - Paganini variations Audio + Sheet music

AT THE END, LUTOSLAWSKI SHOULD'VE BEEN MENTIONED AS THE "COMPOSER", NOT SIMPLY AS "ARRANGER". PLEASE APOLOGIZE AND DON'T LEAVE FURTHER COMMENTS ABOUT THIS. THANKS.
Witold Lutoslawski's absolutely awesome Paganini Variations for 2 pianos, played by 2 absolutely awesome pianists, Martha Argerich and Evgeny Kissin, live at Verbier festival.

[@Kinor00]

Now imagine: This piece was composed by 28 years old Lutosławski during the world war in 1941 in occupied by Germans Warsaw. Composer with his friend Andrzej Panufnik (who was great composer, too) played it in cafe to earn a living and not to let the culture die. (Sorry for my english)

[@carlomorena6728]

Your English is great, don't worry at all. Thanks for the infos.

[@guyjuliebarker2740]

Such a pity that this was the only one of the pieces they composed and played that L wrote down

[@Perryz7]

@@guyjuliebarker2740 the other 200 or so arrangements that were written were lost after Lutoslawski escaped from Poland, this was the only piece that survived :(

[@chrisvazan]

This is genius!!! I love when dissonant music actually sounds good!!!!!

[@looney1023]

Argerich and Kissin What a power team

[@Kyubiwan]

00:05 Theme 00:24 Var. 1 00:36 Var. 2 00:53 Var. 3 01:09 Var. 4 01:24 Var. 5 01:40 Var. 6 02:35 Var. 7 02:54 Var. 8 03:12 Var. 9 03:29 Var. 10 04:05 Var. 11 04:26 Var. 12/Finale 04:48 Coda

[@seoulartaz5999]

00:00 Theme Allegro capriccioso 00:23 Variation I 00:36 Variation II Meno mosso 00:53 Variation III 01:09 Variation IV 01:24 Variation V 0141 Variation VI Poco lento 02:36 Variation VII Allegro molto 02:54 Variation VIII 03:12 Variation IX 03:29 Variation X 04:05 Variation XI Più mosso 04:26 Variation XII Ancora più mosso 04:49 Coda Ancora più mosso 05:07

[@Kyubiwan]

01:41

[@TheGrandBrand]

One of my very favorite pieces performed by two of my favorite pianists. What's not to like!

[@LIKE-bz8vv]

theme-- 0:05 var I-- 0:24 var II-- 0:36 var III-- 0:53 var IV-- 1:09 var V-- 1:24 var VI-- 1:41 var VII-- 2:35 var VIII-- 2:54 var IX-- 3:12 var X-- 3:29 var XI-- 4:05 var XII-- 4:25 CODA-- 4:48

[@aakarshitsingh1535]

thanks

[@PianoBuffs]

What an inspiring performance! And Lutoslawski is truly one of the greats...

[@wpark1991]

I've learned this piece years ago back when I was a student at Interlochen. I learned this with a close friend at the time and it was a lot of fun to learn but difficult. So many memories of the struggles of matching our parts together 😆

[@jasmine543210]

My two favourite pianists playing together... breathtakingly brilliant! I was lucky enough to be present at the live concert where they played this piece, a pity that there isn't a video of them playing it too.

[@LucasPianoSalon]

There is, in the Classical Vault. Leave your comment for further information.

[@Rioni]

@@LucasPianoSalon I want further information

[@Ryan_gogaku]

What's so maddening about this piece is that the most difficult sections to play are when the other piano has the melody, like at 3:29; piano II has simple octaves while piano I has an aneurysm trying to get through those crazy left-hand leaps and right hand chords. Lutoslawski may have done that intentionally, as if the pianists' struggle and the adrenaline rush add something extra to the piece (although these two clearly overcome the struggle). A fantastic performance of an amazing piece.

[@laraurrutia]

Ryan Lidster Yes, you're right -- it is indeed maddening!! Another similar part is at 1:10; piano I is clearly more difficult than piano II, however the section you listed at 3:29 is by far much worse. I prayed to get that section over with each time 😂 I will now listen to it again to see if piano II has any sections that are more difficult 🤔 Amazing performance by Argerich and Kissin!! 👏👏👏

[@sneddypie]

3:29

[@robkeeleycomposer]

I'd love to know who took primo and who secundo in the original performance. Presumably WL on primo.!

[@bw2082]

@@robkeeleycomposer i think this was originally written with a large disparity in piano skills in mind. You can see how much “easier” the second part is than the first piano.

[@robkeeleycomposer]

@@bw2082 I'm guessing WL had the better technique.

[@wots72]

Kissin plays primo, Argerich, secondo. There is live clip of the performance elsewhere on YT.

[@neraknerak1]

Argerich primo

[@neraknerak1]

Kissin secundo. As it is in real life 😂

[@neilpsissons]

He made a version for piano and orchestra too, which is also terrific.

[@michaelglennwilliams6278]

Wow I didn't know this. Will have to go find it!

[@matthewkennedy5007]

Lutosławski is amazing!!

[@ShaunakDesaiPiano]

This piece is supposed to be Lutosławski’s take of Paganini’s own variations on the theme, which is why it’s so short since the original Caprice is that short.

[@davidmehnert9641]

Thank you for posting the score, for those of us following at home!

[@PianoMeister3]

I have played this Lutoslawski piece a couple years ago; I just listened to the Liszt Etude for the first time today. I'm glad I'm not the only one who made that connection! :)

[@mwsc04]

This is a brilliant reworking of the Liszt Paganini Etude #6 - almost as if Liszt had written these 100 years after the fact!

[@BonusEarthquakeTimorg]

Edge Java OST: Essai III

[@TempodiPiano]

Oh my god, thank you so much ! This is absolutely fantastic !

[@jeanpouzaud]

I like the variation at 3:29

[@Kyubiwan]

Variation 10

[@DanielSabzghabaei]

Wonderful interpretation and piece.

[@clarinet-tiamo9795]

Fantastico! !!!Una versione scritta in perfetto linguaggio del900 e interpretata ...WOW! WOW!WOW!!!!!INCREDIBILI FANTASTICI UNICI! !!!!

[@WeeGrahamsaccount]

Utterly fantastic, I have featured this on my channel as not only will I play this many times but I want everyone who comes to my channel to experience the total brilliance of the performance of an amazing set of variations. Bravo

[@WiseCaveOwl]

only one thing wrong with this piece: too short. In fact, I usually cue it up twice. And TY for the score

[@lockjiang]

the original one might have been longer if the manuscript had not been destroyed during the Polish uprising, the version we're hearing now is a rebuilt one afterwards

[@kaseyau]

If it was any longer I’d need a different piece for my HSC

[@sardanaphalus]

What a great piece -- thanks for uploading!

[@madlovba3]

@Emilawad As a matter a fact, many of these variations can be found in Paganini's original violin caprice, and Lutoslawski modernised them quite much. Of course, he's the composer, too, with all his extremely witty and amusing additions, so I should've written "Arranger/Composer" instead, I guess...

[@user-gb8ns6dx5r]

ルトスワフスキもアルゲリッチもキーシンも全員ヤバすぎて最早笑えてくるし生でこれ聴けた人が心底羨ましい

[@slateflash]

Lutoslawski did in 5 minutes as much as Rachmaninov did in 25. Wow

[@Kyubiwan]

Liszt also did it in 5 mins

[@ShaunakDesaiPiano]

Lutoslawski and Liszt transcribed Paganini’s own variations in their respective styles, which is why their sets last for five minutes each. Rachmaninov wrote his own variations (as well as using ideas by Paganini occasionally) which is why his are so long. Same with Brahms.

[@Emilawad]

Thank you for this video with score. Very useful for teaching. Just one comment, Lutoslawski is the composer of this set of variations, not an arranger of the piece by Pagnaini.

[@jeanlucchapelon]

époustouflant !! 2 grands virtuoses jouant 1 pièce composée par 1 martien à l'oreille absolue probablement !!!

[@madlovba3]

@Emilawad P.S. And I would never say that Lutoslawski could not have been able to compose own variations himself, because he was a fantastic composer. I like his Piano Concerto very much, for instance.

[@Emilawad]

@madlovba3 Writing a set of variations on a theme is one of the oldest traditions of classical music. It is a tribute to the composer of the theme and a new composition as well; if it is not "really" a new composition but just an arrangement it would be considered that the composer was not at the level to attempt a set of variations on that theme. I think that Lutoslawski, whom I knew personally, would feel offended if called an arranger.

[@lyudmilapetrova6394]

COOOOOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@KyubiwanII]

EDGE Java OST - Essai III

[@madlovba3]

@PawelWysocki Indeed, few people do really lack basic education, as you are apparently unable to read. I was just saying that in my humble opinion, Lutoslawski borrowed several variations from Paganini's original piece and trancribed them into more modern harmonic language. You don't have to call me plain stupid for such thought. I have never denied Lutoslawski's greatness as a composer, nor the awesomeness of this piece. End of debate.

[@mkh9287]

@PawelWysocki Paganini composed the original. This is nothing more than a fantastic rearrangement. As the uploader says, listen to Caprice no. 24. It seems you've never heard of it, as if you had, you would instantly recognise it as Paganini.

[@charmeueueur]

Hope everyone could arrange that good.

[@JacopoTore]

So Lutoslawski is credited as a composer not as arranger? Sorry ... I couldn't resist

[@PushkarCarlotto]

Yes, this so wrong! Arranger?

[@madlovba3]

@Emilawad Please listen to the original Violin Caprice No. 24 again, what is a set of variations of this theme itself. Lutoslawski used and transcribed Paganini's OWN variations, plus in addition to them he wrote few awesome NEW ones. That's why I'd call him arranger/composer now. I consider set of variations on a theme to be totally original compositions if all the variations came right from the composer's head, like in case of Bach's Goldberg, Beethoven's Diabelli or Rzewski's People United.

[@PaulVinonaama]

Or Brahms's Paganini variations.

[@jerzydawid9169]

JAKIM CUDEM TO SIĘ DA ZAGRAĆ😯😀

[@israellai]

3:12 that's the same figuration as his piano studies no.2!

[@XavierMacX]

@madlovba3 @madlovba3 I have to agree with Emilawad. There is no attribution to Paganini as a composer necessary, except to mention that Paganini originated the theme (which is evident in the title). It looks like you may have changed the video title and/or description already, though. Just thought I'd share. Thank you for the hard work in putting this up! It is a wonderful resource.

[@th3wing3dpaint3r]

@PetrichorAllegory Argerich always takes piano II on this (unless they decided to switch on that day).

[@sneddypie]

I never understood why people dont reply to comments, and they do this.

[@composerjalen]

@@sneddypie replying in this way didn't exist at that point

[@jasmine543210]

Could you tell me where you got the sheet music for this? Or where I could find it free online? Thanks!

[@DanieleMO77]

It's just OMG!

[@Legomyegoorj]

Wow. That's surprising. It sounds like the tone of the second piano would match more with Kissin.

[@flic71]

Meraviglia delle Meraviglie!!!!!!

[@th3wing3dpaint3r]

I think both piano parts have bright crisp and dark parts. It would have been interesting to hear the outcome of having them switch parts though.

[@llcamus249]

Wonderful!

[@giorgiociomei5030]

Bravissimi, il brano è divertentissimo, è un po' che non lo ascoltavo!

[@olgakopylova8796]

Fantastic!

[@cpann2000]

Poco Lento starts at 1:40

[@mahmutonal1994]

Have you live video?

[@declamatory]

Drunk Composers Gone Wild!

[@dirkverbrugghe7091]

Onvoorstelbaar!!

[@ZewenShifu]

based Lutosławski

[@m1290h]

That's interesting! I wonder why? It just feels like it'd be more understanding if Argerich was on the bright and crisp top part and Kissin was on the powerful bottom part.

[@Richard06906]

Some black midi vibes 4:29

[@joelcjj94]

Lutoslawski turned paganini into some contemporary music wth.

[@bluwublozosbeagle1669]

today two grade sixes in my school played this for our school's talent show. grade SIXES.

[@yat_ii]

wtf????

[@Nazjata]

So interesting.

[@gabriella60730]

wonderful!

[@madlovba3]

@bartje11 Thank you.

[@aakarshitsingh1535]

Nice

[@Electrasound]

Is there a CD for this recording?

[@PKWysocki]

@mkh9287 note by note, that is? theme and variations form? hello??

[@elboberto7]

which one is playing secondo and primo?

[@sanjai_s]

00:53, when sorabji wants to compose a variation on paganini

[@Emilawad]

@madlovba3 I understand and respect your perspective but do not agree. This is your post and your label; I was trying to help. This set of variations is based on what surrounds the theme, almost like a passacaglia and right from the presentation of the theme it is totally Lutoslawski.

[@ConcordMass]

4:28

[@robertosolito1276]

minchia questa è ancora più veloce di quella che conoscevo

[@ga199337]

and first like :X

[@Noobovitch]

Isn´t this just a modern arrangement instead of original variations?

[@Noobovitch]

+CiryuUnemi listen to paganinis caprice no.24. It is basically the same thing.

[@Noobovitch]

+CiryuUnemi yes, I know, but the original paganiní´s caprice ITSELF is also theme with variations. Many composers have used the only the theme from the caprice and have written their own variations to it. Lutoslawski uses the original variations written by paganini for solo violin and just makes a modern piano arrangement.

[@Noobovitch]

+CiryuUnemi Please do listen to the Caprice no.24. It is very very similar, basically it is the same piece, until around 4:26 (in this video), comes the part named "ancora piú mosso", which seems to be really different from the caprice. To sum up, it is a genial arrangement which Lutoslawski ends his way instead of Paganinis.

[@Noobovitch]

+CiryuUnemi You dont understand me, I dont say that a caprice is a theme with variations. I refer to the ONE caprice, the paganinis caprice no.24, which is written in a form of theme with variations. Lutoslawski just takes the whole caprice no.24 and transcribes it for piano in his own arrangement. He does not add much new, if you dont count the final variation capped "ancora piú mosso"

[@Noobovitch]

+Noobovitch /watch?v=PZ307sM0t-0 listen to the link and then to this video again.

[@jiyujizai]

☺️🍒🍄🌱🌾

[@przemekmajtyka1586]

POLAND

[@madlovba3]

@ga199337 lol xD

[@ga199337]

first view :X

[@robertmagda6465]

2019?

[@_meirami_616]

@twosetviolin

[@liwiakredzinska9287]

Original Paganinis Caprice No°24 is BETTER! PLS PEOPLE IT IS HORRIBLE

[@zswu31416]

I understand. To someone who has never been exposed to semi-atonal music before it can sound bad. The solution is to either avoid such music, or force yourself to listen to it many times until you like it. I very much encourage the latter option.

[@gracikspl3895]

kupa

[@ohorok2]

Very unsound variations, I know much better

[@lenpey]

+ohorok2 You do? Thanks, Ludwig!

[@PKWysocki]

These aren't variations, really - this is a paraphrase of the Caprice by Paganini. You can notice that if you listen to the Caprice. I'm not really sure why the title says variations...

[@zgart]

Like what? What’s better? Genuinely curious (outside of the already famous ones)

[@Alias-Steff]

and first don´t like :X

[@mironmalejki838]

gowno

[@Raff645]

A truly thoughtless performance!! Yuck!!

[@nicb4589]

Maybe you could share with us how it was thoughtless. Further could you point us to a more thoughtful performance and explain why it is so? I await a thoughtful response.