Prokofiev - 6 Pieces for Piano, Op. 52

[@ChrisBreemer]

I can't imagine these being played better than this. Chiu captures Prokofiev's mercurial wit and mischief to perfection.

[@ThankYouKiwi]

Fun fact: All 6 of these pieces are actually just piano transcriptions that Prokofiev made of his other pieces. 1, 2, and 3 are all from Prodigal Son, 4 is from his 5 Melodies for Violin and Piano, 5 is from his first string quartet, and 6 is from his sinfonietta

[@lylecohen1638]

The 5 Melodies for Violin and Piano are in fact themselves an arrangement of his 5 songs without words. In my opinion the version for violin does work better, but I’m still dreaming of a performance of the songs on theremin!

[@citizent6999]

No 2 is also from Symphony no 4, Op.47, 3rd mvt. It's played here slower like in the revised Op.112 Symphony No.4. Such a delightful gem in any version - no wonder he used it so often!

[@pixiirespighi]

Oh Fuck off and get a life!

[@조혜-n9y]

00:06 04:33 10:19 12:10 13:50 25:30

[@ThankYouKiwi]

Thanks a ton! Sorry I forgot

[@pauloborges5170]

​@@ThankYouKiwiPIN the comment

[@НастяБледная-с8щ]

В топ

[@curlymyhero]

Incredible playing! Hats off!!

[@НастяБледная-с8щ]

1. Интермеццо 0:06 2. Рондо 04:33 3. Этюд 10:19 4. Скерцино 12:10 5. Анданте 13:50 6. Скерцо 25:32

[@steveegallo3384]

Brilliant.....BRAVO from Acapulco!

[@none5020]

These are almost a century old, crazy!

[@tedpiano]

Yet, as a Gen Z, crazy that this man was living, breathing, and composing on this Earth less than a hundred years ago!

[@DavidSmith-kc4hz]

I well remember the report of his death in 1952, I think. Great big headline “STALIN DEAD” then, in a tiny entry at the bottom of the page: Prokofiev death is announced. I would have been nineteen. I had known his music for a large part of my life: both violin concertos, ballet music et al.

[@none5020]

@@DavidSmith-kc4hz Haha OLD

[@claudiomonteverdi7126]

@@none5020 are you ok in the head?

[@FredericChiu]

From my CD Notes specifically about this Opus 52 set: The first recording of Prokofiev’s complete works for piano, made in the sixties by György Sándor, omitted all the transcriptions, including Romeo & Juliet and Cinderella, reflecting the prevailing attitude toward “non-original” works. The Six Pieces of Opus 52 were also overlooked, giving away their “transcription” status. Prokofiev never specified that the six pieces formed an organized whole, and the fact that each bears an individual title and dedication would suggest that this is a collection of unrelated works. Nevertheless, there is definitely a dramatic sequence to the movements of this “suite”: 1) a formally complicated opening movement filled with urgency (dedicated to Alexander Borovsky, a reworking of the opening scenes of The Prodigal Son); 2) a quirky, coquettish interlude (also from The Prodigal Son, and arranged as part of the Fourth Symphony; dedicated to Arthur Rubinstein); 3) a fleeting scherzo (from the same ballet, dedicated to Vladimir Horowitz); 4) another, shorter interlude (one of the five Songs without Words, for Nicolas Orloff); 5) the dramatic Andante, in the role of slow movement (the closing movement of the first String Quartet); 6) and ending with a violent Rondo (from the youthful Sinfonietta, dedicated to Horowitz). Prokofiev’s dedications to famous pianists of the time was a calculated attempt to guarantee some sort of public exposure, especially in the Soviet Union, where Prokofiev’s star was dimming. In addition, he sent copies to other Russian pianists with the hope “during this period when the attitude toward me has soured, to improve relations by means of these easily playable pieces.” That wish must have been made with some tongue in cheek, given the highly virtuosic demands of these works. The piano versions are sometimes denser in polyphony and detail than the originals! Even the simplest piano transcription is transcendental in some way , since the performer is asked to transcend the instrument - to recreate a non-pianistic sound, texture, color. But all of Prokofiev’s transcriptions manage to be transcendental and idiomatic all at once, thanks to his performance-level technique and his habit of composing at the instrument. Prokofiev felt, for example, that the Andante of the first String Quartet, which he also arranged for string orchestra, “being for the most part melodious, ought to sound richer in the orchestra, but it is in fact better as a quartet.” Ironically, the movement sounds more natural on the piano, as the fifth piece of Opus 52!

[@ThankYouKiwi]

Amazing thanks for the insight! And really, bravo for all of your amazing Prokofiev recordings like this one! They truly do mean a lot to the big Prokofiev fans out there

[@FredericChiu]

​@@ThankYouKiwi I'm delighted that you are sharing these obscure but compelling pieces (and I can only hope the same be said of the recordings as well!) with your added value of providing the score. We are all dealing the deplorable state of the recorded music industry, where people's expectations are now set in concrete: recorded music MUST be FREE! In the face of that, I applaud you and encourage you to continue to explore and share this great music. I have highlighted your videos to my Patreon community as well, under my tongue-in-cheek "Pirate of the Week" posts! And I encourage anyone who is deep enough into listening to these treasures to be reading this - please join my FCXFC Patreon project! It is the only way for artists to know their work is being supported, and to actually get any kind of revenue from their creations. And if you don't want to join MY patreon, please join ANYONE's patreon! Recorded music CANNOT BE FREE! Please do your part.

[@AlkanLove]

確かに彼のピアノ作品は超越的だ

[@jackcurley1591]

Wow what a cool set of pieces, Prokofiev is the man! Thanks for sharing this wonderful recording!

[@walterguerson4265]

As an argentinian I recommend the 1 american preludes by Ginastera with a clear polytonal influence from Prokofiev.

[@alanleoneldavid1787]

Aguante Messi y ginastera ndeaaa

[@danielaguirremachacado1832]

@@alanleoneldavid1787 Megadeth, Megadeth, Aguante Megadeth!

[@hjakroon123]

As a pianist terrible this is slow shock nonsens. But like number 2 concert.

[@neg_9423]

プロコフィエフが引き算したときに、みえる天才性。まさにここにあり

[@LandOnBolts]

The ending of the first is amazing.

[@orb3796]

oh nice! 13:56 is the piano version of the final movement of his first string quartet

[@kofiLjunggren]

Yes!! Wow

[@adlfm]

I love how the second one starts in B minor but only 4 measures later says "let's forget about key signatures and let's cadence in B-flat major".

[@dhackj]

Great pieces and great playing!

[@richardjchandler]

Although born in Ukraine, Sergei Prokofiev is considered a Russian composer, and he was also a fantastic pianist. These compelling, virtuosic pieces are worth listening to and following the score. I have a deep appreciation for pianists who can play them as Frederic Chiu so admirably does!

[@nnaazzaa9746]

Sorry, but you are so much wrong... Prokofiev was not born in "uk rain", the Composer was born in the Russian-cultured lands close to Donetsk that were completely within the very big and entire Russian Empire.😊 The bolsheviks made them to get CALLED as "ukrainian Soviet socialist republic", no more than that.😊 Political casus, not judicially clean at all.

[@flexo_refoto128]

wow! breathtaking interpretation

[@marcoesquandolez]

This is fascinating. I never heard these before

[@user-yc6vr8vn5j]

yes gorbachev

[@paulcummins6780]

I had never heard these before. Skip the first. The rest is incredibly beautiful.

[@woyeshinibaba]

i wonder other than Fred Chiu, who else had the complete recording of ALL of Prokofiev's solo piano work?

[@ThankYouKiwi]

Boris Berman. I much prefer Chiu though

[@tests3976]

Anyone know if there exists a recording where Horowitz is performing the pieces dedicated to him?

[@conorhughes1]

10:23

[@edgenutcry]

The etude is overwhelming me.

[@zampai]

It almost wants to sound tonal.

[@ThankYouKiwi]

It is tonal.......

[@Edisonjesusedisdinho]

.

[@alexparkin8736]

психопат

[@l.w.paradis2108]

Who??

[@arrighiniofficial]

@@l.w.paradis2108 your mum

[@Warp75]

@@l.w.paradis2108I’m assuming Prokofiev

[@ViRrOorR]

sounds like a thousand cats walking or running on a piano back and forth

[@Scriabin_fan]

In a really synchronized and harmonious manner

[@SeigneurReefShark]

Saying that, you are instantly positioning yourself in the ignorants and stupid people

[@floriankurz4169]

Sounds like you're one of the uneducated ignoramus...

[@l.w.paradis2108]

If only my fingers could be those cats . . .

[@ValzainLumivix]

Ok