Samuel Barber - Piano Sonata Op. 26 [Terence Judd]

[@eggplant1994]

this might be the only performance i’ve ever heard of any solo piano piece that I would consider calling “literally perfect”.

[@eggplant1994]

i’m dead serious too. the only other solo piano recording i’ve heard that even approaches this one’s level of musical precision and clarity is maybe Richter’s 1962 Prague recording of Miroirs. if only he didn’t pass away so young, we might have heard him mature into a legendary artist.

[@fredfeinberg3995]

The Fugue is one of the most astonishing feats of Live piano-playing I've ever heard. It's taut, sculped, yet somehow ferocious without being undisciplined. Judd was a genius, but his demons got to him... just terribly sad.

[@stephenarnold6359]

A tragis life. But one must accept the whole person as (s)he is. One cannot say "Oh, if we cold only have this characteristic without that", or "this personality trait but not that one". Judd's personality cannot be separated from his sad end, any more than Horowitz's art can be divorced from his personal neuroses. Very many great artists have been right on the precipice and we must just be thankful for the ones who conquered their demons and grateful for what he other ones have left us

[@Hervinbalfour]

This and his Prokofiev 3rd piano concerto are DEFINITIVE!

[@pianista-mediocre]

Are you talking about Prokofiev's third sonata or third concerto?

[@Hervinbalfour]

@@pianista-mediocre yes that is what I was referring too.

[@remomazzetti8757]

Judd's suicide at the age of 22 was a terrible tragedy and a huge loss to the music world.

[@erikfreitas7093]

Brilliant performance!

[@CatkhosruShapurrjiFurabji]

Fugue at 14:21

[@meredith218461]

I have to say I prefer this account to the legendary Horowitz recording. Oh dear! have I committed musical heresy?. With the tragic death of Judd could we have lost the greatest British pianist since the WW.2? just a thought.

[@789armstrong]

awesome!

[@CatkhosruShapurrjiFurabji]

Epic

[@joshy2722]

14:21

[@manteuro]

17:39

[@Pavlu6a]

4th movement is just insane. Brilliant performance, although 1st and 3rd movement I like my own performance better XD

[@johncobb3506]

As a professional who has known this work for his entire life, I feel that something is lost in the strictly metronomic interpretation here. Barber included a number of dramatic mood changes, which suggest more fluency of tempo than Mr. Judd allows in his strictly metronomic performance. Even so, it is indeed a hair raising performance.

[@malenkaradi8152]

..

[@Davideberti]

what?? it may be better than horowitz!

[@nihilistlemon1995]

It is miles better than Horowitz

[@Highinsight7]

YES... this young man was one of THE GREATs.... I'm so missed by his tragic loss.... monster talent!

[@0babul0]

This one is wild for sure. But have you listened to M. A. Hamelin recording of this? Obviously, he has studio recording, which is better quality, but it's also my fav, along Judd. He is a little bit more tempered at times, but I think it's still pretty awesome recording! Check it out, you can buy .flac recording on Hyperion records for like 2 pounds. Seems like you can't find it anywhere else. Hamelin plays faster the part directly before 5 against 2 on the last page, but he plays the very finale slower. Overall I'd say Judd is more explosive, and his finish of the Sonata is just so great (Hamelin does a speed up on the finishing octaves, which is also a nice effect), left hand going brutal, I like this very much. But well, that was live, so it's hard to compare studio and live recording. I guess I want to say that if you like this sonata and are interested in it a bit more, I would recommend Hamelin recording as well, although it's less accessible.

[@Davideberti]

@@0babul0 thanks!

[@Highinsight7]

@@0babul0 I' also a very serious pianist... I never even think of listening to Hamelin's anything... and I like his playing...

[@neoclassicalpiano8447]

jesus, what a terrible piece.

[@GUILLOM]

No u

[@meredith218461]

@@GUILLOM "A terrible piece" Come on, this is one of the piano masterpieces of the 20th Century!

[@GUILLOM]

@@meredith218461 why me

[@meredith218461]

@@GUILLOMI dont get you - "why me". I simply disagreed with your opinion. Nothing personal.

[@GUILLOM]

@@meredith218461 I never said this is a terrible piece