The Greatest Chopin Ballades On Record (ft. Jed Distler) | Ep. 3 The Chopin Podcast

[@Stevie-Steele]

Thankyou for the inclusion of Cziffra in this - his poetic side is often underestimated. His fourth Ballade is indeed a marvel - as is his third Impromptu - I suggest people look up the video of that, truly beautiful and poetic.

[@patrickkerrigan3633]

Absolutely -I love much of Cziffra's Chopin

[@RobertSmith-le8wp]

Me too, people think of him as Liszt reborn but he has some amazing “softer” recordings too. His Ravel is good as well

[@peterbrenton410]

The Cziffra was a well deserved favourite.Wonderful phrasing, passion and well pedalled clarity especially in the final sections

[@trethtower]

My introduction to the 4 ballades was Vladimir Ashkenazy`s set back in the 70`s. I was absolutely transfixed with his interpretation of the 4th in particular, and still love it now after hearing many other performances.

[@paulenhelenjonsthovel9311]

Totally agree, and he is often left out when it comes to mentioning great interpreters of Chopin's music, very unrightly so!

[@caseym8385]

Moravec has my heart for the tenderness of his Nocturnes, but wow that Cziffra Ballade is stunning! Thanks for another great video!

[@shubus]

I couldn't agree more!

[@deutekom2004]

I recommend Fou Ts'ong's performance of Ballades. It is super poetic, musical, and persuasive.

[@stanleywyt]

I 100% agree with you. Hearing all these recommended versions do not change my opinion on Fou Ts’ong’s performance for this piece. I also much prefer his Nocturnes and Preludes too

[@remsan03]

I was ready to riot if Zimerman wasn't mentioned. His recordings (both the audio and the television broadcast) were seminal. I regard them as the shining pinnacle of Chopin Ballades. So much so, that if we're sending another Golden Recording to outerspace, I'd include this. Along with Glenn Gould's 1981 Goldberg Variations as the testament of human ingenuity and beauty.

[@RobertSmith-le8wp]

I would agree that his would be considered “reference” recordings and is definitely someone you could use to compare everyone else too.

[@remsan03]

@@RobertSmith-le8wp Yes, I'd consider it as the golden standard. One that I aspire to. His playing has the perfect balance of crystalline details and poetic musicianship. He takes his time in his phrasing (without being too soppy), and the ferocious bravura. That coda from Ballade 2 was, omg, he takes no prisoners.

[@RobertSmith-le8wp]

@@remsan03 You gotta love youtube. I remember as a kid trying to find different recordings and it was very, very difficult. We can find almost anything today

[@j.davidtaylor2565]

Zimmy is my main man. Lately though I have been listening to a lot of Abdel Rahman El Bacha. He is less virtuosic, but it is always for musical reasons

[@luke9947]

When you talk about the ballads Zimerman is always the elephant in the room.

[@matsao1313]

I was given a boxed set of Moravec playing the Ballades, Preludes and Nocturnes for my birthday in 1966. A hard act to follow. He is still my favorite for the Ballades. And I still have the LPs!

[@architektura204]

To me, Moravec's Chopin is lyrical and dance-able like no other. Distant thunders, the Polish country side, the waving rye gold fields, a sonic landscape, a vivid hue of Poland's soul... all is there. Thank you for creating this fantastic platform.

[@brandonmartin5650]

I've always loved listening to Chopin and appreciated his music. Researching as to what sort of mindset he was in at the time of his different compositions. This series on Chopin has given me many "ah-ha" moments. The profundity of the conversations and analysis has taken my appreciation to another level. Thank you all, especially you Ben 🙏.

[@nikolastrampas9417]

This series is precious. Thank you.

[@subplantant]

Excellent to see Cziffra recommended here - I remember when I first heard his 2nd Scherzo expecting all that crazed virtuosity and got nothing of the sort. It's full of delicacy, transparency and restraint.

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

I actually haven't listened to a lot of Chopin yet. Ben and this series is changing that.

[@motoroladefy2740]

Tamas Vasary. I love the way he plays Chopin, sometimes on the slow side, but very poetic and faithful to the score.

[@alighieroalighieri404]

Vasary, unfortunately, is of one the greatest and also one of the most underrated Chopin's interepreters

[@bluepearl4806]

I loved Czyffra's interpratation of 4rth Balade!!! So brilliant so emotionaly rich so vivid!!!! Many melodik layers yet he knows where to go excavtly...!!! I loved balade 4 this much for the first time!!! Thank you!!!🙏🙏🙏😊😊😊🍀💐🌹🌷🌷💐💐

[@republiccooper]

I am glad to Cziffra here, though I'm a bit surprised. I hope when we get to the Barcarolle Argerich is there. ❤

[@isaacthrpenquinez1098]

I prefer Lipatti for Barcarolle 😊

[@republiccooper]

@@isaacthrpenquinez1098 I've heard it but will listen to it anew to compare.

[@republiccooper]

@isaacthrpenquinez1098 it is really a lovely interpretation. I understand why you'd choose it. I prefer Argerich for 3 reasons: the left hand was louder at the two introductory bars to the main them; the pause at the end of the ascending chords before the second theme was longer in Argerich, so it kept us in suspense a bit more. And thirdly, the second time the pause comes before the apotheosized 2nd theme had pedal in Argerich; Lipatti left it dry which didn't give me that nice watery feel. That said, I think his reading of the piu mosso might have been better than hers at that marginally slower tempo. I also like more that he took longer on the final octave chords. Both really great readings.

[@isaacthrpenquinez1098]

@@republiccooper I like Lipatti’s interpretation but I agree that he could be a little bit more atmospheric. Anyways, both interpretations are great.

[@armandodelromero9968]

For my money, Zimerman and the Arrau's 1953 recordings reign supreme

[@MrLedZepper]

My pick for the complete Ballades (particularly the 4th) is from the great Polish pianist, Witold Malcuzynski. I remember buying the vinyl that got me to fall in love w. these masterpieces.

[@ronaldmcyr156]

My dad was a conservatory-trained pianist. His favorite Chopin interpreters (back in the 50s) were Malcuzynski and Guiomar Novaes.

[@fartissimo]

Wonderful video review. My gold standard has always been Krystian Zimerman for all 4 ballades; however the best and most passionate performance I have ever heard was Horowitz performing Ballade #1 (Live Carnegie Hall). There is one passage that is characteristically Horowitz and I would recognize it instantly in a blind listening test. Thanks for the Moravec suggestion- I absolutely love his nocturnes but haven't seriously listened to his Ballades. I'll do that tonight

[@CarolHaynesJ]

Has everyone forgotten Tamás Vásáry? Superb Chopin. I suppose Rubinstein was too obvious but I genuinely think they are unsurpassed.

[@fredfeinberg3995]

It’s so bizarre to read this! I was obsessed with Rubinstein‘s ballades in college (and still am; they’re my favorite recording of anything by anyone ever), and I went to the music library and listened to every other available recording. The only other one that seemed even remotely in the same league was by… Vasary.

[@alighieroalighieri404]

I agree with you !

[@BRNRDNCK]

Check out Charles Richard-Hamelin’s recording of all four Ballades: his playing is detailed and sensitive, similar to Zimerman but distinct.

[@sctm81]

As a set the 4 Ballades of Chopin are untouchable among music compostions.

[@margarethansen7480]

Thanks for all these excepcional pianists for those fantastic renditions Thanks, Ben, for this fantastic work, Chopin would be proud❤

[@scottsarran3866]

Rubinstein, Rubinstein, Rubinstein! No one so combined patrician elegance with controlled passion. Everyone else competes for second best…

[@berthill2305]

Witold Malcuzynski is one who 'slips under the radar'. Have a listen it is great.

[@lollol7688]

Michalengli first ballade is also very good

[@eliasss8229]

The definitive version

[@lollol7688]

@@eliasss8229 i think so too!

[@alighieroalighieri404]

Indeed!

[@pablobear4241]

Ballade 1 - Hofmann Ballade 2 - Cortot, if not Richter because he had the greatest dynamic contrast. Ballade 3 - Cortot, Rachmaninoff, Friedman are some honorable mentions Ballade 4 - Hofmann My list. For ballade 1 I like Cortot as well, then there is some obscure recordings and rolls that must be investigated as well.

[@Keith14428]

Hofmann certainly was an independent thinker. There’s an early part of the first ballade where he plays almost a whole page like one big long phrase. It was an interesting experience when I first heard it long ago.

[@Keith14428]

I scanned through all the comments so far. I’ve heard almost everyone mentioned except a few people. I see Fou Ts’ong getting thumbs up. I haven’t heard those, but as a side note I think his nocturnes are the most underrated classical piano disc of all time. I can’t stop listening to the last part of his Op 48 no 1. So I look forward to giving his ballades a try. I have heard probably around 15 to 20 sets of the ballades. And the one that stands out above the rest for me is Vladimir Ashkenazy. I actually have two cds of his. One is an earlier Russian disc that’s great technically, but the extraordinary story-telling and emotional range wasn’t there yet until he got older. And to me, his playing is just so superior in every way that whoever I’d pick next (not sure) would be a distant second. That’s just it for me. Put on a good pair of headphones, turn off the lights, and leave this miserable reality for a few moments. One tip: For classical piano I always do cd when I can and high quality headphones. It’s claimed the bitrate is high enough on streaming that you won’t notice, and maybe that’s true for pop and rock, but I sure notice on classical piano.

[@michelleorne]

Cziffra's pedaling alone is reason to listen. Makes me want to brush off my 4th...

[@mickizurcher]

Cziffra is amazing, way up there, high altitude stuff amongst the best thank you 🙏 yum

[@zaoria123]

My favorites, in order, are Maria Tipo Live on the Ermitage label, Moravec and Ashkenazy's 1980s set.

[@TheOssia]

Murray Perahia’s recording of all 4 is worth hearing!

[@neilkilleen3911]

There is a beautiful Cziffra recording of the Emin concerto.

[@kuba13s]

Polish Radio did a blind listening competition on ballads and as best recording (out of 6 in comparison) Kevin Kenner version for Dux label has won with the second prize for Zimerman.

[@sebastianciarfella3061]

Josef Hoffman's Ballade n°4 is the greatest recording of any chopin piece ever

[@glenngouldification]

He is in a class by himself. His playing is other worldly

[@benlawdy]

@@sebastianciarfella3061 Jed is spreading the love a bit and I do think there’s a single repeated pianist across all the episodes, but Hofmann I think is the one exception. Just wait!

[@andre.vaz.pereira]

@@benlawdy And don't forget Samsons François!! This year it would be his 100th birthday. His 4th Ballade is also very good, but the Nocturnes and Etudes are supreme...

[@classicalalways]

The two most remarkable sets of the Chopin Ballades were live recordings. Moravec is a very safe pick as his performances are very well done, and it is hard to argue with his sense of taste. However, those looking for a wider range of virtuosity and the spontaneity of live recordings can turn to Jorge Bolet's live performance in New York City - a recital that included the Liszt Sonata and more. The recital is stellar. In addition, Vladimir Ashkenazy was recorded in Russia performing the four Ballades. Some may feel Ashkenazy can be a bit bold in his playing - but overall they are excellent performances. Regarding the Fourth Ballade, arguably the one most difficult to have success in, the performance of Solomon may be the most masterful. His journey from an incredibly tranquil and beautiful beginning and evolution into a coda that is as remarkable as it gets - that is a performance that is a must hear. One should read Jed Distler's rankings of recordings - they are always very intriguing and thought provoking. As for other Ballades, the first Ballade has many great performances such that naming a couple does not do justice to the rich history of recorded performance of the work. However the second Ballade coincidentally has one of its most remarkable performances from the Chopin Competition itself - again Ashkenazy and a performance few critics refer to. Its coda is one of few that maintains a constant flow, regardless of the technical demands on the pianist. And again, the third Ballade has several wonderful performances such that trying to pick a couple does not do the work justice. Ultimately, Bolet live recording, the Ashkenazy Moscow concert, and the Moravec for its polish and constant good taste are the sets people should make themselves familiar with.

[@tigerdriver09]

Stanislav Neuhaus is most underrated one and my most favourite recording of all four ballades.

[@Keith14428]

That’s one of only few names mentioned here I haven’t heard yet. I’ll give it a try…

[@josesouza9820]

Extraordinary!

[@matthewbbenton]

I deeply respect Zimerman - he’s obviously a magnificent pianist - but I find his recordings to be almost too perfect. Nothing out of place, planned to the nth degree. I don’t feel the person at the keyboard. With Moravec, in contrast, I feel his presence and personality.

[@LucBoeren]

I personally also deeply love Anna Vinnitskaya's 3rd Ballade.

[@alighieroalighieri404]

As much as I love Moravec, Zimmerman and Cziffra, I still believe that Rubinstein rendition of the 4 Ballades is yet to be surpassed.

[@markdecker2112]

Rubinstein and Zimerman for me.

[@Mary.ua.]

Cziffra - also has best barcarolle , polonaise-fantasy, concerto 1 and more//

[@chopinaddict1787]

Ashkenazy’s later set on Decca is, in my opinion, the best set ever recorded, with Zimerman being second. (Not to be confused with his bland performances from the 60’s.) There’s actually a lot of similarity in their interpretations. Ashkenazy’s finger work is a notch above his. And Zimerman sounds a little fussy at times. But these are two extraordinary sets, and I don’t see how Zimerman can be discussed without Ashkenazy. It’s clearly some of the best work Vladimir ever did. The emotional and interpretive depth is unsurpassed.

[@paulenhelenjonsthovel9311]

I have to agree. Yet Ashkenazy is hardly ever mentioned here!

[@radiokid2]

Cziffra on that #4...whoa!

[@dorfmanjones]

I'd recommend the complete set by Stanislav Neuhaus, in recital. It's on the Vista Vera label. (It seems like the Constance Keene recording is unavailable.)

[@RollaArtis]

FYI on my channel there is a 'reperformance' of the Op. 23 Ballade piano roll recorded by Busoni in the 1900's.

[@marcinmajkowski3308]

Zimmerman all day, every day and twice on Sunday. Ballades GOAT

[@tom6693]

For his characteristic combination of poetry and virtuosity, I keep returning to Grigory Ginzburg in the 4th Ballade (as in so many others things). And for general all-round beauty coupled with power and character, along with the sense of a personalized approach, which I always look for in Chopin pianists, there's the rewarding set by Garrick Ohlssohn

[@Zympans]

2:47 oh my oh my oh my 🌶🌶🌶 🌶🌶

[@walter9215]

Odd that Rubinstein did not make the list.

[@benlawdy]

Rubinstein is sort of the patron saint of the whole series and we’re trying to spread the love a bit.

[@markdecker2112]

@@benlawdy excellent response. He is the Patron Saint of Chopin, and it would be unfair to list him on every podcast.

[@Daniel_Zalman]

Goodie, I'm uber picky and I have great respect for Mr. Distler's taste. 🍿

[@Daniel_Zalman]

I expected Zimerman to be mentioned, and he definitely deserves that distinction. As a set, it doesn't have many rivals. Yeah, Moravec is poetic and very classy. Honestly, I don't have a favorite set because there are simply too many great ones. And just for the sport of it, individually: No.1 - Horowitz 1968, No. 2 - Kissin, No. 3 - Moravec, No. 4 Richter - 1960 in Prague or 1962 in Rome

[@luyin1961]

In today's standard, Horowitz's ballade is probably not as clean as some. But I still consider his playing of Ballade No. 1 in the Carnegie recital the best.

[@cantkeepitin]

Gilels (unfortunately only the 1st) and Zimerman of course . I wonder are there also the ballades by Pollini?

[@bw2082]

Call me a basic bitch, but Horowitz's Ballade 1 is my favorite.

[@Sqorg1]

Thoughts on the recordings of Stanislav Neuhaus’s performance from his final concert? I feel like perhaps they may be criticized by some for being too emotional, but I think there is artistic intentionality to their erratic nature and fervency. Also, maybe it’s just from listening to them with the knowledge that Neuhaus was aware he was dying at the time of the concert and passed just a few days later, but there is something haunting about the recordings.

[@Schubertd960]

What do you think of Richter's 1962 live of the fourth ballade? One of my favourite piano recordings of all time. Thanks for recommending Cziffra, will be sure to listen!

[@Term_2222]

Where can we find cziffra's ballade 4 online?

[@benlawdy]

@@Term_2222 here’s both of his studio recordings (63 and 70, I think). He also has recorded live performances you can find: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqWpc5xmepuje6csi=Jg9oRjwh_lvQJmEe

[@jimk9290]

Good grief, Ben! These programs of your making are priceless! Is Cziffra on another planet playing that 4th Ballade? I could not discern a single note that was not struck with absolute perfection, relative to the particular musical line/s at the moment. Flawless, IMO. And it doesn't hurt that the piano is voiced most beautifully.

[@G.gagogago]

How to practice chopin ballade 2 coda? Thank you

[@benlawdy]

@@G.gagogago some ideas at 18:21 in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIOTfJisbsyposUsi=1Y1QB7tzcxfzGleB

[@soozb15]

Kocsis, ballade no.1 is the only one on a recording, and on KZbin, and it's live. The no. 4 is on KZbin but not on a recording. I adore both, even though Kocsis isn't known to be a Chopin guy. What do you all think of these? To me, Kocsis is rubato king. It always sounds totally natural.

[@uriahkremer_piano]

No one is close to Hofmann's performances.

[@PeterFamiko-lw8ue]

Fourth is esence of chopin

[@JeffKwak221]

what about the third ballade?

[@georgemaxwell3997]

What I really hate about these snobbish BBC music reviewers is that they compete in digging out some old, obscure, poor quality recordings and completely ignore more well known good modern ones. No help at all in choosing a good version to buy.

[@republiccooper]

I see the masterfulness of ballades 1 and 4, but I prefer ballades 2 & 3.

[@KingstonCzajkowski]

Those two are a little weirder in how they're constructed. 2 isn't even clearly in one key.

[@republiccooper]

@KingstonCzajkowski two is really beautiful music and feels such a wonderful story. Two had that lovely lilt that connects so much of it and had such an impostor opening with melodies shared between the hands. I've played 1, 2 and 3. I can't appreciate 1 at all. I find it changes mood and melody too often; and the coda is too wild.

[@KingstonCzajkowski]

@@republiccooper 2 is very very beautiful. I could see finding 1 hard to appreciate, I think you might perceive it as changing mood too often because it's often taken too fast and the transitions between themes are not played smoothly enough. Definitely one of the big challenges of that piece to connect all the disparate ideas - how can you make it clear that the three iterations of the second theme group are all the same theme, and that its second period is a variant on the first theme? The coda is very wild, I think it's less so if you pedal the first time through with the beat to make the rhythmic complexities clear.

[@bifeldman]

Cortot for the third.

[@jgrab1]

Which Moravec? He did at least three.

[@jdistler2]

Moravec recorded the ENTIRE cycle of the four Ballades on only one occasion, although, as you rightly say, there are other stand-alone live performances of individual Ballades from Moravec. However, I was specifically returning to his integral cycle that was first issued by Connoisseur Society on LP.

[@retlwiz]

Yes, I can’t get past Zimmerman either - that extract he played showed why - it was perfectly played, but not at all fastidious or boring, quite the opposite!

[@bobshaffrinson5509]

cho?

[@jayhu2296]

can't spell chopin without cho

[@kamlinghung5045]

I was actually knocked off by his 4 Ballads after listening to many many recordings of the set! He should also have a place here.

[@andre.vaz.pereira]

I grew up with Perahia cicle, i'm pleased to ear a lot of people comenting on that recording. As for recent recording less known of the cicle i would recomend Amir Katz and also Leonardo Pierdomenico (that brings great inner lines in the first Ballade). As for the best Ballade i would go with Samsons François 4th ballade, it's by the way his 100th birthday! Samson has the best cicle for Nocturnes and Etudes to my taste (with all respect to other great pianists).

[@trs4437]

Murray Perahia’s full cycle of the ballades merits consideration here.

[@RobertSmith-le8wp]

I know it’s not related but his video performances of the Hungarian Rhapsodies are out of this world as well too. He’s insanely talented

[@levim.3505]

I find it hard to be captivated by Cziffras recording. I found myself planning my to do's for the week instead of really listening. Weird syncopations, awkward rubato, hardly any logical structure in the harmonic lines... None of the phrases are convincing to me. In my eyes he's absolutely not in a league with Richter, Moravec or Kocsis. Kate Liu's at the 2015 Chopin competition is also outrageously good!

[@richardarcher3435]

Naa, Cziffra loused up that dramatic chord sequence near the end of Chopin's 4th ballade. He played them legato. NO NO NO! You do NOT play those chords legato. Disaster big time! Also I think he plays that first main tune too fast. Right from the beginning at 8:08 I am expecting to settle down to a nice relaxing rendition of the theme but he shoots off as if he's a got a bus the catch. Of course it can also be played too slow, but that is too fast for me. It doesn't sing.

[@theponderingplumb9790]

I may be a normie but I just can’t go for anything past Zimmerman

[@EmptyVee00000]

Could not disagree more.

[@brozors]

The only recording of the ballades I listen to now is Richter’s live in Prague. It’s an emotional interpretation of the highest degree.

[@JeffJohansen-xc9lu]

I don’t care for them personally. Flashy and superficial with many errors is what I hear. Someone like Zimerman is at the other end of the spectrum, diving deep.

[@militaryandemergencyservic3286]

why don't I like his ballades very much at all? Is it because I start to get fidgety because they are a bit long and rambling? Is it because Schubert is supposed to be the rambler - not Chopin? Is it because Chopin is supposed to be the shiny and precise concocter of unfathomably inventive concision? Or is it because I am musically illiterate? Have a look at my nearly 100 compositions on my channel and thumbs up if you think it is because of that last reason.

[@Numberonesorabjifan]

Yappathon

[@Keith14428]

Or maybe it’s because you’re not hearing it yet. And then it’s kinda hard to hear it if whoever you’re listening to isn’t providing it, which is all too common.

[@militaryandemergencyservic3286]

@@Keith14428 Yes, you may be right! Yours is the first civil response I've so far received. I will try my best and persist with them then. They are just so B-O-R-I-NG. I have got 3 kids and I frankly haven't got the time.... but I'll try.

[@Numberonesorabjifan]

@@militaryandemergencyservic3286 I only agree with you about the 4th ballade it's slightly too long

[@Arobamod]

because you’re listening to bad recordings!!! i was just like you until i heard Hambourg’s first ballade and Hoffman’s 4th ballade and then they just clicked for me

[@militaryandemergencyservic3286]

Jed says Zimmerman 'yields to no one' with regards the virtuosity of the coda of the first one of this rather motley set of piano pieces. I would beg to differ - Tiffany Poon plays it better. As regards the second one - I prefer Pogorelich's live performance (not the video one though) on YT. As regards the third one, I think the less said the better about this mediocre work. The fourth one is of course the hardest - so I would say Cziffra would have the best - given that he is the acknowledged master of the pyrotechnic Liszt (although my friend Leslie Howard has recorded EVEYTHING Liszt ever wrote). Thumbs up if you think I'm a rather knowledgeable chap - and that my almost 100 compositions on my channel are pretty darn fine. And that they do honour to my Beethoven, Chopin and Tchaikovsky teaching line.

[@erichimy]

Cortot ?

[@christophbader3713]

I just get sea sick by nearly all of the suggested recordings. I think, I am going to skip his suggestions from now on. Sviatoslav Richter, Rubinstein and a handfull others is enough for me. They do not play Chopin as a moribund, but as a man with backbone, feet on the ground and sometimes also fearlessness.

[@Manfred-nj8vz]

I agree. Have you maybe heard the recording by Nelson Goerner, who plays on a Pleyel from 1848? His tempi are consistent (for example in the 4th) and utterly musical as well as convincing.

[@benlawdy]

@@christophbader3713 fair. Jed does pick some of the more “backbone”-oriented pianists in later episodes, so I encourage you to keep tuning in!

[@christophbader3713]

@@benlawdy His picks are interesting, some I never heard about. So… yea, I see the point. But until now, the pics seem a little narrow. But: just go on with the good work. 👍🏻

[@jayhu2296]

what about seong jin cho?? 😭

[@benlawdy]

He will be mentioned in future episodes!

[@69EBubu]

and Hough ?

[@barney6888]

Harold C. Schoenberg, The Groves Dictionary and the King of Idiots himself, David Hurwitz have one thing in common - they deserve to be thoroughly and completely ignored into oblivion. If you pay even the slightest attention to anything they say, then you don't know music - At all.

[@krzysztofkrawczyk6320]

I switched off when he Mr. Distler used the word micromanagement referring to pianistic perfectionism and attention to detail. Cant stand corposlang in real life. Sorry.