F. Liszt Rondo Fantastique "El Contrabandista" Valentina Lisitsa

La Campanella On Steroids ? :-)This is perhaps the MOST unplayable piece of music I ever encountered! La Campanella , or Feux Follets ( both are clearly hinted here) are walk in a park in comparison....Early Liszt, from the period when he honestly thought that piano being a percussive instrument there is no point of making any attempt at legato,and one might as well enjoy frolicking in most head-spinning skips and repeated notes :-) The piece (which is based on Manuel Garcia's popular song) was titled in the first edition as "Op.5 #2". Funny , I think that was the last piece Liszt gave an opus number, anticipating how many works he is going to write :) Liszt intended this piece as a bravura finale for his recitals - but according to many reports , he failed utterly . Too difficult???? LOL
A friend of mine who used to present great Soviet artists on their tours in Italy told me that the only person who played it LIVE was Pletnev. But even then Pletnev told him that he quit on this piece , calling it "unplayable". You can check for yourself - the music is available freely here:
tinyurl.com/6rdv2h8
Let me know how far you progress, OK ? It makes for an easy sight-reading. But do pay attention to indicated tempo marks. They are truly insane :-)
For some fun go to middle of page 22 or page 28 and tell me how you like it :-) A hint... it would make for a hilarious video. Hitting those notes is a gamble no matter how many days spent practicing. La Campanella infamous skips are two octaves shorter ....
Liszt recording project in Hannover , Germany. Dec 5, 2011.
Sound track used in this video is for camera only. The original 8 track mix will be used for the LP and CD available at a later time.

[@Papkazz]

Liszt: So, I have this new completely unplayable piece... Valentina: Hold my vodka...

[@yoshi_drinks_tea]

Liszt: (΄◉◞౪◟◉｀)

[@Eraser_BC]

Liszt: Alright, I've come back. Try this one. (Points to Spanish Fnatasy.) I'm seriously interested to see someone play this well lol; I haven't seen it done. Not saying this performance wasn't good, btw. On the contrary, it's easily one of the best performances I've ever seen among pieces with few arrangements.

[@user-yg7qp9ub4l]

best comment, collega

[@user-yg7qp9ub4l]

только есть ещё вариант на вокзале, там ааще круто она сделала всё

[@wilsoncrocker]

not gonna lie, was kinda bummed when i realized i was too late to buy tickets... 😟 by 7 years...

[@JD-hk1mj]

Haha

[@paulpayet9237]

sometimes i want her to press a wrong note to be sure she's not a robot

[@nickcanuso]

The emotions she's able to convey definitely proves that! :-)

[@paulpayet9237]

you're absolutly right ! :)

[@reauguimo]

Paul Payet she does play wrong tones. As far as I know, this recording has been edited. There's other one, that she plays in some airport and there happens a lot. :)

[@loveharrydaily]

Paul Payet she was practicing a Rachmaninoff piece for a recording (an etude if I remember correctly) and she said "I need to take a break, the lights are getting dim and my eyes can't focus. I'm tired". That's how I knew she was human.

[@khymaaren]

If you watch some of her recital videos you'll hear some mistakes. But not many. :)

[@MateusKaterp]

it's no surprise, she's called Lisitsa... she's like female Liszt

[@itolace9795]

Kater touche - you`re so quite right! Bravo! Hypothetical dialogue between Valentina Lisitsa and Ferenc 'Franz' Liszt : "Valentina - May I interpret you with full bravure and dense, absolute emotion, where will I dare to go beyond to exploring the extreme limits of human psycho-physical possibilities? Liszt - Yes I approve and want really this - go my dear lady and do your best. I will be with you! I think that you are exactly THE CHOSEN ONE for this. One day the best minds of future mankind will understand how much ahead my time I was. Pay close and,full attention also to Charlie Albright and Yan Ayrton. Both young people already have my true spirit and genius."

[@dreamernaturallife5095]

Yeeeeeeessss

[@hopesonmakokha5217]

I thought about that before 😂

[@msq0001]

I would like to inform you that Lisitsa is not a female Liszt. Lisitsa is an Ukrainian name and means female fox.

[@alexknezevic8327]

Lisitsa is a Slavic word for a (female) fox, List is a Slavic word for a leaf.

[@Hjpoia]

I need 10 hands and 3 brains to play this.

[@Marathonracer]

+ Ella Finstad Big deal. Bugs Bunny could do it with two feet and no hands and a rabbit brain while eating a carrot and chasing a pesky musical mouse.

[@davidhg117]

+Marathonracer except bugs plays a way easier piece called hungarian rapshody n°2

[@Marathonracer]

+davidhg117 * Rhapsody I'm well aware of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 that Bugs played in "Rhapsody Rabbit" since I posted this same joke to someone else with a similar comment. Read it again: "Bugs Bunny could do it with two feet and no hands and a rabbit brain while eating a carrot and chasing a pesky musical mouse. " IT'S A JOKE ! It's about THIS video . What the hell does that joke have to do with Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 ???? That's why I intentionally left off any reference to "Rhapsody Rabbit". But if you feel the need to tear a joke to pieces just to pretentiously show what a smartass you are, that Bugs was playing an "easier" piece in "Rhapsody Rabbit", I'm glad you had fun, although it's too bad you didn't get the joke. You're supposed to LAUGH at a good joke, not pick it to pieces. Bugs was also playing a cartoon abbreviated version of the Hungarian Rhapsody No 2 . Would you like to pick that apart, too ? Bugs can't wait to give you a piece of his mind on that ! BTW, it's interesting that you think Hungarian Rhapsody No 2 is so easy that you can joke about it.

[@davidhg117]

Marathonracer if im supposed to "laugh at a joke" and "not pick it to pieces" as well as avoid to "pretentiously show how smartass i am" then i should try to be your exact opposite, don't you think?

[@Ace1King1]

you're 3/13 there.

[@lustydreams]

No haters saying others’ interpretations are better this time because nobody else can play it!

[@comment6864]

yeah.. rarely performed

[@pawncube2050]

I honestly prefer Ferenc Liszt's interpretation. I remember him playing, sad that people didn't like it much.

[@danielperanginangin5981]

Look up Sergey Belyavskiy. He's just as awesome too 😊

[@frankdelvan1294]

Only Pop music

[@neonkutya]

@@danielperanginangin5981 thanks for mention him i watched him and his play. He is playing faster and maybe more ?She sounds more dinamic accurate and living than him though.

[@wrstrfgh]

Funny, I am listening to Liszt's music for some 40 years and never came across this one. No wonder, nobody plays it!

[@chrisbenna506]

wrstrfgh I think the fact that it's ridiculously hard goes along with that.

[@pooliansshots6731]

I thought I knew all of Lizst's music. Valentina proved me wrong.

[@frankiewinters1255]

Same! I thought I was Liszt's biggest fan yet somehow this awesome piece got missed on me!

[@8bitcarrot]

Nobody talented enough to play it haha. I don't have the ear for it, but I heard someone say that she makes mistakes in some runs in this videos.

[@pianobanana3863]

+8bitcarrot Yes she does make some mistakes, but none of them destroy the music. Some are: - Eb instead of E 7:17 - right hand octaves E 7:41 to 7:42 - left hand 8:13

[@gracetempleton8691]

Valentina Lisitsa is the only virtuoso pianist I've encountered whose commentary is nearly as entertaining as her playing. :)

[@michelschaffner2960]

Grace Templeton je suis bouleversé par ce phénomène musical et humain. Je retrouve l'émotion que m'avait fait ressentir Argerich il y a longtemps. Quel bienfait ! Michel schaffner

[@luizamsalgado]

Yes ! I agree ! Her comments are to be treasured too ! Simply precious, showing the great human being she is on top of everything else ! I love her comments !

[@samthepianoman]

Ashish Xiangi Kumar

[@samthepianoman]

He has really good commentary

[@samthepianoman]

Oh lol

[@ludvigvanbeethoven3422]

Me after finishing the hammerklavier fugue in: "I did the hardest piano piece ever to play." Franz Liszt: "Hold my beer."

[@samthepianoman]

This is not as difficult as your Hammerklavier, BEETHOVEN

[@aya-yk8iq]

😌😌

[@davisatdavis1]

@@dadaketgasparge do it 😂

[@dafyliz]

Is this harder than Hammerklavier and Gaspard de la nuit?

[@davisatdavis1]

@@dafyliz Most likely, yes. As far as I know, only three pianists have ever performed this piece. Although, there are many more pianists out there who, in my opinion, have more than enough skill to pull it off.

[@bayestraat]

Underrated pianist. Almost every piece she's performed has far more essence and perfection than any of those warsaw competition winners. Just listen to Tiffany Poon, Lang Lang and other more renounced pianists and you'll realise Lisitsa has that magic that I've found with nobody else so far

[@vedantthanki745]

Very true

[@marcoscorvo2514]

She’s the best pianist I’ve ever heard, and I’ve heard a lot. She’s unique in 2 aspects: her technique is amazing (I’ve not seen better) and her magic to interpret the piece is beyond words.

[@marcinbabinski6152]

You are an unfair judge. A pianist must not be a technical perfectonist. Sometimes the feeling, the spirit, the mood is far mor important

[@bayestraat]

@@marcinbabinski6152 There's no need to cite my entire point again. No offense

[@sheldoncooper1569]

Seong-Jin Cho, Krystian Zimerman? Not to say Lisitsa isn't great, but there are others.

[@modelstatue]

Her hands make playing piano look so easy! I swear, out of all the pianists out there, her hand position and style are my absolute favorite out of the thousands I have seen!

[@fiish2334]

This girl can literally play anything on the piano omg. I'd be happy if I can play a half as well as she can

[@abhisarma7249]

+Jimmy Evans Get tf out of here

[@devildez]

You'd be happy if you play 1/100th of what she plays tbh:D

[@watchmakerful]

Fantastic... PS, 290??? Yes, this unusual girl needs the most unusual piano...

[@vladyb0y]

Then show me a person full of feeling who can play this piece, kind sir.

[@zackebrorsson9374]

Fiish she Can not play trancandante d'écution Papagini etude 6

[@davidhg117]

tried to sight read playing this... i am now blind ;_;

[@liebesleid]

after giving a look to the 4

[@liebesleid]

to the 4 octaves jumps, I started to cry because I realized I will never play this

[@Verkrekt]

Come on, you just gotta practice a lot more than other pieces, but it's definitely possible ;)

[@nikitalourdey4043]

please someone explain to me what is sight reading

[@andream.464]

To read sheet music at first sight

[@adrianparente988]

Beam this into space, alien life would arrive in two hours.

[@lizedi7440]

lol

[@thecrappyanimepianist4293]

Adrian Parente lol why 2 hours?

[@jabezteng9872]

sound cannot travel in a vacuum

[@monkeydroofie7344]

+Anonymous Anonymous I know it's in jest, but space isn't a perfect vacuum so sound can still travel, albeit very inefficiently :)

[@frankiewinters1255]

Nooo but radiowaves can :P and I'm sure if they're flying around at warp speed and teleporting between dimensions and realities then they've sussed the radio! Aliens don't visit us because when they tune into our frequencies they get slapped in the face with some bieber katy perry generic crap and they conclude we're not worth interacting with because we must be a stupid species

[@r3cy]

what a strange side effect of us evolving to hold on to branches.

[@coragon42]

>bashes fingers repeatedly in complex patterns on miniature wooden blocks

[@DiegoRivera-xg8xd]

This is exactly the kind of thing that would make anyone question such belief

[@bokumo7063]

Have you ever watched an orangutan's wrists and hands as they spin 360 degrees by one hand? Seriously, it is Lisztian.

[@bokumo7063]

@@DiegoRivera-xg8xd The snowball effect of manual dexterity, the pleasure principle, and the central nervous system reaches critical mass and VOILA!

[@alexloveday6430]

@@bokumo7063 thought you misspelt Viola...

[@lePirateMan]

I cried while listening to this, but it was my depression not the music.

[@vbeeraba2789]

L

[@creationfied]

@@vbeeraba2789 bruh lmao

[@monkeydroofie7344]

I'll never understand how a human being attains the amount of coordination and general brain power that it takes to play a masterpiece like this. Bless you, Valentina.

[@Jameswallace21]

I watch this every night with a glass of wine and marvel , future generations are going to say 'what was it like to be alive in her time' we are and we are blessed

[@andresguillermoalvarezlope418]

If climate allow that many next générations to come up lol

[@Schleiermacher1000]

Yes and you too, thank you

[@cagdas7915]

You played one of the unplayable pieces :)) you're the best! achievements..

[@lucjanocastro]

Valentina - did you realize you're the number one ?!

[@freeman2]

+Luciano Castro *smiles*

[@conradsabatier5223]

Didn't you mean to say that "She is *The One*" (à la Neo)?

[@osmanaligiire9811]

@@conradsabatier5223 neo the one mdrrr

[@hesamaskari]

Sorry I know I just watched this with my own eyes, but it still does not look humanly possible! Fantastic and beautiful performance.

[@RedCello1912]

What most people think is that she is an outstanding pianist. She is far more than that. Compare her interpretations with those of anyone else, and you begin to realize that she is first and foremost one of the greatest musicians of all time. However, we would not know that if she weren't a completely polished performer, able to convey these interpretations. So consider yourself very fortunate to be living in the same era as Valentina. And I am certain that she is driven so hard to play pieces, such as this one, so that she can convey her interpretations to the public. She feels a great need to do so. And we should be grateful for that. Let's enjoy the accomplishments of this living legend and not be distracted by the comments of her jealous detractors.

[@MrKKilroy]

I believe, if we are going to praise anyone for being alive and a legend, it should be now 75 year old Martha Argerich. She had arguably the best technique in her prime, and could play things like this close to twice as fast as Valentina, and not only could she play faster and correctly in everything she did, she also managed to convey the most amazing lyricism and feeling in her music. She is a true legend, and definitely one of the best musicians to have ever lived. I feel that Valentina can only aspire to reach what Martha reached when she 40 years old, bearing with technicality and emotion. Don't get me wrong, I love Valentina and hearing her play, so i'm not biased in anyway. I just feel compelled to actually stand up for one of the true greatest of all time. Have a good day.

[@RedCello1912]

This business about one musician playing faster than another has no place in such a discussion. Both pianists have learned their technique to the point that it isn't a consideration in their performing. That's all that counts on this point. Now it might be interesting to note that more than one respected critic has said that Valentina has the lyricism of Martha Argerich combined with the power of Wilhelm Backhaus. I think this appropriate description does all three of them justice. There are other truly outstanding pianists, so not mentioning them all does not do a disservice to any one of them. However, Valentina following an active career today, should be recognized for her beautiful accomplishments without prejudice. She is a true gem.

[@MrKKilroy]

Dewey You are a rare person on KZbin. Thank you for this little discussion, knowing it wouldn't have been possible with most people.

[@anynomoussucker823]

Joey Kirk i wouldnt care if i was her.. I mean, i want to do music too for the public, not to be honored by some medal or something.

[@yeet69yearsagoedited48]

I’d like to live in the Liszt era, that’s the true music

[@Dafoodmaster]

i was flossing my teeth to this and i accidentally sawed through my jaw bone

[@babygirl4169]

😬😬😬😬

[@Raresvoicila3170]

Simply piano: Day 1: chopsticks Day 1 and two seconds:

[@fxr2244]

Lmao

[@davisatdavis1]

Those ads make me feel beyond contempt.

[@ayhamshaheed7740]

*Wow, with simply piano, I can play la campanella after just three days of playing!*

[@thereyougoagain1280]

“I kNeW hE wAs SPEnDiNg A lOt Of TiMe aT ThE pIaNo, BuT i WaS dOubtfUL he cOULd GeT tHaT fAR WiTH aN APP”

[@theosungminjeong6251]

@@ayhamshaheed7740 HAHA

[@kisa6143]

Wow. I wouldn't be able to play for 11 minutes. My fingers would probably break.

[@JuaniAlva]

Yesterday I went to a presentation where the best young pianists of the world played for about 45 mins each and they played the hardest pieces ever writen, I sat in awe watching their hands move with such speed and perplexity, it didn't seem like something a normal human being could do. When they finished they would be totally drenched in sweat.

[@MM151258]

Juancho Alvarad

[@pianobanana3863]

Good for you that Liszt only wanted you to play for 9.5 minutes.

[@kiharuwebb4027]

Juancho Alvarado what was the name of this event?

[@stone_fpv2599]

Yeah, her Fingers did that too! Thats Why she cut togather a few trys to one Video! No hate, this Performance is absolutly insane😍

[@kervinkylle4484]

Most people: “this piece is unplayable” Lisitsa: LOL!

[@yoshi_drinks_tea]

Lisitsa be like: Hold my vodka

[@NeilM10]

Some years ago, before KZbin made her famous, I was talking with her after a concert (where? in a Manhattan piano store!!) About piano, of. course, but also about chess - she had been a top player too. *I* told her about this piece, as being THE most difficult - if too long for its content. So: blame me!

[@AtomHeartBat]

What did she say? :) :)

[@AlejandroGonzalez-rw9kt]

was she good at chess too? It seems she excels at both my passions.

[@maryamsaidi8513]

Nobody plays Liszt like Valentina❤❤❤

[@ChemistryAtomistic]

Valentina, our Muse of Classic Music!

[@DragosDomnara]

I love how effortless she plays. she is there to simply play and her gracefulness is what makes watching her play so beautiful, I feel privileged to watch this for free.

[@amiapsychopat]

i used to listen to this a lot a few years earlier and now i came back just to appreciate her beautiful hand posture once more. she may not be my favorite pianist but her hands are the most graceful i've seen

[@Screw064]

2 minutes into this and I’m thinking “what’s unplayable about this anyways” and then I checked the time

[@mobyhunr]

You live in a time when Val performs on hd youtube for you. The stars have aligned for this living legend and the world! Enjoy

[@Santosificationable]

What Valentina Lisitsa has done here is introduced a new kind of music, long forgotten; the bravura Liszt. As a young man Liszt made a lot of transcriptions of opera tunes that have the reputation of being more technically demanding than even the hardest of his Transcendental Etudes (though bear in mind that the Transcendental Etudes had an earlier version, the Douze Grandes Etudes, with added notes for larger stretches) - this was Liszt being a showman and introducing radical developments in pianoforte technique. He was basically exploiting the fullest possibilities of the piano, for at that time the piano was beginning to be taken as a serious concert solo instrument. So what's interesting is how a new avenue of music is opened up by this act. We usually hear of his Sonata in b minor, Transcendental etudes, Piano Concerti, and the like, but not often his terrifyingly stunt-laden early music like the transcriptions of Don Juan, Norma, and this one. It takes a concert pianist of particular reknown to re-popularise a "neglected" period or style of music, and I am glad for it!

[@clyneheretic]

This is a bit like watching musical tai chi: her fluid action is almost as beautiful to watch as the sounds she makes are to hear. No wonder Valentina's a hit on You Tube, she's mesmerising, even with the sound off - and with it on - WOW!

[@denisebarcelos]

God!!! You're brilliant, lady! I can't stop watch this... it's unbelievable what you can do with your blessed fingers. Congratulations!

[@Gump-tion]

I bet not 1 person who gave this a thumbs down could come even remotely close to playing this piece.

[@Powerracer251]

+ivydude13 Well yea, she and Liszt are the only two people who have ever been able to play it I think.

[@Daniel_1223]

+庞景宇 you're*

[@FocusMrbjarke]

If you dislike something your self is it because you could do better than they could? WTF

[@dylankim7724]

so you are saying you could play better than lang lang

[@vesteel]

so you guys are saying we are not allowed to have an opinion on their performances because we can't play them?

[@spandau4065]

9:00-9:40 is the most moving part of this piece. I can always find hope, peace and love here

[@YA-cl3jz]

Валентина Евгеньевна! Огромное Вам спасибо за возможность насладиться красотою музыки Франца Листа! Для нас, простых слушателей, произведения Листа часто звучат сухо, плоско, нервно и скучно. Вам удалось больше, чем сыграть одну из "неиграемых" вещей. А именно, Вам удалось показать, что Лист тот композитор, который за всей сложностью своих произведений оказывается еще и бесконечно красив!

[@bradleygannon7290]

goes to show that liszt is one of the greatest things to happen to the piano the virtosity in this is breath taking

[@alcofribasnasier2732]

у-у-у-у-х... не будучи поклонником исключительно виртуозных произведений (Листа в частности), должен признать: реально дух захватывает. спасибо. Brava, Valentina!

[@alldaybrekkie]

This piece is incredible, its the very definition of mad genius. And how amazing to pull it off, its truly amazing to see what those fingers can do. Congratulations Valentina and thanks.

[@AbdulazizShabakouh]

True!

[@marblestock]

unbelievable talent.

[@awe331]

"it makes for an easy sight reading" that made my self esteem drop even more

[@aonutsihasnouith]

How is she so damn good at this? She’s one of the only 3 pianists I know who make me hear new things on every piece I hear them play. (Martha Agerich, Marc Andre-Hamelin are the other two). This is a masterclass on different articulations and ways of touching the piano.

[@CorCor-mq8vm]

Hamelin

[@Patrick-do9vw]

What about Yuja Wang?

[@aonutsihasnouith]

@@CorCor-mq8vm fixed can’t believe I missed that for gods sake I met the guy in person

[@aonutsihasnouith]

@@Patrick-do9vw Yuja Wang is great too, but maybe one tier lower for me.

[@askew137_zra]

The more you listen to this, the better it gets.

[@DucDeLamballe]

I'm SO SO glad the high-quality version of this is back!

[@CarlosRicovslosmolinosdeviento]

I cought my self with my mouth wide open, trying not to miss a note and waiting to see the piano on fire at any second. Valentina: love you

[@Marsbonfire007]

Imagine how long it took just to write this piece down.

[@dlou3264]

BRAVO! Franz Liszt, the gymnast of the piano!! Valentina Lisitsa, the pianist who matches move and tone with grace and power! Exciting!

[@turekihlstedt1549]

This part 2:44 gives me actual chills. It's so well written and the execution is flawless

[@amiapsychopat]

3:25 too- those arpeggio things are so cool

[@dafyliz]

Liszt: You can't defeat me Me: I know, but she can *Points to Valentina*

[@nirazed3492]

Lisitsa Fantastique…

[@fred8720]

ya Valentina liszt ista

[@fred8720]

itsa

[@davidsmalt]

Her style is incomparable. Fantastique!!!

[@mstalcup]

Thank you for providing the link to the score in the notes! Hey y'all, it's really fun to download the score and follow along. It affords an understanding of how demanding and innovative this piano composition is. Also you will appreciate how impossibly exact this performance is!

[@lukraniom8731]

Exactly what I did too. It was definitely enlightening and has me wanting to learn this piece soooo bad, but I as all humans should, know my limits, which fall very much below what this piece demands.

[@johnstaf]

Such a magnificent piano. Brilliantly played as always Valentina!

[@Jose-es9xy]

I was an absolute privilege listen to that magnificent piece

[@hamishscott7343]

Please do this with Go-Pro hands view

[@792Paul]

Good idea!

[@charlesmcbain8975]

The World how

[@andrewzhang8512]

@@adi_bintang_syahputra no you would need to stretch to go-pro so far that it would break

[@michaelfoy8447]

I'd have a siezure

[@_Natan]

It's an honor to be alive on the same day that you're alive too, you will be remembered for many years, you're exceptional.

[@sammiecarter5149]

Thank you for all your hard work. It was absolutely wonderful to listen to!

[@josephlangham6641]

Valentina I could listen to your beautiful playing day and night. You take me to another place, so talented and lovely with it. I have brought your music from I tunes. Thank you so much lots of love to you Joe xxxx

[@1sherlockgnomes]

Last but not Liszt, she's amazing

[@hopesonmakokha5217]

😂😂😂

[@toprak3479]

dad joke moment

[@tkkrystle]

Thank you for taking on this piece, it is absolutely beautiful and you made it look effortless!

[@marcychristoff219]

Bravo Valentina! Liszt would be thrilled! I discovered your videos this year and am so glad I did. 👏🎹

[@jojate100]

ear Valentina, only you can make me hear the violins instead of the piano keys, even though you play the piano, it's incredible! It's like a whole orchestra comes out of the piano. You make me addicted. Dear friends Regards Thomas😍

[@user-uo7wg5br8n]

"This is perhaps the MOST unplayable piece of music I ever encountered!" she says right before she nails it!

[@blashernandez3938]

Grace and beauty in motion, she is truly blessed with this talent. Bravo!

[@lumixxism]

does anyone else think about all the time and effort she put in that short performance? This is amazing. This piano is singing with her soul.

[@amedeemereaux5678]

Will you play some Alkan or Mereaux? Seriously you are one of the few pianists that has an amazing and unique technique and would easily bring out these dead composers. It is such a shame that there aren't any famous pianist who would tackle into those pieces.

[@charles-valentinalkan5681]

Amédée Méreaux haha dude I already asked her once in the comments. She doesn't even know who this guys were

[@f.p.2010]

Charles- Valentin Alkan totally - because she didn’t play Le Preux or anything (though I get what you mean, Le Preux is one of Alkan’s weaker pieces and she would have a lot to discover.)

[@punkel66]

This left me in tears. The only thing that was missing was maestro Listisa fainting at the end and someone running up from behind and catching her. I have to partially agree with ivydude13 in spirit, but not in point. It is hard to imagine someone giving this a thumbs down even if you hate this piece and the maestro playing it. I don't love this song but the ability to perform this must warrant nod (in not a bow) of true technical ability of laying it out and letting the music speak for itself. Remarkable!

[@aligh18]

I feel so privileged to be alive at the same time as Valentina Lisitsa.

[@henrydenner5448]

It boggles my mind that Valentina Lisitsa can make such a mindblowingly difficult Liszt work seem so simple to play. Her body shows absolutely no sign of any tension. 🤤 She is stratospherically good. 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻 I am completely flabbergasted. 😨😨😨😨😨😨😨😨😨😨😨😨😨😨

[@simmo303]

All by himself, Liszt advanced the development of pianos by some 50 years. The "Harpsichord with hammers" would not cope with this.

[@adamsquibbles]

Vertuosity is an understatement for Ms. Lisitsa. I've seen her for years, and her technique is among the best...her musicality and interpretation will soon catch up with her and she will speak in phrases as well as she speaks in octaves!

[@warrengwonka2479]

Richard Adam Riddle OK, Valentina, Now go play it on a street upright in a train station!

[@alcofribasnasier2732]

@@warrengwonka2479 Ô cerveaux enfantins! (Baudelaire, Le Voyage)

[@playpianolikewoah]

Valentina. Beautiful. One day you should do some videos on technique. For examples: Would love to hear what you have to say about those crazy blind jumps in opposite directions. Or your really great octaves you seem to be able to do for days at a time. Or the large arpeggios you do with the left hand. People tend to stretch when doing those and hurt themselves.

[@IdaBruna]

Valentina toca com uma facilidade estupenda:transforma a transcendência numa brincadeira! É a minha pianista predileta 💞

[@uruzumi]

Damn not even took my first cofee and i've teary eyes. The passion and dedication Valentina gives us is truly something to have gratitude for. She's something else, thank you for giving us so much of yourself.

[@dlm5505]

This is so inspiring. Also, all hail the Patron Saint of Classical Piano, Valentina Lisitsa.

[@alhfgsp]

Some pianists say the content of this piece is not good enough to be worth the challenge of learning it. Those people are just salty they can't play it! I can't play it either, but no sour grapes for me. This piece is both beautiful and one of the most challenging in the repertoire.

[@asunciondiezarce1828]

I think Valentina si wanderful and its a pleasure listening her all the time. Thanks ,god bless her

[@robertpalermo4219]

Thank you again for a beautiful, if impossible, performance.

[@bobkonradi1027]

Just as an aside, notice 1) this is a Bosendorfer concert grand piano. 2). notice the 4 keys at the far left side of the keyboard (the bass keys). This is a special order piano that has an extra 4 keys beyond the normal 88, for those pianists that want an extra half an octave at the bass end of the spectrum. I'd read about this special order feature but had never actually seen one. They are all black in color instead of the normal white, so the pianist will have less chance of getting confused. Now, back to Valentina's El Contrabandista.

[@shydead1392]

Actually there are 9 extra keys finishing the lowest octave. 5 black white keys and 4 black black keys

[@sssimon6156]

Absolutely amazing that she played this all from memory!

[@mwsc04]

OK, the more I hear this the more I love it, and this performance is spot-on at capturing it all, why have I been coming back to this like every other day for the past two weeks now?

[@classicalalways]

I am on my 5th listen today to this - having heard it a few times as well. No matter how many times I hear it, the same joy and smily comes to my face. Thanks Valentina for championing this most entertaining work.

[@philippe573]

This is my favorite interpretation of this piece. Every note is clear and controlled. Flawless technique with great beauty and depth of artistic expression. Very elegantly and beautifully rendered.

[@kohashiguchi1454]

In some ways the best time to hear great piano playing---is now---and you're one of the reasons proving that!

[@user-qm4dr9zh1n]

Thank you Valentina! You are great!

[@ldece627]

Do you do Q&A's sometimes ? It would be amazing to ask some interesting questions. You're by far the most "reachable" top notch pianist and it shows well how you don't let anyone determine how you should be in this classical music world full of rules and expectations. Very enjoyable

[@leonidgoncharov1787]

Да ладно вам -- кампанеллы там всякие, огни блуждающие... ударный инструмент.... Замечательное исполнение. Спасибо, Валя.

[@TELarson58]

Amazing performance. I live in Montana, USA where we seldom have an opportunity to enjoy live performances by world class pianists such as Valentina. It is therefore with great appreciation and pleasure that I come to You Tube on a regular basis and listen to Valentina most of all.

[@JLew-ch8yu]

No words to describe her performance! Love that piano too❤️❤️❤️

[@andrewprograms]

I've listened to this at least 100 times over the past few months and my breath is still taken away every time. Thank you for sharing your talent with us, Valentina

[@helostcontroll]

As a fellow pianist, this makes me so happy and sad at the same time. It's so frustrating.

[@aceplayerMusic]

I decided to subscribe after this. I'm speechless

[@rodterrell304]

That is Tremendous!!! Never heard this piece or pianist before and I am amazed and awestruck!!

[@diyapradeep5639]

HOW IS SHE SO DAMN GOOOD CANT STOP WATCHING FRssss!!!!!!!!! #respect The amt of practice is unimaginable

[@chiajunghsu5108]

SO DAMN GOOOD😁😁😁😁😁

[@chubsquad5614]

Everyone else: It's unplayable. Lisitsa: It makes for easy sight reading. Yeah. Sure. Mmm-hmm. Right.

[@sagminor]

Heck for all I know half of what she is playing could be wrong, but it is beautiful and masterful regardless. So wonderful for her to bring this to everyone on the internet. Thank you so much Valentina

[@ternitamas]

Listening and watching Valentina play is a complete surreal and ADDICTIVE experience. Every single time!!! I love her!