(VIDEO) György Cziffra - Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 (1967)

April 22, 1967: Salle Pleyel, Paris, France (Prestige de la Musique -TV Broadcast)
Unavailable commercially.
Chopin: Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor, Op.11
- Georges Cziffra Jr / Orchestre National de l'ORTF
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[@ClassicalPianoRarities]

Buy our latest commercial release of recordings never-before available on CD: tinyurl.com/wjsewyg Brailowsky: Liszt Concerto No 1 (live 1945, Mitropoulos) Arrau: Liszt Concerto No 2 (live 1935, Rosbaud - recently discovered) Cziffra: Liszt Totentanz (live 1962, Benzi, from superior source) Magaloff: Liszt Hungarian Fantasy (new to the discography - live 1965, Ansermet)

[@sanfordpress8943]

Read this man's story. Imprisoned twice. Notice the wrist support. Forced to carry concrete up flights of stairs in a labor camp This is perfection. I'm in tears

[@vova47]

Cziffra - one of the very few greats and still underrated and not nearly as known as he should be.

[@antondiffering4727]

I only discovered him in Feb 2022. .

[@Highinsight7]

I think... those folks who are ABSOLUTELY OBSESSED with the piano... in classical music... they, no matter where they are in life or the world will eventually come across this wonderful man... and life will never be the same for them... as it was for us!

[@Marinavalerevna]

​@@antondiffering4727 я тоже. Могу сказать про себя - жизнь до и после. Удивительный ❤

[@Mary.ua.]

Competitors oF Chopin Competition is not even close to this artistic level and sincerity in musical expression///

[@babonicarlos]

Nor some judges...

[@VICTOBERN]

One gets that distinct feeling that Chopin would most certainly approve.

[@Isuzu81]

There's no signal loss at all, between his brain and his fingers. They completely obey, effortlessly. And his brain knows EXACTLY how this song should be played.

[@albertoalfaroginer7554]

Extraordinary comment.

[@jozsefpala5487]

György Cziffra was one of the best pianists in the world! He was complete, technique and music together. He was a genius!!!

[@summ466]

Grew up in a poor hungarian-roma family and became one of the greatest pianists, he was brilliant and emotional player.

[@summ466]

He was a genius no doubt about it, one of the greatest, in one row, with horowitz, richter, rubinstein.

[@astrasfo]

Never heard him perform but obviously Cziffra is a obviously VERY great artist. Noted that his tempi are far more relaxed and deliberate than many of the other virtuosi who specialize in Chopin. His artistry is unrivaled.

[@barakjoe]

Nobody is perfect, except Gjörgy Cziffra

[@wilh3lmmusic]

Only one problem with him: he’s mortal (and now sadly dead)😢

[@elmiramuradova561]

Very nice comment 😊 thanks

[@nicoleroger119]

Un immense et exceptionnel musicien ⭐️💫🌹

[@valerieheinderyckx4506]

Perfect...is Beautiful. ❤

[@guymandudely324]

Imagine a world where a virtuoso could practice and perform without the distractions of mobile phones, computers, tweets, facebook page and the thousand other advertising-oriented distractions that plague us today.

[@zongorapiano9659]

Some people regard Cziffra as just a Liszt pianist,but I love his all repertoire,specially Chopin.

[@matthewraden5210]

His Mozart performances were superb!

[@alhfgsp]

I can only imagine what he would have sounded like live.

[@leestamm3187]

A marvelous pianist, in both classical and jazz. Considering the hand injuries he suffered in an Iron Curtain labor camp, it was amazing that he could still play so beautifully. His was truly a triumph over adversity to achieve greatness.

[@kingsfort1]

Tamás Vásáry tells of being taken to a club to hear the amazing pianist. It was GC playing. Vásáry says that it was like two pianists playing at once and he simply stood with his mouth open as this amazing man improvised to popular tunes of the day. Amazing!

[@jozsefpala5487]

Szerintem ő volt a valaha élt egyik lejobb zongoraművesz! Attól tartok soha nem kapta meg a megfelelő elismerést. Ez változni latszik, legnagyobb örömre! Cziffra György egy zseni volt! Köszönöm a felvételt, rendkívül jó érzéssel tölt el őt együtt látni és hallgatni a fiával, aki szintén egy szenzációs karmester volt.

[@klaudiaerdei8253]

Egyetértek Önnel!

[@JJTownley_Classical-Composer]

What a wonderful historical document. We don't even have anything like this from Horowitz. I'm gratified that for all his technique he chose to take a more subdued lyrical approach to this gem though he could have played it faster than Argerich if he'd wanted.

[@ritakinkaradulovic2868]

I agree totaly....it is no point to play it like Martha does...this interpretation is truly magnificent

[@JJTownley_Classical-Composer]

@@ritakinkaradulovic2868 Even Martha in her later performances slows it down quite noticeably from her earlier fiery fast as the wind classic recording. There's a marvelous performance from her a few years ago here on KZbin.

[@richardfrankel6102]

Hmm...I wonder if Horowitz ever even had either of the Chopin Cti. in his repertoire. I'm sure RCA would have been only too happy to record them, if asked.

[@JJTownley_Classical-Composer]

​@@richardfrankel6102 As a young rare record hunter I was always on the hunt for performances taken off the radio broadcasts because lots of things that pianists never recorded, they did play in concert. At the time Horowitz had a performance of the d-minor Brahms that came out on a non-commercial label that I picked up. And Gieseking? Who'd have thought him doing the Rach 3rd, even though technically it was a mess. There was also Michelangeli doing the Schumann a-minor. But the one I really recall as a piano student was a very rare recording on 78's my piano teacher had of a fabulous performance of Rachmaninoff playing the Liszt 1. There is a double-hand scale at the conclusion that rips from top to bottom of the keyboard. It's two measures and most good pianists play it in about 4 seconds. Rachmaninoff played it in about 2. I was just blown away by the speed and accuracy. It was obviously taken from a live broadcast because Rach never commercially recorded it. A crying shame it's been lost. I don't know what happened to his collection.

[@funfor1life]

Roger Federer is the Cziffra of tennis! Most gracious, fluid, technically sound, elegant, modest, virtuoso player of all time who thereby makes it all look much easier than should be allowed. But of course that's why we can watch or listen to them for hours. Perfection has, at least, one name!

[@musical_lolu4811]

Gosh, he's not even trying! Like a breeze.

[@Hjominbonrun]

you have seen the chromatique Galop? Anything else is just jokes and a laugh compared to that craziness.

[@kandutery]

With years, i getting surprised about how beautiful can be Cziffra’s chopin music

[@hutiray]

Hundert year ago he was Born. Lets remember of him. Fantastic Talent, life of him Full of Suffer

[@taylorsmurphy]

Even among the best pianists it is impossible to get the 'piano solo' at the end right. You know the part I mean. It is just impossible, and Cziffra nails it.

[@marcbauw1]

Musical craftmanship together with his high virtuosity gives that kind of a result. He was a unique artist.

[@chrismiles8822]

Ah, my favorite pianist, CZIFFERA! This team up with his son as conductor is priceless. Soon the tragedy 😢

[@esejsnake1503]

I never noticed before how he and his son smile at each other after the performance. Worth noting. They seem happy playing together and that is mirrored in the conducting. The last movement is uniquely playful, sweet and calming, that's not very common.

[@aristotle719]

5th recording of hearing Chopin's No. 1. Just finished Gilels and Rubenstein. This is a sublime recording: as if Cziffra Jr. just put his own rules in this concerto and blocked everything else. He just puts a magical touch to it and every phrase comes clean and intact. What a performance.

[@ClassicalPianoRarities]

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[@ottopool2121]

Listen to Josef Hofmann's version ... truly amazing.

[@Highinsight7]

that is a GREAT recording... a bit on the fast side... @@ottopool2121

[@johnschlesinger2009]

I just came across this astonishing performance. Of course, I knew it would be technically remarkable, but I am astonished at the huge degree of freedom. I have never heard such rhythmical flexibility in this concerto, and the spareness of the pedalling is highly unusual. My favourite performances of the Chopin concertos remain those of Josef Hofmann, but this is amazing. And the young Cziffra's conducting is superb - father and son must have rehearsed a lot - the orchestra and the piano play as one.

[@NemesisCOD]

one of the greatest renditions of this piece i've heard

[@kandutery]

Absolutely

[@gspianoguitar4369]

Well ..if you are a pianist or aspire to be one - this is the man to inspire you to practice whatever you need to do to get even close to his touch, sound, musicality, all through a honed natural mesmeric technical facility that I doubt anybody has equalled. Result is that he makes it all look far too easy than it is !! I'd say of the younger generation maybe Daniil Trifonov is closest. He also seems to be able to do the very difficult with ease ..hopefully he can develop into something like Cziffra ....wonderful stuff

[@MichaelKaykov]

We are incredibly lucky to have a video of this. Hopefully a complete Liszt Totentanz video will surface one day, he played it as late as 1969.

[@luckylicks3497]

Totally agree. TOTALLY agree, this video is GOLD

[@pianosenzanima1]

it was Cziffra, and the others.

[@yondertz]

41 minutes spent enjoying this awesome recording is among the best times i spent during this lockdown. Bravo, father and son Cziffra! Bravo, Chopin! Thank you, Classical Piano Rarities!

[@benjaminsawyer1292]

I must admit, even after listening to Rosenthal's recording of this same Concerto, I must say that Cziffra (in my opinion) plays it with more affection.

[@marioargentieri1778]

Grazie per questo bellissimo video!!! La difficoltà di questo concerto (come in tutto Chopin ma qui in modo particolare) consiste nel raggiungere un equilibrio tra gli elementi di grande virtuosismo strumentale ma soprattutto il più importante è sublime elemento poetico che caratterizza questo magnifico concerto. Cziffra lo si è spesso etichettato come un semplice virtuoso? Questa interpretazione di Cziffra è semplicemente straordinaria ,e ci restituisce un'interpretazione poetica raffinata, densa di lirismo di sfumature, di intenzioni musicali assolutamente nuove e personali. I pianisti cosidetti "chopiniani", sono ben lontani da questa versione, non paragonabile ad altre nella sua UNICITÀ.

[@ritatorbilo5593]

Уникальное исполнение!!!! Невозможно без слез слушать и смотреть! Отец и сын 🙏🙏🙏

[@monikazana3501]

commento meraviglioso !

[@1982violinist]

incredible pianist, magnificent virtuosity .......... really individual sound ........... may rest in peace

[@summ466]

He was and will ever be masterclass pianist.

[@goktugblack]

The concerto is soo easy for him he puts grace notes here and there....

[@esejsnake1503]

Cziffra was remarkable. I've heard this concert numerous times and yet his music suprises me. It's breathtaking.

[@elenakun9318]

Невероятный уникальный человечный Cziffra György Спасибо Вам за эту встречу !

[@judithimmel381]

A karmester a fia, és ő kotta nélkül zongorázik. Csodálatos.

[@ritakinkaradulovic2868]

Az termèszetes hogy kotta nèlkül zongoràzik...majdnem mindenki ùgy csinàlja csak nem ilyen gyönyörűen mint Cziffra György😍

[@789armstrong]

A priceless video by one of the greatest pianists that ever lived. Cziffra's pianism is effortless and at next level genius.

[@paulmccarthy8345]

Haha I luuuuved how he played the orchestral chords in the end, so cheeky but so perfect! Outstanding performance and especially the final movement......filled with risks and artistic creativity. Awfully tragic what happened to his son many years later......Gyorgy senior never recovered after that and plunged into darkness.

[@pR-ms4cr]

Thr GOAT

[@albertofassone4240]

Wunderbar!! Welche Klangkunst, welche Poesie...

[@piano345]

Beautiful performance with a lovely cantabile touch. When Cziffra made his London Royal Festival Hall debut in 1957 the critics praised his variety of touch and shading of dynamics as much as his incredible virtuosity. This is not always reflected in his recordings as he seems to have been given some tinny sounding pianos. Later he recorded on a what sounds like a very bright toned Yamaha. Here in this Chopin concerto more justice is done to his tone quality and tone production. More please!

[@ClassicalPianoRarities]

Of course. More to come!

[@pianosenzanima1]

I don’t give a fuck about tone quality....it’s the way of phrasing that always hits me....fire and passion/beautiful musical taste at the same time...I send the critics to critic Liszt’s and Chopin’s pianos lets see what they would say then.

[@pianosenzanima1]

“Lovely cantabile touch”...show me a concert pianist ever that didn’t had that.

[@ClassicalPianoRarities]

Egon Petri

[@user-ud2sn7wc7k]

PS. I think both Cziffras are handsome.

[@Santosificationable]

Wow! Thank you so much! It is INCREDIBLE to see father and son play this!

[@merryquantagency2731]

OMG OMG OMG What a pianist!!!!

[@user-ud2sn7wc7k]

I didn't know this wonderful pianist until recently. Soon after I heard his piano, I found he was not only wonderful but also different from other pianists. There has been many wonderful pianist in the world, and in the history-- he must be one of them. On the other hand, he is not one of them--I mean he is different. I can't explain how. I only can say he is the only one. Thanks a lot for the upload. Thank you from Japan.

[@rosge]

Don't believe it. For many of us, Georges Cziffra is one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. Sure !

[@Rasparallelivanie]

the same feelings. more than a pianist. a Soul

[@gibsonlavery6978]

Know his life! It going to make you cry.

[@MrCrusader40]

Yes. Read his Cannons and Flowers.

[@kiwihans100]

He wrote a book about his life. The reason he wasnt well known in the west was due his living in communist controlled eastern europe and not free to tour the west. Next to Rubinstein he is the best chopin performer. Listen to the Etudes. He was also the best in playing Lizt.

[@BKlett]

Traumhaft gespielt!!! Danke, Georg!

[@ritatorbilo5593]

Спасибо!

[@meetykusch1]

quel génie Frederic Chopin, et les notes dans les mains, le corps, le cœur, l'esprit de György Cziffra sont comme de l'acuponcture pour mon âme

[@Rasparallelivanie]

more than music, more than a pianist!

[@cookiecham1183]

💕💕beautiful!!

[@michaeloleary1867]

Beautiful!

[@lorenzley1324]

A great pianist, a great talent, and a man who has suffered so much in his life, but he has never given up. He was an overcomer.

[@neut4788]

3:50 what a heavenly expression!!

[@klasszikuszene7434]

Csodálatos előadás és megható a végén az ünneplés

[@BelaDuka]

The Best forever!

[@elmiramuradova561]

Beginig from 16:40 this piece is gergerous shine!!!! Listening left hand spesially!!! Bravo! No every pianist do it. Cziffra so great!

[@robertoteixeira774]

wonderful !!!!!!!!!!

[@gattutit6974]

Almost unbelievable! I love György Cziffra!

[@Leeidealist]

His hands are gigantic and they were born for piano

[@ClassicalPianoRarities]

He had normal-sized hands compared to Lhevinne, Rachmaninoff, and even Lipatti.

[@Leeidealist]

Really Surprising From the video they looked pretty big to me

[@sashole1]

Phenomenal. Am at a loss of words.

[@calcmandan]

Maurice Le Roux was really young there. Cziffra's playing was uncharacteristically refined but then he's one of my favorites for that era.

[@EvgeniyaV]

Выдающееся исполнение!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@klasszikuszene7434]

Köszönjük, legalább most élvezhetjük az előadásait, ha már élőben nem láthattuk. Nagyon megható a fiával látni, valamint jó a hosszan tartó tapsot, is hallani a végén

[@leonemicouleau4948]

Je l'ai vu à Poitiers, en concert, il y a très longtemps, en compagnie de mon père.

[@MyPianoRarities]

Che documento straordinario!!! Grazie per il post!

[@MrPGOLIVEIRA]

Mãos leves, sensibilidade, domínio, exatidão sem ser mecãnico...Chopin haveria de gostar de ouvi-lo.

[@sanfordpress8943]

Thank you for this great gift

[@calcmandan]

So subdued and noble.

[@annah.1927]

Beautiful ! 💐💐💐 Thank you.

[@user-ru8vy1uz7c]

Bravo bravo bravo

[@user-mj5rh4gc8c]

16:44左手トリルの鮮明はことはどうだろう？あまつさえ右の音型では第一音が協調され、ポリフォニックな魅力を醸し出している。信じられないことが起こっているのだ。外のピアニストでは何か伴奏をやっているなくらいの印象しかない。今のショパン・コンクールでこのような芸当ができるピアニストがいるだろうか？34:43聴く者の脳天に突き刺さってくるようなジェットコースターのような恐ろしいアルページォは背筋がゾクゾクして鳥肌が立つようだ。。いかにシフラの技術的可能性が深いか。息子との息もぴったりだ。

[@itsshrimp91]

上手に言われました！

[@robertyw2842]

Indeed a great interpretation!

[@jonathanrandel8502]

So perfect ❤ Father and son ❤😭

[@Whaijorhujishkomunyk]

They are resting in Valhala

[@joaobrandao9482]

Marvellous! Just marvellous.

[@cygnusne]

Thanks for the wonderful upload!!!!

[@user-up4jn8rq4x]

thank you, thank you for uploading this!

[@odilereneleau8557]

Gorgeous as ever ... Thanks Classical Piano Rarities about your splendid choices .

[@all7509]

Thankyou for. uploading it for us to enjoy this beautiful and extraodinary performance by Cziffra.

[@SuperMegguy]

C est une merveille . . Je l'ai positionner dans ma playlist . Merci à vous pour les sublimes vidéos

[@MichaelKaykov]

Amazing!

[@paulburke3247]

Wonderful!

[@anaselmaaroud]

Thank you for this vidéo

[@ClassicalPianoRarities]

Enjoy. More to come!

[@SuperMegguy]

Love it

[@meisterwue]

Thanks for sharing this exciting document.......channel is subscribed ❤

[@BelaDuka]

Thank you so so much! God Bless You

[@ClassicalPianoRarities]

You are very welcome!!

[@yamanaksu3758]

Very nice.

[@user-ub5ll2uv4x]

he is special😮

[@saltcots8985]

The great magic of those opening minutes when the piano enters in the slow movement! 19:48

[@normanzurich2781]

Il joue presque aussi bien que moi 😂😂😂 Magnifique ❤❤❤

[@Solomonik1973]

I love all his records. Amazing musician! On the one hand, he was just a crazy virtuoso. I just often do not understand how you can physically play at such a pace. On the other hand, depth

[@MusicIsMyLife6991]

Starts at 1:15

[@paulothink]

Price of the piano: $150.000 Amount of talent and skill in this performance: Number too big to display Probable price of the stool where he performed: $5 Why did I even bother buying a stool to learn piano?

[@katalincsonka8594]

❤️❤️❤️

[@yoyogie69]

1:14 Allegro (Maestoso) 18:55 Romance (Larghetto) 28:43 Rondo (Vivace)

[@carmenrubio3786]

❤

[@user-cr3wm2ed7t]

Vaya tela ...

[@user-xc6vs6gi6w]

один из самых любимых моих пианистов