Vladimir Ashkenazy: Chopin - Two Nocturnes Op 27 / Piano Sonata in B minor Op 58

Live recording from 1983
Vladimir Ashkenazy - piano
Frédéric Chopin - Nocturnes, Op. 27 / Piano Sonata No.3, Op.58
Opus 27
0:37 1st movement
6:45 2nd movement
Opus 58
12:50 Allegro maestoso
22:09 Scherzo: Molto vivace
24:42 Largo
33:48 Finale, Presto, ma non tanto, agitato
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An Allegro film by Christopher Nupen

[@PaulHussey01]

Chopin and Vlad Ash. Genius and maestro in perfect harmony. Just perfect.

[@amber40494]

So wonderful to have these films of Ashkenazy performing, thank you.

[@TomBarrister]

Out of over 300 performances and recordings (including my own) of this sonata that I've listened to, this is possibly the finest interpretation.

[@stevenbeer6005]

Classical Osker perterson! Just wonderful! Thanks so much!

[@chazinko]

How wonderful to be able to see and hear Ashkenazy play the B-minor Sonata - many thanks for for this!

[@grigorpetrov8006]

I saw him play live back in the 1980s and it was a special treat to be right on stage behind the keyboard! He played magnificently and did not miss a note!! Just as in this performance-absolutely note perfect. I have always like his live performances over his recorded ones. Just my own preference.

[@voraciousreader3341]

Most people want something to watch as they listen. I find it distracting, and end up closing my eyes anyway.

[@ClarkIsraeli]

Hearing others playing Chopin I again return to Ashkenazy.

[@icespittingfire]

the best

[@peterwalton2149]

One of the very best pianists interpretations of Chopin’s music. His concentration is outstanding.

[@amber40494]

Beautiful tonal colors and use of pedal . So amazing how he gets such beauty when his fingers are so curved and come straight down onto key, no wrist flopping!

[@iansdigby]

In the 80s I would listen to Ashkenazy's recordings of Chopin a lot. To my mind no-one has bettered him yet. Subjective I know. But what brilliance! And does he not look eerily like Chopin himself - at least Delacriox's portrait.

[@ClarkIsraeli]

I agree. His father was Jewish. Thank god his mother was Russian Catholic otherwise Ashkenazy would never become a sensitive piano player.

[@AntonioPaterno]

che piccolo GRANDE pianista! Notturni meravigliosi!

[@meredith218461]

Extraordinary dexterity in the finale mvt.

[@josepalomogomez9865]

Que maravilla. Muchas gracias Sr.Ashkenazy !!

[@ewtam24]

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful performance!

[@stevenbeer6005]

Outstanding nocturnes!

[@silvestra2762]

Perfect!❤

[@andygato2452]

BEAUTIFUL❗❤

[@RumiTosheva]

wonderful!!

[@icespittingfire]

sheer perfection

[@НатальяХрамцова-с2р]

Очень понравился его Шопен в прелюдиях строго , скромно, не торчат назойливо уши его интерпретации, на первом плане гений Шопена. Высочайший качественный пианизм, профессионал. Напомнил по стилю великого альфреда Корто вэтюдах шопена

[@antoniograziano7118]

Sublime

[@gennadiyshenfeld3499]

Magician

[@floydkersey8472]

It’s not genetic. It’s so much more than DNA. It’s a profound understanding and genuine adoration for the music. Noise can be made by anyone, but music that evokes such emotion is played with love.

[@amber40494]

Deep love of music is evident here, but along with years of hard work and excellent training, I believe Ashkenazy is blessed with innate gifts...

[@Puran.]

♥️👑

[@amber40494]

Sheer poetry

[@carmentrueba9665]

Excelente!

[@jacobybienvenue9275]

34:53 Prelude #10 slipped in

[@catkeys6911]

I have to admit that it boggles my mind that there are people who can move their fingers like that, and with such delicate expression, when it's needed. Practice, schmactice- most people could never hope to play this sonata - especially the last movement, no matter how much practice they did, let's face it. I do know this means that, nevertheless, there are still a decent number of people who can. And I'm definitely NOT one of them. And it's definitely genetic. When I was very young, there was a popular motivational mantra going around that said that if you try hard enough, you can accomplish ANYTHING. It was politically incorrect to disagree with that sentiment. Thinking positive was supposed to create magic back then. But society has since matured, and now it's to think REALISTICALLY. This, if anything, should enhance anyone's appreciation for a pianist like Ashkenazy, as someone who is quite gifted (and who also no doubt worked very hard to get to his level of playing) Ashkenazy plays those fast runs as smoothly as anyone I've ever heard.

[@MegaPianogenius]

Cat Keys at last someone that agrees with me I played piano for many years and am average I believe it's definitely genetic and comes from the mind probably more than the fingers Synapses are created when young and firm sharp reflex etc Marc andre hamelin whom I admire knows every piece he ever learnt almost like photographic memory.and sight read at 12 liszt transcendental etudes? Others have perfect and relative pitch . And can pick out melodies as well as helping you to know roughly where you are Also they generally start very young with fantastic tuition or just get techniques right the first time like richter self taught I do appreciate these musicians but have great envy of them I know what sound I want and dynamics etc from the music but can't do it Never mind maybe I can do things they can't but not sure what ?

[@joeya6795]

It's definitely something to do with knowing what to do. I'm pretty sure having the guidance of a very wise teacher helps tremendously. Therefore it is possible to accomplish anything.

[@alejandropolanco5997]

evengy kissin is a live example that proves you’re wrong tho (in my opinion )

[@DOLFINOWOLF]

Bueno Entonses.... ❤❤❤

[@marcoesquandolez]

I 've always found Ashkenazy to be a little cold and conservative, and haven't always loved his steely tone. But this is gorgeous

[@marksmith3947]

Ashkenazy is as exciting as Barenboim.

[@culturehorse]

Where is Ashkenazy's performance of Liszt Sonata Bm? Anyone?

[@santiagol365]

He said his hands weren’t big enough to learn it.

[@ulfwernernielsen6708]

He never played the Liszt sonata .

[@culturehorse]

@@ulfwernernielsen6708 Really ..he's played near everything else. That is too bad if true. Thanks.. cheers

[@memorosales1952]

pretty good

[@Danlovar]

Ya es primavera en El Corte Inglés.

[@arturofabianzeballos844]

Siempre magistral. Envidiado por todos los del pulgar para abajo....

[@3357311925]

Here Ashkenazy, pianist and conductor, has conducted Chopin, a modern composer, at the level of classics like Beethoven and Mozart.

[@DariusMo]

Modern? You mean romantic.

[@andrewkennaugh1065]

Great polo neck shirt/jumper!?🧦

[@andrewkennaugh1065]

Stop the head-shaking...unecessary...

[@andrewkennaugh1065]

Miles away from Lipatti...

[@amber40494]

Turtleneck

[@amber40494]

@@andrewkennaugh1065 but we have so few recordings of Lipatti

[@marcoesquandolez]

Isn't this nocturne supposed to be about a rotting corpse or something?

[@MrInterestingthings]

Thankyou for letting all of us see these incredible , surprising performances ! Did Ashkenazy consider himself a rebel ? Where is hte mic ? It's ruined his playing the slow mov of Sonata has wonderful things but mike is too close giving percussive effects ! Chopin has pagelong slurs in his music but Ashkenazy [UNLIKE Perahia , Uchida and ten thousand other well trained musicians/pianists] plays this music like he is trying to punch someone ! ? He gives us pp's and ff's but the phrasing is not what Chopin pianists usually give us . Overtly masculine almost ugly compared to Hofmann,Cherkassky ,Moisewitsch and today's truly excellent colorists (Buniatishvili I'm beginning to prefer to even Argerich ,along with Sokolov & Volodos . I hear very little nuance ! Hard steel like lines His pedalbasses don't last long . i feel something happened to this piano before he showed up . The 2nd subject is full of breadth , sunny (in opposition to Bbminor sonata ,airy ,not rushed and the perfect rubato That opening subject looks and feels like he's cracking his knuckles on that f#. Not an ugly sound but the whole Sonata (so little pedals )is brusque , forceful He 's not very subtle with touch , attack , middle voices or phraseology - very direct . The buildup to the climax of op.27no.2 didn't quite catch me like many other pianists . Pletnev is more fun to listen to because of his eccentricities and individual interpretations (Pletnev,Pogorelich are more like Rachmaninoff playing himself using other texts ) How many of these recitals did he film I wonder ? London ? 1983 he was already conducting by that time ! Still playing as well as anyone on concert circuit . I've never heard his Brahms concerti ? that'll be next search nor ever heard him in either Liszt concerti He was made for totentanz!!! ! Sexy , powerful and a really short man at the height of his fame and prowess . Beautiful Icelandic pianist is or was his wife . Pianos in Iceland and obviously very good teachers too who sent her off to where ? where she must have met him as a student in Leningrad . Don't know da story . I wonder if his kids play instrument . Probably became doctors ....

[@julianas7170]

You should not judge and compare classical musicians to each other. Do you think it would be interesting if all pianists played alike? And who are you to judge phrasing, dynamics, and tone of an internationally recognized solo pianist who graduated from the Moscow Conservatory, as well as won numerous awards (including the International Chopin Piano Competition)? Musicians express their emotions through playing. Regarding the page long slurs, these almost always depend on the music publisher, unless Chopin himself put them in. As you might not know, dynamics, suggested tempo, and slurring are usually put in by the publisher of the sheet music.

[@meredith218461]

Your forensic analysis of Ashkenazy's performance is both pompous and disparaging. This great man is is an internationally highly respected pianist/conductor, and this recital shows him in top form. The only point I concede is that the recording is not of the best, as you say the piano sound is too close, the resultant tone being dry and boxy. As to the playing however I could'nt disagree more.

[@grigorpetrov8006]

So, Ashkenazy is great-no dispute, however his early performances were somewhat marred by over-pedaling and bombastic sound which does not fit Chopin. Technically, it is as close to note perfect as one could hope for but all things considered, it's not a monumental performance.

[@philippeyared2050]

This from an Ashkenazy fan: I don't like his way of playing the first movement which happens to be the only part I love in this sonata. I find it too loud, not poetic in the main theme which is one of the most magical in music, and not credible when he's supposed to be tender. Listen to one of Véronique Bonnecaze's two recordings of the Sonata. I believe her phrasing is how it should be. My personal preference goes for her first recording but the most recent one is beautiful too kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWeXnGygYsSim5Y

[@voraciousreader3341]

Nobody minds….we’re too busy loving the performance.

[@JK-bx1ut]

The audience are zombies... He is so brave to just expose his soul despite this.

[@voraciousreader3341]

Well….if that’s all you get out of this! It’s called being respectful….this is in England. This is also being filmed, so no one in the audience want to stick out. I dk what you want, actually….I’m sure Ashkenazy would appreciate people not getting up in the aisle to dance, or to clap along with their favorite parts! He’s such an intense, focused performer, I’m sure he couldn’t care less, and the atmosphere on this end is intangible.

[@Ernesto7608]

I have heard better interpretations by Ashkenazy than this Nocturne Op. 27 No.1. I find his playing too complicated and without sufficient delicacy for a Nocturne. Also I notice poor tuning at the beginning, already challenging in this piece. Bad acoustics or what?

[@itsjustnopinionok]

Nobodys perfect.

[@EmptyVee00000]

Such delicacy in these Nocturnes.

[@amber40494]

He already knocked piano out of tune. No just kidding.

[@simondavis8300]

😂😂😂..ok

[@AlexanderArsov]

Ashkenazy trying to outrun Argerich - and succeeding. Only he doesn't have her flair, and so sounds like just another banger. I haven't heard his studio recording of this Sonata, but I hope it's a lot better than this mess of a performance (if not technically, cetainly musically).

[@simondavis8300]

Do you honestly think Ashkenazy was actually trying to outrun Argerich? I'm sorry but I hate these comparisons as though music is an Olympic sport. It's ridiculous.

[@philippeyared2050]

@@simondavis8300 It is well known that Ashkenazy used to hire scouts equipped with timers to go to Argerich recitals and record her work timings, movement by movement. What is less well known is that one of these scouts was always drunk and that he routinely mixed up the timings of the various movements, across works even. This introduced gross errors in Ashkenazy's interpretative process. When the drunken spy was finally discovered and fired, the damage was already done. Some conspiracy theorists claim he was a double agent working both for Argentina's junta and the Soviet Union but to me, the vodka explanation is sufficient.

[@simondavis8300]

@@philippeyared2050 😂😂😂😂😂🍷🍷

[@fh854]

people like you don't understand music. You want emotions drip fed to you