Who Plays the Best Chopin Impromptus? (ft. Jed Distler)

[@MrLedZepper]

As a young aspiring pianist, I was first introduced to the music of Chopin with the recordings of Claudio Arrau. Along with the Impromptus, his playing of the Barcarolle is especially magical…

[@Stevie-Steele]

The first recording/video that comes to mind is Cziffra's video of Impromptu #3. He is my all time favourite pianist - but unfortunately many people stereotype him as a "loud and fast" virtuoso. He was indeed a fiery virtuoso but also had an extraordinarily sensitive touch and rubato - the video of him playing this Impromptu is one of the greatest treasures I've ever witnessed when it comes to Chopin playing.

[@Chopin-Etudes-Cosplay]

Same here! His recording was the first time I heard the 3rd impromptu and remains my favorite!

[@konrad4123]

Love the series, greetings from Poland!

[@wei2190sd]

I love Jed´s analyzes

[@TheOssia]

György Cziffra's recording of the Impromptus is worth hearing!

[@gretarobinson6723]

Julie townson

[@tom6693]

I think it's a wonderfully insightful observation about Arrau's probing delivery of #2 to compare it to the way Callas delivered so many of the things she sang, not only because he more than once admitted to being a great admirer of Callas and her ability to shape and weigh those great bel canto lines, but because like her, he gives every note its full value within the phrase and every phrase seems both very considered and yet freely sung. "Getting inside the music" was an apt way to put it.

[@jeff__w]

1:31 “It's _[Earl Wild At 88!]_ an amazing recital that has Beethoven and Mozart and Balakirev and his transcription of the _Mexican Hat Dance,_ which is completely demented.” Sorry, Ben, but I paused the video and found that version of the _Mexican Hat Dance_ online (it’s not hard to find)-yeah, I _know_ that’s not the point, really-and, while it _is_ demented, it’s also inspired (perhaps, at least partly, _because_ it _is_ demented) and I think it’s now become my favorite version of that composition, not that I had any particular version in mind before that. That said, Chopin’s impromptus it’s not and “favorite” is a relative term. (I’ll leave it to discerning viewers to ascertain which I prefer.)

[@Daniel_Zalman]

A recording of the Fantasy Impromptu that I highly recommend is by Anatol Ugorski, featured on an album titled "Short Stories" for Deutsche Grammophon. The entire album is highly memorable, with works by Liszt, Debussy, Schumann, Busoni, Scriabin, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Weber.

[@andyz3666]

Oh, that was great. Absolutely sublime performances. No joking here, I going to buy some records… Listening to this music and such performances, I found a term with which I would dare to describe even most inspired playing of top classical improvisers like Noam. How would you react if I called them „all purpose amalgamations”? With all respect.

[@willgraham8878]

2:55 Im shocked at the speed Wild hit on the impromtu #1!! He was 88 and playing like someone in their teens!!!

[@militaryandemergencyservic3286]

I like Earl Wild's Tchaikovsky Seasons recording. Reading a good book at the moment by David Brown on Tchaikovsky - the final, massive volume of his humungous, seminal biography. I haven't read any of the other volumes of it. earl Wild had some of the fastest fingers in the Wild West. As his Rach 3 amply demonstrates. I still can't bring myself to get too enthusiastic about any of the impromptus. Compared to Schubert's eight jewels in the crown of all piano literature, they are, well, rather plain. Like a plain girl wearing plain clothes. Except the Fantasy impromptu - which is my worst piece and reminds me more of a gaudily made-up prostitute. GREAT VIDEO as usual, Ben! When will you do a series of videos of every serious concert pianist and composer's favourite composer (Schubert)?