This video documentary provides a survey of 18 extraordinary keyboard artists that dominated the concert world in the mid 20th century, from Ignaz Paderewski to Claudio Arrau. Sir John Tusa narrates this comprehensive overview of some of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. The program effectively blends archival film with video clips, concert footage and rare artist interviews. Featured performers are Vladimir Horowitz, Artur Rubinstein, Sviatoslav Richter, Sergei Rachmaninov, Glenn Gould, Edwin Fischer, Claudio Arrau, Georges Cziffra, Wilhelm Backhaus, Alfred Cortot, Ignacy Jan Paderewski and Francis Plante performing live and on film. The theme of the video is tied together through interviews and commentary by conductors including Sir Colin Davis and Daniel Barenboim.
Pieces appearing in the movie:
10:01 – Rachmaninoff: Prelude Opus 2 no. 3, C-sharp minor
16:17 - Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2, 3rd Movement
22:41 – Chopin: Etude Op.25 No.10 (Octave Etude)
23:34 – Scriabin: Etude Op.8 No.12
24:52 – Scriabin: Etude Op.8 No.12
28:39 – Bizet/Horowitz: Carmen Variations
33:07 – Liszt: Grand Galop Chromatique
35:17 – Liszt: Grand Galop Chromatique
39:37 – Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23 Op. 57, 1st movement
42:27 – Chopin: Polonaise Op. 53 A-Flat Major “Heroique”
52:07 – Chopin: Etude Op. 10 No.7
52:47 – Chopin: Valse de L’adieu, or Op. 69 No. 1
1:09:10 – Beethoven: Concerto No.4, 2nd Movement
1:11:42 – Rachmaninoff: Prelude Op.23 No.5 G Minor
1:18:21 – Chopin: Etude Op.10 No.12 (Revolutionary)
1:22:14 – Scarlatti: Sonata Op. 449 (K. 27)
/patrick
November 12th, 2010 at 14:35
Quite long to see the whole video right now, but thanks for it !
November 12th, 2010 at 20:50
What a great list. These pianists have really shaped music as we know it.
November 14th, 2010 at 0:47
Superb movie! i am very happy and i want to thank you for this inspiring film! it was a great time in a great company.
Thank you!
November 14th, 2010 at 1:07
Horowitz playing his Carmen Variations is simply astounding. Never seen anything like it – technique unparalleled, and the filming is brilliant! Thanks so much!!
November 14th, 2010 at 1:38
How do I view “The Art of Piano” ? When I click the upper left icon of the blank page, nothing opens up. Do I need an upgrade?
November 14th, 2010 at 1:44
Superb. Thanks
November 14th, 2010 at 1:48
yes it’s quite long to watch with concentration.
but thanks pianostreet.com
it wasn’t boring to listen the video while keeping webpage minimized.
November 14th, 2010 at 2:18
When I saw this dvd years ago, I fell in love with the piano
November 14th, 2010 at 2:27
Thanks, very interesting.
November 14th, 2010 at 3:01
Fascinating, and Arrau’s Beethoven op111 was a revelation….. great to have Rubinstein and Cziffra on film.
I miss Kempff, Lipatti, Schnabel…….are they really any less important than Gilels/Cortot/Michelangeli/Gould?
There’s always that debate about the truth-tellers and the virtuosi; that’s what makes the piano such a wonderful thing!
November 14th, 2010 at 5:16
Thank you, it’s a great video! I really learn a lot! :)
November 14th, 2010 at 5:42
Great! Outstanding! Marvelous!
Thank you for such a gift.
November 14th, 2010 at 5:51
Great and very interesting!!! Any video recording for sales on this. I want to buy it.
November 14th, 2010 at 6:08
Thanks for that wunderful documenary. Those that I bore in my heart I have seen now ‘real’: Paderewski, Horrowitz… and of course all the others. Unforgettable.
November 14th, 2010 at 7:08
Interesting movie. Far too long for it’s own good, and with an air of snobbery that detracts from the beautiful music presented therein, this film is still fascinating to watch. I wish that the producers would have taken a little extra time to polish the film. Would it be too hard to let us know what pieces we are listening to, or who is talking to us? It seems that on occasion, we are tossed a bone, but through much of the film, we are left in the dark as to what is being presented on the screen. This is taken to the extreme in the scene about thirty minutes in where Chiffre is smoking and talking in French. He talks for maybe thirty seconds without a word of translation anywhere to be found. I happen to speak French, so this was not a problem for me, but it still leaves me scratching my head, wondering why a particularly banal bit of conversation was included in the first place, and why, if it was felt so necessary to include it, it was not deemed necessary to translate it. And so it goes throughout the film.
This review may sound negative, and there certainly are some glaring deficiencies, but in the final analysis, I actually do not regret my time spent watching the film and enjoying some truly wonderful piano playing.
November 14th, 2010 at 7:21
No words! The way they played and their thoughts how music must be approached says it all. Great documentary, thank you.
November 14th, 2010 at 7:36
..Great Documentary..!! Thank you..
November 14th, 2010 at 8:37
Superb!!!
Thank You so much!
November 14th, 2010 at 9:11
Unfortunately, this video is not possible in Germany to be seen…
November 14th, 2010 at 10:22
I think all these pianists should be shown on SBS Television as a Masterpiece Series over a few months. Their pianism and technique is amazing, and I would like to see them on a monthly basis. One pianist weekly such as Richter, Horowitz, Rubinstein, Glenn Gould, Myra Hess, Claudio Arrau, and others presented in this program. It could be announced by Daniel Barenboim, Tamas Vasary, or even Lang Lang, even though he is a 21st Century pianist. This video was astonishing, and makes me want to play my digital piano, even though my arms are not too good. Please consider Australian pianists as well. For example, Anna Goldsworthy, Caroline Almonte, or Stephen McIntyre. There are others, but would have to do some research. Wonderful video. Thanks, Helen Scott, Mitcham, Victoria. Australia. on Sun. 14/11/2010. 9.30 pm. AEDST.
November 14th, 2010 at 12:32
Fantastic. I wish I was brilliant. Makes me want to practice more!
November 14th, 2010 at 14:01
If the video is blocked in your country, you can use a little trick to watch it on youtube anyway:
in the YouTube URL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpiMAaPTze8&feature=player_embedded
exchange the watch?v=vpiMAaPTze8&… part with v/vpiMAaPTze8 like this:
http://www.youtube.com/v/vpiMAaPTze8
HTH
November 14th, 2010 at 14:33
What a wonderful gift to the Piano Street members! Thank you so much for sharing this awe-inspiring film with us!
November 14th, 2010 at 14:51
Fabulous! Thank you:)
What great fortune to have seen this. It’s a veritable treasure!
November 14th, 2010 at 15:27
Great documentary. But I like to know which piece I am listening to and I miss translations and subtitles.
November 14th, 2010 at 19:48
Wonderful!! Thank you so much for sharing this excellent video.
November 14th, 2010 at 20:14
very grateful ,the documentary kept me from bedtime !!!!
November 14th, 2010 at 22:18
Fabulous! How incredibly inspiring and wonderful to see the greats playing in one film! Thank you.
November 14th, 2010 at 22:20
Remarkable! I am very grateful for this friendly documentary, Piano Street. Piano music is an incredible art!! Again, THANKS!!!
November 14th, 2010 at 23:58
Fantastic–feels like a “meeting” with these great artists & composers and documentary. Music is superb. Thanks!
November 15th, 2010 at 2:03
This is a wonderful film. But it would be better if you can add subtittles in Spanish. Whatever, Thanks for the film.
November 15th, 2010 at 7:29
wonderful!
Thanks.
November 15th, 2010 at 8:23
Exellent Work of investigation and the music as well! Iam expecting for a second part!! thanks so much!!!
November 15th, 2010 at 8:42
Muchas gracias por compartir este largo documental sobre el Piano y los grandes pianistas. Me gustaría saber cuales fueron los criterios de inclusión de los pianistas que aparecen en el video, porque para mi gusto, faltaron varios que han influido decididamente en lo referente a la interpretación pianistica como Kempff, o Van Cliburn, o Zerkin, entre otros. Creo que falta una linea temática que le de sentido al documental como tal. Por ejemplo, cual es el propósito de que aparezca Myra Hess? Hubiera preferido a Martha Argerich, por ejemplo. Creo que el documental constituye un trabajo de mucha calidad y no podemos dejar de verlo, pero mejoraría muchísimo si se cuidara la traducción, la identidad de todos los personajes que aparecen como narradores, y de las obras que cada pianista interpreta. Muchas gracias por compartirlo.
November 15th, 2010 at 12:12
best regards for such a great film for those great pianists ..very nice and go on with another group of great pianists…thanks so much I really enjoy it every now and then….just wonderful
November 15th, 2010 at 13:31
It was a great pleasure to see all that genius and brilliant musicians together. For someone who adores piano music, this film is never too long :-)
I must be critical as a documentary watcher because of the lack of some additional information and subtitles (not every watcher understands f.e. French, like mentioned by others in this forum). I hope the producer(s) of this beautiful movie will make a “revised” version someday.
Thanks!
November 15th, 2010 at 15:45
Interesting, seen some parts B4 on Utube.
November 15th, 2010 at 16:32
It’s wonderful!! Inspiring for a piano students!!
November 15th, 2010 at 17:33
Very enjoyable. I appreciate finding something like this online.
November 15th, 2010 at 19:25
No time to see it all, but thanks just for the thought: this is a rarity to be kept.
November 15th, 2010 at 23:23
Que hermoso. muy inspirador para los que nos gusta la música. para mi es un regalo esto en la web. Gracias.
November 16th, 2010 at 3:47
How wonderful to know that there is an online version of this amazing documentary! I own a dvd of this TREASURE!
November 16th, 2010 at 12:48
So happy I found this documentary posted here. I can watch it over and over.
November 16th, 2010 at 13:46
I am very pleased to have received a link to your blog via a Twitter friend. Your having made available an online presentation of this material allows pianists and music lovers all around “the grid” to communicate about the details of how these great pianists did their thing -
Of special interest to me is the moment (c. 2 minutes in) when Myra Hess enters with a cosmic infusion of ENERGY- She establishes herself in those few moments in he minds of anyone watching as towering above any other pianist of the 20th century.
Thank you very much.
& p.s. – Are you on Twitter? I would love to follow your tweets.
November 16th, 2010 at 20:15
Excelent documentary! Is a great oportunity to see the history of piano trough all this great pianists… Does anyone know if there is a tranlated version to spanish of the documentary? Thanks for the share!
Alguien sabe de una version doblada o subtitulada al español?
Gracias por la oportunidad de compartir este documental tan interesante y maravilloso…
November 17th, 2010 at 0:40
Exellent, educational, pure pleasure to watch and listen the best pianists in the world. Thanks a lot.
November 17th, 2010 at 23:20
Exelente produccion
gracias por compartirlo
November 18th, 2010 at 19:50
Could somebody please write a list including all the pieces that are played during the video? I’m especially interested in the one right at the beginning of the vid before the title comes out and the one played by Paderewski, but a whole list would really be appreciated!
Thank you very much, great video!!
November 19th, 2010 at 21:38
No words!!! Thank you so much for sharing this.
November 20th, 2010 at 2:14
Fantastic! Very educational. thank you.
November 22nd, 2010 at 4:50
I’m waiting for an hour and 46 minutes to spare! can’t wait :D
November 22nd, 2010 at 15:23
Congratulations.Only Piano Street could offer piano musics of great
quality.I liked very much of all musics.I’m a pianist and sometimes,when
I’ve opportunity,I play F. Chopin’s Waltz Op. 69/1,and other piano pieces also,in my home.Thank you for the attention.
Kindly,
Antonio Tadeu Camacho
Industrial Designer/Pianist
Nov./22/2010-Mon.
November 23rd, 2010 at 0:02
Wonderful! But I must admit I missed the divine Martha.
November 23rd, 2010 at 19:56
Used to wach it on VHS, so precious and inspiring!!! Thank you so much
November 26th, 2010 at 17:32
Wonderful, and thank you for publishing! Of course one could argue endlessly about who was included and who was left out but I’m amazed that video footage of some of these pianists exists at all! Yes, I fully agree with many commenters that there should have been translations/captions of the foreign languages, and subtitles of the pieces being played and identification of who was speaking (strange how they identify a few but not all). Still, much of this is priceless legacy and inspiring.
November 26th, 2010 at 17:36
To Luca, who asked about particular pieces.
The very opening piece is #1 of Liszt’s Transcendental Etudes.
Paderewski plays the Rachmaninoff Prelude in C# minor.
David
November 30th, 2010 at 23:21
Thank you very much for your answer David!! You’ve been really kind =)
December 1st, 2010 at 1:30
I bought this video few years ago, and I regret that its sound was permanently asynchronised with the picture.
As so many before me said here, this video would have been much more useful if the authors didn’t assume that everyone just knew the pieces performed. And if the subtitles were provided for the spoken words, enabling translation into the language of the viewer’s choice.
Was it too much for the producers to anticipate (and for us to wish for)?
December 1st, 2010 at 4:14
Long, yes, but great. The first time I saw Hoffman perform. Didn’t Columbia say they would like to have 3 chairs, Pederosky, Hoffman and Gould? Great that I finally got to see these geniuses. Would like to add this movie to my collection Is it possible to purchase this on DVD?
December 1st, 2010 at 19:52
So much talent, so much genius, this must be what Heaven is like. With Horowitz as God.
December 1st, 2010 at 20:51
Hm, I cant watch the video. Not even with the method that was posted in one of the comments above. Living in Germany btw, it seems to be blocked by Sony.
December 2nd, 2010 at 4:36
excelente
December 2nd, 2010 at 9:53
where is dinu lipatti?
your list is without core.
I was disapointed.
December 21st, 2010 at 16:54
yes, the method that was posted above does not work to watch the video if it’s blocked. :-(
i live in germany aswell. any suggestions pls?
December 21st, 2010 at 19:39
This is an amazing and superb presentation. I really enjoy watching and hearing such a video. Congratulations and thanks
December 27th, 2010 at 5:29
This film is very illuminating and inspiring. It was very absorbing and I enjoyed every moment of it.
December 31st, 2010 at 16:58
I enjoyed a lot. Thank you very much!
January 3rd, 2011 at 16:02
Wishing everybody a healthy and happy New Year and thank you Piano Street for the incredible information and interesting facts you give us all through the year. Happy New Year to all subscribers too. Thank you so much
January 4th, 2011 at 1:39
I would like to know the piece at the end played by Claudio Arrau. It sounds like Beethoven, but that’s all I can tell about it.
January 4th, 2011 at 10:28
Amelia, the piece at the end is Beethoven’s Sonata No. 32, Opus 111 in C minor
January 9th, 2011 at 3:16
Thanks for this great movie. I especially like the very end of it because I know at least someone had shared my dream: to be able to play the piano until old age :)
March 4th, 2011 at 9:22
Such film a grate atcheavment, and it is a grate heritage for any pianist in particular and all intellectuals as well.
Thx a lot
Muhannad – Pianist & Film Translator
April 4th, 2011 at 21:40
I can watch this again and again. Fantastic.
Thank you, from Karin in Vancouver BC