Cziffra's Chopin Etudes

[eddie92099]

Cziffras chopin etudes! he does not approach them with anything like the respect they deserve, and (if he chose) he could do so much better.... I think they are horrible.

I think they are absolutely wonderful. The extraordinary originality in each and every one breathes new life into these warhorses. Every time a theme or phrase is repeated it is played completely differently. Furthermore, Cziffra's technical ability is clearly astounding and I have not heard faster (yet still completely controlled) recordings of many of the etudes. Sure, it is a little 'rough around the edges' but if I could see one person perform them all it would most definitely be him (since Argerich does not play the entire set ). The spontanaiety of the performance has been captured forever which is a testament to both Cziffra and Chopin,
Ed

[bop...boo]

I agree 100%  They are my favorite version of the etudes for all the reasons you mentioned.  They are rough for chopin and I am sure Chopin would have something to say about the interpretations, none the less only Cziffra could pull of such unique interpretations.  They just some how work and sound completely different from any others.  

Virtuosity aside I think Cziffra is incredibly musical.  and can play as well lyrically as he can technically such as op 25 #1.  And you can't help but just picture a monster at the piano playing the ever so overplayed Op 10 #4.  All of them sound very fresh and spontaneous and are filled with character.  

[cziffra]

thanks guys, i thought they were good too.  

but seriously, for those who say he has no musical talent, just a gypsy virtuoso, all i have to do is play them his op25#5 recording.  i have never heard such a simple melody played with such profundity in all my life- it is sheer poetry to hear.  (i'm talking about the middle bit)
these recordings are unconventional, and thank god for it!  how would we benefit from having every pianist record them the same way!?  in the words of arrau:

if you are convinced that what you are saying is unique..then, you have your message, and that's it!  if they like it, the like it.  if they don't, well (shrug.)  

i wonder though, did cziffra ever record these twice?  do we have another of his to see what decisions he made on a different day?  i'm assuming you have the great pianists of the 20th century series ed...does anyone have a different one?

[eddie92099]

And you can't help but just picture a monster at the piano playing the ever so overplayed Op 10 #4.

I had exactly the same image . My set is part of a 5 disc box set (all chopin) on EMI. The copyright date is 1964, and the set on Great Pianists was recorded in 1962 so I presume they are the same,
Ed

[bop...boo]

My set is part of a 5 disc box set (all chopin) on EMI. The copyright date is 1964, and the set on Great Pianists was recorded in 1962 so I presume they are the same,
Ed

don't be so sure with Cziffra.  I have alot of Cds of his and I get multiple performances of the same pieces.  they always sound very different.