Bartok etudes

[pla635]

I am wondering if anyone has played these supposedly monstrously difficult pieces.  I have read through them and they seem difficult but not impossible.  For those who have played it, which is the most difficult of the three?  Any advice or particularily tough spots I should begin work on first?

Any help would be great--I don't want to spend hours learning them only to find out that they are impossible in tempo!

[furtwaengler]

I played them about 7 years ago. The physically demanding 1st etude was by far the hardest for me, but I have small hands...it may be a different story for more compatible hands. With diligent attention, they are not at all impossible, but are great, great pieces, extremely worthy of performance, written at a peak in his expressive output with The Miraculous Mandarin, Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion, and the 1st Violin Sonata (which I think actually presents much more difficulty then the etudes!). Oh, advice? Memorize and brand them into your mind at a very slow tempo, especially number 3. Good luck!