Cziffra's Legendary September 20, 1962 Concert [download]

[everran]

This performance given by Georges Cziffra took place September 20, 1962 in Montreux, France, under conductor Roberto Benzi with the Orch. National de la RTF. The live recording was never commercially released and is not available in any box set. Neither is it available in full on YouTube, or anywhere else, it appears. It was forwarded to me from a friend's hard-drive collection.

The program was: Grieg Concerto in A minor and Liszt's Totentanz, with an encore being the Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6. As those familiar with this pianist will tell you, Cziffra's live performances differ a great deal from his studio recordings, which further diminished with the sudden death of his son, Cziffra Jr. The significance of this concert is that, so I believe, Cziffra gives the single greatest performance of his life and, almost by definition, one of the greatest ever. It truly has to be heard to be believed, particularly the Totentanz where he not only plays at mind-boggling speeds but openly improvises. The orchestra is also stunning.

Due to the constraints of the Piano Street forum I am limited to uploading 4 attachments, which means the encore has been posted separately. I would love to hear your reactions to these recordings. My personal experience upon hearing this rendition of Totentanz was one of genuine astonishment. A rare thing, indeed.

[everran]

I've attached that encore here.

[j_menz]

Many thanks for posting this. 

[everran]

Sure thing! Boy, I searched everywhere for this. I even attempted to contact Roberto Benzi, who apparently is still alive. The man who hosts this very interesting web page on classical music, which escapes me at the moment, ultimately sent me the files after I contacted him on a whim. I'm amazed this concert has never been commercially released. After I received the files I sent an email to Pearl Records. No response.

[louis_james_alfred]

Quite a new years gift.    Thanks a lot.

[everran]

Anyone else? Greatest live performance in history going once... twice...

[evitaevita]

Wow! 
This is a real treasure!
Thank you so much! 

[everran]

You're welcome. But I must say, I'm disappointed there hasn't been more of a commotion. I don't understand how something of this quality remains unknown to this day. I searched literally everywhere for it, one database after another, for months.

[teosoleil]

Wow! Thank you so much for the download links! Will listen tomorrow. I'm sure it will be amazing, I haven't listened much to Cziffra, haha :3

[everran]

Great! I hope you enjoy it. The finale to the Grieg concerto is also incredible. The orchestra has so much vitality.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Thanks, this is terrific. I already had the Totentanz but only in incomplete form.

[everran]

Bump. 

[andreslr6]

Bump. 

right on time haha, like 2 days ago I was thinking about the totentanz you posted here months ago, I'll download it now.

[picsatsofron]

Bump. 

Thank you to both OP and everran! This is the first time the Grieg concerto has ever dazzled me.

Must listen to more of this guy Cziffra 

[everran]

Any further interest?

[cabbynum]

Any further interest?

My FAVORITE pianist! I loved this! Thank you so much

[cabbynum]

Holy cow! the Hungarian rhapsody is marvelous here! I would give my arms and legs as well as both shoulder blades to see him live, id give even more to have an afternoon with him.

[everran]

There are passages in these performances that boggle the mind. For instance, skip to 0:35 in the Grieg (3rd movement) and 14:15 in the Totentanz.

[jockey]

Thank-you very much for posting this. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it. A very inspirational and rewarding experience.

[perprocrastinate]

The resonance created by those descending interlocking octaves in the first movement cadenza is just overwhelming.

[everran]

Bump 

[cabbynum]

Bump 

What good timing on the bump, I have not logged onto this site in quite a while and this cziffra recording could not have come at a better time. Takes me back to hearing it the first time sitting in my room at my parents house. I was sitting at the piano and dowloaded it to my phone and stopped practicing to listen all the way through with my jaw on the floor essentially the whole time. What a monster! Cziffra never gets old to me. I loved every second again. This time in my own place and again for a practice break. some things don't change!

[ranjit]

Yeah, the new posters here should see this. The concert is incredibly good. I would say there's never been a better Totentanz, and the Grieg concerto 3rd movement sends chills down my spine every time.

[everran]

Totally agree! While I love Cziffra's Totentanz here, the Grieg third movement brings tears my eyes. Just astonishingly, achingly beautiful, even the harshness of it.

[j_tour]

Amazing!  I missed this from the first post, almost ten years ago.

No deep comments from me, yet, but this is a treasure, and all manner of respect and appreciation is due to everran.

[everran]

Amazing!  I missed this from the first post, almost ten years ago.

No deep comments from me, yet, but this is a treasure, and all manner of respect and appreciation is due to everran.

You're welcome!

[everran]

Bump for those who missed it.