Opus Clavicembalisticum: a joke, or is it really playable ?!?!?

[sv3nno]

I mean, this piece takes around FOUR HOURS to play, and it's packed with extremely difficult movements... the pianist would be dead after finishing it, if not before.
so what do you think?

[worov]

Jonathan Powell has performed it several times in its entirety and the performer is still alive. So I guess this answers your question.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

John Ogdon has done it all in one sitting before as well.

[gep]

And Geoffrey Douglas Madge (several times), and Daan Vandewalle (several times). Of Madge there are two recordings, of Ogdon one, and one partial by Powell may be found on his site.
For the record, Jonathan Powell has played Sequentia Cyclica, a work some 7hours long. And Kevin Bowyer has played (twice within two weeks) Organ Symphony no. 2, which lasts some 9 hours (of which the 2nd movement is 4,5 hours uninterrupted, and the 3rd contains a 2hour fugue), and demands not just two hans but two feet as well.

Few can play this music, yes. But those who can and do, do so magnificently!

all best,
gep

[lloyd_cdb]

And Kevin Bowyer has played (twice within two weeks) Organ Symphony no. 2, which lasts some 9 hours.

I think I'd prefer to do it in two weeks rather than having to practice it ever again.

[jpowell]

I think I'd prefer to do it in two weeks rather than having to practice it ever again.

Dear Lloyd
You are quite right about this: it's a real pain in the backside learning something like this, playing it, then playing it again a few months (or years) later ... because, as you say, you have to do a huge amount of preparation again. Just doing the same big piece a few times within a few weeks is the winner.