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Classic Archive: Piano Virtuosos

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Description

Product description Piano Virtuosos - Classic Archive Hungarian dynamo György Cziffra gets top billing in this DVD of BBC concert broadcasts from the early 1960s, which easily could have been titled "Great Romantic Pianists," since almost half of the disc’s 107 minutes include videos of recitals by Benno Moiseiwitsch and Jorge Bolet. All three, to a greater or lesser degree, represent surviving traditions of Golden Age pianism. Cziffra was a real throwback, playing with virtuoso panache and idiosyncratic flair, the latter heard in mannerisms like arbitrary tempos and dynamic changes, exaggerated climaxes, and showy accents. The disc opens with a jacketless Cziffra escorted across a bare studio stage to launch into an improvisation with hints of Chopin and Liszt, a reminder that 19th Century virtuosos often improvised preludes to pieces on their programs. His version of Liszt’s Grand Galop chromatique is a breathtaking romp, and the Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 and Schumann’s Toccata are done with tremendous power. For all his keyboard flashiness, Cziffra’s stage demeanor is relatively cool: he lets his fingers do the work and they produce amazingly precise articulation, trills, and arpeggios that cast a hypnotic spell. The Moiseiwitsch selections give us a great artist playing two of his favorite composers: Schumann and Rachmaninov. Moiseiwitsch’s brand of Romanticism was characterized by a beautiful, singing tone, relaxed elegant phrasing, and subtle dynamic gradations, all of which are on display in his performance of Schumann’s Fantasiestücke, Op. 12 and Kinderszenen and Variations 17 to 24 of Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, the latter with a rather dim-sounding orchestra but featuring poised, exciting pianism in the grand manner. Cuban virtuoso Jorge Bolet contributes a superb interpretation of Albeniz’s Triana, notable for his seamless legato, also present in his poetic Chopin Berceuse. Bolet also includes the Liszt Grand Galop chromatique, a performance that breathes effortlessly, leaving a less frantic impression than Cziffra’s. The video on the Cziffra set is sharper than the grainy remainder of the DVD, but there should be no complaints about the discreet camera work that utilizes few camera angles, exposing facial expressions and fingers-on-the-keyboard clarity that add to the experience. --Dan Davis


Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.331


Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No


MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)


Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches; 2.93 Ounces


Media Format ‏ : ‎ Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC, Classical


Run time ‏ : ‎ 2 hours and 12 minutes


Release date ‏ : ‎ September 30, 2008


Subtitles: ‏ ‎ English


Studio ‏ : ‎ EuroArts


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Top Amazon Reviews


  • Piano Genius
An all too brief picture of one of the greatest pianists of all. Cziffra is unbelievable until you see him: and then he is a miracle.
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2018 by Larry Butler

  • I enjoyed watching the video and I liked the music
I enjoyed watching the video and I liked the music. The video was clear with no interruptions at all. I am glad that I ordered the video.
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2016 by Shirley Armstrong

  • WOW - Cziffra is amazing
Any fan of Cziffra will love this recording. His technical skill is amazing, and yet his natural playing will astound you. If you read up on his life, you will be even more amazed. Buy this!!
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2014 by Struan

  • Great Pianism!
There were only a tiny handful of true virtuoso pianists of the 20th century. Cziffra was one of them(Bolet wasn't a slouch either!). This DVD is a must for pianists. His inprovisation at the beginning is stunning. The Gypsy pianist lives on!!
Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2008 by C. Scott Harrison

  • Archival Video Footage of Three Pianistic Giants of Yesteryear
This DVD contains studio-recorded video clips from performances by three giants: György Cziffra, Benno Moiseiwitsch and Jorge Bolet. The contents: Cziffra: All from 1963, BW, mono Improvisation Bach/Busoni: Prelude and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 532 Scarlatti: Sonata in A, K101 & Sonata in D, K96 Schumann: Toccata in C, Op. 7 Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6; Polonaise in E, S.219; Grand Galop Chromatique, S.219 Chopin: Polonaise No. 6 in A Flat, Op. 53, 'Heroic' Moisweiwitsch: BW, mono Schumann: Träumerei (rec. 1954); Fantasiestücke, Op. 12 (rec. 1954) Schumann: Kinderszenen (including another performance of Träumerei) (rec. 1963) Rachmaninoff: Paganini Variations 17-24, with Charles Groves and the Philharmonia Orch. (rec. 1963) Bolet: Rec. 1962, BW, mono Albéniz: Triana (from Ibéria, Bk II) Chopin: Berceuse in D Flat, Op. 57 Liszt: Grand Galop Chromatique, S.219 Cziffra starts with a bombastic (and ugly) improvisation that includes riffs on the Chopin/Liszt 'Maiden's Wish' and the Chopin's C Major Étude, Op. 10, No. 1. It is best to consider this nothing more than a warm-up for what is to come. His nonpareil technique is put at the service of crystal clear Scarlatti, soulful Liszt (the Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 is enough to make you swoon with delight), a stunning Heroic Polonaise and the fastest Grand Galop Chromatique I've ever heard. His octaves are simply amazing, not to speak of his repeated notes. It is noted that his version of the GGC is a full minute-and-a-half faster than Bolet's. But this is at the price of some musical coherence. One gapes at the technique, but one misses much of the lyricism in the piece. Still, Bolet's version sounds a little earthbound in comparison. Moiseiwitsch plays an enchanting 1954 Träumerei in grainy video and slightly distant but otherwise adequate sound. His legato is something to treasure. The clips from 1963, when he was 73 and only a few months before his death, show his technique somewhat eroded; there are more than a few clinkers. But his musicianship is intact and there is some lovely playing, particularly in the less demanding parts of Kinderszenen. The unaccompanied introduction to the Paganini Variation 17 demonstrates why Rachmaninoff thought Moiseiwitsch played his music as well as the composer. Lovely, simply lovely. Unfortunately in the intricacies of the subsequent variations the pianist and orchestra sometimes almost lose touch with each other. This is mitigated, strangely enough, by the very recessed sound of the orchestra. I had never seen Moiseiwitsch on film before and was delighted to put sight to sound. He's been a favorite of mine for years, but I think I'll tend primarily to listen to his audio recordings, particularly those from twenty years or so earlier, rather than watch these clips. Bolet plays an evocative 'Triana' from 'Ibéria' and it makes me wish he had filmed more of Albéniz's masterpiece. His Chopin is suave and one marvels at his legato and singing tone. As I said before, the Grand Galop Chromatique, when seen and heard alongside that of Cziffra, seems a bit prosaic but I think if one heard it alone one would not have that impression. It's just that Cziffra's sizzles, for all it blurs the piece's musical line. Bolet's approach to Liszt was always more subtle than Cziffra's and there is room for both approaches. This DVD is for ardent pianophiles, particularly those who have curiosity and/or reverence for pianists of the past. Running time: 107mins; Format: NTSC 4:3; Sound: Mono; Subtitles in French, German -- there is very little spoken narration but what there is is in BBC English; Region Code: 0 (Worldwide) Scott Morrison ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2008 by J Scott Morrison

  • Two Greats in Top Form plus one Memorial Document
This DVD is a feat for pianophiles. It features three great Romantic pianists. Two of them - Cziffra and Bolet were born in 1914, so we celebrate their 100 year anniversaries in 2014: one of them - Jorge Bolet was born exactly 100 year ago, on 15 November, 2014. Incidentally, some broadcast sessions with them included in this DVD were taped in November, too - in London 1963 (Cziffra - Chopin's Polonaise in A flat) and London 1962 (all Bolet items). Cziffra and Bolet are in top form here, which unfortunately cannot be said about Moiseiwitsch February1963 session, made three months before his death when he still could play a fragment of Rachmaninov's Paganini-rhapsody, but hardly could walk. It is better to find Moiseiwitsch's great recordings of this score on CD Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini , Moiseiwitsch . The 1954 Moiseiwisch session where he plays 3 pieces from Schumann's Op. 12 and 'Traeumerei' are much better: it is exciting to watch this man with a poker face produce seamless legato and magic sounds. As for Cziffra and Bolet, I second the recommendations of Mr. Scott Morrison. Like him, I find Cziffra's showy Improvisation vulgar and the rest of his programme amazing. (The Improvisation is electrifying, too, but it is bad music). Liszt' Grand Galop chromatique is probably not great music too, but is an artistic challenge and 'invitation to dance' for a virtuoso. Cziffra plays the piece in a merciless tempo (3'06) at the expense of expressivity and irony which are present in Bolet's more measured (4'31) performance. Schumann's Toccata, Op. 7 is played for 4'44 - an amazing technical exercise. I think at this tempo the Toccata sounds too rushed. For slower performances one can try numerous other pianists, here we are gaping at Cziffra's skills. Bach-Busoni's version of BWV 532, Scarlatti's two sonatas K.101, K.96 are treasures. Bolet's versions of Albeniz's Triana ad Chopin Berceuse in D flat, Op. 57 are exciting, though his fans claim that he achieved even more in live concerts, cf. this 2 CD-set Jorge Bolet in Concert - Vol. 1, Frederic Chopin . To celebrate Bolet's 100 year anniversary 10 CDs from his pre-Decca period Jorge Bolet-The Complete Rca and , various record labels issued new CDs with his audio recordings: RCA issued a 10 CD-set, and Marston's 2nd vol. "Bolet in Concert" will be issued in December 2014. Unfortunately, no commercial DVD from Bolets concerts are available at this moment. Maybe some record label will issue whole DVDs from Cziffra's and Bolet's recitals and broadcasts? They deserve that. We too. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2014 by Anton Zimmerling

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