Milij Balakirev (1836-1910)
Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)
Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
Program:
1. Chopin: 4 Impromptus (Impromptu A flat major op. 29, Impromptu F sharp major op. 36, Impromptu G flat major op. 51, Fantaisie-Impromptu C sharp minor op. post. 66)
Nocturne Op.15-2
Waltzes Opp. 42, 34-2 (last bar missing), 64-1, 64-2
Barcarolle Op.60
Ballade No.4 Op.52
2. Balakirev: Islamey: Oriental Fantasy, Op. 18
3. Liszt: Valse-Impromptu, S.213
4. Liszt: Rhapsodie espagnole, S.254
Fasten your seatbelts. Cziffra in great shape demonstrates the glorious combination of virtuosity and musicality that led him into the musical empyrean. The ''great'' prize winners and celebrities of today should listen and learn with humility and attention, if they are capable... and hopefully they will change profession.
Chopin is played with a singing tone, a gorgeous legato, and sensitive nuancing and timing. This is something that only a great musician could do. So much for those ignoramus who think that Cziffra was a circus freak.
What the pianist does with Balakirev's Islamey and Liszt's Rhapsody defies the laws of physics.
Live performance recorded from the audience (better audio quality than that of Stresa, which you can find on my channel). La Chaise Dieu, France. September 5th, 1976. György Cziffra, pianist. No copyright infringement intended.