Hungarian majesty

August 17, 2012 11:12 PM

Georges Cziffra warms up for the BBC, mixing improvisation with a bit of the first Chopin étude.

Just hit the full-screen, crank it up, sit back and enjoy a virtuoso play like it ain't no thing.

posted by Blazecock Pileon (12 comments total)

I like how he knew to ease up just as the first smoke and sparks blew out of the top of the piano. Wouldn't want to do irreparable damage to a good instrument.
posted by pracowity at 1:34 AM on August 18, 2012

So polite - absolute fireworks and then he just stops and says "I am finished, thank you", and the BBC guy says "well, thank you, Mr Cziffra ..." .
posted by Major Tom at 4:20 AM on August 18, 2012

jeeheeesus christ. That is astonishing
Thank you
posted by alloneword at 8:18 AM on August 18, 2012

Cziffra is one of my favourite Chopin players, thanks.
posted by ersatz at 8:18 AM on August 18, 2012

holy cow
posted by vogon_poet at 9:08 AM on August 18, 2012

Wow. The way his fingers fly is unreal.
posted by capricorn at 9:19 AM on August 18, 2012

Fantastic.
posted by tickingclock at 9:23 AM on August 18, 2012

That Chopin etude at around 3:19 is to die for. Also, here is Cziffra's La Campanella, which is by far my favourite interpretation.
posted by tickingclock at 9:40 AM on August 18, 2012 [1 favorite]

Quite breathtaking as well: Korsakov Cziffra - Flight of the Bumblebee
posted by nostrada at 11:35 AM on August 18, 2012

How can anybody be that easily brilliant? Thanks for this.
posted by cooper green at 4:01 PM on August 18, 2012

Technically, impressive. Artistically, not so much.
posted by Twang at 4:27 PM on August 18, 2012

Twang is right. I expect much more artistic content from a warmup/soundcheck.
C'mon, Cziffra. Put some feeling into it, man.
posted by uosuaq at 6:07 PM on August 18, 2012 [1 favorite]