| PRODUCT DETAILS | | Georges Cziffra Plays Chopin, Liszt & Franck (EMI Classic Archive) |
| User Reviews |  | un dvd que no puede faltar
rating: 4
Recomiendo ampliamente este titulo, es un dvd que no debe de faltar en la coleccion de cualquier melomano en especial si se trata de un admirador de los grandes pianistas del siglo XX. tiene un gran valor agregado al contener diversas grabaciones historicas de Cziffra. Lo unico ue se podria pedir seria que uviera un mejor manejo de camaras para apreciar de mejor manera la técnica del pianista, sin embargo es loable el esfuerzo hecho en aquella epoca para capturar el sentido mismo que Cziffra imprime en la interpretacón.
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Astonishing and breathtaking.
rating: 5
Gyorgy Cziffra is nothing short of an absolute phenomenon. What is also stunning (besides his incredible speed), is how it seems to be so easy for him. He doesn't flail this way or that, he extremely quickly covers the keyboard without drama. He presents a pleasant demeanor, seems to reminisce, and enjoys himself. I say to each his own for all concert pianist's styles; I just can't get over how effortlessly Cziffra tackles flying over the keys.
I see the price has been lowered to around 15 USD; this DVD is easily worth twice that much. The lightening fast action of his hands are blurry at times with the dated recordings; which surprisingly did not bother me. And as another reviewer said, the bonus of Moiseiwitsch presenting Liszt's transcription is alone worth the price.
I am also extremely impressed with Georges' accuracy; it's quite shocking. Example: I personally didn't hear one mistake in Chopin's 2nd Scherzo..
This DVD is monumentally exceptional.
An absolute must-have for every piano DVD collection.
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Cziffra on screen
rating: 5
My mother watched the Cziffra DVD and was very impressed with his keyboarding technique.
Really quite marvelous for someone whose fingers were broken in prison camp, during WWII.
Cziffra must have worked incredbly hard to recover his playing skills. The music was wonderful.
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Awesome pianism from two keyboard masters
rating: 5
It became a commonplace for many music critics to dismiss Georges Cziffra as a brainless noisemaker. Many of his recordings are controversial, claimed by some to be showy and unmusical. I personally believe it to be professional jealousy. In any case there is generally little doubt that Cziffra had a remarkable virtuoso technique. After watching this DVD, I wonder if his critics have ever listened to him. His Liszt is full of life and it fits completely to the music. His Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 is absolutely astonishing, yet the central section is very sensitively played. In the more virtuoso pieces, Cziffra really puts the music on fire in the concert study Gnomenreigen seems to be under the effect of steroids! But it is in Chopin that Cziffra shows his music critics have been unfair. The Scherzo and the Improptu are very honestly played, with much spontaneity and no distortion. Even the A flat Polonaise is very controlled yet brilliant. Of course there are better Chopin players, but the items included here sound very pleasant. Georges Cziffra didn't make many recordings due to the death of his son who was also a pianist and a conductor who died in a fire, supposedly a suicide. Georges Cziffra never made another recording after that. As a bonus, EMI includes Benno Moiseiwitsch performing Wagner's Tannhauser Overture in Liszt's transcription. These 15 minutes are worth alone the price of this DVD. The Russian master throws the million note score with elegance and mastery, projecting the themes from the octaves and arpeggios with the most beaultiful singing tone. I own many of the EMI Classic Archive DVD's and this is by far the best DVD I've seen from the Classic Archive Series and no piano lover should miss it.
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Fascinating performances, grainy pictures
rating: 4
Watching Gyorgy Cziffra play the piano is a mind-boggling experience. He not only had perfect two-hand coordination, but could use all ten of his fingers interdependently of each other, so that in the most complex and technically baffling passages, such as Liszt's "Grand Trop Chromatique," watching him is not only interesting but almost scary - at least, to those of us who have played piano!
Benno Moisewitsch is superb in the filler, a performance of Liszt's transcription of the "Tannhauser" Overture, but not as digitally dextrous as Cziffra.
My lone complaint is of the video quality, grainy, sometimes washed-out black and white that apparently could not be restored too well digitally. But this is still a must-see video for piano enthusiasts.
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Georges Cziffra Plays Chopin, Liszt & Franck (EMI Classic Archive)
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