25 Great Pianists attempt the DEVILISH leaps in Liszt’s Mephisto Waltz no. 1 (LIVE only)

Pianists, in order:

1. Sergio Tiempo (00:00)
2. Lazar Berman (00:16)
3. Daniil Trifinov (00:33)
4. Khatia Buniatishvili (00:47)
5. Arthur Rubinstein (01:00)
6. Lucas Debargue (01:16)
7. Vyacheslav Gryaznov (01:31)
8. Nikolai Lugansky (01:47)
9. Claudio Arrau (02:03)
10. Vladimir Horowitz (02:19)
11. Sviatoslav Richter (02:40)
12. Vladimir Ashkenazy (02:54)
13. Earl Wild (03:05)
14. Denis Matsuez (03:22)
15. Boris Berezovsky (03:37)
16. Ivo Pogorelich (03:53)
17. Minoru Nojima (04:11)
18. Alexei Sultanov (04:26)
19. Van Cliburn (04:41)
20. Garrick Ohlsson (04:59)
21. Raymond Lewenthal (05:14)
22. Alexander Malofeev (05:31)
23. Jakob Gimpel (05:48)
24. György Cziffra (06:04)
25. Yunchan Lim (06:24)

[scherzomazeppa]

When I was 16 (45 years ago, lol) and living in Chicago, I had a crush on a girl who liked to play classical music. I heard a "big pianist" was coming to town so bought two "stage" tickets since the rest were sold out, asked her out, but was rejected, so went with my dad. Turns out the "stage" tickets were for seats on the actual stage, and the "big pianist" was none other than Vladimir Horowitz. In the first half he played Clementi and Schumann and for the second half, ended it with his rendition of the Mephisto Waltz. I will never forget it...the last notes, he just ran his hands down the piano in opposite directions and ended up in a crucifix-type position before looking up. The crowd went nuts...we were all on our feet--except for this elderly lady who was sitting next to me, didn't stand, and was kind of scowling. I then asked her what was "wrong" or if she needed a hand to stand up. She replied "No, I'll sit. He plays it much better at home." When Horowitz turned to acknowledge the group of us on stage, he saw me whispering with his wife and sort of threw me a little smile...like "Yeah, I know"...he then went on to play 6 or 7 encores. Anyway, that was my very first taste of "real" classical piano, and though I never learned to play, became a huge classical piano addict ever since that day (and eventually all classical in general). I really don't need to see the whole slew of others playing the Mephisto Waltz to know my absolute favorite (though it is cool to hear different interpretations)...that first time with Horowitz driving the keys was IMO absolutely definitive, and can still hear every note in my mind today (and yes, it was much better than the recording he released of it afterward).

[umutcandemirpianist]

the contrast of Sultanov's playing is just amazing WOW genius

[wip]

Arthur Rubinstein. I don't know if he had captured Lizst's intention, but it sounds heavenly devilish. Very balanced, but not too scary.
Alexei Sultanov is outstanding in the "scary" work. Less scary, less loud but more thunderous, crisp and more precise in every way. Predatory in style, well done!
Yun Lim is more heavenly devilish, a bit more 'scary' than Rubinstein.

Thanks for sharing this video. I wish each pianist had more time in this very enlightening comparison video.
Mr Horowitz is always great, and tastefully musical on the piano.

[NN-rnoz]

Lim makes it sound so easy it's just unfair for the rest of the world.

[МаринаЛаричева-чч]

Absolutely Alexey Sultanov! Clear, precise, powerful, so frightening that you physically feel the electric charges piercing through.

[peter.]

it suddenly struck me as extremely amusing - humans love to play the same pieces for piano, millions and millions of times over, but we (succeed or not) mostly all have fun trying to do it, obsessing over it, losing sleep and hair over it, drive ourselves half crazy over it, but we love it.

[dmburke]

When Alexis Sultanov won the Cliburn Competition in 1989, he played this piece and broke a string! he was so powerful!! Like a shooting star he fizzed out because of his terrible Neurological condition!.

[zestofpiano]

My favorites are Gryaznov, Lugansky, Sultanov, and Lim

[mantictac]

Man, I love Trifonov's playing, but he is the reason why Couperin suggested that keyboard students look at their faces in a mirror while they play.

[Wosudhehqaxb]

It’s Vladimir Horowitz.. you just don’t get it

[PastukhSkota]

Yunchan Lim... wow! The speed, accuracy, and articulation!!

I also vote, Stephen Hough.
(Though not sure there is a Live video. His early recording... and seeing him live playing a 'Halloween' concert. (In the late 90s)

[remsan]

Lugansky, Matsuev, Debarque, and Yunchan Lim: Jaw drop.
Richter and Lewenthal: Bull in a china shop. Just kidding. I adore Richter. :)
Trifonov: I'm not his fan, but despite a couple of slips, his leggierissimo was insane. "Leggiero" makes it more difficult.
Ashkenazy: Jesus take the wheel.
Pogorelich: Very good for his post-retirement era. Also... "I don't know what 'leggiero' means."
Horowitz: He's a legend in every way, but this piece was far from ready.

[eddydelrio]

But don't forget the leaps in the LEFT HAND, some of which are greater than an octave!

[Fritz_Maisenbacher]

For me, Horowitz, Pogorelich and Sultanov.
No wonder, three nuts.

[islumperisluggo]

I'm honestly quite disappointed that Cyprien Katsaris' recording of Mephisto Waltz isn't on this list. I'd heard most of these recordings of the piece, and when I heard Cyprien's... I was dumbfounded. He makes this part of the piece sound like it's a warmup. It's flawless, more speed than anyone on this list, has an incredibly clean tone, etc. Cyprien is sadly very underrated in my opinion. He takes what many of these pianists tried to do, and did it with little to no effort.

[nickcy]

Only Nicolas Economou nails that piece in every detail.

[marcellomarianetti]

I have never heard of Gryaznov but his playing here was one of the best in my opinion, same goes for mr Nojima

[김현민-iq]

Tiempo, Lugansky, Richter, Ashkenazy, Matsuez, Nojima & Yunchan’s performances are outstanding. Especially Ashkenazy makes my jar drop.

[benharmonics]

All of them are very impressive. To me, the ones that stand out are Trifonov, Lugansky, Nojima, Horowitz, and Sultanov. Trifonov, Lugansky, and Nojima because they play in such a dry way, which is refreshing after hearing lots of heavily pedaled versions. Horowitz is interesting because he plays so slowly, which completely changes the vibe from thrilling to menacing. And I’m a bit biased toward Sultanov, because he’s my teacher’s favorite pianist, but I still think his version is the most powerful and exciting of the lot—especially the rinforzandos!

[BenSadounJeremie]

My choice: Horowitz, Pogorelich, Sultanov, Cziffra.
With 1 st prize for Vladimir Horowitz meaning it ain’t necessary to play faster to create urgency 😅