Alfred Cortot is undoubtedly one of the most controversial pianists in classical music history. His erroneous notes, his outdated rubato, his approach to music that are too romantic and with different readings associated with other branches of art are quite unacceptable for today’s modern academic understanding and listener. But for many famous pianists of the present and the past, the greatest pianist or one of the greatest pianists was Alfred Cortot. Many pianists had a deep admiration for him. What makes Alfred Cortot’s art so special? I tried to explain this with the discourse of many important pianists. In this video, I used Cortot recordings from 1902 to 1953. Pianists talking about or associated with Alfred Cortot in the video: Andras Schiff, Alfred Brendel, Wilhelm Kempff, Vladimir Horowitz, Claudio Arrau, Murray Perahia, Walter Gieseking, Martha Argerich, Alicia de Larrocha, Dinu Lipatti, Vlado Perlemuter, Stephen Hough, Jorge Bolet, Byron Janis, Heinrich Neuhaus, Eric Heidsieck, Philippe Entremont, Paul Badura-Skoda, Daniel Barenboim, Györg Sandor, Gina Bachauer, Yuja Wang, Magda Tagliaferro, İdil Biret, Yvonne Lefebure, Piotr Anderszewski, Angela Hewitt. And Bonus: Pablo Casals and Jed Distler. If you want to support me: / chopinzee Instagram: / ozanfabien Twitter: / chopinzeeblog 00:00 Bach – Cadenza of Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 (1932) * Orchestre de l’Ecole Normale de Musique, conductor and piano Alfred Cortot. 04:00 Debussy – “La cathédrale engloutie” (1947) 08:31 Chopin – Prelude No. 4, Op. 28 (1933) 10:23 Chopin Etude No. 5 Op. 10 (1923) 11:56 Chopin Etude No. 1 Op. 25 (1934) 14:06 Chopin Sonata No. 3 Mov. III excerpt (1933) 16:44 Schumann – “Kind im Einschlummern” from Kinderszenen (1953) 18:24 Schumann – “Der Dichter spricht” from Kinderszenen (1953) 20:34 Schumann – Kreisleriana excerpt (1935) 24:00 Franck – Symphonie Variations (1934) * London Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Landon Ronald 28:18 Wagner – “Hojotoho!” from Die Walküre (1902) * with Félia Litvinne 30:07 Liszt – Piano Sonata excerpt (1929)
In search of Alfred Cortot
Alfred Cortot is undoubtedly one of the most controversial pianists in classical music history. His erroneous notes, his outdated rubato, his approach to music that are too romantic and with different readings associated with other branches of art are quite unacceptable for today’s modern academic understanding and listener. But for many famous pianists of the present and the past, the greatest pianist or one of the greatest pianists was Alfred Cortot. Many pianists had a deep admiration for him. What makes Alfred Cortot’s art so special? I tried to explain this with the discourse of many important pianists. In this video, I used Cortot recordings from 1902 to 1953. Pianists talking about or associated with Alfred Cortot in the video: Andras Schiff, Alfred Brendel, Wilhelm Kempff, Vladimir Horowitz, Claudio Arrau, Murray Perahia, Walter Gieseking, Martha Argerich, Alicia de Larrocha, Dinu Lipatti, Vlado Perlemuter, Stephen Hough, Jorge Bolet, Byron Janis, Heinrich Neuhaus, Eric Heidsieck, Philippe Entremont, Paul Badura-Skoda, Daniel Barenboim, Györg Sandor, Gina Bachauer, Yuja Wang, Magda Tagliaferro, İdil Biret, Yvonne Lefebure, Piotr Anderszewski, Angela Hewitt. And Bonus: Pablo Casals and Jed Distler. If you want to support me: / chopinzee Instagram: / ozanfabien Twitter: / chopinzeeblog 00:00 Bach – Cadenza of Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 (1932) * Orchestre de l’Ecole Normale de Musique, conductor and piano Alfred Cortot. 04:00 Debussy – “La cathédrale engloutie” (1947) 08:31 Chopin – Prelude No. 4, Op. 28 (1933) 10:23 Chopin Etude No. 5 Op. 10 (1923) 11:56 Chopin Etude No. 1 Op. 25 (1934) 14:06 Chopin Sonata No. 3 Mov. III excerpt (1933) 16:44 Schumann – “Kind im Einschlummern” from Kinderszenen (1953) 18:24 Schumann – “Der Dichter spricht” from Kinderszenen (1953) 20:34 Schumann – Kreisleriana excerpt (1935) 24:00 Franck – Symphonie Variations (1934) * London Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Landon Ronald 28:18 Wagner – “Hojotoho!” from Die Walküre (1902) * with Félia Litvinne 30:07 Liszt – Piano Sonata excerpt (1929)