Welcome to pianist & composer Cyprien Katsaris Official Channel ⭐️ Here you can find past, present & rare videos from Cyprien Katsaris selected or created by himself.
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Cyprien Katsaris seems to absorb every note as if he immerses himself fully in the music, playing with his entire soul. His interpretations are like a journey into the very essence of the pieces - filled with passion, emotion, and incredible virtuosity. Each note feels alive, as though it’s being played not just by his fingers, but by his heart. This is more than just performance - it’s pure magic.
Mostly, this is a virtuosic showpiece, far beyond what Rimsky-Korsakoff imagined. Impressively, there ARE several pianists who can (of could have) play at about this speed; A speed which is probably at the limit of human possibility. But none have surpassed Cziffra. But for a fair comparison, we need to consider more than just the metronome. Fortunately, there is much more to music than just burning speed. We listen to performances like this to be amazed, not emotionally or intellectually stimulated. We should also acknowledge that Katsaris, in his old age, has said that he considered Cziffra to be the greatest pianist of the 20th century. Among his criteria for that judgment must first be virtuosity.
The reason this version sounds different from others is that Katsaris is combining the standard Fontana version with the lesser-known Oxford version. Both versions are included in Volume 18 of the Paderewski edition of Chopin's complete works. In my opinion, Katsaris' decision to combine the two versions results in a more enjoyable performance.
There is a video on here with a comparison between the takes of Hough and Kosrstick of this piece, and I think both are better. I am a fan of Katsaris, but consider the title of this work. It is supposed to be profoundly contemplative and not something for Ace Liberace to be nonchalantly played in Las Vegas at some gala evening.
This recording is brilliant. I've heard another recording of this Phantasie and found parts of it boring, but Katsaris' interpretation makes every part interesting. By paying attention to accents in the score and using his renowned voicing ability, he skillfully juggles multiple melody lines which makes more of this piece interesting 4:15, 12:41, 13:08. Katsaris' decisions regarding articulation, pedaling and rubato also seem to be responsible for his performance's captivating quality 0:40, 3:55, 4:36, 7:28.
