Cyprien Katsaris - Rimsky-Korsakov/Cziffra: The Flight of the Bumble-Bee 

Playing the piano in front of Cziffra would feel kinda like trying to make Darth Vader laugh

I can’t imagine playing this normally. But in front of Cziffra? Katsaris must have had balls of freaking tungsten carbide.

One of the greatest techniques in the world. Superman. I've never been able to understand why he is not better known.

"THIS PIECE IS NOT EASY" - UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE CENTURY!!

I would be absolutely petrified if I had to play this piece in front of Cziffra himself. I'm getting second hand anxiety just watching this. Can't imagine what he went through.

The piece is kinda difficult, but playing it in front of Cziffra is only for mad people.

Cziffra is thinking: OK, so now 2 people in the world can play this....LOL.

I only found Katsaris quite by accident and now I hear this . Never ever seen it played with such enthusiasm and with Cziffra attending.

What a fantastic video! Cziffra and Katsaris, two of my favorites and they don't get enough credit in the US where I am. This took some guts to play in front of Cziffra.

To play it in front of Cziffra would be the greatest day of my life bc Cziffra is my favorite pianist Don't worry Mr. Katsaris you are my favorite living pianist

1:47 DAT FACE

Amazing performance!!! Katsaris is one of the greatest pianists of the centrury!!!!

I was just feeling pleased with myself having learnt the Rachmaninov version! This Cziffra version is on another level!

This meeting of Ciprien and Georgi, was really a rare alignment of stars that was essential in musical history to mark and transfer the legacy of Cziffra to Katsaris. Perhaps Katsaris has already made some cosmic alignment with another current pianist to inherit his legacy. Cziffra and Katsaris, other giants of piano history! It's a luxury to see them interact!

This must be the first recording of this piece since Cziffra recorded it himself. Katsaris could have impressed Cziffra even more at a later date, considering that Katsaris kept getting stronger and more mature for a long long time. Today I am overwhelmed by the musicianship and the virtuosity of Katsaris.

Both are superb pianist. I have Cziffra's 40 CD box set that contains all of his studio records from 1956 - 1986. Katsaris is one of the best living pianist.

I think that's the best rendition .Its not insanely fast and i can hear all the NOTES and actually enjoy it.

C'est très touchant de vous voir jouer devant Cziffra cette pièce si difficile... J'imagine sans mal votre émotion !

Katsaris : "I can do this all day"

Young powerful Katsaris and the great piano master Cziffra! I love both of them!

It is not well-known but this is the hardest version of this piece. It's harder than the original "improv" of Cziffra in 1957, and harder than the official transcription that circulates nowadays, the one Yuja Wang played (incredibly well). Katsaris is playing the impossible here - Cziffra and his son clearly made this as hard as is humanly possible. Katsaris pulled it off, not as cleanly as he could have, but still an incredible accomplishment. You can see from the video that Cziffra didn't know what to make of Katsaris. He didn't play it as cleanly as Cziffra did himself back in the day, but it's also a harder piece, with harder trills and extra notes all over the place. I would like to see other pianists attempt this version. In any case, this is an amazing video!

3:10 "I wrote that, and he did a good job"

Katsaris: "... this is going really well so far..." Piano: "help, I'm exhausted.."

Having seen this, now I can believe in an anecdote of Liszt playing Chopin etude op.25 no.2 in octaves...

Fantastic virtuosity playing! Unbelievable! 🙏🎹🎶🎵🎶

Damm madd respect

Wonderful ! Thank you for posting !

Playing Cziffra's own arranged piece in front of Cziffra feels like trying to fight a god.

Diabolical! Brilliant playing!!!

Katsaris: do you like? Cziffra: chapeau...

Just Wow!

I love Cziffra !! from Japan !!

Applause!!!

Absolute insanity! ❤🔥

Mr. Katsaris, I've had a few of your recordings and went to one of your recitals in New York in the 80s. I've always admired the seriousness and depth of your interpretations, but never realised you had such technique!

i lol'd when they showed cziffra there

Bravo! And thank you for share this amazing video! A big hug from Brazil!

Realize that he say : iF yOU CAn pLAy sLoWly , YOu cAN PLay qUiCkly.

Everyone here is likely a pianist and knows this is the ultimate tough piece

O.M.G.!

Legend says Ling Ling plays it in less than one minute using left hand only

I thought I had done well learning the Rachmaninov version but this is something else! However I still prefer the Rachmaninov version. It is truer to the original and more tuneful! This rendition of the Cziffra version is however beautifully articulated

Katsaris is made for virtuosity and virtuosity seems to be made for Katsaris

I remembered these sounds when i was watching tom and jerry cartoons, when were chasing each other... Run jerry run...

I can never decipher Cziffra's face.

Playing this in front of Cziffra is like trying to discuss US politics with Putin.

this maybe one of the key videos in piano history ...?

Is the piano ok

Cyprien, to what do you credit your fabulous technique and artistry? Innate talent, or a wonderful teacher?

1:48 シフラ「なかなかやるでわないかww」

3:10 "Not bad, uh. I can spare him the execution".

This is more like "Attack of the Demon Wasps"

Could the ensuing conversation be translated into English for non- French speakers? Thanks in advance

György Cziffra becomes uncanny...

Anyone know who's the guy talking with Cziffra? (sitting next to him) Looks like it could be Eric Heidsieck. except I think Eric would have looked younger in 1975 (age 39) and I think his voice isn't like that.

this piece is impossible.. only alien robots can play it like this.

3:47 “but he chose to play it”… wasn’t Mr. Cziffra’s daring him to play it?

bumblebee fight.

0.75

Yaju perfected this, big difference

You didn't choose to play it, as Cziffra claims. You had to.

that look on cziffras face, hes like "oh shit, im about to lose my job"

playing that piece with only octaves is really hard

How extraordinary ... that Cziffra had been living in Paris for almost 20 years by this time and his French is still minimal. I thought pianists were also gifted linguists? As for Katsaris's playing, it is of course mind-boggling technically, but musically? It's a pure stunt. If you like that sort of thing ...

I prefer Volodos version. Much cleaner. But this setting is great!

Sans voix ....!!!!!!

Honestly, my guess is Cziffra wasn't impressed. How could he be? 😂

This sounds messy. Yuja Wang's version is superior ......

The worst piece