I did not realise that when this appeared originally on video and DVD that it was from a filmed interview with Bernard Gavoty Paris 1961. Cziffra always appears humble and a little shy when being interviewed. In 1961 Cziffra was at the height of his phenomenal powers. He was the, 'prince of pianists,' the re-incarnation of Liszt,' and an over night sensation. I hope that someone can give us the gist of the conversation between Cziffra and Gavoty and thank you for this rare upload. Always much appreciated.
Thank you for uploading this lovely interview. I'm surprised that Cziffra always practiced half a day. I realize that his transcendental technique is backed by stoic training!
I know I would kill for some of his Improvisations from the Budapest bars, where he played drunk too...is there any possibility that anyone recorded him there?
He said among others that it seemed like Liszt composed the F minor etude especially for him That Liszt composed GYPSY music and not Hungarian music. Jesus, somebody asked him how much time he practices everyday and he said 10, 12 hours, all the time... and audience laughed Somebody asked him if he plays/loves jazz music....he said he did it for money (he felt so ashamed when he said that omg :() but that he loves jazz music but doesn't play it anymore. The presenter also said that the Liszt 6th Rhapsody it's like his fetish piece, he plays it all the time... (everything I've wrote here may be very incorrect but one thing I got right, he practiced 10, 11, 12 hours everyday, and he joked that he basically practices all the time - in my personal opinion such technique doesn't come from the trees, no matter how talented or predisposed for playing the piano you are, gotta work ur ass for it like there's no tomorrow, I actually think he was the hardest working pianist ever)
I understand a bit of French but very little....omg I've watched these interpretations so many times for so many years never knew it was commentary and interview this is unbelievable