Gyorgy Cziffra - Gypsy Classical Piano Extraordinaire

Elliot · April 2007

Anybody familiar with this fellow?

My piano playing friend describes him as one of maybe 25 'perfect' players in history. He reminds me of a bit of Art Tatum, in a way. He is a Gypsy of Hungarian origin and totally owns Liszt. I just heard his Rhapsodies CD - as described; 'accelerations, scorching octaves, detonations, relentless, firestorm bravura', mind-blowing stuff, really.

Anyway, just for the student of this style approach if nothing else, he is very interesting.

Elliot · May 2007

I just found out recently that Cziffra began as a cymbalom player, and then was encouraged by a kindly sponsor to move on to piano. (Not that anyone cares all that much!)

Oops, I started and killed my own thread! A new first for me! Ouch!

Stackabones · May 2007

I checked youtube--several vids there. This one is cool.

chip3174 · May 2007

My wife has almost completed her dissertation on Cziffra and has found some interesting facts about him...

He was imprisoned during WWII in a concentration camp and was forced to carry heavy stones, ruining his hands completely. After the war, like Django, he had to go back to the beginning and develop his technique again. Of course, this he did and was a brilliant concert artist even after the war years. He lived in Paris for a long time and became well known there and his son was also a musician and conductor.

He was also a jazzer and could play in the style of Art Tatum although most of his jazz work was not recorded. There may be a recording of "Tea for Two" , but I think that is all.

If you want to have your mind blown check out "Mephisto Waltz" by Liszt and Cziffra's own arrangement of "Flight of the Bumblebee" by Rimsky-Korsakov. Although not a guitar player, this man is a truly inspirational human being who managed to continue his passion, his art, even during the most difficult and trying of times.

Elliot · May 2007

Thank you, Chip. He really was an amazing person, great that your wife is doing her dissertation on him. I heard he used to practice 10 hours before each concert up until seconds before he went onstage so he could perform at an absolute peak. When I think of dedication and focus these days I think of him.

Elliot