Immerse yourself in the virtuosity of György Cziffra with "The Masters Collection: György Cziffra," a sprawling three-disc compilation that showcases the pianist's extraordinary range and technical prowess. Released in 2019 by Hungaroton, this collection spans a generous 3 hours and 44 minutes, featuring 31 tracks that highlight Cziffra's mastery of the classical piano repertoire.
The album opens with Franz Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat Major, a work that demands both technical brilliance and interpretive depth, which Cziffra delivers with characteristic flair. The collection also includes a selection of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies, showcasing Cziffra's ability to infuse these iconic pieces with both passion and precision. Cziffra's interpretations of these rhapsodies are renowned for their energy and virtuosity, making them a highlight of the collection.
Beyond Liszt, the album explores a variety of genres and styles, from the romantic elegance of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" to the playful charm of Johann Strauss II's "An der schönen blauen Donau" and "Tritsch-Tratsch Polka," both arranged for piano by Cziffra himself. The collection also features Cziffra's arrangements of operatic themes, including paraphrases from Verdi's "Rigoletto" and Wagner's "Tannhäuser," demonstrating his ability to translate orchestral grandeur to the piano.
Cziffra's own compositions and arrangements are also well-represented, including his dynamic rendition of the "Tarantelle di bravura" and his unique interpretations of Hungarian dances. The album concludes with a selection of Liszt's "Études d'exécution transcendante," a series of technical studies that push the boundaries of piano technique and showcase Cziffra's unparalleled skill.
"György Cziffra" is a testament to the pianist's enduring legacy and his unique ability to bring fresh insights to both familiar and lesser-known works. Whether you're a longtime admirer of Cziffra's playing or a newcomer to his artistry, this collection offers a comprehensive overview of his remarkable career and his enduring contribution to the world of classical piano.
Tracks
Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat Major, S. 124: I. Allegro maestosoFranz Liszt, György Cziffra, Budapest Symphony Orchestra, György Lehel
Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat Major, S. 124: II. Quasi adagioFranz Liszt, György Cziffra, Budapest Symphony Orchestra, György Lehel
Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat Major, S. 124: III. Allegretto vivaceFranz Liszt, György Cziffra, Budapest Symphony Orchestra, György Lehel
Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat Major, S. 124: IV. Allegro marziale animatoFranz Liszt, György Cziffra, Budapest Symphony Orchestra, György Lehel
Hungarian Rhapsodies, S. 244: No. 2 in C-Sharp MinorFranz Liszt, György Cziffra
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 in D-Flat Major, S. 244 No. 6Franz Liszt, György Cziffra
19 Hungarian Rhapsodies, S. 244: No. 12 in C-Sharp MinorFranz Liszt, György Cziffra
Rhapsody in BlueGeorge Gershwin, György Cziffra, Hungarian State Orchestra, Zoltan Rozsnyai
Tarantelle di bravura d'après la tarantelle de La muette de Portici, S. 386Franz Liszt, György Cziffra
21 Hungarian Dances, WoO 1: No. 5 in F-Sharp Minor (Arr. G. Cziffra for Piano)Johannes Brahms, György Cziffra
An der schönen blauen Donau, Op. 314 (Arr. G. Cziffra for Piano)Johann Strauss II, György Cziffra
Tritsch-Tratsch Polka, Op. 214 (Arr. G. Cziffra for Piano)Johann Strauss II, György Cziffra
Paraphrase on Die Fledermaus (Arr. G. Cziffra for Piano)György Cziffra
Paraphrase on Der Zigeunerbaron (Arr. G. Cziffra for Piano)György Cziffra
Ouvertüre zu "Tannhäuser", S. 442 (After Wagner)Franz Liszt, György Cziffra
Paraphrase de concert sur Rigoletto, S. 434Franz Liszt, György Cziffra
Concert Paraphrase on Themes from Il trovatore (Arr. G. Cziffra for Piano)György Cziffra
19 Hungarian Rhapsodies, S. 244: No. 15 in A Minor "Rákóczy March"Franz Liszt, György Cziffra
19 Hungarian Rhapsodies, S. 244: No. 19 in D MinorFranz Liszt, György Cziffra
Études d'exécution transcendante, S. 139: No. 1 in C Major "Preludio"Franz Liszt, György Cziffra
Études d'exécution transcendante, S. 139: No. 2 in A Minor "Fusées"Franz Liszt, György Cziffra
Études d'exécution transcendante, S. 139: No. 3 in F Major "Paysage"Franz Liszt, György Cziffra
Études d'exécution transcendante, S. 139: No. 4 in D Minor, MazeppaFranz Liszt, György Cziffra
Études d'exécution transcendante, S. 139: No. 5 in B-Flat Major "Feux follets"Franz Liszt, György Cziffra
Études d'exécution transcendante, S. 139: No. 6 in G Minor "Vision"Franz Liszt, György Cziffra
Études d'exécution transcendante, S. 139: No. 7 in E-Flat Major "Eroica"Franz Liszt, György Cziffra
Études d'exécution transcendante, S. 139: No. 8 in C Minor "Wilde Jagd"Franz Liszt, György Cziffra
Études d'exécution transcendante, S. 139: No. 9 in A-Flat Major "Ricordanza"Franz Liszt, György Cziffra
Études d'exécution transcendante, S. 139: No. 10 in F Minor "Appassionata"Franz Liszt, György Cziffra
Études d'exécution transcendante, S. 139: No. 11 in D-Flat Major "Harmonies du soir"Franz Liszt, György Cziffra
Concert Paraphrase on Mendelssohn's Sommernachtstraum, S. 410Franz Liszt, György Cziffra
Whether you're just starting your vinyl collection or have been spinning for years, the right turntable makes all the difference. We've selected the best options for every budget.
Whether a review is positive, negative, or neutral, we always publish it. However, we screen every review to ensure it is authentic and free of profanity. These checks happen automatically, though a human occasionally steps in. We never pay for reviews.
Looking for "The Masters Collection: György Cziffra" on vinyl?
We don't have a live price right now, but stock fluctuates daily. You can check for hidden stock on Amazon directly, or let us alert you as soon as it is available.
