This performance given by Georges Cziffra took place September 20, 1962 in Montreux, France, under conductor Roberto Benzi with the Orch. National de la RTF. The live recording was never commercially released and is not available in any box set. Neither is it available in full on YouTube, or anywhere else, it appears. It was forwarded to me from a friend's hard-drive collection.



The program was: Grieg Concerto in A minor and Liszt's Totentanz, with an encore being the Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6. As those familiar with this pianist will tell you, Cziffra's live performances differ a great deal from his studio recordings, which further diminished with the sudden death of his son, Cziffra Jr. The significance of this concert is that, so I believe, Cziffra gives the single greatest performance of his life and, almost by definition, one of the greatest ever. It truly has to be heard to be believed, particularly the Totentanz where he not only plays at mind-boggling speeds but openly improvises. The orchestra is also stunning.



Due to the constraints of the Piano Street forum I am limited to uploading 4 attachments, which means the encore has been posted separately. I would love to hear your reactions to these recordings. My personal experience upon hearing this rendition of Totentanz was one of genuine astonishment. A rare thing, indeed.