Her recollections about performing: Somewhere in my many years of training there were key disciplines of performance drummed into me--and one of these was nerves: body tensing, hands shaking and palms sweating. "The performer doesn't have the right or privilege to be nervous. If you are, you will never be able to fully communicate the music." "The music is the star, not you." "It is incumbent upon you to be so fully immersed in making music that you become one with the music." "Coming to a point in performing where you aren't nervous doesn't mean that you have conquered your fears in playing. But you must listen and become a listener. You must know the music. You must know the composer. And when you meet up with all of these, you will find that you have emptied yourself---of self. Then, and only then, are you ready--really ready--to perform." The other part of performing was memorization. This is the ultimate step in knowing and owning the music. At age 69 I could no longer play from memory. If I were to have a momentary slip, suddenly, once again, it's about the performer--and not the music. In every single note--I hear the music. And what glorious music it is. Thank you.
Strange world. I was a student at SIUE and sat and turned pages for Ruth. She is still around? Amazing and small world, I have found you out! Bless her.
I've heard from her yesterday on the BBC: the last pupil of Rachmaninoff alive. Flawless!!!! Absolutely amazing interpretations! What an inspiration! Cheers from Brazil.
How did I not know about this global treasure sooner after studying piano for nearly 40 years? I had no idea! Thanks NPR for bring her to my attention! An amazing life, communicator and performer! My best teacher told me to come up with a story or attach a lived one to my playing to make it more beautiful. The stories attached to Ruth's Chopin preludes are just that. Soul ascending to heaven indeed! And almost no pedal since she was a master before she should touch the pedals!
Had the privilege to attend one of her master classes. She's truly a fighter! Not all aged pianists dare to challenge pieces like Polonaises or Fantasie of Chopin!
A breathtaking performance by one of the loveliest and most generous ladies to ever play the piano. I particularly adore her nuanced interpretation of Chopin's Polonaise in F# minor, Op.44, which is pedalled and played so indescribably well here. Bravissima Madame Slenczynska! Cheers from Dayton, Ohio!
Didn't expect to cry watching this recital but I did. From her introduction you could hear his excitement, to her impeccable control while performing these pieces🥰 I am in absolute awe
We are so lucky to have her share her love and wisdom for the piano. The last living pupil of Rachmaninoff. Incredible. If you remain happy, you can live a long life and play the piano like nobody’s business deep into your nineties! I’m sharing the heck out of this. A living treasure.
Is there anything more wonderful than a performer speaking to their audience .I'm delighted that Covid dd not get to our Dear Ruth ! Such humble amiability and joy in her personality ! All those she has touched are blessed ! Such a wonderful and really needed judgement to open with a Barber Nocturne instead of a Chopin or othr 19th century composer . The old programmes that open with Bach or Scarlatti then proceed chronologically are not needed . Love Slencznska 's freedom here ! Amazing aura in the Berceuse : one of the gems and I suspect a specialty of this great figure from our past incredibly alive today ! How many are alive today who heard Hofmann ,Petri or Rachmaninoff not to speak of how many actually knew or studied with these legendary pianists !
What a great privelige! And what a beautiful interpretation- it's as if the pieces were trying to speak and say " This is what I've been trying to express all these years but those haughty pianists won't let me..". Just like Ruth said, its about what the piece wants to say. Really enjoyed this, and I've never been a Chopin lover!
Here is the recital program. All pieces except the first are by Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849): Nocturne, Op. 33 Samuel Barber (1910-1981) Polonaise in F# Minor, Op. 44 Berceuse in D Flat Major, Op. 57 Fantasy in F Minor, Op. 49 From 24 Preludes, Op. 28: Prelude in C Major #1
Prelude in G Major #3
Prelude in B Minor #6
Prelude in F Major, #23 Waltz in Eb Major (Grande Valse Brillante), Op. 18
I just tripped over Ruth and her appearance on Camera 3 in 1963 thanks to Canterbury Cathedral’s Morning Prayer (from November) - what an amazing artist she is! Then I watched her being interviewed without seeing her at the piano, so I went looking for more…and now I’m seeing her here 60 years later and still playing so masterfully! I love her lesson that the point of her performances is for us to appreciate the music vs her skill in playing it…life lesson 💫💫
Madame Ruth Slenczynska is a new discovery for me! I found out about her when I read that She recently got a record deal with Decca records and that she’s coming out with an album soon. She has a very soft and graceful touch to her piano playing (vaguely reminds me of how Vladimir Horowitz and Arthur Rubenstein play)
Wonderful and painful at the same time. Remarkable that this woman, so terribly abused by her father as a child, survived to a ripe old age and still with her faculties intact. Of course, at 96 she's not the pianist she was at 30, but still a very great musician!
Great Polonaise! Excellent playing. I know someone who studied with a student from the lineage of Beethoven. And with someone who took a 15 minute lesson from Horowitz!
@@militaryandemergencyservic3286 Her teachers actually have tremendous direct connections to musical persons in history! Just to name a few, Anton Rubinstein, Tchaikovsky, Leschetizky (studied under Czerny who studied under Beethoven), Faure, Nadia Boulanger, Stravinsky, Leonard Bernstein, Copland, Gounod, and Anna Yesipova (knew Liszt and taught Prokofiev). I don't know much about Ruth other than her current activity and her childhood recollections, but I hope she herself taught students and passed on some musical wisdom!
Prelude 6, by the time her cellist friend escaped from Hungarian and her wife is starving. Prelude 23, soul to heaven, playing for her mom, sister and Horowitz funeral. Love to hear the background stories of every piece she play
Поразительный пример творческого долголетия! Однако, на сцену в этом , почти столетнем возрасте, а женщине на этом видео 96 лет, мне кажется, выходить не стоило!!
Yay! I was the last student of Mischa Kottler. He played and was coached by Rachmaninoff then wrote letters of recommendation so he could study with Emil von Sauer and Alfred Cortot. Truly a lost art in this day of tv tik tok and total laziness.
Kurt, I value your experience and legacy, but consider that perhaps your assessment of the kids running across your front lawn may be a bit harsh and exactly like the oldsters said about you (and me).
No she dosn't look 60! :D If I didn't know her age I'd say she was in her early 80s, dosn't really matter, she looks good but it's her mental age that keeps her going, she's probably 18 in her head, which is the way to go!
For an artist of Madame Slenczynska's stature, I would expect the piano to be in tune. This was a grievous oversight on the part of the sponsors.
This should have one million views. What a wonderful experience.
13:23 Nocturne, Op. 33 - Samuel Barber
22:55 Polonaise in F# minor, Op. 44 - Frederic Chopin
36:48 Berceuse in D-flat major, Op. 57 - Frederic Chopin
42:46 Fantasy in F minor, Op. 49 - Frederic Chopin
1:10:07 Prelude in C major, Op. 28, No. 1 - Frederic Chopin
1:11:01 Prelude in G major, Op. 28, No. 3 - Frederic Chopin
1:12:17 Prelude in B minor, Op. 28, No. 6 - Frederic Chopin
1:15:04 Prelude in F major, Op. 28, No. 23 - Frederic Chopin
1:17:51 Waltz in E-flat major, Op. 18 - Frederic Chopin
1:27:59 (Encore) Etude in E major, Op. 10, No. 3 - Frederic Chopin
Thank you
Living proof of the power of music to transcend time.
Her recollections about performing: Somewhere in my many years of training there were key disciplines of performance drummed into me--and one of these was nerves: body tensing, hands shaking and palms sweating. "The performer doesn't have the right or privilege to be nervous. If you are, you will never be able to fully communicate the music." "The music is the star, not you." "It is incumbent upon you to be so fully immersed in making music that you become one with the music." "Coming to a point in performing where you aren't nervous doesn't mean that you have conquered your fears in playing. But you must listen and become a listener. You must know the music. You must know the composer. And when you meet up with all of these, you will find that you have emptied yourself---of self. Then, and only then, are you ready--really ready--to perform." The other part of performing was memorization. This is the ultimate step in knowing and owning the music. At age 69 I could no longer play from memory. If I were to have a momentary slip, suddenly, once again, it's about the performer--and not the music. In every single note--I hear the music. And what glorious music it is. Thank you.
Well said, thank you for this! Thanks
Strange world. I was a student at SIUE and sat and turned pages for Ruth. She is still around? Amazing and small world, I have found you out! Bless her.
I've heard from her yesterday on the BBC: the last pupil of Rachmaninoff alive. Flawless!!!! Absolutely amazing interpretations! What an inspiration! Cheers from Brazil.
Oh, so beautiful❤
WHAT IS BRAZIL ?
My wife and I enjoyed this concert video so much.
Thanks for watching and for letting us know. Ruth is a remarkable woman and musician.
How did I not know about this global treasure sooner after studying piano for nearly 40 years? I had no idea! Thanks NPR for bring her to my attention! An amazing life, communicator and performer! My best teacher told me to come up with a story or attach a lived one to my playing to make it more beautiful. The stories attached to Ruth's Chopin preludes are just that. Soul ascending to heaven indeed! And almost no pedal since she was a master before she should touch the pedals!
Had the privilege to attend one of her master classes. She's truly a fighter! Not all aged pianists dare to challenge pieces like Polonaises or Fantasie of Chopin!
A breathtaking performance by one of the loveliest and most generous ladies to ever play the piano. I particularly adore her nuanced interpretation of Chopin's Polonaise in F# minor, Op.44, which is pedalled and played so indescribably well here. Bravissima Madame Slenczynska! Cheers from Dayton, Ohio!
Didn't expect to cry watching this recital but I did. From her introduction you could hear his excitement, to her impeccable control while performing these pieces🥰 I am in absolute awe
We are so lucky to have her share her love and wisdom for the piano. The last living pupil of Rachmaninoff. Incredible. If you remain happy, you can live a long life and play the piano like nobody’s business deep into your nineties! I’m sharing the heck out of this. A living treasure.
Wonderful! Thank you for posting!
This was the best F minor Fantasie Played by a 96 year old in the world… probably the only one too. It’s no joke for a youngster either.
What a wonderful experience! I just “happened” on this performance. Mesmerizing and beautiful!!
Is there anything more wonderful than a performer speaking to their audience .I'm delighted that Covid dd not get to our Dear Ruth ! Such humble amiability and joy in her personality ! All those she has touched are blessed !
Such a wonderful and really needed judgement to open with a Barber Nocturne instead of a Chopin or othr 19th century composer . The old programmes that open with Bach or Scarlatti then proceed chronologically are not needed . Love Slencznska 's freedom here ! Amazing aura in the Berceuse : one of the gems and I suspect a specialty of this great figure from our past incredibly alive today ! How many are alive today who heard Hofmann ,Petri or Rachmaninoff not to speak of how many actually knew or studied with these legendary pianists !
What a great privelige! And what a beautiful interpretation- it's as if the pieces were trying to speak and say " This is what I've been trying to express all these years but those haughty pianists won't let me..". Just like Ruth said, its about what the piece wants to say. Really enjoyed this, and I've never been a Chopin lover!
Look at this girl. She is Inspirational :)
We agree!
Absolutely Breathtaking!
Beautiful, Thank You!
Here is the recital program. All pieces except the first are by Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849):
Nocturne, Op. 33 Samuel Barber (1910-1981)
Polonaise in F# Minor, Op. 44
Berceuse in D Flat Major, Op. 57
Fantasy in F Minor, Op. 49
From 24 Preludes, Op. 28:
Prelude in C Major #1
Prelude in G Major #3
Prelude in B Minor #6
Prelude in F Major, #23
Waltz in Eb Major (Grande Valse Brillante), Op. 18
How marvellous she is. How I enjoyed the concert. God bless you, Ruth Slenczynska!
I just tripped over Ruth and her appearance on Camera 3 in 1963 thanks to Canterbury Cathedral’s Morning Prayer (from November) - what an amazing artist she is! Then I watched her being interviewed without seeing her at the piano, so I went looking for more…and now I’m seeing her here 60 years later and still playing so masterfully! I love her lesson that the point of her performances is for us to appreciate the music vs her skill in playing it…life lesson 💫💫
Truly Amazing Woman!!!
Amazing piano! :-)
A phenomenal musician and human being.
So beautiful 💖🙏🏻thank you
First piece is Samuel Barber op 33. Nocturne - Homage to John Field
Madame Ruth Slenczynska is a new discovery for me! I found out about her when I read that She recently got a record deal with Decca records and that she’s coming out with an album soon. She has a very soft and graceful touch to her piano playing (vaguely reminds me of how Vladimir Horowitz and Arthur Rubenstein play)
Wonderful and painful at the same time. Remarkable that this woman, so terribly abused by her father as a child, survived to a ripe old age and still with her faculties intact. Of course, at 96 she's not the pianist she was at 30, but still a very great musician!
I'm so glad I know this incredible woman now!
Simply amazing
Love her 🙌🏻💛
Absolutely great and awe inspiring.Thank you for the uploads which are now part of my every day!!
Great Polonaise! Excellent playing. I know someone who studied with a student from the lineage of Beethoven. And with someone who took a 15 minute lesson from Horowitz!
Well Ruth Slenczynska here played for Rachmaninoff and was a student of Cortot
@@AlexAlguacil ...and Hoffman!
@@militaryandemergencyservic3286 Yeah!!
@@militaryandemergencyservic3286 Her teachers actually have tremendous direct connections to musical persons in history! Just to name a few, Anton Rubinstein, Tchaikovsky, Leschetizky (studied under Czerny who studied under Beethoven), Faure, Nadia Boulanger, Stravinsky, Leonard Bernstein, Copland, Gounod, and Anna Yesipova (knew Liszt and taught Prokofiev). I don't know much about Ruth other than her current activity and her childhood recollections, but I hope she herself taught students and passed on some musical wisdom!
@@samuel_colson Yes indeed. I too was taught by someone from the lineage of Lechitizky!
How touching when she relates the 4 stories about the 4 Chopin preludes she played....
Berceuse was breathtaking. Just as Chopin intended.
God that op. 44, such a beast and at 97 she attacks it with all 92 years of stardom and genius, despite her slowly losing strength and memory
Prelude 6, by the time her cellist friend escaped from Hungarian and her wife is starving. Prelude 23, soul to heaven, playing for her mom, sister and Horowitz funeral. Love to hear the background stories of every piece she play
Why is the hall not packed to the brim??
i loved how she used pedal sparingly!
Поразительный пример творческого долголетия! Однако, на сцену в этом , почти столетнем возрасте, а женщине на этом видео 96 лет, мне кажется, выходить не стоило!!
whats the piece in 42:00?
It's coda of Chopin "barcarolle" op. 60
@@zbigmanVEVO nope, it is Berceuse op 57
Yay! I was the last student of Mischa Kottler. He played and was coached by Rachmaninoff then wrote letters of recommendation so he could study with Emil von Sauer and Alfred Cortot. Truly a lost art in this day of tv tik tok and total laziness.
Kurt, I value your experience and legacy, but consider that perhaps your assessment of the kids running across your front lawn may be a bit harsh and exactly like the oldsters said about you (and me).
@@johnsrabe Amen.
Who ever was responsible for putting bodies in seats at this location did a disservice for the prestige talent that was there. ! 🤔
She is 96yo????? Cant believe... She looks like 60
No she dosn't look 60! :D If I didn't know her age I'd say she was in her early 80s, dosn't really matter, she looks good but it's her mental age that keeps her going, she's probably 18 in her head, which is the way to go!
The whole concept lacks originality.