Berezovsky owns this piece. His slow section is highly expressive without being overly sentimental. His technique, clarity and accuracy are staggering. Well deserved of a standing ovation.
To paraphrase the Thalberg/Liszt piano duel: "Mr. Berezovsky in this performance is the greatest pianist in the world. Mr. Simon Barere, in his performance, is the _only_ pianist." ruclips.net/video/z4aO7RYij2I/видео.html
Lang Lang played it faster but he used the piece merely to demonstrate his undoubted technical prowess. Berezovsky plays with such heart, fervour and phenomenal accuracy. His is the performance by which all other concert pianists should be measured
Did you listen to the recording Lang Lang played at 18 yrs old... compared to this it is a joke, so please share with us which Lang Lang recording you are referencing?
I recently listened to the 1992 Carnegie Hall recital piece of Ivo Pogorelich..and his rendition is a Mt Everest of virtuosity and diamond brilliance. Just listened to it today 01/21/2024 and then came across Berezovsky performance. They are both v irtuoso renditions from interstellar space, meaning that both pianists are supreme divine virtuosos in artistic and musical expression.
In my humble opinion, this is piano playing of the highest order. This is one of the most technically challenging of piano pieces, yet, I don't find myself listening to the "technique" of this pianist, but his "musicality", and for me, this is a wanderful interpretation, BRAVO.
I've listen to many recordings, included Pletnev. So far, Berezovsky is the most precise, exciting, dynamic, musical intepretation I've heard from Balakirev's Islamey.
I can't believe what I hear. Thats so unbeliveable brilliant. I heard many versions of this piece but this one is absolutely the best. What is actually weird because i've never heard about this pianist before.
This performance is one of the most technically detailed renditions I've ever heard of this piece. From the absolute togetherness of the double notes, chords and 8ves, to the eveness of voicing and sound, I think some people on here are underestimating what makes a technically good performance. He also achieves nice colors.
This performance and Berezovsky’s 2002 performance of Mazeppa are what, for me, transformed piano lessons into a lifelong obsession with classical music (back when I was 13). Will always come back to this video (still the non plus ultra for Islamey)!
The way he "points" the top note of the chord at 3:24 has always delighted me. Well done, gamblin' man. Also the tremendous accent on the B-double-flat at 0:30. And the wonderful change of color with the change in harmony just after 1:03. Nothing is marked in the score at that point, he just knows to do it. Bravo.
Haha, that is one very notable thing about Berezovsky. He plays recitals packed with ridiculously difficult pieces, and always finishes strong, never losing power. Even if some of his playing is very questionable, his stamina is INCREDIBLE.
I just emailed it to her. It’ll be interesting to hear how she liked it. In her recitals she introduced it as “the most difficult piece ever written.” I must concur!
I'm tired after watching that. Not because the song was relaxing, but just thinking about how exhausting that level of focus and precision must be. Fantastic.
Night Angel I have played through the first two pages and if you play it slowly, it's actually quite comfortable.... which is good. Some pieces are hard to play at speed because of all the weird twists and turns but this one is mostly hard because of all the discordant arpeggios and stuff... still gonna take a while for me to learn haha
I realized from a sudden stop in the sound in the middle of the song that this is where my favorite recording came from! It's the one I discovered this song with, and I always listen to it on a video with the sheet music so I can "follow along" (even at my best, I can only half follow what's going on!). I just wanted this time to see someone's hands moving, and this time I just happened to find the source! This is my new favorite performance video of this song!
Unbelievable!! All from memory and even dynamically he is a master wizard at what he does. I think the bell choir would be more than over come with this challenge. Thanks for sharing your talent.
This is perhaps the most difficult and technically challenging piano piece ever composed. Boris just nails this with a technical artistry that is beyond belief. He plays this in just over 7 1/2 minutes, while other pianists are well over 8 minutes. That may or may not mean anything but it can be indicative of the marvelous technique that he employs. Simply the best played for this particular piece.
There's a pianist called David Bob who plays it in under 5 minutes. And he plays 99.6% accurately, and includes EVERY DYNAMIC CHeck out David Bob if you wanna here FAST
It's because of the sonority of the intervals explored by the composer: thirds, fifths and sixths. Traditional Italian music has a lof of those, arabic traditional music too.
+Abel Lifschutz Actually, the A at 0:30 is not a mistake, its in the score (written as B-double flat). And yes, it looks like we are missing two bars, which I think were cut out from the video for any reason.
What an amazing song. I (highschool student) recently told asked my conductor if he was able to play this song, he has a doctorate in piano performance. He told me he never tried, but that he can play Scarbo by Ravel who was influenced by this song. I bet that many people who enjoyed this will enjoy that as well!
Thanks a lot ! I have not heard "Islamey" for 30 years, and here, such a beautifull performance! And shame on me, because I live in Mexico (Guadalajara) and new nothing about rhis perfornance
Wow. Berezovsky is really amazing. He makes everyting seem so easy technically. It's like he doesn't have to concentrate on technique at all, he can just think about the music. Yet he plays so well! Pulling it off with so little pedal...
Oh, this was great. I have heard this piece played wonderfully by others, but the difference in their bodily strength is amazing. Whereas they played, shall we say, like coloraturas, this man was a dramatic, yet all were perfect. Well, this was enjoyable.
It's incredible how great pianists haven't any kind of stress in their fingers, hands, wrists, arms despite they have to play so much notes and so fast. Relax is the secret of technique.
Berezovsky and Hamelin are my two favourite "contemporary" pianists, both to listen to and to watch. Hamelin makes everything look so damn easy, while Berezovsky always looks loaded.
they are both completely impervious to musicality, pure technical beasts. It almost seems that this is a requirement to attain that style of robotism playing. I think for them the fact that sound is by the way produced is only a tool to help their technical goal. Is their technique impressive ? absolutely, is it musical ? only when it serves their technical prowess.
0:52 the man who says "whoa" after berezovsky is done playing that measure is my spirit animal
XD
how did you even hear that
This comment needs more likes
@@ryushev2000 because I had the same reaction. It was incredible
Maybe he Isa a pianist also. Pianists know how difficult is that passage
Berezovsky owns this piece. His slow section is highly expressive without being overly sentimental. His technique, clarity and accuracy are staggering. Well deserved of a standing ovation.
ukpianoman2015 totally agree with you
Totally agree with you
I’m still clapping
To paraphrase the Thalberg/Liszt piano duel: "Mr. Berezovsky in this performance is the greatest pianist in the world. Mr. Simon Barere, in his performance, is the _only_ pianist."
ruclips.net/video/z4aO7RYij2I/видео.html
I like the islamey
This is one of those pieces were you cannot say "In his hands, it seems easy", but rather "He shows brilliantly just how difficult it is".
I see!
I feel like this is Berezovsky's signature piece. Whenever I think of Islamey I think of Berezovsky and vice versa.
OMG I follow you at instagram, your name there is “Dellios Lukas” omg
Unless there’s someone else that is interested in piano and is called Dellios Lukas
@@fredericchopin7332 It's me 😅
exactly the same here!
Lang Lang played it faster but he used the piece merely
to demonstrate his undoubted technical prowess. Berezovsky plays with such heart, fervour and phenomenal accuracy. His is the performance by which all other concert pianists should be measured
Lang Lang is high-caliber trash, a turd wrapped in crepe paper.
Did you listen to the recording Lang Lang played at 18 yrs old... compared to this it is a joke, so please share with us which Lang Lang recording you are referencing?
I recently listened to the 1992 Carnegie Hall recital piece of Ivo Pogorelich..and his rendition is a Mt Everest of virtuosity and diamond brilliance. Just listened to it today 01/21/2024 and then came across Berezovsky performance. They are both v irtuoso renditions from interstellar space, meaning that both pianists are supreme divine virtuosos in artistic and musical expression.
優れたピアニストは、この曲をただ難しい曲ではなく、魅力的な技巧と音で作られたものだと実感させてくれるようですね。素晴らしい！！
In my humble opinion, this is piano playing of the highest order. This is one of the most technically challenging of piano pieces, yet, I don't find myself listening to the "technique" of this pianist, but his "musicality", and for me, this is a wanderful interpretation, BRAVO.
I've listen to many recordings, included Pletnev. So far, Berezovsky is the most precise, exciting, dynamic, musical intepretation I've heard from Balakirev's Islamey.
I don't agree with you
I think pletnev is the best 🎉🎉🎉
I can't believe what I hear. Thats so unbeliveable brilliant. I heard many versions of this piece but this one is absolutely the best.
What is actually weird because i've never heard about this pianist before.
You should go listen to his 12 Liszt etudes
Come on, this guy didn't even graduate from the conservatory and had no diploma...
@@sesk3613 that doesn't matter. He has proved his excellence in the field of piano.
@@sesk3613 doesnt that make his entire journey more impressive....
Cziffra has a stunning recording which I think is the cleanest of all
This performance is one of the most technically detailed renditions I've ever heard of this piece. From the absolute togetherness of the double notes, chords and 8ves, to the eveness of voicing and sound, I think some people on here are underestimating what makes a technically good performance. He also achieves nice colors.
Haha
Sweaty man goes bong
@@yonatanmoritz ☠☠☠
@@yonatanmoritz $$
The very best perfomance I've ever heard, and it was alive. He turns this virtuosistic piece into real music. BRAVO!
Amazing: clear and expressive
This performance and Berezovsky’s 2002 performance of Mazeppa are what, for me, transformed piano lessons into a lifelong obsession with classical music (back when I was 13). Will always come back to this video (still the non plus ultra for Islamey)!
Благодарю за прекрасный вечер! ❤❤❤Дай Бог здоровья обожаемому Борису Вадимовичу Березовскому! ❤❤❤
He knows exactly what he is doing, not a single note played by chance. He must have played this since childhood...perfect!
A comment on the Simon Barere version brought me here. My first time seeing this rendition. Thanks for sharing.
The way he "points" the top note of the chord at 3:24 has always delighted me. Well done, gamblin' man.
Also the tremendous accent on the B-double-flat at 0:30.
And the wonderful change of color with the change in harmony just after 1:03. Nothing is marked in the score at that point, he just knows to do it. Bravo.
1:48
I love how he fastly goes to the second part cause otherwise the audience would think its over
I've listened to TONS of islamey performances here on yt, but this one, this PARTICULAR one takes the cake.
breathtaking interpretation.
trying to understand the pure talent, time, and dedication to create a song like this could bring tears to ones eyes.
Took one month for Balakirev to compose this song.
Gavin Baker
That's insane. Thanks for sharing that info.
luthervaughn1 it is not a song!
Out of this world. Played from the heart.
Haha, that is one very notable thing about Berezovsky. He plays recitals packed with ridiculously difficult pieces, and always finishes strong, never losing power. Even if some of his playing is very questionable, his stamina is INCREDIBLE.
What makes his playing questionable? Sorry, guitar and drum player here
@@jordanhedington2421 don’t expect a response from a 12 year old comment
@@AmbikaSukla but you did
@@jordanhedington2421 no I responded to your comment.
This pianist is a virtuoso monster 😇 !!
Heard at least 10 versions of Islamey so far. Not one even close to Berezovsky's rendition. Great respect!
Perfect. I cried.
1:49 Berezovsky must have learned the lesson that if he played the fermata some ignorant audience would definitely think the piece was over.
Pogorelich taught the lesson to him
I have a dear friend who is a concert pianist who truly excels at this ridiculously difficult piece. I’m happy to find this version here.
I just emailed it to her. It’ll be interesting to hear how she liked it. In her recitals she introduced it as “the most difficult piece ever written.” I must concur!
What a tempo!!! Absolutely Brillant!!
Замечательно !!! Это можно слушать много, много раз и каждый раз с большим удовольствием.
Incredible fantastic brilliant genious!!
This is beyond excellent. The cleanest Islamey I've ever heard. The guy's technique is astonishing.
And yet if you read some of the comments here, you will find that he is simply not good enough
Best favorit Pianist
at the beginning (and throughout the piece), he plays SO precisely- there are no wasted movements! incredible!
Scary good
Fantastic, adorable and perfect performance !
Incredible...flawless...perfect!!! :) Truly amazing!
I'm tired after watching that. Not because the song was relaxing, but just thinking about how exhausting that level of focus and precision must be. Fantastic.
Пожалуй это лучшее исполнение из всех что я слышал.Просто блестяще !! Спасибо и БРАВО !!!
I love this man's interpretation,brilliant piece
Most musical performance of Islamey on RUclips. Technically amazing as well. Yes a few slips and speeding up in places but my god the phrasing!
Yes, I was most perturbed when he speeded up. And don't get me started on the slips
La primera fila son solo pianistas expertos aplaudiendo a un mas que experto, lo loco es que tiene una fineza, un touché, maravilloso.
This is quite mental. I love it
This is insane. I'm gonna start learning it today! Wish me luck!
+Natalya Plays Piano Are you still alive? I'm struggling with just Chopin's Winter Wind. Can't imagine the pain from this.
Night Angel I have played through the first two pages and if you play it slowly, it's actually quite comfortable.... which is good. Some pieces are hard to play at speed because of all the weird twists and turns but this one is mostly hard because of all the discordant arpeggios and stuff... still gonna take a while for me to learn haha
+Natalya Plays Piano well? Did you finish learning it yet?
Dont try at full speed
You will end up like Scriabin
Wait, you didnt hear?
Scriabin broke his hand from this piece!
Night Angel For me the Chopin's piece is harder.
The Through the Fire and Flames of the piano!!! Nice work
🤣🤣🤣
this performance is unreal. best islamey i've ever heard...soo sick
Stupendous playing !
Great video- This is the best version of the piece! Thank you for posting.
Considering that Balakirev wrote this to play himself, he must have been one hell of a pianist!
..and a hell of a composer, this piece makes me happy.
"Actually he never mastered it himself. During his life time, only Liszt and Nikolai Rubinstein feel secure to play it in public."
Zh Xiao You must mean Anton Rubinstein!
Nikolai Rubinstein, a Russian pianist, conductor and composer, was the younger brother of Anton Rubinstein
Liszt considered the piece to be too easy, because he could play the piece full tempo from the sheet.
I realized from a sudden stop in the sound in the middle of the song that this is where my favorite recording came from! It's the one I discovered this song with, and I always listen to it on a video with the sheet music so I can "follow along" (even at my best, I can only half follow what's going on!). I just wanted this time to see someone's hands moving, and this time I just happened to find the source! This is my new favorite performance video of this song!
Unbelievable!! All from memory and even dynamically he is a master wizard at what he does. I think the bell choir would be more than over come with this challenge. Thanks for sharing your talent.
This is perhaps the most difficult and technically challenging piano piece ever composed. Boris just nails this with a technical artistry that is beyond belief. He plays this in just over 7 1/2 minutes, while other pianists are well over 8 minutes. That may or may not mean anything but it can be indicative of the marvelous technique that he employs. Simply the best played for this particular piece.
There's a pianist called David Bob who plays it in under 5 minutes. And he plays 99.6% accurately, and includes EVERY DYNAMIC
CHeck out David Bob if you wanna here FAST
This is just how I like to play it, too.
Awesome performance. ..,
That 'metallic' quality does not often work well in piano performances but here it is superb!
Berezovsky at his best. So strange that this may be called "Oriental Fantasy" ... sounds like an Italian tarantella to me. Anyone?
It's because of the sonority of the intervals explored by the composer: thirds, fifths and sixths. Traditional Italian music has a lof of those, arabic traditional music too.
Amazing
This is one of the pieces that I would not even try a note
Perfect, brilliant, bravo!
+Abel Lifschutz Actually, the A at 0:30 is not a mistake, its in the score (written as B-double flat). And yes, it looks like we are missing two bars, which I think were cut out from the video for any reason.
Carl gaming channel and vlogs sad fuck
@Carl gaming channel and vlogs no one cares about your comment, fuck off, kid.
Strepitoso! ❤
thanks so much for this precious video. amazing
Bravissimo !!!Fantastica!!!
What a legend Berezovsky
wow...there's no word! iv been listening to this for the last 2 hours!!!!
such amazing articulation! brilliant
What an amazing song. I (highschool student) recently told asked my conductor if he was able to play this song, he has a doctorate in piano performance. He told me he never tried, but that he can play Scarbo by Ravel who was influenced by this song. I bet that many people who enjoyed this will enjoy that as well!
Thanks a lot ! I have not heard "Islamey" for 30 years, and here, such a beautifull performance! And shame on me, because I live in Mexico (Guadalajara) and new nothing about rhis perfornance
Wow. Berezovsky is really amazing. He makes everyting seem so easy technically. It's like he doesn't have to concentrate on technique at all, he can just think about the music. Yet he plays so well! Pulling it off with so little pedal...
Oh, this was great. I have heard this piece played wonderfully by others, but the difference in their bodily strength is amazing. Whereas they played, shall we say, like coloraturas, this man was a dramatic, yet all were perfect. Well, this was enjoyable.
Earned his paycheck that night, didn't he?
Music Lover we still owe him
No.
This is so fantastic I cannot explain how happy I am right now.
do u people wanna know why Berezovsky is the best?......look this video its a live performance.....just one chance to play it!!!!!!
Напоминает мне азербайджанскую танцевальную музыку + казахскую...Эпизод в конце несколько выходит из контекста Конечно блестящая композиция
oulala ! this guy is amazing !! hihi ! this piece is like drinking 3 coffee....so much energy that you almost get overwhelmed and tired !
Looks like I spoke too soon! Thanks very much, they all sound wonderful
SIMPLY THE BEST!!!
I feel like this music which exists in order that he may perform : )
I can't believe it - it's possible to play this piece in that way!
This is hardly pointless. And even it were mere virtuosity there is still something extraordinary to appreciate.
I will play it in a local piano competition tomorrow as age 15!
Upload the vid!!!!
@@raymondmartin5187 May I will ;)
To me, this piece is the definition of passion.
It's incredible how great pianists haven't any kind of stress in their fingers, hands, wrists, arms despite they have to play so much notes and so fast. Relax is the secret of technique.
Quite
this is the greatest pianist of this century so underrated!
Amazing.
man! god damn god damn it's the first time I hear this. what a pice. what a pianist. surpasses most pianists I hva heard.
@lostinidlewonder This is the best rendition of the piece I have ever heard!
Best Islamey Ever! :D
凄すぎる……✨私が聴いてきたイスラメイの中で1番好きな感じかも！
Мощно, колоритно, легко!
Wonderful !
Perchè c'è sempre qualcuno che non apprezza la vera bellezza?!?!?!?
Genius
Berezovsky and Hamelin are my two favourite "contemporary" pianists, both to listen to and to watch.
Hamelin makes everything look so damn easy, while Berezovsky always looks loaded.
they are both completely impervious to musicality, pure technical beasts. It almost seems that this is a requirement to attain that style of robotism playing. I think for them the fact that sound is by the way produced is only a tool to help their technical goal. Is their technique impressive ? absolutely, is it musical ? only when it serves their technical prowess.
WOW!! very good!! I like this piece♥
Superb! TY medpiano for posting.
great technique and great piano
Asian parents: good now play it upside down
Kid: wait what-
Parents: NOW
Very good performance, probably the best. Balakirev would be proud of he's countrymen.