This reminds me of Arthur Rubinstein remembering his younger years when "more notes were dropped by him than were being played". This was a joke of course, but still people adored the emotional expression he always put in his playing. Yundi Li now is not that different; whether a section or two pages were skipped does not matter, because he plays beautifully. Langlang tends to "overdo" it and overstretches his performances of Chopin. But this is all a matter of taste of course....
Some people forget how young some of these performers are. In regards to the present piece, I've heard a far more expressive and (dare I say) 'mature' recording by Cziffra, but he was much older than Yundi is in this video. Yes, Yundi is technically flawless, but that sometimes leaves much to be desired in interpretation. I think that's probably the only real gripe in this case.
(i'm not one of those youtube critics that remain anonymous, so i have one recording of this piece. of course i play with the score, i make some mistakes, i'm just an amateur piano player and i don't intend to be better than any of these profesionals... but i try to phrase and sing this music as in Rigoletto's original aria, i don't rush the piece all over and i avoid using it just as some kind of virtuosity display music, because i'm pretty sure that was not Liszt's main intention)
It's a bit flat in some places, but still better than one of his other performances that's on youtube. Is there some ossia or other publishing that omits two pages?
So many stuck up wanna-be critics living in the past. You people will always find something to pick on no matter how wonderful the performance. I have actually proven that.
I don't agree that one must be able to play a piece to criticise a performance. By that rule i could only judge piano performances and never have oppinions about orchestral works, etc. Music is what matters, not the means through which you make it.
well, the young liszt was famous for showing off his techique... the older liszt insisted that music was meant to be sung, not used as a mere display. i don't mean you shouldn't show how hard it is... it is quite hard and you cannot hide it. but you can choose if you will "play music and show how hard it is" or "play music, which, as a matter of fact, is quite hard". got it? :)
at least there are still few people like you who (may) really understand the differnt quality between yundi li and lang lang.. but, maybe, if lang lang covers his face with mask during the performance, he (may) plays better than Yundi Li...
i must say that Yundi Li plays Rigoletto much better in another video... search for the one in which he plays "Rigoletto, Sunflower and La Campanella".. then compare to this one! The other performance is by far better than this one, with more careful phrasing and tone! :)
Anyway, I can't play like that. I can articulate my opinions better than I can tickle the ivories. I bet that's true for almost everyone else here. *lol*
And maybe people don't accept this as an excellent performance because it's not so. He's doing what shouldn't be done with Liszt's music: showing "how hard it is to play all those notes" instead of making the piano sing as opera singers and sound as an orchestra. THIS is what's really hard in this piece! (this comment and the previous one were to classical000, comments are not being posted in the right place)
He is technically incredible. But he does rush this too much. I appreciate so much of Yundi Li's Chopin but I feel this is rather weaker. I have done this at times too. When something is too easy, try to play too fast. If just slowed down a little more, it would be great. May have not been his day. Touring is so hectic and tiring. I was second prize in the Concours des Grands Amateurs and playing four times in three days (ranging from 5-30 minutes depending on the audition) was exhausting!
hahaha i don't like making evil comments, but i have to agree with you about lang lang... i completely dislike his fireworks and awkward faces. BUT listening to Lang Lang without watching him can be good sometimes (just sometimes)! As for this performance of Rigoletto, it is certainly too dry and doesn't resemble the opera colors, voices and cantabiles, which one should pay attention to. Sadly, he is using it just to boast virtuosism. It can be such a beautiful lyric piece when well played.
I will repeat my comment that was rated -6, with minor changes. Looks like it is forbidden to comment anything here if you don't worship Yundi Li. Come on, people! "This performance is too dry and doesn't resemble the opera colors, voices and cantabile, which one should pay attention to. Sadly, he is using it just to boast virtuosism. It can be a beautiful lyric piece when played in the right mood." Now I am quite sure about that. And please feel free to rate me -6 again. :P :)
Yundi Li is a TRUE ARTIST.
Whatever piece he interprets, it shines like gold
no ones better than him...full of pride....gosh..
Extraordinaire!
Excellent!
Nice interpretations. He has a own style of playing.. And of course a vituoso!
This reminds me of Arthur Rubinstein remembering his younger years when "more notes were dropped by him than were being played". This was a joke of course, but still people adored the emotional expression he always put in his playing. Yundi Li now is not that different; whether a section or two pages were skipped does not matter, because he plays beautifully. Langlang tends to "overdo" it and overstretches his performances of Chopin. But this is all a matter of taste of course....
It shouds like he has a lot to tell thru the piano and I just listen to him playing the whole piece.
it's good to know that i'm not the only one here that can notice that!
There is no doubt whatever Li is a country mile ahead of Lang Lang and you dont have to watch the circus clown :)
Both Lang Lang and Yun Di Li are great pianist! But I prefer Yun Di :P
I wouldn't say that you shouldn't show how hard this piece is because Liszt was famous for his show in the time he lived in ...
Some people forget how young some of these performers are. In regards to the present piece, I've heard a far more expressive and (dare I say) 'mature' recording by Cziffra, but he was much older than Yundi is in this video. Yes, Yundi is technically flawless, but that sometimes leaves much to be desired in interpretation. I think that's probably the only real gripe in this case.
yeah :)
youre right
(i'm not one of those youtube critics that remain anonymous, so i have one recording of this piece. of course i play with the score, i make some mistakes, i'm just an amateur piano player and i don't intend to be better than any of these profesionals... but i try to phrase and sing this music as in Rigoletto's original aria, i don't rush the piece all over and i avoid using it just as some kind of virtuosity display music, because i'm pretty sure that was not Liszt's main intention)
It's a bit flat in some places, but still better than one of his other performances that's on youtube. Is there some ossia or other publishing that omits two pages?
anyone have trouble turning the volume up? i have mine cranked to the top and it's still really quiet. I want to hear it, not just watch it.
Hes coming to Lima soon...proyected as a big event...what do u say?
where has gone the third page?!??
A wonderful performance although, for me, the "quartet" 3;25< was a little dry in terms of pedalling.
virtuoso monster
technically, very good performance but i mostly share trms83br's comment, may be the piano used has something to do with it
So many stuck up wanna-be critics living in the past. You people will always find something to pick on no matter how wonderful the performance. I have actually proven that.
Well you got the main idea, that's all that it's about : P
I don't agree that one must be able to play a piece to criticise a performance. By that rule i could only judge piano performances and never have oppinions about orchestral works, etc. Music is what matters, not the means through which you make it.
by 1000 miles:)
well, the young liszt was famous for showing off his techique... the older liszt insisted that music was meant to be sung, not used as a mere display.
i don't mean you shouldn't show how hard it is... it is quite hard and you cannot hide it. but you can choose if you will "play music and show how hard it is" or "play music, which, as a matter of fact, is quite hard".
got it? :)
at least there are still few people like you who (may) really understand the differnt quality between yundi li and lang lang..
but, maybe, if lang lang covers his face with mask during the performance, he (may) plays better than Yundi Li...
are you comparing li's and langlang's showmanship? If you are then yes, li has nothing on langlang, but playing-wise li is above and beyond langlang.
i must say that Yundi Li plays Rigoletto much better in another video... search for the one in which he plays "Rigoletto, Sunflower and La Campanella".. then compare to this one! The other performance is by far better than this one, with more careful phrasing and tone! :)
sound levels need raising
I cant hear a thing
Anyway, I can't play like that. I can articulate my opinions better than I can tickle the ivories. I bet that's true for almost everyone else here. *lol*
12 dislike ??!
And maybe people don't accept this as an excellent performance because it's not so. He's doing what shouldn't be done with Liszt's music: showing "how hard it is to play all those notes" instead of making the piano sing as opera singers and sound as an orchestra. THIS is what's really hard in this piece!
(this comment and the previous one were to classical000, comments are not being posted in the right place)
So queit >:(
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH DAIM 4'57 WIZ 120% DUCHnezz
Très mauvaise sonorité. Dommage ! Yundi Li est mon pianiste préféré de l'heure.
He is technically incredible. But he does rush this too much. I appreciate so much of Yundi Li's Chopin but I feel this is rather weaker. I have done this at times too. When something is too easy, try to play too fast. If just slowed down a little more, it would be great. May have not been his day. Touring is so hectic and tiring. I was second prize in the Concours des Grands Amateurs and playing four times in three days (ranging from 5-30 minutes depending on the audition) was exhausting!
hahaha i don't like making evil comments, but i have to agree with you about lang lang... i completely dislike his fireworks and awkward faces. BUT listening to Lang Lang without watching him can be good sometimes (just sometimes)!
As for this performance of Rigoletto, it is certainly too dry and doesn't resemble the opera colors, voices and cantabiles, which one should pay attention to. Sadly, he is using it just to boast virtuosism. It can be such a beautiful lyric piece when well played.
I will repeat my comment that was rated -6, with minor changes. Looks like it is forbidden to comment anything here if you don't worship Yundi Li. Come on, people!
"This performance is too dry and doesn't resemble the opera colors, voices and cantabile, which one should pay attention to. Sadly, he is using it just to boast virtuosism. It can be a beautiful lyric piece when played in the right mood."
Now I am quite sure about that. And please feel free to rate me -6 again. :P
:)
What an absurdly stupid piece.