I see a lots of you, guys, arguing and writing bad things about this genius pianist. He won the van Cliburn competition when he was 19 years old... and now he is dead ( if you don't know) He played more then 80 recital all over the world. None of you, I am pretty sure never did it and never will do it. Rest in Peace Alexei. We will never forget you...
this is exactly how i imagine it should be played...chaos...tension....madness...not let up...dantes inferno....consuming everything.....no one gets out alive
This is surely an OUTSTANDING performance. There's fire, there's heat, there's colour, there is passion. even though the tempo is a bit sped up and sometimes the left hand should be played less heavily, this doesn't affect the whole performance which stands out like an explosion of a volcano. BRAVO!!!
One time that I agree with you... if he was still alive, he would be a true legend... this appassionata is just great, his playing is trully "appassionato"
I was really moved when I read the story of his life and ailments. I was even more shocked when he passed. Such a great talent and we didn't get to hear more of his playing. I'm glad that I got a chance to hear him play Rach 2 when I was at Interlochen some time ago. Thanks for dropping the note and for relaying the book on the Van Cliburn Competition.
@barismertpeker This is the most passionate performance of Appassionata ever! It just leaves me speechless! And by the way, Appassionata means passion!
Martha Argerich doesn't make Chopin sound "chopiny" enough (in my opinion, I am Polish) but that doesn't matter because her artistry made her so great. She plays everything in her own style. I don't see why this doesn't apply here as well. Sultanov was undoubtedly a great artist and interpreted things his own way . Everyone who doesn't realize that is simply in denial. He would have no doubt been the next Argerich or Horowitz had he lived..
I think this is what Beethoven wanted from that finale! But if you play that way, a bit out of control, in a competion, you will never win, unless Martha Argerich stands up for you and says "this is a genius" (Warsaw 1980 about Pogorelich)
Look up his story if you have a chance some time. It's very, very tragic. He suffered a series of strokes I believe that left his musical mind intact but rendered him physically incapable of playing. It must have been torturous.
You can only notice the mistakes if you can't feel it.... the performance is to say the least breath taking!!!! Instead of trying to critic try to 'beat' him :P
the mvt marks Allergro ma non troppo, does it mean it's all the way to the end? After the repeat, Beethoven marked 'PRESTO'. Sultanov plays this part as much as Beethoven would have intended. If u only know how to play a piece with the tempo stated in the beginning of the piece, why don't u play your beloved Chopin Winter Etude all LENTO style? Sultanov is a true artist and this is one of the true gem that could be attained. Get your pea-size-brain-induced-opinion off this video.
I notice something. It seems like the 1986 Tchaikovsky Competition was better attended, the audience and judges more excited, the best people really winning with the politics getting less in the way than now. If you look at the clips of the 2007 Tchaikovsky everyone seems bored, players are good but not exciting, and tons of politics in the violin section this year.
Unless you're some centuries old, you can't tell how Beethoven was performing it :p Yes, the score doesn't indicate it the way it is performed, but then, the score was official, and as far as I know Beethoven did LOVE his head ;)
cdpiano27, No one can say that this is exactly what Beethoven wanted. That is a ridiculous statement. If you wish to know what Beethoven wanted read his letters and Carl Czerny's book on the proper performance of Beethoven's works for the piano. Please stop assuming things!
actually they´re trully gifted, what I think is that you know nothing... listen to horowitz playing polonaise op. 44, and rubinstein playing heroique polonaise
PianoCritic, impeccable? Come on. I defy you to find any recording anywhere with as sloppy descending arpeggios at the end as this. (Hint: in 59 years of listening to many performances, I've never heard one close to this bad in that section) Impassioned? Yes. Worthwhile? Yes. But not impeccable by any means.
It is not very impressive except speed. He plays very fast with some mistakes and does not speed up in coda (from allegro ma non troppo to presto) because he played too fast in allegro ma non troppo. Richter also played very fast in allegro ma non troppo but he played faster at coda to make climax. Listen greater Beethoven players -- Backhaus, Gilels, Kempff, Schnabel, etc. They all respected the instruction "presto" in the score and built up climax to the end.
Hypertrophy! Ein trauriges Beispiel, wie man den letzten Satz der 'Appassionata' zu Tode reiten kann: gewalttätig statt emotional, sportiv statt künstlerisch, mechanistisch statt musikalisch, das Klavier schamlos attackierend statt es gewinnend zu umwerben. Es ist mir mit einem Wort unbegreiflich, dass solch ein 'Pianist' überhaupt in die Endrunde eines so berühmten Klavierwettbewerbs vordringen kann.
I see a lots of you, guys, arguing and writing bad things about this genius pianist. He won the van Cliburn competition when he was 19 years old... and now he is dead ( if you don't know) He played more then 80 recital all over the world. None of you, I am pretty sure never did it and never will do it.
Rest in Peace Alexei.
We will never forget you...
Султанов - величайший пианист современности!!!! Он гений фортепиано!!!!!
Именно такой Бетховен - буря и натиск. И гениальный пианист с ярчайшей внутренней энергетикой. КАК НЕСПРАВЕДЛИВ МИР...
Гениальная игра! Султанов - выдающееся явление в фортепианной музыке!!!!!!!
Султанов -гений!!! А ещё - чистыйисветлый поэтому ТАК играл!!!
This is exactly what Beethoven wanted. Of course, not toned down for Tchaikovsky Competition. But this is exactly the composers intent!! So, Bravo!!!
Султанов-гений фортепиано!!!!
Genius...one who will be sorely missed by those who loved great music.
this is exactly how i imagine it should be played...chaos...tension....madness...not let up...dantes inferno....consuming everything.....no one gets out alive
This is surely an OUTSTANDING performance. There's fire, there's heat, there's colour, there is passion. even though the tempo is a bit sped up and sometimes the left hand should be played less heavily, this doesn't affect the whole performance which stands out like an explosion of a volcano. BRAVO!!!
One of the greatest interpretations of this piece I´ve heard (or at least of this part)... True passion
One time that I agree with you... if he was still alive, he would be a true legend... this appassionata is just great, his playing is trully "appassionato"
Excellent interpretation, many emotions, the best i have ever heard.
The interpretation is stunning! Music is not about score performance (computers do that now :P).
His passion on this performance is breath taking :)
I was really moved when I read the story of his life and ailments. I was even more shocked when he passed. Such a great talent and we didn't get to hear more of his playing. I'm glad that I got a chance to hear him play Rach 2 when I was at Interlochen some time ago. Thanks for dropping the note and for relaying the book on the Van Cliburn Competition.
He plays it with broken finger if Im not wrong. How he could overcome pain, I don't know. He was very strong spiritually.
And these idiots in the jury... They closed the way for him both times he played there (in 86 and 98), but he was the best of them all!
he had and has an ability to take ones very breath away, a genius, completely.
sultanov was a genius...
he died toooooooo young!! :( :(
A true genius!! R.I.P.
@barismertpeker
This is the most passionate performance of Appassionata ever! It just leaves me speechless!
And by the way, Appassionata means passion!
This is truly invaluable! Thanks for sharing.
Martha Argerich doesn't make Chopin sound "chopiny" enough (in my opinion, I am Polish) but that doesn't matter because her artistry made her so great. She plays everything in her own style. I don't see why this doesn't apply here as well. Sultanov was undoubtedly a great artist and interpreted things his own way . Everyone who doesn't realize that is simply in denial. He would have no doubt been the next Argerich or Horowitz had he lived..
I think this is what Beethoven wanted from that finale!
But if you play that way, a bit out of control, in a competion, you will never win, unless Martha Argerich stands up for you and says "this is a genius" (Warsaw 1980 about Pogorelich)
I think its here where he played with broken hand.
But, genius...
wonderful
Jeeper! This was still 2 years BEFORE he won the Cliburn Comp. That makes him 16 or 17 depending on the month. Pretty amazing.
This man suffered a most tragic fate! May I suggest you read his bio :)
Look up his story if you have a chance some time. It's very, very tragic. He suffered a series of strokes I believe that left his musical mind intact but rendered him physically incapable of playing. It must have been torturous.
You can only notice the mistakes if you can't feel it.... the performance is to say the least breath taking!!!! Instead of trying to critic try to 'beat' him :P
the mvt marks Allergro ma non troppo, does it mean it's all the way to the end? After the repeat, Beethoven marked 'PRESTO'. Sultanov plays this part as much as Beethoven would have intended.
If u only know how to play a piece with the tempo stated in the beginning of the piece, why don't u play your beloved Chopin Winter Etude all LENTO style?
Sultanov is a true artist and this is one of the true gem that could be attained. Get your pea-size-brain-induced-opinion off this video.
He lost control...to much...But only 16 he was here..
A miracle!!What a hard work to be pianist!!
I notice something. It seems like the 1986 Tchaikovsky Competition was better attended, the audience and judges more excited, the best people really winning with the politics getting less in the way than now. If you look at the clips of the 2007 Tchaikovsky everyone seems bored, players are good but not exciting, and tons of politics in the violin section this year.
1969-2005
so young
Это здесь у него сломан мизинец?
@barismertpeker of course it's not Beethoven...It's Sultanov
Does anyone have the first two parts of this performance? Or even better all the three parts on CD (mp3 's fine too) quality? Please let me know.
Unless you're some centuries old, you can't tell how Beethoven was performing it :p
Yes, the score doesn't indicate it the way it is performed, but then, the score was official, and as far as I know Beethoven did LOVE his head ;)
@barismertpeker He's in tour at heavens!
@musicpiano14
what do yo mean broken finger? like REALLY BROKEN?
well, i like it. hes got talent and is playing a good tune, thats all i kno; the vid quality sucks tho :(
cdpiano27, No one can say that this is exactly what Beethoven wanted. That is a ridiculous statement. If you wish to know what Beethoven wanted read his letters and Carl Czerny's book on the proper performance of Beethoven's works for the piano. Please stop assuming things!
He one 1st price in one of the Van Cliburn competitions.
He does get a bit too excited here.
.... ma non troppo...
actually they´re trully gifted, what I think is that you know nothing... listen to horowitz playing polonaise op. 44, and rubinstein playing heroique polonaise
I agree, I think he gets a little carried away, and it takes away from the performance.
it is Presto Feroce or something like that, isn't? This is the coda.
Huh?
he must be thinking AHH MY HANDS!!! :D
PianoCritic, impeccable? Come on. I defy you to find any recording anywhere with as sloppy descending arpeggios at the end as this. (Hint: in 59 years of listening to many performances, I've never heard one close to this bad in that section) Impassioned? Yes. Worthwhile? Yes. But not impeccable by any means.
Never sacrifice musicianship or technique for velocity.
Good stuff. IT takes an enormous amount of practice to get this . But at the end he tried to play it extra fast and had many mistakes.
It is not very impressive except speed. He plays very fast with some mistakes and does not speed up in coda (from allegro ma non troppo to presto) because he played too fast in allegro ma non troppo. Richter also played very fast in allegro ma non troppo but he played faster at coda to make climax. Listen greater Beethoven players -- Backhaus, Gilels, Kempff, Schnabel, etc. They all respected the instruction "presto" in the score and built up climax to the end.
it sounds very rushed, maybe he's trying to capture beethoven's rage, but it feels very rushed. i prefer soloman or arrau's interpretation
it is not a race
Hypertrophy!
Ein trauriges Beispiel, wie man den letzten Satz der 'Appassionata' zu Tode reiten kann: gewalttätig statt emotional, sportiv statt künstlerisch, mechanistisch statt musikalisch, das Klavier schamlos attackierend statt es gewinnend zu umwerben. Es ist mir mit einem Wort unbegreiflich, dass solch ein 'Pianist' überhaupt in die Endrunde eines so berühmten Klavierwettbewerbs vordringen kann.