Just posted on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvBzS8VVXac

dk

On Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 5:01:01 PM UTC-5, dan....@gmail.com wrote:
> Just posted on YouTube:
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvBzS8VVXac
>
> dk

She is fearless and flawless technically. If her interpretation lacks character and soulfulness, I’m sure in another 10 years she will give a more ripened performance. I know from interviews that she is very aware of how she wants to expand income in years.

For me the gold medal of Rachmaninoff piano Concerto No. 1 performances on record is without a doubt the composer himself with Eugene Ormandy.

On Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 12:08:37 PM UTC-5, JohnGavin wrote:
> On Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 5:01:01 PM UTC-5, dan....@gmail.com wrote:
> > Just posted on YouTube:
> >
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvBzS8VVXac
> >
> > dk
> She is fearless and flawless technically. If her interpretation lacks character and soulfulness, I’m sure in another 10 years she will give a more ripened performance. I know from interviews that she is very aware of how she wants to expand income in years.
>
(That was meant to say “expand in coming years)

> For me the gold medal of Rachmaninoff piano Concerto No. 1 performances on record is without a doubt the composer himself with Eugene Ormandy.

On Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 9:10:15 AM UTC-8, JohnGavin wrote:
> On Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 12:08:37 PM UTC-5, JohnGavin wrote:
> > On Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 5:01:01 PM UTC-5, dan....@gmail.com wrote:
> > > Just posted on YouTube:
> > >
> > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvBzS8VVXac
> > >
> > > dk
> > She is fearless and flawless technically. If her interpretation lacks character and soulfulness, I’m sure in another 10 years she will give a more ripened performance. I know from interviews that she is very aware of how she wants to expand income in years.
> >
> (That was meant to say “expand in coming years)
> > For me the gold medal of Rachmaninoff piano Concerto No. 1 performances on record is without a doubt the composer himself with Eugene Ormandy.

My reaction as well - brilliant and exciting, but...

My favorite recording for Rach1 is Zimerman/Ozawa.

On Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 5:01:01 PM UTC-5, dan....@gmail.com wrote:
> Just posted on YouTube:
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvBzS8VVXac
>
> dk

Atrocious audio engineering as per usual by this source. The fortissimo chords somehow sound *quieter* by volume than soft legato playing. All the overtones are stripped so that the orchestra can be "balanced" against the piano.

On Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 9:10:15 AM UTC-8, JohnGavin wrote:
> On Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 12:08:37 PM UTC-5, JohnGavin wrote:
> > On Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 5:01:01 PM UTC-5, dan....@gmail.com wrote:
> > > Just posted on YouTube:
> > >
> > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvBzS8VVXac
> > >
> > > dk
> > She is fearless and flawless technically. If her interpretation lacks character and soulfulness, I’m sure in another 10 years she will give a more ripened performance. I know from interviews that she is very aware of how she wants to expand income in years.
> >
> (That was meant to say “expand in coming years)
> > For me the gold medal of Rachmaninoff piano Concerto No. 1 performances on record is without a doubt the composer himself with Eugene Ormandy.

No, I think you were right the first time. ;)

On Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 9:37:33 AM UTC-8, Jonathan Ben Schragadove wrote:
>
> My favorite recording for Rach1 is Zimerman/Ozawa.

?!?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdIikTjGE0Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxEr-don6E0

Zimmerman sounds too calculated. And he does
not have the Rachmaninov tone. However, since
we can no longer consider Russian pianists until
further notice, this leaves HJ Lim as the only
option. ;-)

dk

Op zondag 6 maart 2022 om 00:19:54 UTC+1 schreef dan....@gmail.com:
> On Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 9:37:33 AM UTC-8, Jonathan Ben Schragadove wrote:
> >
> > My favorite recording for Rach1 is Zimerman/Ozawa.
> ?!?
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdIikTjGE0Q
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxEr-don6E0
>
> Zimmerman sounds too calculated. And he does
> not have the Rachmaninov tone. However, since
> we can no longer consider Russian pianists until
> further notice, this leaves HJ Lim as the only
> option. ;-)
>
> dk

Two of my favourite non-Russians:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsiweYKh3qE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRvbD20edYU

To illustrate that it isn't necessary to be Russian to play Russian music.

Henk

On Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 4:35:24 PM UTC-8, hvt...@xs4all.nl wrote:
> Op zondag 6 maart 2022 om 00:19:54 UTC+1 schreef dan....@gmail.com:
> > On Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 9:37:33 AM UTC-8, Jonathan Ben Schragadove wrote:
> > >
> > > My favorite recording for Rach1 is Zimerman/Ozawa.
> > ?!?
> >
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdIikTjGE0Q
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxEr-don6E0
> >
> > Zimmerman sounds too calculated. And he does
> > not have the Rachmaninov tone. However, since
> > we can no longer consider Russian pianists until
> > further notice, this leaves HJ Lim as the only
> > option. ;-)
>
> Two of my favourite non-Russians:
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsiweYKh3qE
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRvbD20edYU
>
> To illustrate that it isn't necessary to be Russian to
> play Russian music.
>

Byron Yankilevitch (aka Janis) is as Russian as any
US born Jewish Russian pianist can be. He studied
with Rosina Lhevinne and with Vladimir Horowitz.
There goes your non-Russian pianist! ;-)

Tamás Vásáry is Jewish and studied Russian music
in Hungary with the help of many Russian tanks. This
is the most effective way to learn how Rachmaninov
chords should sound: they should blow holes through
the ceiling and through the walls of concert halls.

So your favorite non-Russian Rachmaninov pianists
are/were quite Russian in fact.

In fairness to the rest of the world, South Korea has
produced a string of Rachmaninov pianists that do
not appear to have any Russian/Jewish DNA (or
even MRNA).

dk

On Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 9:10:15 AM UTC-8, JohnGavin wrote:
> On Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 12:08:37 PM UTC-5, JohnGavin wrote:
> > On Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 5:01:01 PM UTC-5, dan....@gmail.com wrote:
> > > Just posted on YouTube:
> > >
> > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvBzS8VVXac
> >
> > She is fearless and flawless technically.

I find her rather more reckless and tasteless
than fearless.

> If her interpretation lacks character and
> soulfulness, I’m sure in another 10 years
> she will give a more ripened performance.

Her interpretation is extremely close to no
interpretation at all. And she can move her
fingers, but is totally incapable of producing
the deep sound required by most Romantic
piano music, and especially by Rachmaninov
and Tchaikovsky. As to ripening, most pianists
don't age well beyond their 40s. Like it or not,
playing the piano is a sport physiologically.

> I know from interviews that she is very aware
> of how she wants to expand income in years.

?!?

> (That was meant to say “expand in coming years)

?!?

> > For me the gold medal of Rachmaninoff
> > piano Concerto No. 1 performances on
> > record is without a doubt the composer
>> himself with Eugene Ormandy.

Too dry.

dk

On Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 3:19:54 PM UTC-8, Dan Koren wrote:
> On Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 9:37:33 AM UTC-8, Jonathan Ben Schragadove wrote:
> >
> > My favorite recording for Rach1 is Zimerman/Ozawa.
> ?!?
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdIikTjGE0Q
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxEr-don6E0
>
> Zimmerman sounds too calculated. And he does
> not have the Rachmaninov tone. However, since
> we can no longer consider Russian pianists until
> further notice, this leaves HJ Lim as the only
> option. ;-)
>

This is where she leaves everyone else in the dust:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxEr-don6E0&t=571s

Even Richter and Rachmaninov did not play like this!

dk

On Sunday, 6 March 2022 at 14:42:58 UTC+11, dan....gmail.com wrote:
> On Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 3:19:54 PM UTC-8, Dan Koren wrote:
> > On Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 9:37:33 AM UTC-8, Jonathan Ben Schragadove wrote:
> > >
> > > My favorite recording for Rach1 is Zimerman/Ozawa.
> > ?!?
> >
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdIikTjGE0Q
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxEr-don6E0
> >
> > Zimmerman sounds too calculated. And he does
> > not have the Rachmaninov tone. However, since
> > we can no longer consider Russian pianists until
> > further notice, this leaves HJ Lim as the only
> > option. ;-)
> >
> This is where she leaves everyone else in the dust:
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxEr-don6E0&t=571s
>
> Even Richter and Rachmaninov did not play like this!
>
> dk

True, but zillions of notes played at blinding speed is athleticism. Where does the music come in?
Sorry, but not my thing. Rachmaninov did go on to better things however.

Ray Hall, Taree

On Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 10:22:26 PM UTC-8, raymond....@gmail.com wrote:
>
> Sorry, but not my thing. Rachmaninov
> did go on to better things however.
>

Considering it was his op. 1,
it is quite remarkable. Is
there a "better" op. 1 by
any composer?

dk

On Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 11:04:28 PM UTC-8, raymond....@gmail.com wrote:
> On Sunday, 6 March 2022 at 17:56:32 UTC+11, dan....gmail.com wrote:
> > On Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 10:22:26 PM UTC-8, raymond....gmail.com wrote:
> > >
> > > Sorry, but not my thing. Rachmaninov
> > > did go on to better things however.
> > >
> > Considering it was his op. 1,
> > it is quite remarkable. Is
> > there a "better" op. 1 by
> > any composer?
>
> Schubert's “Erlkönig" might
> be a contender.
>

Not a real op. 1. It is D 328.
Schubert opus numbers
are totally bogus.

dk

On Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 10:42:58 PM UTC-5, dan....@gmail.com wrote:
> On Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 3:19:54 PM UTC-8, Dan Koren wrote:
> > On Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 9:37:33 AM UTC-8, Jonathan Ben Schragadove wrote:
> > >
> > > My favorite recording for Rach1 is Zimerman/Ozawa.
> > ?!?
> >
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdIikTjGE0Q
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxEr-don6E0
> >
> > Zimmerman sounds too calculated. And he does
> > not have the Rachmaninov tone. However, since
> > we can no longer consider Russian pianists until
> > further notice, this leaves HJ Lim as the only
> > option. ;-)
> >
> This is where she leaves everyone else in the dust:
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxEr-don6E0&t=571s
>
> Even Richter and Rachmaninov did not play like this!
>
> dk

La Lim interests me first, because of her connection to Buddhism. I’m sure she is a very fine person. But it’s pretty clear at this point that she has settled into being a sort of cult pianist. Her 2 recordings are about a decade old now. Nothing since. Her Ravel was not good at all. Beethoven - very fast and often slapped around. The YouTubes are all 5 to 10 years old, except for the street performances on upright pianos with pedestrians paying no attention.

By the way Dan, are there any Asian male pianists you like? At this point it’s glaringly obvious that your evaluations are completely gender lopsided.

(I just figure it’s time to give you a taste of your own medicine, and I know you will counter everything said because of your “infallibility”)

On Sunday, March 6, 2022 at 3:50:04 AM UTC-8, JohnGavin wrote:
> On Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 10:42:58 PM UTC-5, dan....@gmail.com wrote:
> > On Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 3:19:54 PM UTC-8, Dan Koren wrote:
> > > On Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 9:37:33 AM UTC-8, Jonathan Ben Schragadove wrote:
> > > >
> > > > My favorite recording for Rach1 is Zimerman/Ozawa.
> > > ?!?
> > >
> > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdIikTjGE0Q
> > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxEr-don6E0
> > >
> > > Zimmerman sounds too calculated. And he does
> > > not have the Rachmaninov tone. However, since
> > > we can no longer consider Russian pianists until
> > > further notice, this leaves HJ Lim as the only
> > > option. ;-)
> > >
> > This is where she leaves everyone else in the dust:
> >
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxEr-don6E0&t=571s
> >
> > Even Richter and Rachmaninov did not play like this!
>
> La Lim interests me first, because of her connection to
> Buddhism.

Indeed. She even tours with a portable Buddha. AFAIK
she is the only pianist ever to do so:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prOpVnI1IJI

> I’m sure she is a very fine person. But it’s pretty clear at
> this point that she has settled into being a sort of cult
> pianist. Her 2 recordings are about a decade old now.

So what? People have the right to take a rest, to marry
and to raise kids. Nothing wrong with pausing one's
concert careers for a few years,

> Nothing since. Her Ravel was not good at all.

Her Ravel is superb. Only Richter compares.

> Beethoven - very fast and often slapped around.

Her Beethoven is the finest on record. She makes
everyone else sound like amateurs, or intellectuals.

> The YouTubes are all 5 to 10 years old, except for
> the street performances on upright pianos with
> pedestrians paying no attention.

Sooner or later something new will surface.

> By the way Dan, are there any Asian male pianists
> you like?

There are plenty of male pianists I like, and I
highlighted some. Why would they have to
be Asian?

> At this point it’s glaringly obvious that your
> evaluations are completely gender lopsided.

Have you considered the fact women outnumber
men by quite a large number in music schools
and conservatories? And have you considered
the possibility women might be better musicians?

> (I just figure it’s time to give you a taste of your
> own medicine, and I know you will counter everything
> said because of your “infallibility”)

?!? Non-sense. I made no such claims. I like
what I like, and I dislike what I dislike. Your
ears hear differently, that's all. I couldn't
care less if anyone agrees with me or not.

dk

On Sunday, March 6, 2022 at 1:56:32 AM UTC-5, dan....@gmail.com wrote:
> On Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 10:22:26 PM UTC-8, raymond....@gmail.com wrote:
> >
> > Sorry, but not my thing. Rachmaninov
> > did go on to better things however.
> >
> Considering it was his op. 1,
> it is quite remarkable. Is
> there a "better" op. 1 by
> any composer?
>
> dk

> Is there a "better" op. 1 by any composer?

Berg, Webern, Beethoven, Paganini ...

Calling Rachmaninoff's first concerto "op. 1" is also kind of cheating since it was completely revised after he wrote his third concerto.

On 3/6/22 1:04 AM, raymond....@gmail.com wrote:
> On Sunday, 6 March 2022 at 17:56:32 UTC+11, dan....gmail.com wrote:
>> On Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 10:22:26 PM UTC-8, raymond....gmail.com wrote:
>>>
>>> Sorry, but not my thing. Rachmaninov
>>> did go on to better things however.
>>>
>> Considering it was his op. 1,
>> it is quite remarkable. Is
>> there a "better" op. 1 by
>> any composer?
>>
>> dk
>
> Schubert's “Erlkönig" might be a contender.

Berg piano sonata.

On Sunday, March 6, 2022 at 1:22:26 AM UTC-5, raymond....@gmail.com wrote:
> On Sunday, 6 March 2022 at 14:42:58 UTC+11, dan....gmail.com wrote:
> > On Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 3:19:54 PM UTC-8, Dan Koren wrote:
> > > On Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 9:37:33 AM UTC-8, Jonathan Ben Schragadove wrote:
> > > >
> > > > My favorite recording for Rach1 is Zimerman/Ozawa.
> > > ?!?
> > >
> > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdIikTjGE0Q
> > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxEr-don6E0
> > >
> > > Zimmerman sounds too calculated. And he does
> > > not have the Rachmaninov tone. However, since
> > > we can no longer consider Russian pianists until
> > > further notice, this leaves HJ Lim as the only
> > > option. ;-)
> > >
> > This is where she leaves everyone else in the dust:
> >
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxEr-don6E0&t=571s
> >
> > Even Richter and Rachmaninov did not play like this!
> >
> > dk
> True, but zillions of notes played at blinding speed is athleticism. Where does the music come in?
> Sorry, but not my thing. Rachmaninov did go on to better things however.
>
> Ray Hall, Taree

agree----speed but no musicality. and a number of false notes in the cadenza. Shallow tone....... Richter is far better, and besides where can you hear horns with such a crazy vibrato:-))

On Sunday, March 6, 2022 at 8:00:17 AM UTC-8, dllerr wrote:
> On Sunday, March 6, 2022 at 1:56:32 AM UTC-5, dan....@gmail.com wrote:
> > On Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 10:22:26 PM UTC-8, raymond....@gmail.com wrote:
> > >
> > > Sorry, but not my thing. Rachmaninov
> > > did go on to better things however.
> > >
> > Considering it was his op. 1,
> > it is quite remarkable. Is
> > there a "better" op. 1 by
> > any composer?
>
> > Is there a "better" op. 1 by any composer?
> Berg, Webern, Beethoven, Paganini ...

I might consider Paganini.
The others are off limits
to my ears.

dk

On Sunday, March 6, 2022 at 3:46:53 PM UTC-5, AB wrote:
> On Sunday, March 6, 2022 at 1:22:26 AM UTC-5, raymond....@gmail.com wrote:
> > On Sunday, 6 March 2022 at 14:42:58 UTC+11, dan....gmail.com wrote:
> > > On Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 3:19:54 PM UTC-8, Dan Koren wrote:
> > > > On Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 9:37:33 AM UTC-8, Jonathan Ben Schragadove wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > My favorite recording for Rach1 is Zimerman/Ozawa.
> > > > ?!?
> > > >
> > > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdIikTjGE0Q
> > > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxEr-don6E0
> > > >
> > > > Zimmerman sounds too calculated. And he does
> > > > not have the Rachmaninov tone. However, since
> > > > we can no longer consider Russian pianists until
> > > > further notice, this leaves HJ Lim as the only
> > > > option. ;-)
> > > >
> > > This is where she leaves everyone else in the dust:
> > >
> > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxEr-don6E0&t=571s
> > >
> > > Even Richter and Rachmaninov did not play like this!
> > >
> > > dk
> > True, but zillions of notes played at blinding speed is athleticism. Where does the music come in?
> > Sorry, but not my thing. Rachmaninov did go on to better things however..
> >
> > Ray Hall, Taree
> agree----speed but no musicality. and a number of false notes in the cadenza. Shallow tone....... Richter is far better, and besides where can you hear horns with such a crazy vibrato:-))

If you believe you can tell whether the piano tone is shallow or not from such a manipulated recording as this one, you are not qualified to judge tone. Yes, in this recording the tone is shallow, particularly at points where the piano would have overwhelmed the orchestra in the hall. Some musically illiterate engineers, in their everlasting quest to present maximum "clarity", thought it good idea to suppress the dynamic range of the piano and strip it of the overtones that give its sound that richness you hear live in the concert hall, so that we can also hear the orchestra. Find an audience recording of a piano concerto performance and compare. It should be immediately obvious how fake the sound of this video is.

BTW, complaining about wrong notes then holding Richter up as better is ... a curious choice.

On Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 9:01:01 AM UTC+11, dan....@gmail.com wrote:
> Just posted on YouTube:
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvBzS8VVXac
>
> dk

I prefer Wangs like this one:

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyUHkY0K8HE>

I never knew that Bruno's younger brother played the mouth-organ.

Andrew Clarke
Canberra

On Sunday, March 6, 2022 at 4:18:20 PM UTC-8, andrewc...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 9:01:01 AM UTC+11, dan....@gmail.com wrote:
> > Just posted on YouTube:
> >
> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvBzS8VVXac
>
> I prefer Wangs like this one:
>
> <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyUHkY0K8HE>

I prefer this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hpIHs40klI

With more than 90 million Wangs on this planet,
there is enough variety for us all to choose from!

dk