The greatest living pianist.

[mephisto]

Incredible.

But no, that WAS Pollini. I think his best playing was when he was very young, like in that vid. I find most of his playing since his Petrushka/Prokofiev 7th record to be  sterile, except for some Mozart and Beethoven (and of course 20th century rep) I've enjoyed. I can't stand his playing in Romantic or "Impressionistic" music.

Agree, altough I feel he is begining to be great again, that's just a personal oppinion.

[arensky]

Your title said "greatest LIVING pianist..."

She's alive, you know.     

Ok, she's there. 

[arensky]

Agree, altough I feel he is begining to be great again, that's just a personal oppinion.

You may be right; we shall see.

[jre58591]

after getting back from a hamelin concert, i am further convinced that he is the greatest living pianist, without a doubt.

[arensky]

after getting back from a hamelin concert, i am further convinced that he is the greatest living pianist, without a doubt.

I already voted for Argerich ( I like her temperment ) but the more I watch and listen to Hamelin I think you might be right.

What did he play? And where can I find his concert intinerary, I've looked for it on the net but to no avail.

[jre58591]

he played the piano concerto "atlantic crossing" by contemporary south african composer kevin volans, which was its world premiere. this piano concerto was one of the most difficult things i have ever seen him play. also, it wasnt a pue technical feat either. the middle had some more passionate parts in it, which he excelled at also.

here is his itinerary:

https://www.giamanagement.com/concertdiary.asp?MusicianID=2

[tompilk]

he played the piano concerto "atlantic crossing" by contemporary south african composer kevin volans, which was its world premiere. this piano concerto was one of the most difficult things i have ever seen him play. also, it wasnt a pue technical feat either. the middle had some more passionate parts in it, which he excelled at also.

here is his itinerary:

https://www.giamanagement.com/concertdiary.asp?MusicianID=2

did you speak to him afterwards? or was he too tired? I wonder if he plans to record it... it would be a shame not to...
Tom

[jre58591]

did you speak to him afterwards? or was he too tired? I wonder if he plans to record it... it would be a shame not to...

i did speak to him afterwards. we just discussed the piece itself. we didnt discuss the recording of it. i expect that it will be recorded, but i dont know if hamelin will record it.

alistair, do you know anything about this?

[viking]

please tell me you bootlegged it.

[jre58591]

please tell me you bootlegged it.

i did, actually.

[arensky]

here is his itinerary:

https://www.giamanagement.com/concertdiary.asp?MusicianID=2

Thanks jre, unfortunately he is not coming to a location near me... maybe next year, I'll keep this link.

[jre58591]

he actually NEVER comes to los angeles, so whenever hes like in san francisco or some other "close" city, i just hit the road, regardless if i have appointments or whatever, for its a rare occasion. its a shame. he told me that they never invite him to play here in LA. what a shame. we're stuck with hacks like lang lang, et al.

[pianistimo]

i think choice of pianists is fairly relative.  they don't all play everything equally well.  for instance, i heard hamelin play in reading, pa (busoni piano concerto) on a bosendorfer, no less, and i thought the music was terrible.  i couldn't hear the bass of the piano  - and wondered why such a highly gifted artist would not care what the back row heard.  i think he has to refine his awareness of what the audience hears in the back of the hall.  it was basically a cacophany sometimes and only when he got into the treble could you hear the sound above the orchestra very well. 

but, his playing is good and if i heard him play something else (as i happen to dislike the busoni for sounding like plagarism of about 10 composers) - and on a different piano -  i might be really pleased and want to hear him again and again. 

i think hamelin's genius lies in his ability to quickly learn material - but in terms of musicality of everything - it's a matter of taste.  to me, if he is to improve his already genius status playing the piano - he would need to effectively measure in his head not only what he wants from the piano - but what he wants from the orchestra - and take more charge.  i'd like to see the musical head of hamelin.  i think he's onto something - and should have more control over his 'environment.'  perhaps many musicians have a 'time' factor - where it is impossible to be good at 20 things at the same time - but at least for him to tell the stage crew - make the piano stay in tune until the end of the busoni.  it was so out of tune at the end.  the orchestral instruments couldn't compensate.

[jre58591]

you cant let a bad experience such as this influence your view on him. the piano was probably at fault, not him. ive heard him play the busoni concerto live before and he did a much better job than in his commercially released recording. the bass was solidly controlled and it didnt sound like a cacophony. also, when i saw him on saturday, i was sitting toward the back of the hall, yet i could hear almost every note that he played. his tone was very crisp and not cacophonous at all. and hamelin's genius may be in quickly learning material, but that is not where it stops. he does know how to take charge with an orchestra, as i have seen when i have attended his concerto performances. i was able to hear everything just fine. in terms of his musicality and expression, he, contrary to some opinions, does show feeling and passion when he plays, both in his actions and in the music. he is no lang lang (THANK GOD) but he does show expression in his body language where needed, but in a conservative fashion, which is how it should be, in my opinion. if you want further proof of this, listen to him play standard repertoire. as was mentioned in another thread, this is the best way to compare him to the other "greats".

EDIT: i think we should draw the line here. any further argument would be pointless, for as was said, this question at hand is VERY subjective. everyone will have a different opinion.

<rant over>

[pianistimo]

can he play brahms op 118 better than idil biret.  probably not.  everybody has their 'pieces.'  he's a contemporary music genius.  but, romance?

and, yet - i highly respect the guy.  i'm not saying i wouldn't go to his concerts - but i'd pick the program to best suit him.  obvously not tchaikovsky's first.

ok.  noone may agree because i have ulterior motives on this one.  but, i like barry douglas the best because #1 he's irish  #2  he's hot  #3 he plays passionately  #4 he also composes #5 he conducts  #6 he has always a sense of destination - you hear 'the whole.'

i think hamelin did this amazingly well in the busoni - too - but, busoni was the one at fault for not ending the concerto sooner.  also, if i were to hear hamelin play something else - perhaps my perceptions would be changed.

my teacher, carl cranmer,  is a tie with barry.  i don't think a person needs to have 'worldwide concert artist' status - to be excellent.  sometimes lesser known artists have as much or more effort - and have time to put in more effort - than known artists.  also, i like his choice of repertoire - which is usually always 'romantic.'  and, he has a lingering touch to his playing.  like the music turns to some kind of liquid.

[jre58591]

can he play brahms op 118 better than idil biret.  probably not.  everybody has their 'pieces.'  he's a contemporary music genius.  but, romance.  he's a dead fish.  use that to chop down the sequoia.

i actually dont think he has played the brahms op 118, but he sure beats anyone else at the op 117 and op 119 pieces. his interpretations of these pieces are some of the most passionate  ive ever heard from him, and man, were they crisp. btw, check the biret thread for my stance on her. and also, he isnt a contemporary music genius. he actually doesnt play a whole lot of it. he says that he is best suited to composers from the early 20th and late 19th centuries. so, i dont believe he is a dead fish. sure, some of his liszt may be lacking. but man, does he excel at alkan, chopin (what i have heard), liszt transcriptions, and late beethoven sonatas. if he was a "dead fish" at romantic music, he wouldnt be as popular as he is today for his interpretations of that era and he wouldnt be so highly acclaimed for these public performances.

[pianistimo]

people are amazed he can get through technical pieces with ease.  it doesn't mean he 'feels' it.  i'm sure he 'feels' it according to his interpretations - but i don't think he's on par with actually having some kind of momentous point in his life that he draws from.  he is quite on the conservative side.

which, i am not, blasting really.  i tend to play this way myself without trying really hard to come out of my shell.  and, i am i no way comparing myself with him - but just in terms of 'impression' of how much he is able to come out of his own 'shell.'

do you realize that most genius are in some way mentally challenged.  i think life experiences give one a better and better ability to draw upon 'feelings.'  after all - you have to have a few of your own.  and, i think when he is older - he will play more passionately.

[jre58591]

there is no point in arguing this any longer, as has been noted. people will see what they want to see and note what they want to note. and who said i was speaking about technical pieces?

[pianistimo]

i'll give you the benefit of the doubt and go listen to hamelin's chopin.  if it makes me hot - i'll give you thumbs up.  i am going to barnes and noble to buy it right now.  my husband, whom i thought i was going bicycling with, is fast asleep. 

[mephisto]

, but he sure beats anyone else at the op 117

Hm, I am a huge Hamelin fan, and I love Brahms opus. 117 and I do NOT think the plays them, particulary no2 good at all compared too what I had expected of him. His Brahms 2 is superb though.

[ahinton]

i heard hamelin play in reading, pa (busoni piano concerto) on a bosendorfer, no less, and i thought the music was terrible...i happen to dislike the busoni for sounding like plagarism of about 10 composers

Shame be upon thee!

Best,

Alistair

[ahinton]

i'll give you the benefit of the doubt and go listen to hamelin's chopin.  if it makes me hot - i'll give you thumbs up.

Never mind Hamelin; you should hear ME playing Chopin! That will make you hot! With embarrassment! Or at least it would if I played you any!...

my husband, whom i thought i was going bicycling with, is fast asleep. 

Sounds like you've been preaching at him, too, then. Ah, well - you'll just have to satisfy your craving for pedal exercise by doing some piano practice; that will have the dual virtue of (hopefully) improving your playing and at the same time keeping you out of the pulpit for abit...

Best,

Alistair

[mephisto]

Try to stay un topic, unless you want that old psycopat to talk more about God.

And for the record Busoni's piano concerto is awesome. Never boring because  the mowements are so contrasting. When the choir joins in the 5th mwt it feels like I am in some kind of trance. The only piece I can think of that does this better is Scriabin's Prometheus.

Maybe pianistimo doesn't like the piece because of the text sung in the 5th mwt?

[jre58591]

Maybe pianistimo doesn't like the piece because of the text sung in the 5th mwt?

hahaha. that might just be the reason why. i find it impossible to dislike such a masterpiece, unless youre a fundamentalist *AHEM*.

[pianistimo]

it's a sad imitation of beethoven's ninth - because choir or no choir - you've just heard liszt, chopin, saint-saens - whoever else.  you can actually HEAR each composer go by in busoni.  he was such a plagarist.  (my opinion)  also, i think that this piece dares you to guess - is this a symphony, piano concerto, choir piece?  the symphony goes on quite a long time before the piano comes in, if i remember right.  it seems like a patchwork quilt to me and i don't hear continuity.  but, that's also just my opinion.

btw, i haven't gotten the hamelin chopin - but i was going to tease you and say i was making love all night.  honestly, i don't think i'd feel that way hearing hamelin's chopin - but each to his/her own, right?  instead of buying hamelin's chopin - suggest to me his BEST works.  i'll buy them - because i think i would like them.

sorry alistair.  i just don't like busoni.  excepting his wonderful transcriptions (of other composers works).  to me, he was a wonderful wonderful transcriptionist.

[imbetter]

When I found out Murray Periah couldn't play the piano any more I started crying

[arensky]

When I found out Murray Periah couldn't play the piano any more I started crying

Why can't he? I knew he had broken a finger or something but I thought he had healed and was playing again. What's the deal....

As you requested I've added Pletnev and Biret to the poll but I won't add Feltsman unless someone elses requests him.

[imbetter]

can he play brahms op 118 better than idil biret.  probably not.  everybody has their 'pieces.'  he's a contemporary music genius.  but, romance?

and, yet - i highly respect the guy.  i'm not saying i wouldn't go to his concerts - but i'd pick the program to best suit him.  obvously not tchaikovsky's first.

ok.  noone may agree because i have ulterior motives on this one.  but, i like barry douglas the best because #1 he's irish  #2  he's hot  #3 he plays passionately  #4 he also composes #5 he conducts  #6 he has always a sense of destination - you hear 'the whole.'

i think hamelin did this amazingly well in the busoni - too - but, busoni was the one at fault for not ending the concerto sooner.  also, if i were to hear hamelin play something else - perhaps my perceptions would be changed.

my teacher, carl cranmer,  is a tie with barry.  i don't think a person needs to have 'worldwide concert artist' status - to be excellent.  sometimes lesser known artists have as much or more effort - and have time to put in more effort - than known artists.  also, i like his choice of repertoire - which is usually always 'romantic.'  and, he has a lingering touch to his playing.  like the music turns to some kind of liquid.

A little obbsessed with brahms? especially op.118?

[arensky]

A little obbsessed with brahms? especially op.118?

I'm obsessed with it too, extraordinary music!

Now what happened to Perhaia? Why can't he play anymore?

[jre58591]

hamelin is a great singer also:

Click Here

[arbisley]

I'm not so sure about "great"....