Video: Lang Lang playing Don Juan

[infectedmushroom]

A lot of people probably not gonna enjoy the performance, just cause of the fact it's Lang Lang playing it, though, I think this is a really good performance of Don Juan.


Download: https://www.sendspace.com/file/ktaggf



 

[jas]

Wow. That's a performance. He is incredible talented. He plays things like this really well because the whole point is to show off. I can imagine Liszt doing it just like that, complete with all the poncing around at the piano.

I have to wonder, though, what's going on with his face? At one point he gazes around the room as though he's just seen a bird.

Jas

[thalbergmad]

At one point he gazes around the room as though he's just seen a bird.

Jas

Nah, he is looking at the people walking out.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

I'd have to walk out, if only to have a fit of hysterics outside the concert hall rather than within it.

 

I can imagine Liszt doing it just like that, complete with all the poncing around at the piano.

I really hope Liszt had more dignity than to indulge in such ham acting.

Seriously, however, the video is much better if you hide the window and only hear the sound

[steinwaymodeld]

Wow. That's a performance. He is incredible talented. He plays things like this really well because the whole point is to show off. I can imagine Liszt doing it just like that, complete with all the poncing around at the piano.

I have to wonder, though, what's going on with his face? At one point he gazes around the room as though he's just seen a bird.

Jas

it's called epileptic seizure
he truly believe it enhances the performance.

[rimv2]

A lot of people probably not gonna enjoy the performance, just cause of the fact it's Lang Lang playing it, though, I think this is a really good performance of Don Juan.


Download: https://www.sendspace.com/file/ktaggf



 

[jre58591]

no one beats hamelin's performance of don juan, especially not lang lang. i think its sacrilegious that lang lang should attempt a piece thats out of his league.

[sevencircles]

He plays things like this really well because the whole point is to show off

Liszt would propably turn in his grave if he heard that.

Comme Le Vente at Alkan´s suggested tempo. That would be just for showoff but Don Juan features a lot of lyrical parts.

[stevie]

no one beats hamelin's performance of don juan, especially not lang lang. i think its sacrilegious that lang lang should attempt a piece thats out of his league.

its apples and oranges, but i find lang lang's performance more spirited and engaging, as well as dare i say...technically superior?

[jas]

Liszt would propably turn in his grave if he heard that.

Comme Le Vente at Alkan´s suggested tempo. That would be just for showoff but Don Juan features a lot of lyrical parts.

Liszt was the first of the great piano "show offs". Plus, these operatic transcriptions written by him and others had few noble musical reasons behind them. They were for show, pure and simple, and though Liszt also wrote some more "worthy" music, this piece is firmly in the category of crowd pleaser. It's a great one, but that's what it is.

Jas

[stevie]

Liszt was the first of the great piano "show offs". Plus, these operatic transcriptions written by him and others had few noble musical reasons behind them. They were for show, pure and simple, and though Liszt also wrote some more "worthy" music, this piece is firmly in the category of crowd pleaser. It's a great one, but that's what it is.

Jas

the melodies liszt used , aswell and the way he presented them pianistically are undeniably awesome, the only faults you can pick are with the structuring of the pieces, fitting so many great tunes into one piece without it being cockeyed( a cock in the eye hurts).
but he did succeed in my opinion, in making most of them pretty seamless, and in certain instances, like the norma fantasy in particular, he succeeded in creating a profound pianistic masterpiece.

honestly i consider some of chopin's longer works lesser music...

[jas]

the melodies liszt used , aswell and the way he presented them pianistically are undeniably awesome, the only faults you can pick are with the structuring of the pieces, fitting so many great tunes into one piece without it being cockeyed( a cock in the eye hurts).
but he did succeed in my opinion, in making most of them pretty seamless, and in certain instances, like the norma fantasy in particular, he succeeded in creating a profound pianistic masterpiece.

honestly i consider some of chopin's longer works lesser music...

Don't get me wrong, I love Liszt's fantasias (more than some of his "better" music). They're great fun to listen to and as you said, the way he uses the piano is often ingenious. But they were written for showing off his technique. I say that not as a criticism, but as a fact. That's why I said this type of piece is suited to Lang Lang's kid-with-a-toy, bouncing-on-the-seat approach to piano playing. I don't think it's suited to everything, though.

honestly i consider some of chopin's longer works lesser music...

Ooooh, controversial...

Jas

[stevie]

Don't get me wrong, I love Liszt fantasias (more than some of his "better" music). But they were written for showing off his technique. I say that not as a criticism, but as a fact. That's why I said this type of piece is suited to Lang Lang's kid-with-a-toy, bouncing-on-the-seat approach to piano playing. I don't think it's suited to everything, though.
Ooooh, controversial...

Jas

maybe one of the reasons, but part of the musics greatness is the piansitic innovations, they way things are written out on the piano, the arpeggion section, the handcrossing variation of the furious march theme, among other things, are essential to making the msuic come to life.
if beethoven was given the same tak of writing an operatic fantasy, it would have nowhere near the 'orchestral'  scope and colour.

and that type of playing langlang exhibits is suited to this fantasy, its about a drunk guy who bones alot of women, what do you expect?

in norma hed look alot different im sure, but in the wagner liebstod transcription id expect nothing short of multiple orgasms. who could say no to that? 

[mig]

A friend of mine once described LL's gestures, as "A person with the Down syndrome having an orgasm". I agree.

[daniel patschan]

It is unbearable to look at him while he is playing. He has such inkhorn gestures - like a porn star faking an o..... !

[infectedmushroom]

I knew most people would respond like that and I can understand why people dislike Lang Lang, especially cause of his face exspressions.


If you minimize the window and then listen to the music itself, then you have to agree that the performance of Don Juan by Lang Lang is quite good...   

[steinwaymodeld]

I knew most people would respond like that and I can understand why people dislike Lang Lang, especially cause of his face exspressions.


If you minimize the window and then listen to the music itself, then you have to agree that the performance of Don Juan by Lang Lang is quite good...   

I bought the CD of the recital before the DVD came out
it sucked by a large amount, with visual aid or not

[airasia]

I knew most people would respond like that and I can understand why people dislike Lang Lang, especially cause of his face exspressions.


If you minimize the window and then listen to the music itself, then you have to agree that the performance of Don Juan by Lang Lang is quite good...   

I strongly advise against NOT watching it because his technique is simply amazing to watch.  Someone said that he's playing a piece he is not ready for.  Did you even watch/listen to it?  If someone thinks this performance is not good, they are just 100% prejudiced against him or his ridiculous facial expressions.  Try watching his hands and say again that he's not ready for it.

[infectedmushroom]

I strongly advise against NOT watching it because his technique is simply amazing to watch.  Someone said that he's playing a piece he is not ready for.  Did you even watch/listen to it?  If someone thinks this performance is not good, they are just 100% prejudiced against him or his ridiculous facial expressions.  Try watching his hands and say again that he's not ready for it.

I agree with you, but some people only watch at his face expressions it seems. 

I bought the CD of the recital before the DVD came out
it sucked by a large amount, with visual aid or not

Well, of course, that's possible. But what are the things you don't like about his performances then? I have to say; Lang Lang isn't my favorite Pianist either, but I kinda like hearing/watching his performances.

[instromp]

I strongly advise against NOT watching it because his technique is simply amazing to watch.  Someone said that he's playing a piece he is not ready for.  Did you even watch/listen to it?  If someone thinks this performance is not good, they are just 100% prejudiced against him or his ridiculous facial expressions.  Try watching his hands and say again that he's not ready for it.

I second that..i find his facial expressions quite entertaining...Indeed his techniique is simply amazing,I wonder why some ppl always criticize his facial expressions than say anything good about his playing,  seems quite envious to me though ...and i must say this piece isnt out of his league, from the way he played it, he owned it and gave it his own touch rather than played it boringly.

Instromp

[jas]

I agree with you, but some people only watch at his face expressions it seems. 

They're pretty hard to miss when the camera is on his face. And they're actually quite distracting. I find that instrumentalists who make weird faces/movements in performance detract from my experience as part of an audience, because it's as though you're watching him/her get wrapped up in the music, and that it's not really aimed at an audience at all. If I'm watching a performance I usually find I can concentrate on the music more if the performer isn't getting in the way.

Jas

[tompilk]

its apples and oranges, but i find lang lang's performance more spirited and engaging, as well as dare i say...technically superior?

no you may not... take back those words... hamelin is a demi-god... langlang is a schoolchild - ave you seen his masterclass with barenboim? total pwnage...
Tom

[steinwaymodeld]

no you may not... take back those words... hamelin is a demi-god... langlang is a schoolchild - ave you seen his masterclass with barenboim? total pwnage...
Tom

lol 

[stevie]

no you may not... take back those words... hamelin is a demi-god... langlang is a schoolchild - ave you seen his masterclass with barenboim? total pwnage...
Tom

what has this got to do with technique?

[rimv2]

They're pretty hard to miss when the camera is on his face. And they're actually quite distracting. I find that instrumentalists who make weird faces/movements in performance detract from my experience as part of an audience, because it's as though you're watching him/her get wrapped up in the music, and that it's not really aimed at an audience at all. If I'm watching a performance I usually find I can concentrate on the music more if the performer isn't getting in the way.

Jas

true


Too much face can be a bad thing