Serg Van Gennip

[franz_]

What do you guys think of Serg va Gennip? He's a Dutch pianist, still very young but he already played a lot of concerts for his age. He's already making money of his music
You can listen to video files, audio files,...
https://www.serg.vangennip.com

[el nino]

i've heard lark by balakiriev/glinka,its nice,has some beautiful moments,but also some little less beutiful to me the sound is too sharp

[franz_]

No more opinions?

[da jake]

For his repertoire size and experience, I don't think he's very talented. At all.

[debussy symbolism]

For his repertoire size and experience, I don't think he's very talented. At all.

Greetings.

How can you say that? Is having some of the finest and loved pieces of considerable difficulty not enough? He is also a fine artist in my opinion as I grew to love his paintings. I love to listen to his Chopin Scherzo no2 and other pieces like the Moszkowski studies.

[infectedmushroom]

He is very talented I think.


Watch his performance of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdi, Fantasie. It's in a Dutch competition show for musicians. I think he was playing the piano for only about 3 or 4 years back then, if I'm right. Also Wibi Soerjadi is amazed by his Piano playing.


I don't like all the music he plays though. I find his playing a bit boring sometimes, but I guess that's more a matter of taste.

[da jake]

His recordings are mediocre at BEST (i.e., the decent Mendelssohn Fantasie.) But his playing is never exciting, or inventive. This, coupled with a very average technique, creates a very tepid listening experience.

There are thousands of young pianists with more talent than this guy who have enough modesty to defeat the urge to built tasteless web monuments to themselves.

[franz_]

I agree and is disagree. I hate him or I love him while he plays. His Mendelssohn is very good in my eyes, but his Rachmaninoff is so bad. Also, the way he looks while he plays is a bit nonchalant. Anyway, he has allready a career and I would be happy if I could play concerts like this.

[soliloquy]

Greetings.

How can you say that? Is having some of the finest and loved pieces of considerable difficulty not enough? He is also a fine artist in my opinion as I grew to love his paintings. I love to listen to his Chopin Scherzo no2 and other pieces like the Moszkowski studies.

Are you Serg?  Doing a little MORE self-promoting?


Well, he sucks.  Hard.  The ABSOLUTE worst Mussorgsky and Schubert I have EVER heard.  Most pianists, even amateur pianists (not saying Serg isn't an amateur himself, of course), could trip and fall onto a piano and make a better performance than 99% of his crap.  They wouldn't even have to be good pianos.  They could be Clavinovas.  You know that twang noise you sometimes get when you hit the pedals too hard?  That, to me, produces more music than Serg.  Plus, what is up with how he dresses?  Crushed blue velvet suits?  Is he living in San Francisco?  In the sixties?

I think he needs a haircut and for his hands to be chopped off.

[da jake]

Hahaha DAMN.

[debussy symbolism]

Are you Serg?  Doing a little MORE self-promoting?


Well, he sucks.  Hard.  The ABSOLUTE worst Mussorgsky and Schubert I have EVER heard.  Most pianists, even amateur pianists (not saying Serg isn't an amateur himself, of course), could trip and fall onto a piano and make a better performance than 99% of his crap.  They wouldn't even have to be good pianos.  They could be Clavinovas.  You know that twang noise you sometimes get when you hit the pedals too hard?  That, to me, produces more music than Serg.  Plus, what is up with how he dresses?  Crushed blue velvet suits?  Is he living in San Francisco?  In the sixties?

I think he needs a haircut and for his hands to be chopped off.

Why do you have to be so mordant and have such biting criticism. Even if you have "surpassed" him, you shouldn't adress his as crap. Does every pianist have to sound to your taste and play on a really advanced concert level? We all grow in time and get better, so be a little more jocund about it and just enjoy his playing and not instantly vituperate him. Hope this helps.

[bananafish]

I agree and disagree also. I don't think he sucks at all, in fact, I think he's pretty good. But, if Langx2 is the extreme of showoff, insane performers, Serg is at the very very end of the other side. He lacks that passion and intensity in his performances. Anyway, still, that's about the only thing I think he should improve on; afterall, people don't just go to concerts for the music, they go expecting to be entertained to a certain degree- albeit, classical music. I think the music is there, but, just a little more. That's all. But I'll be fine if he plays the way he does.

Btw, I don't find anything wrong with his blue velvet suits. Though, I might be biased, ahem, I think he's pretty cute... damnit, there I said it.

[soliloquy]

"Mordant"?  "Jocund"?  "Vituperate"?  Christ man, I can get through Ezra Pound and James Joyce and I don't know what some of the words you use are.

You would really get along with Alistair Hinton.  You could be his vocabulary buddy.  Here's his blog- you can contact him there:

www.xanga.com/alistair_hinton


Now to actually respond to what you said.  *ahem*  He sucks no matter who is listening to him, and he will most likely always suck.  Nobody likes his playing to my knowledge and he is a laughing stock within the pianistic community.  He likes to pretend to be a concert pianist, so he should play as well as a concert pianist, which he most certainly does not.  The recordings which he selects I assume are his better ones; he wouldn't share his bad ones would he?  The eggregious amount of technical errors, lack of any sort of emotion whatsoever, lack of imagination in both repertoire and interpretation and non-existant stage presence make me want to vomit.  And these are his BETTER PERFORMANCES???  Not everyone grows; what about people with dwarfism?  I will not be a little more "jocund" seeing as how he's an arrogant, egotistical prick who promotes himself shamelessly, and I believe this vindicates "vituperation".  It didn't help.


PS- Floccinaucinihilipilification
PPS- Die.

Btw, I don't find anything wrong with his blue velvet suits. Though, I might be biased, ahem, I think he's pretty cute... damnit, there I said it.

O
M
teh
F
G


You have issues, man.  Maybe you're thinking of someone else.  Maybe you're confused.  No sane person would say that about Serg.  What exactly appeals to you?  The pasty, oily skin?  The greasy hair?  The nose that looks like a hawk's beak?

[debussy symbolism]

they go expecting to be entertained to a certain degree- albeit, classical music.

That sort of goes for popular music, which has a high element of entartainment. Sure there are pieces in classical music that are true crowd pleasers, such as Liszt's "Grand Gallop Chromatique" or "Hungarian Rhapsody 2" etc, they still have a high level or artistry involved and include a plangent amount of energy. Serg Van Gennip in my opinion plays in terms of the music and not technique. True that there are things to improve upon but I think that he can summon a beautifull tone, backed up by technique.

[soliloquy]

plays in terms of the music and not technique.


backed up by technique.

That... doesn't make sense.  I have to wonder, what recordings are you basing this unprecedented fondness of Serg off of?  He misses notes in the FIRST MOVEMENT of Pictres at an Exhibition; how can you do that?  Literally, how can someone do that.  That's like missing notes in the left hand of the Chopin Etude Op. 10 No. 1- You have to work to screw that up.  Not to mention he misses notes in every other movement and plays completely soullessly.  I have not heard a single recording of his where he displays any level of technique above sub-par.  I challenge you to show me one.

[steve jones]

I liked his Rachmaninov Op16 No4. He does this cool crescendo thing on the LH, and it sounds great imo. Others seem to hammer this piece to hard imo.

Admittedly, this guy is not the best of the best, but he has a considerable degree of talent imo just to be playing that rep!

SJ

[soliloquy]

The word "talent" takes a hit; a low-blow.

[debussy symbolism]

You would really get along with Alistair Hinton.  You could be his vocabulary buddy.  Here's his blog- you can contact him there:

www.xanga.com/alistair_hinton

Heh heh.... I really think that that is someone vapidly trying to imitate his particular eloquence.

G

[debussy symbolism]

That... doesn't make sense.  I have to wonder, what recordings are you basing this unprecedented fondness of Serg off of?  He misses notes in the FIRST MOVEMENT of Pictres at an Exhibition; how can you do that?  Literally, how can someone do that.  That's like missing notes in the left hand of the Chopin Etude Op. 10 No. 1- You have to work to screw that up.  Not to mention he misses notes in every other movement and plays completely soullessly.  I have not heard a single recording of his where he displays any level of technique above sub-par.  I challenge you to show me one.



[/quote


What I meant was that he plays in terms of music, not technical bashing. He uses the technique he has to provide the music.

I have not listened to his complete Pictures at an Exhibition so I cannot say so far. Concerning a good performance in my opinion is his Chopin's Scherzo no2. Again this is my opinion.

[pianoman1977]

He misses notes in the FIRST MOVEMENT of Pictres at an Exhibition; how can you do that?  Literally, how can someone do that. 

I remember a recording of Sviatoslav Richter (I think the Sofia recital) where he missed also a note in the first movement of the Pictures  

About Serg van Gennip, has anyone read his biography? It says that his pianism is often compared to that of Horowitz

[debussy symbolism]

I really need to get thils "quote" this down as I am not doing a good job.

[debussy symbolism]

I really need to get thils "quote" this down as I am not doing a good job.

And check my grammar as I write.

[daniel patschan]

I remember a recording of Sviatoslav Richter (I think the Sofia recital) where he missed also a note in the first movement of the Pictures 

About Serg van Gennip, has anyone read his biography? It says that his pianism is often compared to that of Horowitz

Is that true ? Who said that ? BTW, who do you think is the greatest pianist of the century: Serg or Timothy Hofmann ?

[nicco]

Certainly a lot of disturbing things in that biography of his.

He enjoys playing 3-cushion billiards. This is a non-pocket billiards variation.

Who cares 

[franz_]

To Soliloquy: You may give your opinion, and everyone's taste is different. But the way you speaks isn't a great understatement of critique. Please hide your jealousy. If you can just critisise him, begin with self-critism.
And please, post sum recordings of you. We all look forward to hear you playing, 'like it should be.'

[gruffalo]

i've heard a few recordings of pictures at an exhibition that have the first few bars messed up. dont understand why.

[soliloquy]

To Soliloquy: You may give your opinion, and everyone's taste is different. But the way you speaks isn't a great understatement of critique. Please hide your jealousy. If you can just critisise him, begin with self-critism.
And please, post sum recordings of you. We all look forward to hear you playing, 'like it should be.'

Me?  Jealous of him? 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA


Oh man.............  OH.. MAN....  You want recs of me go dig them up on da SDC.  I'm SURE you'll be more than satisfied.

[Kassaa]

Me?  Jealous of him? 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA


Oh man.............  OH.. MAN....  You want recs of me go dig them up on da SDC.  I'm SURE you'll be more than satisfied.

Weren't you the one who posted fake stuff, Skepto?

[franz_]

Me?  Jealous of him? 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA


Oh man.............  OH.. MAN....  You want recs of me go dig them up on da SDC.  I'm SURE you'll be more than satisfied.

Great, what is the site, what is the link? You could post sum things here also, so that everyone can hear the best pianist on earth.

[steve jones]

The word "talent" takes a hit; a low-blow.

Well, I tend to consider a young person who can do a respectable job of some pretty varied and difficult pieces to have a degree of talent. If not, then we must be cavemen!

But I do get your point, if you'd prefer to think only of the Horowitz' and Cziffra's of the world as having talent, then I guess using the word to describe Van Gennip would come as below the belt.

SJ

[pianistimo]

i actually liked his 'il vecchio castello' interpretation (except the tempo seemed fast).  i liked how he brought out the innner voices.  the tuleries seemed like it was allegro and not allegretto.  i think his tempos are too fast.  maybe with maturity he will slow down.  he has good dexterity. 

he does have a control of his dynamics.  not making them terribly loud in bydlo.  he knows how to voice things.  i've never seen oxen walk that fast though.

i think my biggest complaint is speed.  maybe picturing things in his mind at a little slower pace.  that happens as you get older naturally.

he decided to use single notes in the tranquillo section treble (second measure 6/4)  it gave an interesting effect but not sure if that's what mussorgsky wrote.

ABSOLUTELY LOVED the ballett der unagusgeschlupften kuken. 

the promenade sounded like a little kid was running fairly quickly through the exhibit.  the last note should be held longer on the promenade.

kudo's to anyone who can play this entire piece from memory!  i like his bass.  the walking lines.  the voicing.  the intuition.  the russianess in most places. 


 

[pianistimo]

i liked that lowest note at m 118 (the way it sounded in baba yaga.  sort of a tom and jerry lead-in to the gate of kiev, though.  maybe a more 'poco ritardando' to get a better effect at the end? 

he understands the complication of the rhythms and the tonality of the end - but it's not a 'complete work' yet in his mind.  i'm not mature enough yet for this piece and i'm 45 - (maybe that's not saying much - and i'm certainly not to criticize) but having heard others play this piece - i'd like to hear a unification of the 'das heldentor.'  it seems piecemeal.  i'm sure it will come since he already has it under his fingers.  sort of a subconcious type of playing like a regurgitation of previous material but with more mystery and yet resolution at the end. 

[hodi]

he has great technique but his playing is so dry i can cry

oh
but his mendelssohn fantasy is quite good (video)

[journeyyourmind]

I do not think he is bad at all. However I do agree that he is missing a lot of intensity and passion in his performance(someone said above). From listening to his Rachmaninoff(Prelude 23. 5) I notice he doens't seem to have the sense to build up tension within phrases in numerous spots. I think his technique is pretty good, his dynamics are there(especially in the middle section), but once again I don't sense the tension and feel it is to the point that it makes the interpretation sound off.

[hodi]

he uploaded some new videos
https://www.serg.vangennip.com/www/home.html

[hodi]

his website is down.. what is with him today?? anyone knows?