Maksim

[eddie92099]

I had the displeasure of watching Maksim "perform" on TV last night. I am starting a petition to have him put down,
Ed

[rather]

so like i sign petition ....... he is a barnacle on the backside of humanity...lol

[Noah]

He's on my death list.

[BoliverAllmon]

Dang, what is wrong with this Maksim guy? I have never heard of him.

boliver

[dreamaurora]

Well, rather than condemning him, perhaps you guys can pick up a pointer or two from his shows. Anyway, gotta give him credit for trying to be one of those cross-over artists that try to bring classical music ( although distorted classical music ) to the masses.

[bernhard]

Dang, what is wrong with this Maksim guy? I have never heard of him.

boliver

I think they are talking about Maxim Vengerov (the violinist), who has been making some silly faces (grinning in a sort of demented/retarded way) in his latest Classic FMTV video clip.

Bernhard.

[Noah]

I think they are talking about Maxim Vengerov (the violinist), who has been making some silly faces (grinning in a sort of demented/retarded way) in his latest Classic FMTV video clip.

Bernhard.

We're not talking about Maxim Vengerov.
Dreamaurora, this guy certainly doesn't "bring classical music to the masses". People who like him are not going to appreciate real classical music...

[bernhard]

Now I am curious...

Who is Maksim?

Bernhard.

[steinwaymodeld]

Now I am curious...

Who is Maksim?

Bernhard.

He is a guy

who claimed himself a pianist
enter the Liszt conservatory for a year and gave up and call himself a alumni from there

Play Rach2 in a recital with the CD recording playing in the background.

Manipulate masterpiece such as Revolutionary, FLight of Bumble bee, Grieg Concert in A with the pop culture and enjoy being praised as the 'best pianist of out time'.

His flight of bumble bee: Left Hand melody with Techno background
His Revoltuionary: Right Hand chords with Pop background music.



HE DISGUSTS ME!!!!!!!!!!!

[bernhard]

Thanks for enlightening me. Never heard of him. (Lucky me!)

As the I Ching says:

"To fight evil is to supply it with energy.
The only way to fight evil is to make energetic progress on the path of good."

Therefore I shall not mention him further and keep up my progress towards goodness,

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[epsil0n]

well i did a little background search on him

yes i really do understand why some of u hate him so much now

read some reader reviews on amazon.co.uk and one of his fans was saying how he is such a great player and also wondering if that was how liszt played

funny they mention that...because after hearing samples of some of his tracks...i'd like to see him actually play a liszt piece in its original form
pretty sure he'll sound like crap...

really a disgrace to music...if he wants to be a pop star, be a pop star...
don't have to go around de-facing classics like he does

[eddie92099]

I signed the guestbook on his website but for some reason they didn't put it online   ,
Ed

[Jemmers]

I think your condemnation of him, having it's valid points, is not completely fair.

He never once attempts (i believe) to be a Classical player. He is, in fact, a neo-Classical player, which is a genre on its own. So if you were to attempt to judge him, you should perhaps consider comparing him to Bond or some other similar neo-Classical music thingy.

I do however agree that his attempts at borrowing Classical music pieces have largely resulted in some very butchered pieces of crap.

But judging him based on classical music norms is the equivalent of saying "Radiohead doesn't rhyme...". They simply weren't meant to. It's not their thing.

As a whole though, I honestly feel that Maksim Mrvic has succeeded in at least drawing the attention of the masses in the direction of our kind of music. Not Classical per se, but similar enough that they'll perhaps bother to check it out, which is good enough for me.

[eddie92099]

He never once attempts (i believe) to be a Classical player. He is, in fact, a neo-Classical player, which is a genre on its own. So if you were to attempt to judge him, you should perhaps consider comparing him to Bond or some other similar neo-Classical music thingy.

"I just want to reach as many people of all ages with classical music." Maksim Mrvica

But judging him based on classical music norms is the equivalent of saying "Radiohead doesn't rhyme...". They simply weren't meant to. It's not their thing  

Radiohead  ,
Ed

[Jemmers]

Geezz ed you'll never let anyone win will you? I can't believe you did research on that quote thing. Fine you win. He deserves to die. Ok, no... just... he's a lying prick who's the bane to all that is sanct!

And... Radiohead rules. Haha... ok i'll stop. This is the wrong forum for that statement.

[eddie92099]

And... Radiohead rules. Haha... ok i'll stop. This is the wrong forum for that statement.

https://www.pianoforum.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=repo;action=display;num=1070050546  ,
Ed

[Dave_2004_G]

Reminds me of Richard Clayderman - my gran had one of his lp's it's horrible  

Dave

[allchopin]

Ya'll, it's kind of ironic- you all seem to be dropping this guy ceaselessly, but you have to realize, he's making a lot of money doing what he is doing, so obviously he's not a TOTAL hack.  Someone likes him, or he wouldn't be having concerts, etc. as well as his own cool website  .  He's laughing all the way to the bank.

[Noah]

Ya'll, it's kind of ironic- you all seem to be dropping this guy ceaselessly, but you have to realize, he's making a lot of money doing what he is doing, so obviously he's not a TOTAL hack.  Someone likes him, or he wouldn't be having concerts, etc. as well as his own cool website  .  He's laughing all the way to the bank.

I disagree. Just because a lot of people like him doesn't mean he's any better. It just means that many people are morons.

[steinwaymodeld]

Ya'll, it's kind of ironic- you all seem to be dropping this guy ceaselessly, but you have to realize, he's making a lot of money doing what he is doing, so obviously he's not a TOTAL hack.  Someone likes him, or he wouldn't be having concerts, etc. as well as his own cool website  .  He's laughing all the way to the bank.

Please.

Fame isn't everythig

So many talneted people struggle thru this music industry and not get anything. Some people with no talnet, no nothing can earn millions and become like a international star.

Show-B is all about money. If the company think you will make money for them, then they will promote you.
And popularity doesn't goes with talent in most of the case.

I hate to use this analogy, but it's more close to the 'classical music' field, so:

Ignaz Paderwski is one of the most famous and beloved pianists in the early 20th century. But everyone who has seriously studied music knows he is not a extremely good pianist. At least there are like 10000 more talented concert pianist out there. But no one cares, while all the serious musician counthing his wrong notes, he was counthing the money he got.

A comman misconception, Fame does not have little to do with talent. Especially in this world, while most of the people care about 'appearance' and 'outlook'.

I have heard more than once that people say:

"Oh, Maksim is so much more handsome than Yundi Li and Lang Lang(they are like the only pianists those people know), he is like the GOD of piano"

He made me sick... SO as the statement...

Anyway, i did a little bit research on him too.
He was like claiming he won a 'Rubinstein Prize' before, then I went to the Arthur Rubinstein competition website, there wasn't any competition going on that year he claimed he won the Prize!
I was suprised, so I tried to search for like a competition with 'Maksim' and 'Rubinstein', it turned out to be a small local competition in Romania with the same name 'Rubinstein Competition'. That made me think he is such a liar.

And again, I don't think playing Rach2 with the background CD playing is a very good display of his technique or musicsianship.

He have ashamed himself and the name of all pianists.

Anyway, I have done with my whinning. I do feel bad about those piece, when i saw he played Flight of the bumlbe bee on TV, cause he is not playing with all the background music going on. He played like 3 times slower than normal, and with tons of wrong notes, and no music involved....

The next day i still heard some girls saying 'DId you see that Maksim guy last night, he was so AWESOME! and he is so handsome too....'

(And also from above, don't abuse the word 'neo-classical' on him, there are so much more better music worth that title.')

[Jemmers]

I'd rather abuse the word neo-classical on him than abuse the word classical on him. Make sense? I thought so.

[eddie92099]

Ignaz Paderwski is one of the most famous and beloved pianists in the early 20th century. But everyone who has seriously studied music knows he is not a extremely good pianist. At least there are like 10000 more talented concert pianist out there. But no one cares, while all the serious musician counthing his wrong notes, he was counthing the money he got.

Harold Schonberg will see you in court,
Ed

[steinwaymodeld]

Harold Schonberg will see you in court,
Ed

I know it's from his book(i am sorry i didn't give him credit, it's from the book Great Pianist, from Mozart to present, the part about Paderwiski)
I wish he can see me in court, or at all
cause he's in another place right now.....

Rest in Peace....

[steinwaymodeld]

I'd rather abuse the word neo-classical on him than abuse the word classical on him. Make sense? I thought so.

True.
But i think 'pop' will be the most appropiate label for him.

[bernhard]

What about "pup"

[Jemmers]

I would say "Model who can play the pianist". He's bloody good-looking. Damnit.

[BoliverAllmon]

he definately sounds like pop. He is a good-looking "musician" who can't do anything musically except smile.

boliver

[steinwaymodeld]

he definately sounds like pop. He is a good-looking "musician" who can't do anything musically except smile.

boliver

His greatest trick is not playing tough pieces, is making some of the easiest pieces sound very hard.

One time i saw him play one of the easy Bach prelude, he can play it so that he looks like playing the Tch1 solo part... How can he pretends so that he is a big virtuoso.

That's such gift specificly for pop-culture.
Sseems talented.

[Jemmers]

Let's be honest here... we all would want that skill. That of making a simple piece sound like it's difficult to play.

[eddie92099]

What about "pup"

What about "poop"?
Ed

[bernhard]

What about "poop"?
Ed

Thanks Ed.
That's what I meant.

[steinwaymodeld]

Let's be honest here... we all would want that skill. That of making a simple piece sound like it's difficult to play.

I played the piece for myself
I am happy if someone else appreciate, but not necessary

If i played a piece, it is not hard, but if i spent all my concentration and intention on making it 'sounds hard' instead of bringing out the music, it's a shame to the music itself. And people like that should be put into jail.

[eddie92099]

people like that should be put into jail.

Or shot,
Ed

[Jemmers]

The Lot of you! SO unforgiving! *smacks self for making stupid suggestions*

[rhapsody]

grieg will roll up in his grave if he listens to the poor rendetion of his masterpiece, let's face it. It's nothing more than a collage of the opening bars of the piano solo added with some high tech *boom boom* background, and there you have it... (poor grieg, may the Lord rest his soul)
Unlike vannesa mae who also make a classical-only album and play some masterpieces like the scottish fantasy by max bruch and bach's solo sonata in e major. At least it proof that she really can play her instrument (even though being a violinist myself, i still dont like listening to her, especially her electric violin, sound like someone's doing an inappropriate thing to a squirrel)

Even though maksim is soo phenomenon in music stores, doesn't make him a true pianist. LISZT, on the other hand, is the true phenomenon, women swooning ,string breaks and all

[jay_maksim]

Maksim is a fantastic musician.

Flight of the bumble bee: Buy the DVD and you can see he plays it solo at the actual tempo.

Hungarian Rhapsody: once again check out the DVD and you can see it is all perfect.

Check this out:

'In April 2005 Maksim took off on another sell-out tour, this time of Japan, with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra. Again, the tour was a massive success and there he was critically acclaimed as the greatest pianist since Liszt.'

'greatest pianist since Liszt'

also, you might want to check out his croatian album entitled 'Gestures'. Also, the piece 'Ples barunice'.

Jay

[ludwig]

Although I haven't heard of this Marksim guy, I have heard of many pop artists bringing elements of classical music into their music. Sure it might "modify" music into something that cannot be accepted by "classical" music supporters, you might say they have butchered the  original, but hey, what is original anyways? Alot of musicologists supports the idea that music in itself cannot be created, it is borrowed to some extent in the creativity process.

Anyways, the point is, I think many composers wouldn't turn in their grave but rather be very amused and interested in technology and music, and how it can be implemented, as they were all very creative people who pushed for new sounds. True that classical music should always be played as it was "intended", however wouldn't it be great if teenagers and younger generations got in touch with classical music through something they enjoy? Such as through this Marksim guy? Instead of having no knowledge of classical music and not knowing who Chopin or Beethoven were?

[avetma]

Maksim is a fantastic musician.

Flight of the bumble bee: Buy the DVD and you can see he plays it solo at the actual tempo.

Hungarian Rhapsody: once again check out the DVD and you can see it is all perfect.

Check this out:

'In April 2005 Maksim took off on another sell-out tour, this time of Japan, with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra. Again, the tour was a massive success and there he was critically acclaimed as the greatest pianist since Liszt.'

'greatest pianist since Liszt'

also, you might want to check out his croatian album entitled 'Gestures'. Also, the piece 'Ples barunice'.

Jay

Please; I would like to see what IDIOT wrote this sentence: Again, the tour was a massive success and there he was critically acclaimed as the greatest pianist since Liszt.

Surelly it was some girl or non-educated self-called-pianist. And did he/she ever heard for names like: Rubinstein, Arrau, Pogorelich, Argerich, Hamelin, Cziffra, Horowitz etc. ?

Can I ask you something? What you think about maksim performance listening with your eyes closed?

But, still, I think there is no way to prove to you (and to those like you) that maksim is just another pop player.

So; be delighted with his beautiful music and arrangments. And dont you even try to get some ORIGINAL and real recordings of Flight of the bumblebee or Grieg's concerto in a minor. All those people before your post dont have clue. They are just stupid. And they (including me) dont know what is classical music and what isnt.

Have a nice day

[jay_maksim]

Dude, Maksim's pieces sound awesome all the time, eyes closed or open.

Another pop player. Hm, yes, Maksim is a POPular pianist for his great pieces.

Can i ask, does every single pianist to you HAVE to be playing at the highest possible standard for you to like them?

Some people realise that what the public want, is, music they enjoy listening to (rocket science) Thats why you will never become a famous pianist... you are just like all the other piano players who are tooo scared to move away from classical music.

Maksim became famous becuase of his Croatian Album, not becuase of his crossover music. The crossover music then came after this.

And, of course i know he doesn't play Grieg's piano concerto in Aminor all the way through. It's becuase of hearing Maksim's version of it that i like the original aswell. I also know that playing what Maksim plays in it is easy, but i ask you...

In life would work over hard, or do less and get the same out come?

Maksim IS a Classical pianist, he has become famous for his contemporary and Crossover music. Maksim plays crossover music becuase thats what his fans like most, he can play classical and does. Therefore he is a classical pianist.

Can i ask, what piece of classical music would you like to hear Maksim play?

btw, no one is an idiot. A great piano player is a player who entertains his audience, keeps people interested and plays music of which they enjoy to listen to.

oh, your OBVIOUSLY a better pianist than Maksim, why aren't you more succesfull than him? i havn't seen you on TV/in concert/CDs etc...

have a nice day 

[tompilk]

His synthesizer versions are worse than listening to a piano drop from the top of a high building... shock... shock,.. terror.... terror...

[paris]

i'd like to hear his playing while he was studying under one of croatian greatest teachers, before all this pop crap. maybe he does have talent, but that talent is disappearing...heh too many hours spent in armani shops and hairdressers instead of in front of piano. lets not bashing him because he obviously knows how to make money, but also, please, don't be fool and claim he's best pianist after liszt! oh, maybe in a way that he has magnetic effect on female population..

[jay_maksim]

don't be fool and claim he's best pianist after liszt!

i did not write that, it was on the EMI website. i copied and pasted.

[avetma]

don't be fool and claim he's best pianist after liszt!

i did not write that, it was on the EMI website. i copied and pasted.

LOL

That's it - EMI are his sponsors or something like that. And it is clear that target is to earn as more money as posible.

I cannot judge objective about myself - but I know that I DON'T WANT to be like him. I dont want to spend time at the 'hairdressers' ( as collegue paris said ). I spend my time to learn, practise and educate. I claim that tv, famous and similar sh*t can came by time. Some my frends who personaly knows mrvica told to me that he is tired too from this sh*t of playing. He is trying to get out from pop-mud with playing 'rach 2' and similar classical pieces - but quality of playing is not even good. And critics says that too. Don't think it's me.

No - he doesn't need to 'play at the highest possible standard ...'. But I expect at least little virtuosity for all that famous.

Haha - what piece I would like to hear maksim? LOL
You really want me to say some?

1) Rachmaninov third piano concerto
2) ANY transcendental etude by liszt (maybe 12, 4, 5 or 10)
3) Liszt's Grand Royal Gallop Chromatique
I wonder why he havent played it already... It is show-off like he loves. Maybe it's to hard for his level?
4) Liszt - Gnomenreigen
5) Horowitz - Carmen Variations
...
100) Alkan Concerto
101) Godowsky transcriptions of Chopin etudes

Please, dont answer me about this! You just can make me laugh.

[kreso]

LOL

That's it - EMI are his sponsors or something like that. And it is clear that target is to earn as more money as posible.

I cannot judge objective about myself - but I know that I DON'T WANT to be like him. I dont want to spend time at the 'hairdressers' ( as collegue paris said ). I spend my time to learn, practise and educate. I claim that tv, famous and similar *** can came by time. Some my frends who personaly knows mrvica told to me that he is tired too from this *** of playing. He is trying to get out from pop-mud with playing 'rach 2' and similar classical pieces - but quality of playing is not even good. And critics says that too. Don't think it's me.

No - he doesn't need to 'play at the highest possible standard ...'. But I expect at least little virtuosity for all that famous.

Haha - what piece I would like to hear maksim? LOL
You really want me to say some?

1) Rachmaninov third piano concerto
2) ANY transcendental etude by liszt (maybe 12, 4, 5 or 10)
3) Liszt's Grand Royal Gallop Chromatique
I wonder why he havent played it already... It is show-off like he loves. Maybe it's to hard for his level?
4) Liszt - Gnomenreigen
5) Horowitz - Carmen Variations
...
100) Alkan Concerto
101) Godowsky transcriptions of Chopin etudes

Please, dont answer me about this! You just can make me laugh.

Noo, these are too difficult pieces to play for him..
Can you belive that he said that Bumblee Bee is one of the  most difficult piano pieces!!

I think that he'll play in the near future La Campanella (but he'll play without jumps, just in the range of octave... )

[avetma]

Noo, these are too difficult pieces to play for him..
Can you belive that he said that Bumblee Bee is one of the  most difficult piano pieces!!

I think that he'll play in the near future La Campanella (but he'll play without jumps, just in the range of octave... )

No, no!
He will play La Campanella but not on that poor way you said! haha - he will play only right part with both hands! hahahaha... Right hand will be on tone d# and left will play theme what should thumb do in original version. Hahaha...

Good one!

[kreso]

No, no!
He will play La Campanella but not on that poor way you said! haha - he will play only right part with both hands! hahahaha... Right hand will be on tone d# and left will play theme what should thumb do in original version. Hahaha...

Good one!

 Of course, I forgot that he canot play version that I suggested-his fingers canot play   interval biger than half-note..
(like in his favourite Bemblee Bee.. )

[paris]

jeez avetma and kreso, my croatian fellows, aren't you just a bit too harsh? the guy is successful in that what he's doing, leave him alone. why do you have to exagerrate so much? obviously he doesn't have qualities of classical pianist, but yes, i do find interesting what he does. why something has to be perfect and top quality to make me like it? he's just entertainer, and when it comes to entertaining people, believe me, nobody asks for quality. another thing is, pity , how uneducated people think he's great virtuoso, because the way he plays doesn't have much in common with real classical music. compared to other entertainers, he doesn't suck at all. his music is way more interesting then ''music''which produce those instant girlie postars.
would you make comparisons between apples and pears? that's exactly what you're doing. he isn't classical pianist, therefore you can't comparing him to classical pianists.
in the end, if we put his crossover things aside, his croatian album is really cool. stuffs on album are quite often played on in croatia, on competitions,auditions for academy, and its nice to let other people find out more about contemporary croatian music.

[avetma]

...he isn't classical pianist...

Thank god!

That is all I want to say with all ironic and sarcasm.

[jay_maksim]

Avetme.... dude, i take it you can play all these pieces?

oh and i take it your not to good at reading english becuase i said what PIECE not pieceS.

and of course, the most AMAZING/SUCCESFULL pianist above him is Sir, Professor, Master Avetma.... dude, i've seen you! i got all your CDs becuase you are SO unbelievabley popular,....oh, and i got my tickets to your next concert.

Maksim takes pride in his looks, why shouldn't he?

Maksim IS a classical pianist, he plays classical pieces. If you looked at his past performances, he played classical pieces.  There for he is a classical pianist.

oh and that report from EMI, since Professor avatma is such a musicial icon, you would have realised that they (EMI) did not write that. Who'd go around saying that, it don't take much to work out that is is what news papers, magazines write. They just get information from it.

[brahmsian]

Maksim IS a classical pianist, he plays classical pieces. If you looked at his past performances, he played classical pieces.  There for he is a classical pianist.

If a rock guitarist plays a jazz piece, is he then a jazz guitarist?

Maksim may play classical pieces, however he does so with techno beats and play-along orchestras. If he was a classical pianist, he would play the classical pieces the way they were written. Regardless of what he may have played or recorded beforehand, now he should be considered a pop artist. He is a pop artist who happens to play (awful) renditions of classical tunes.

Listen to Maksim's Flight of the Bumblebee, then listen to Cziffra's octave transcription and tell me which one is better, musically and technically.