Lang Lang plays Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody No.2

[brewtality]

It's a pretty vapid performance. Here is one pianist who is more concerned with being a famous pianist than being a great one. I don't think the technique displayed was really all that great, apart from the big mechanism which he has, he didn't do a terrific job of making the various themes played at once clear. I think control is the most important aspect of technique, and this performance was wild and unruly. In general I think people are maybe a little harsh on him, but here it is blatantly obvious that he plays like this to wow the audience (which is not inappropriate in this piece, but he goes too far imo).

[donjuan]

However, everybody who likes Cziffra´s egomaniacal style must love this video. Me at least i am very impressed.

I love Cziffra's tasteful confidence and I hate everything lang lang.  Have you seen Cziffra play Chopin's ballade Scherzo no. 1?  He sits quietly for the whole thing and respects the fact that he doesnt have to add anything extra to make the music special.  Chopin composed his masterpieces such that the music itself is everything you need.  I'd like to see Lang Lang try to do that.

here's how I see it:

Marc Andre Hamelin:
puts nothing towards himself (boring, right?)
puts nothing towards the music (boring, right? --> good fingers though)
               
Lang Lang:
puts everything towards himself (tai chi moves)
puts nothing towards the music (bad interp -->too occupied with tai chi moves)

Rubinstein
Moiseiwitsch
Hofmann
Rachmaninoff
Gilels
Richter
and other great musicians:           

                                      put everything towards the music
                                      put nothing towards themselves

[alejo_90]

However, everybody who likes Cziffra´s egomaniacal style must love this video.

I disagree.

Best
Alex

[practicingnow]

I tried to completely erase my post, but the message board insists that I write something in its place, so here it is:

my opinion is a fact

[m]

So as Lang Lang plays his way into piano history, adding his name to the lexicon of piano legends...

That's true. Unfortunately, he makes it not the way most great artist did (i.e. through their art). It is sad the modern music turned into this kind of industry. The "secret" of LL success is very simple--MONEY--hence all publicity, concerts, CDs, and shows, including Joe Lenno.
No doubt he can move his fingers and sometimes can be sensitive--it is just not enough to make into piano history, so the money makes up the rest, and there is very serious money behind his career.
Plus, he is a dummy and general audience likes it... Somehow people immediately feel dear to their heart connection. Let's for example take our US... oh well... it is already another story.

[jayanat]

I love Cziffra's tasteful confidence and I hate everything lang lang.  Have you seen Cziffra play Chopin's ballade Scherzo no. 1?  He sits quietly for the whole thing and respects the fact that he doesnt have to add anything extra to make the music special.  Chopin composed his masterpieces such that the music itself is everything you need.  I'd like to see Lang Lang try to do that.

here's how I see it:

Marc Andre Hamelin:
puts nothing towards himself (boring, right?)
puts nothing towards the music (boring, right? --> good fingers though)
               
Lang Lang:
puts everything towards himself (tai chi moves)
puts nothing towards the music (bad interp -->too occupied with tai chi moves)

Rubinstein
Moiseiwitsch
Hofmann
Rachmaninoff
Gilels
Richter
and other great musicians:           

                                      put everything towards the music
                                      put nothing towards themselves

Wow, how can you make these thoughtful ideas. My gosh!! very Fascinating!!

[bflatminor24]

I love Cziffra's tasteful confidence and I hate everything lang lang.  Have you seen Cziffra play Chopin's ballade Scherzo no. 1?  He sits quietly for the whole thing and respects the fact that he doesnt have to add anything extra to make the music special.  Chopin composed his masterpieces such that the music itself is everything you need.  I'd like to see Lang Lang try to do that.

here's how I see it:

Marc Andre Hamelin:
puts nothing towards himself (boring, right?)
puts nothing towards the music (boring, right? --> good fingers though)
               
Lang Lang:
puts everything towards himself (tai chi moves)
puts nothing towards the music (bad interp -->too occupied with tai chi moves)

Rubinstein
Moiseiwitsch
Hofmann
Rachmaninoff
Gilels
Richter
and other great musicians:           

                                      put everything towards the music
                                      put nothing towards themselves

I agree with everything except the part about Hamelin. You obviously have NOT listened to his recordings. I have almost every single CD of his (something like 20 of them) and his playing is wonderful! He puts fire and emotion into the music without deviating from the score. That and his technique is perfect....he is incredible.

His playing is so inspired, and nobody plays Godowsky or Alkan like Hamelin does. Have you watched his interviews? He is so passionate about what he plays, and he definitely communicates this through his music, just because he doesn't take 20 second pauses unnecessarily...

Watch his videos and listen to his recordings and you'll understand what I mean.

Truly marvelous

~Max~

[bflatminor24]

&search=hungarian%20rhapsody

For me this is the worst recording I've ever listened to. I had a big controversy with someone who posted this on youtube and I couldn't believe that there are still some people who like this.

 

Yeah, that's an abomination. He butchered an already flamboyantly wild showpiece. Interpretation is one thing, but it was obvious he was just showing off, and it didn't do Franz Liszt justice, however showy people think Liszt himself was.

A candenza is ONE thing (i.e. Marc-André Hamelin), but the entire piece he was just storming around the piano banging as many octaves as he could as fast as he could. Total nonsense.

Whatever reputation Lang Lang had for being a shallow showman is now an understatement. This was abysmal.

~Max~