Ivo Pogorelich, Terrible one minute and the best the other! How come?

[sevencircles]

Seeing Pogorelich live is like a box of chocolates you never know what you gonna get.

Sometimes he spits in the face of the composer with his superslow tempos and the next moment he plays supertastefull and better then almost anyone else.

Anyone know if he ever mentioned why?

It seems like he can  play any romantic piece better then anyone else in the world right now (if he wanted to) but why does he destroy great works so often?

[mike_lang]

I would say genius judges by its own standard (assuming that he is indeed genius).  In any case, his perception of music is an eccentric one, shedding light on works from different angles than the mainstream "standard interpretations".  Sometimes the angles are flattering, highlighting a beautiful visage, and other times offensive, magnifying a large rear end.  In any case, his work is quite daring.

Best,
Michael

[sevencircles]

Sometimes it seems like he just wants to destroy the melodies by playing so slow that 2 things come to your mind: He is either joking or  tries to prove that the piece is overrated in a strange way.

[mike_lang]

Sometimes it seems like he just wants to destroy the melodies by playing so slow that 2 things come to your mind: He is either joking or  tries to prove that the piece is overrated in a strange way.

I agree, we should not rule out irony in his interpretation.  It is possible that he is mocking at times (I don't know of a particular instance, off the top of my head).  Perhaps, also, he wants to highlight another aspect of a melody or a harmony, etc.?  For example, in Bach, there are many interesting subphrases that are not digested at a quick tempo, and often, in "taste", not even acknowledged.  Another example is the Rachmaninoff Prelude in Eb Minor (I don't recall the opus number, but it is in sixths).  It is to be quick, but if you play it slowly, I think it is more striking.

Once again, entirely possible in my estimation that he is mocking.

Mike

[minor9th]

I saw him last year when he played parts of Beethoven's Op. 111 and some Rachmaninov at a snail's pace, then he tore though some Liszt Etudes and Balakirev's Islamey. Does make one wonder. Perhaps he's just searching for new/more artistic expression. Of course, perhaps we should not dismiss the psychological damage of losing his wife and father in a relatively brief period...

[sevencircles]

I saw him last year when he played parts of Beethoven's Op. 111 and some Rachmaninov at a snail's pace, then he tore though some Liszt Etudes and Balakirev's Islamey. Does make one wonder. Perhaps he's just searching for new/more artistic expression. Of course, perhaps we should not dismiss the psychological damage of losing his wife and father in a relatively brief period

Didnīt he play like that even when his wife was alive?

More seldom perhaps though.

Anyone know about his compositions?

I heard he recorded 2 .

[minor9th]

Didnīt he play like that even when his wife was alive?

More seldom perhaps though.

Anyone know about his compositions?

I heard he recorded 2 .

Not to the same degree. Hmmm...I'd love to hear his compositions--hard to guess what style he'd use. Probably not of the Xenakis or Sorabji schools!

[sevencircles]

Anyone know why Pogo hasnīt made any new recordings in ages?

[ravel]

He is one of my favourite pianists . I agree his interpretations are "eccentric" .. but i still love them .  He played Ravel's Valses nobles et sentimentalis at such a slow pace... but I really got into it still.. and loved his recording.. It really brought out another aspect of the piece  which i hadnt heard in any other recording..  I love his Chopin Scherzo's ,preludes...
but i think my favourite recording of his is his performance of Ravel's Gaspard de la nuit and Prokofiev's piano sonata no. 6 . In my opinion, both are the one of the best versions of the pieces ever recorded.   And I just saw this video of his on youtube playing Scriabins poem opus 32 no.1,  THE BEST EVER RECORDED VERSION OF IT.......

[pita bread]

my favourite recording of his is his performance of Ravel's Gaspard de la nuit and Prokofiev's piano sonata no. 6 . In my opinion, both are the one of the best versions of the pieces ever recorded.   

Completely agreed.