Liszt and Lang Lang apologists...

[webern78]

When it comes to Lang Lang, one of the excuses i always hear about his ridiculous stage antics is that he is like a modern version of Liszt, who supposedly was also famous for being a bit of an attention w*ore.

Now, barring the fact this comparison doesn't excuse anything (as a composer Liszt suffered greatly from his own excesses, his music being a mixed bag for the most part, balancing between great originality but also empty virtuosism and often plain mediocrity), is Lang Lang an actual portrayal of Liszt at all? Everything i read about him seems to point out he was actually a very delicate player, fleeting, almost eerie in his fluidity and refinery (Clara Schumann compared him to a ghost). Is there any evidence he also acted like an angry monkey?

[soliloquy]

None whatsoever to my knowledge.

[opus10no2]

Genius needs no excuse, it just is.

[bench warmer]

Read Walker's Bio of Liszt: Vol.1 The Virtuouso Years & Vol.2 The Weimar Years.

You will have a better aprreciation of Liszt.

[cygnusdei]

If I were Gary Graffman I would be shamed to reclusion.

[thalbergmad]

I am not sure, but i don't think that Lang Lang has ever played wearing 300 kilos of medals and a ceremonial sword.

Liszt was supposed to have been very theatrical in his early days, but Lang Lang looks like one of those ground crew people who guide warplanes onto an aircraft carrier.

Thal

[rach n bach]

... Lang Lang looks like one of those ground crew people who guide warplanes onto an aircraft carrier.

LOL   

So true though.  I am a diehard Horwitz fan, you know, tears from the heart and hands, not the eyes... so when I see Lang Lang and performers like him, I cringe.  There is a line between being theatrical and being absurd, and (for me anyhow) Lang Lang has clearly crossed it.

RnB

[micci]

"Anton Rubinstein imitated Liszt, trying to lift his hands as high as possible, to shake his hair the same way, use the same hand positions."
Quote from The Great Pianists by H.Schonberg.

When I read this, this reminded me of Lang Lang.
 
Also you better read the books by A.Walker as said above. 

[desordre]

I am not sure, but i don't think that Lang Lang has ever played wearing 300 kilos of medals and a ceremonial sword.

Liszt was supposed to have been very theatrical in his early days, but Lang Lang looks like one of those ground crew people who guide warplanes onto an aircraft carrier.

Thal

 Dear Thal:
 You just made my day!  *
 I thought of writing something serious, but now I can't anymore.
 Best!

[dnephi]

Apologetists, not apologists.

Dan

[numerian]

I think the Walker biography includes a contemporary sketch of six of Liszt's poses while playing - demonic, angelic, contemplative, etc.  All contemporary accounts of his concerts come down not so much to his virtuosity, which was consumate, but to the fact audiences were emotionally transported and at the end drained by his performance.  This emotional connection across the footlights was apparently as unique as it was overwhelming for the listeners.

Lang Lang has the antics, perhaps, but not that emotional connection, and so his grimaces and movements become distractions.  Too bad.  If you listen to his Don Juan fantasy on CD you can imagine that Liszt had this complete command of technique.  It's just a shame we have to close our eyes to enjoy Lang Lang in concert.

[micci]

That's YOUR opinion.

No one can say for sure if it has an emotional connection or not.

[rach n bach]

That's YOUR opinion.

Don't mean to be rude... but isn't that the essence of musical interpertation?

RnB

[thalbergmad]

  I thought of writing something serious, but now I can't anymore.
 Best!

I always think of writing something serious, but rarely do.

Thal

[numerian]

I've been to lots of Lang Lang concerts and am always impressed by his virtuosity, and increasingly, his control of tone.  I don't sense the emotional connection to the audience that I have witnessed with other artists, especially Vladimir Horowitz and Artur Rubinstein. 

[mike_lang]

Apologetists, not apologists.

Dan

Nay - apologists.

[webern78]

^ Jesus, make up your minds. My command of the English language is already shaky as it is...