Vladimir Feltsman.

[webern78]

Here's a collection of late Beethoven sonatas performed by this over-looked Russian artist:

https://s2.quicksharing.com/v/1872982/Beethoven_Late_Sonatas.zip.html

I'd love to hear what some of you have to say about those performances. He is a little cerebral and as a result his playing seems slightly laced, at least as far as Beethoven is concerned (who for me should always be played with a little bit of spontaneity. You should listen to his WTC though, his styles really shines on that one).

Still, from a purely pianistic point of view, does it ever get better then this? Interpretation wise, i actually never heard anything this clever. It even gives Gilels a run for his money, and i have a sense this is what his Op 111 may have sounded like if only Feltsman was a little more loose (and a little more poetic). Hey, i can dream, can i? 

[webern78]

No comment?

Take advantage gentlemen, those performances are out of print... 

[prongated]

...thanks for posting! I LOVE these Beethoven sonatas, esp. opp. 101 and 109!!!

Maybe it's due to the mp3 compression, but I find the loud sections a bit restrained in general - the rhythmic drive is fine, but the dynamic nuance is not fully audible. Seems like issues with the recording and not the performance, in any case. Judging by these recordings, Feltsman is a fine Beethoven player. I like the tempo of the 3rd movt. of op. 109.

...on a semi-sidenote, one person I'd like to watch playing the late Beethoven sonatas would be a practised-up John Perry - in fact I think he's playing opp. 109-111 at the upcoming WPPC in Las Vegas O.o must start saving up ><

[ramseytheii]

I used to love Vladimir Feltsman, and I have many of his recordings, including this disk of sonatas from the Musical Heritage Society, the Goldbergs, Bach WTC, Bach cocnertos, Tchaikovsky concertos.  Also heard but don't own his Carnegie debut.

The more I listened honestly the less I liked them.  He can be creative when he wants to, like in the Goldbergs which have great touches of originality, but they don't hold the tempo well - he rushes.  His WTC, the more I listened to it, the more I realied he was just recording it, he didn't seem to care about some, and still others he didn't even seem to practice.  The Tchaikovsky is unfortunately not interesting.

I also had a few master classes with him, and he kicked me.  But that doesn't bias my opinion.

I will listen to the Beethoven again, I haven't heard them for a while.  But I became less convinced of him as an artist a long time ago.

Walter Ramsey

[prongated]

I also had a few master classes with him, and he kicked me.

...yeouch! why is that?

[ramseytheii]

...yeouch! why is that?

Didn't want pedal in Bach English suite in e minor!

Walter Ramsey

[jakev2.0]

Gotta agree with Vladimir Feltsman on this one. 

[jlh]

I also had a few master classes with him, and he kicked me.

I saw a few of his masterclasses last year... he was quite rude to all the students. 

In the question/answer period following the masterclasses, someone asked about his practice schedule.  He responded in part by saying he doesn't practice at all.  I was like, "Uh... yeah right" lol

[m]

Check his two new disks on Camerata Tokyo--Postludia and complete English Suites. Great stuff, esp. Bach!
Lately, he plays very differently and you can definitely hear it on those recordings.
IMO, one of the best ES on the market, so far.

[m]

In the question/answer period following the masterclasses, someone asked about his practice schedule.  He responded in part by saying he doesn't practice at all.  I was like, "Uh... yeah right" lol

Whether you believe it or not, but that's true. I know it first hand.

[zheer]

 Outstanding.

[ramseytheii]

I saw a few of his masterclasses last year... he was quite rude to all the students. 

In the question/answer period following the masterclasses, someone asked about his practice schedule.  He responded in part by saying he doesn't practice at all.  I was like, "Uh... yeah right" lol

It's probably basically true.  All the pieces he's learned he seems to retain in his memory, but his masterclasses tend to consist of him playing those pieces all the way thru or in sections - ie practicing.  Much less of student playing
But the problem is, some of his CDs sound exactly like that, lke he didn't practice.  He obviously has a lot of skill and ideas, but that's just poor form, and to release studio recordings like that is pretty embarassing.
I'll have to go listen to his Bach concerti disc again to see what thats like.  I haven't heard it in a while.

Walter Ramsey

[jlh]

Although I heard him play Beethoven Sonatas Op. 13 and 109 live and must say it was among the best performances I've heard...

[landru]

I saw a few of his masterclasses last year... he was quite rude to all the students. 

In the question/answer period following the masterclasses, someone asked about his practice schedule.  He responded in part by saying he doesn't practice at all.  I was like, "Uh... yeah right" lol

The lack of practice may have contributed to two performance glitches when he played with the Seattle Symphony recently (last year?) - one that stopped the orchestra cold for a beat. He was playing a Mozart concerto and was conducting from the piano. It was the worst glitch I've seen at the symphony since I started going 4 years ago - but I didn't really mind it that much as the rest of the playing was pretty good to my ears. Showed me that even the greats are human! Plus you also have to consider that visiting artists don't really practice much with the orchestra - so it seems like the "visiting artist" system is partly at fault.

I have recently got his WTC disk (and gave away Barenboim's attempt - so many degrees of yuck!) and it's alright (no pedal  ).

[webern78]

But the problem is, some of his CDs sound exactly like that, lke he didn't practice.

I think we must have have two different set of hears for so far his CDs sound just about perfect to me, at least the ones i tried. If you think his WTC is just 'ok' i'd love to hear what you consider great. 

[pianowelsh]

i cant get link to work?!? Mindue never trust a pianist who says he dosent practice - EVER! ........they lie!!! Ask them how they define practice and also what they do instead if they answer this.  The results are usually very revealling - All artists practice..some just dont like to admit it!

[phil13]

This has nothing to do with the recording, but I just heard Feltsman perform the Rach 3 on Performance Today. While I enjoyed what I heard of the performance (most of the 1st mvt and the last half of the 3rd) , I was VERY disappointed that he took the small cadenza. But, other than that, I liked it. His playing was pretty clear and crisp. Not my favorite interpretation, but still good.


Phil

[imbetter]

I saw a few of his masterclasses last year... he was quite rude to all the students. 

In the question/answer period following the masterclasses, someone asked about his practice schedule.  He responded in part by saying he doesn't practice at all.  I was like, "Uh... yeah right" lol

were these at a college in new paultz? if they were i was at the same ones

[jlh]

were these at a college in new paultz? if they were i was at the same ones

Afraid not... other side of the country.