Maksim Mrvica

[bachapprentice]

Has anyone heard this guy?  Check him out on Youtube he is a great Pianist.

[jakev2.0]

If he's a great pianist, then I'm Sviatoslav Richter. 

Girls in the vid ain't bad.

[viking]

[pianowolfi]

I like the bumble bee

[invictious]

I thought it was pretty horrid
I liked Exodus though.

He is sending classical music to hell in a handbasket

[soliloquy]

Maksim makes Richard Kastle look pro.

[thalbergmad]

Utter horsecrap.

[retrouvailles]

Utter horsecrap.

Exactly. Maksim is even worse than Lang Lang. And that says a LOT.

[bachapprentice]

Wow! I don't know what you guy's are hearing but I see and hear a guy who is very talented and adds a lot of creativity to the music. 

[avetma]

Wow! I don't know what you guy's are hearing but I see and hear a guy who is very talented and adds a lot of creativity to the music. 

I think guys from some forum about techno/pop/crossover music feel the same as you do.

[counterpoint]

Maksim makes Richard Kastle look pro.

Exactly. Maksim is even worse than Lang Lang. And that says a LOT.

And not to forget:

Alfred Brendel and Maurizio Pollini are the least musical pianists of the world...   

People, you are so damned crazy 

[bachapprentice]

Listening to him is a breath of fresh air.  I am not saying he is the greatest in the world but he is a great paino player.  I think the people on this site are to traditional and only play other peoples work and have no imagination. 

I think composers like Bach, Chopin, Liszt, Paganini would want you to explore there music and add your own style to it. Be creative and make music instead of just playing the notes.

[bachapprentice]

And if the great classical composers were around today they would be using Keyboards. Check out Jordan Rudess and Keith Emerson.  Both classically trained and they use keyboards.

[thalbergmad]

And if the great classical composers were around today they would be using Keyboards.

Gross generalisation probably completely wrong.

I am sure some would display some interest and then go back to their pianos.

Thal

[bachapprentice]

Gross generalisation probably completely wrong.

I am sure some would display some interest and then go back to their pianos.

Thal

Sure they would still play the Piano but they would also branch out and explore what is the future in music.  They were great composers and I love all there music.  I even play there music and also learn from it and get ideas and create my own music.  I just get so mad when certain people on this site put down a good player.

[viking]

Except this guy actually sucks...

[dana_minmin]

 
 
 
"Listening to him is a breath of fresh air. " 1000% agree

Maksim plays both classical and classical crossover music very well.

Just to compare his classical music with Lang Lang's. I personally like Maksim's interpretation eg. Hungarian Rhapsody No.2. Lang Lang's rushing all the time (and I don't appreciate his facal expression, sometimes it's like acting). Yundi Li's interpretation of other classical pieces are nice too, but sometimes it feels too... high and unapproachable.


If everyone is playing the same, what's the difference between an artist and a computer?

[the_duck]

No one is saying they want performers or performances to be the same. What seems to be the problem is that Maksim clearly feels he is more important than the music. Those nauseating gloves, the shirt/vest hybrid, the whips and chains, all this is taking the focus away from what he is playing, and undermines the whole thing. I for one find it quite hard to concentrate on the music when i'm forced to look at a gimp (albeit a very talented one) dripping with hair gel.

[retrouvailles]

If anyone thinks that Maksim is a good classical interpreter, they've listened to too many crappy pianists (like Lang Lang) and need to start buying (downloading) better recordings. And yes, Maksim has a pretty big ego it seems. He only cares about his image, not the image of the music, which does not make for a good stage appearance or performance. The real classical music interpreters humble themselves to the music and let it speak for itself through their own interpretations.

[thalbergmad]

Sure they would still play the Piano but they would also branch out and explore what is the future in music.  

And you think that this absurd mutated hybrid is the future? Lets pray that this is not the case.

This nonsense will be totally forgotten in 10 years.

Thal

[bachapprentice]

No one is saying they want performers or performances to be the same. What seems to be the problem is that Maksim clearly feels he is more important than the music. Those nauseating gloves, the shirt/vest hybrid, the whips and chains, all this is taking the focus away from what he is playing, and undermines the whole thing. I for one find it quite hard to concentrate on the music when i'm forced to look at a gimp (albeit a very talented one) dripping with hair gel.

Are you trying to tell me its because the way he looks.  These are performers in the the 21st century.  Bach with the big wig, Beethoven with the wild hair, Paganini with the long dark hair. If you don't like the way he looks close your eyes.

[bachapprentice]

And you think that this absurd mutated hybrid is the future? Lets pray that this is not the case.

This nonsense will be totally forgotten in 10 years.

Thal

What will be forgotten him or the keyboards.  Keyboards will be around for a very long time to come. 

[zheer]

  Ammm judging by his music and video clips, he seems to be more commercial ,to appeal to people that are not mad aabout classical music,like Vanesa May,or Myleen Klass.He is an Actor and Musician. He is Obviously a talented pianist, though had he not put on this show, and his choice of music,he would be unknown.

[retrouvailles]

Keyboards will be around for a long time, but they will never be the substitute for a real piano. Some modern composers have included keyboards and synthesizers of sorts into their music, but never as the substitute for a real piano. Only for other effects.

[bachapprentice]

If anyone thinks that Maksim is a good classical interpreter, they've listened to too many crappy pianists (like Lang Lang) and need to start buying (downloading) better recordings. And yes, Maksim has a pretty big ego it seems. He only cares about his image, not the image of the music, which does not make for a good stage appearance or performance. The real classical music interpreters humble themselves to the music and let it speak for itself through their own interpretations.

I am not saying he is the greatest of all time.  I just said he is a great pianist who has a lot of talent.  I have listened to many great pianists who are better of course but I was not comparing him to anyone.  This was not one of pianostreets common topic of who is better than who. 

[shiftyoliver]

If everyone is playing the same, what's the difference between an artist and a computer?

What are you talking about, I can hear vastly different intepretations from various concert pianists. Isn't that an ironic statement. Maksim himself plays the most like a computer. Obnoxious techno beat with pieces played exactly in time to the same repetitive background beat pounding on your head. No rhythmic nuance or phrasing whatsoever with everything played note for note (with added simplification's to the music).

[counterpoint]

Maksim himself plays the most like a computer. Obnoxious techno beat with pieces played exactly in time to the same repetitive background beat pounding on your head. No rhythmic nuance or phrasing whatsoever with everything played note for note (with added simplification's to the music).

 

[nocturnelover]

gees it's pretty silly to say that he is horrific, frankly anyone who can play the flight of the bumble is good....he plays it above a reasonable level. If he was that bad he wouldn't be giving a concert.
Lets not go overboard heh heh !

[cygnusdei]

I think composers like Bach, Chopin, Liszt, Paganini would want you to explore there music

this?

https://www.theremusic.com

[liszt-essence]

Wow! I don't know what you guy's are hearing but I see and hear a guy who is very talented and adds a lot of creativity to the music. 

I absolulety agree..

[liszt-essence]

No one is saying they want performers or performances to be the same. What seems to be the problem is that Maksim clearly feels he is more important than the music. Those nauseating gloves, the shirt/vest hybrid, the whips and chains, all this is taking the focus away from what he is playing, and undermines the whole thing. I for one find it quite hard to concentrate on the music when i'm forced to look at a gimp (albeit a very talented one) dripping with hair gel.

Then you should have seen liszt in his days.. what a showman he was..
Loaded with medals and such.. man he was a show, don't forget that.

There are several ways of looking at it, I think it's an expression of himself, he's a bit gothic, but CREATIVE.. and I love that! I wish more pianist were creative instead of just reproducing music. There is nothing wrong with that, but there's got to be a balance.. and you know why the whole classical music is seen as dull by so many people.. because it's in most cases nothing more than a recapitulation, a reproduction of something that was once.. the future..

[wotgoplunk]

  is my verdict.

[leahcim]

And if the great classical composers were around today they would be using Keyboards. Check out Jordan Rudess and Keith Emerson.  Both classically trained and they use keyboards.

But there are literally thousands of musicians that are "classically trained" It doesn't mean Jack sh*t. Besides Maksim isn't a great composer is he? I mean, you'd be hard-pressed to seriously compare the best pianists you can find today with great composers [barring that the 2 sets overlap and they are often the same] - that would be just laughable. You may as well say "Beethoven would compose using a biro and an Ikea desk". Who cares?

Worse, when they sell that idea hoping rock / pop audiences will think it does.

The names you list here, [and TBH the other thousands of classically trained people in Jazz, pop  and rock in production as well as performance] are conceptually different from the Maksim's / Klass / Mae / G4 et al...because the latter are pretending to be classical musicians sometimes even playing classical rep whereas the former generally aren't.

The former deserve some contempt only because they [or at least their management] are trying to sell themselves on some classical credentials, which isn't quite as bad as trying to pretend they are actually classical musicians.

Bear in mind, in a poll of best guitarists, Jimmy Page ranks as high as people that can play the guitar much better than he can. It's not difficult to look good in the rock world if you've got some chops, but it only takes you so far.

See the difference? If you want to be a lawyer, do the training and be a lawyer. But, if you get 'lawyer training' and turn up to court dressed as a clown and lose your case then you should probably expect to be treated like a clown. Lastly, getting a job at McDonalds and telling everyone that you've got a law degree, fine, but don't expect any of the others to be impressed - you'll only be as good as you are at clowning. Which isn't based on law. Is that too idiosyncratic? What I'm saying is that Jordass et al needs to be good at Rock ['McDonalds"] irrespective of how good at classical ["law degree"] they might be ergo Maksim's failure imo.

What's a chocolate milk shake in this analogy? What kind of fast food are Jazz and Rap? I don't know - I didn't think it through that far. Perhaps one of those jacket potato places with the real oven rather than a microwave?

Considered as an artist that's playing rock / pop that takes influence from classical [and other genres] I still think he falls into the Mae / Klass school of failing miserably to do it well. e.g I can't see his next album competing with Zepp, Tull, Hendrix, Zappa, Beefheart, Muse, Vai, Floyd and so on...Rock isn't about chops, but there's no shortage of chops anyway as you note.

[houseofblackleaves]

Why are we even comparing this guy to classical musicians?

He's not a classical pianist, so of course he's not going to compare to an actual classical pianist.

It's like comparing Argerich to Brittany Spears - Who's the better pop singer?

I think that Maksim is good at what he does... but that isn't playing classical piano.

LANG LANG BASHERS NEED TO SHUT UP.  God, you're all like mac users!!

[thalbergmad]

frankly anyone who can play the flight of the bumble is good

Listen pal, i crack the gags on this forum.

Understand?

Thal

[nocturnelover]

well I think the joke is on you because although I didn't specify what I said it implied that anyone who can play and I mean PLAY (properly with good technical fluidity) the flight of the bumble bee must be pretty good. Personally I thought he played it very well, although he might not be an astounding revolutionary if you can play it to that level anyway it's fair enough.

[retrouvailles]

LANG LANG BASHERS NEED TO SHUT UP.

Never! I stand by my criticisms.

[lisztisforkids]

Is this passed off as pianism in popular culture?    Sad day for music.

[retrouvailles]

Indeed. You know classical music is in trouble if Maksim and Lang Lang are highly recognized and 'real pianists' aren't.

[thalbergmad]

well I think the joke is on you because although I didn't specify what I said it implied that anyone who can play and I mean PLAY (properly with good technical fluidity) the flight of the bumble bee must be pretty good.

Stop it please, my ribs are killing me

[invictious]

Stop it please, my ribs are killing me

I can play it, does that mean I am good?

Bear in mind I can't even play Fur Elise and I am taking DipABRSM.

(pathetique by LVB, all 6 bulgarian dances by bartok, toccata bwv914 by bach)

and i can't play the fast light bit to turkish march.

[chopininov]

His playing is very, very boring. And he looks dirty.

[ramseytheii]

His playing is very, very boring. And he looks dirty.

Walter Ramsey

[demented cow]

I don't like the way this thread is organising my head.

Ok, so Maksim's playing has nothing special in it compared to scores of other famous pianists discussed in this forum. HOWEVER, notice how hardly any of the people who denigrated Maxim's playing above said anything concrete about why his playing sux so much. (And was the Chopin nocturne posted above THAT bad?)

And denigrating a pianist because they dress differently? Would you have him taken off the concert circuit for that reason? That would hardly serve the cause of classical music. If somebody goes to a recital by him for the so-called 'wrong' reasons (e.g. because they liked his image) and thereby discovers that the Romantic piano repertoire can be beautiful and thrilling, I personally would be happy.

[chopininov]

I don't like the way this thread is organising my head.

Ok, so Maksim's playing has nothing special in it compared to scores of other famous pianists discussed in this forum. HOWEVER, notice how hardly any of the people who denigrated Maxim's playing above said anything concrete about why his playing sux so much. (And was the Chopin nocturne posted above THAT bad?)

And denigrating a pianist because they dress differently? Would you have him taken off the concert circuit for that reason? That would hardly serve the cause of classical music. If somebody goes to a recital by him for the so-called 'wrong' reasons (e.g. because they liked his image) and thereby discovers that the Romantic piano repertoire can be beautiful and thrilling, I personally would be happy.

I didn't denigrate him because he dresses differently. I denigrated him because he looks dirty.
But also, there is a reason why pianists usually dress in formal wear for concerts. Although, image isn't everything, it does play some role in the judging of a pianist.

And are you looking for opinions or facts? Because I feel that his playing is very boring. There is really no evidence to support that other than my subjective view on his playing.

[thalbergmad]

And denigrating a pianist because they dress differently? Would you have him taken off the concert circuit for that reason?

Yes

[gyzzzmo]

I gues its just his way of distincting himself from other players. Its definitly not my style, but if he likes it he should do it. Maybe we should listen to his play instead of discussing his clothes. And to my opinion he plays alot better then mr lang lang, at least his musical interpretation and THANK GOD he isnt moving as retarded :p

Gyzzzmo

[invictious]

All of a sudden, if Cziffra wore a clownsuit to perform because he got really famous,  he might have been more successful when he was earlier, like age of 16.

[cygnusdei]

distincting

 

[retrouvailles]

He means 'distinguishing'.