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The World of Piano Competitions – issue 2 2025

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Topic: Roland Pöntinen  (Read 4860 times)

Offline lelle

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Roland Pöntinen
on: August 20, 2008, 08:47:33 PM
What do you think of this pianist? I just discovered him, and as usual when I discover something exciting I have to share it with everyone!

I am going to start the Eleven Bagatelles by Beethoven, so I searched youtube for them and then stumbled upon Pöntinens recording... amazing!



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Offline retrouvailles

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Re: Roland Pöntinen
Reply #1 on: August 20, 2008, 10:06:32 PM
I like his playing quite a bit, especially in the more obscure repertoire that he plays. There are a lot of his recordings on the BIS label. They are highly recommended. He also has a DVD, which just came out, which is extremely good too.

Offline fnork

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Re: Roland Pöntinen
Reply #2 on: August 20, 2008, 11:28:18 PM
I like his playing very much, and a friend of mine took lessons from him when he was younger. He has ridiculous facilities with certain things, he's a fastlearner with increadible sightreading skills - he learned things like all scriabin sonatas when he was 20 or something...Heard his scriabin 5th recently in concert, very interresting. In a "nice and easy" program as usual with this pianist:

Bach/Liszt - transcription of an organ piece, forgot the name, it's in G minor
Prokofiev - Sonata no 8

intermission

Ravel - Gaspard de la nuit
Scriabin - Fifth sonata
Liszt - Venezia e napoli

 ::)

Next day he was having recital with a clarinetist with a completely different program. I want this guys fingers!

Offline pianisten1989

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Re: Roland Pöntinen
Reply #3 on: August 21, 2008, 08:06:46 AM
I haven't heard much och his playing, but I saw this documentary about him (and Berezowsky and Hamelin). The music I heard there was beautiful.
I also saw an interview when he said he learnt prokofiev 2nd piano concerto in less than a month...

Offline sheena

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Re: Roland Pöntinen
Reply #4 on: August 21, 2008, 04:55:53 PM
Thanks for sharing the videolinks. He's a great pianist, I occacionally attend concerts where he's playing.

Offline ramseytheii

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Re: Roland Pöntinen
Reply #5 on: August 25, 2008, 03:29:39 PM
Why do pianists with huge techniques, have such bad taste in programming?

Walter Ramsey


Offline pianisten1989

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Re: Roland Pöntinen
Reply #6 on: August 25, 2008, 03:41:44 PM
I don't think it was bad taste. By the way, what if he only would play Chopins first ballade, Nocturn op 9 no 2,  and the Waldsteinsonata on all his concerts? ... or whatever his favourit pieces are. That would be tasteless...

Offline retrouvailles

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Re: Roland Pöntinen
Reply #7 on: August 27, 2008, 03:01:47 PM
Why do pianists with huge techniques, have such bad taste in programming?

Mind expanding on this comment?

Offline clarkchild

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Re: Beethoven Bagatelle
Reply #8 on: February 08, 2009, 03:38:18 PM
The Bagatelles are not as difficult as level 6 nd 7 as listed. Opus 119 number 1 is particularly nice for an advanced intermediate student. Opus 33 Bagatelles are beautiful and not played as much as 119 and 126.
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