Chopin Ballade No. 1

[mkaykov]

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[pianowolfi]

Take it with a (big) grain of salt, it's probably very subjective:

I listened to your recording and also to some of the sample vids of your teacher on his page, and yours speaks more to me. It sounds as if you have more depth and more passion in your interpretation. Sure, there is space to improve, for instance the part from 6:07 to 6:20 sounds a bit rushed in my book. But I think I hear a lot of individuality in your performance. Whereas in the vids of your teacher there is a lot of "routine" but it doesn't really move me.

[mkaykov]

I will record this Ballade again, and it will be completely different. Anyway, I would appreciate more comments on my own recording.

Best,
Mikhail

[iheartpiano]

You play wonderfully!  I agree with pianowolfi on feeling a bit rushed during the 6:07-6:20 section, but I especially loved the way you played the coda.     

I really, really enjoyed listening to your recording and look forward to the next one if you decide to re-record it.  Oh, and where are these videos of your teacher?  I wouldn't mind watching them. 

[mkaykov]

Ah yes, 6:07 to 6:20 is very fast -  a bit crude playing. Still the musical material of this section is limited, and I decided to speed it up so that the piece wouldn't fall apart. I think the problem is that I play it without dynamic variety - this is something that I must improve. This section could use some rubato - but I do not like to hear it played slowly. I know that 99% of recordings out there have this section much slower.

There is still a lot of work that needs to be done on this Ballade, but I need to get the rest of my program up to a decent level. I will post another recording of this in a few months.

At least I am back in shape after that disastrous live Mephisto Waltz from May! That was even worse than my 2006 Rachmaninoff Paganini Rhapsody recording....

[mkaykov]

.

[michel dvorsky]

Trumofo:

Well, first impression was that you have a really blistering technique...some of the runs made my jaw drop...but I found the interpretation quite pedestrian to be honest.  It sounded like a series of interconnected technical exercies... For all the control, it didn't sound like you conveyed much of the drama of the piece.  Were you bored when you recorded it or something? It was also sorely lacking in dynamic variety. Maybe you just need to back away from the piece for awhile, and come back to it with fresh inspiration.

That being said man, you have outrageous chops and I think you have laid the technical groundwork to really slay an audience with this piece.

[mkaykov]

thank you for your response, and for listening.

I am afraid that you overestimate my technique, but I work to improve it every day. I am working on some Bach Preludes and Fuges, and Mozart Sonatas - now these are pure finger technique. Extremely difficult to do well. 

As the for the Ballade interpretation, I completely agree with you.

The tender section lack nuance. It is interesting - I have worked out all of the nuances in my head, and I imagine a completely different, exquisite interpretation, yet this is a bit pedantic. I have to project all of my ideas - and this is not happening now.

I put this Ballade aside, I will play it for my piano exam in April, and hopefully it will be better then. I will record it again around that time.

Best,

-Mikhail.

P.S. Dvrosky - who are you on dasdc?

RESPECT!

[rachfan]

Hi Mikhail,

Any rendition of any piece can be improved to some degree, as none of us have yet produced "the perfect performance or recording".  I myself am my own very worst critic, and yet when I'm totally agonizing over a detail in a recording, often nobody else seems to notice or think it's of sufficient importance to comment on it.  I think everyone here has probably had that very same experience.  Nevertheless, although we can never attain perfection, we always strive for it.

I think this is a wonderful recording.  Your technical prowess leaves me in awe.  You listen to every note you play and pay thoughtful attention to what gets emphasized and what is held back.  Your pedaling could not be more sympathetic to the music, and as a result you play with extraordinary clarity.  And your musicianship assures a very high level of musicality at all times.  As for some missed nuances, perhaps yes, but you haven't lived with the piece long enough yet.  They'll fall into place as you continue work on it.

Great job!  You've accomplished much with this music.

David

 

[mkaykov]

This means a lot to me - I think that interpretation is the most difficult thing, because one has to get past the technical aspects of the piece. I will come back to it in April, and I will record new repertoire then as well,

Thank you for all of your comments,

I am taking down this recording.