French Pianist Francois CHOUCHAN'S website

[francois8]

I would like to present my new website with my last recordings at:
www.francoischouchan.com
Hope you will enjoy it!

[pianowolfi]

Well, introducing yourself with an advert is, especially here, perhaps not the best way, but of course we need to get also over this bias and just be open. I listened a bit and there are some things I like very much in your playing, like in the Schubert 960; there are other things that sound a bit shallow, like Schumann op. 15,1, it's just way too fast for my taste and does tell me nothing about "foreign lands and people". I think you could go more in depth with this.

Anyway: welcome to ps  (though I feel in no way representative for this forum) and good luck!

[francois8]

Thank you for your message.
Have a great evening.
Francois.

[thierry13]

I think you should work on your tonal palette and your dynamic range. From what I saw on your site, it's allmost inexistant. Other very good aspects of your playing compensated but I perceived most recordings as "dry". Your sense of characterisation seems weak and this makes your interpretations more or less convincing. Sorry for the negative feedback, it's just the way I feel when I listen to your recordings. I do not think you breath life into the works you play. If it would be the case for one recording I wouldn't have minded, but I feel the same way for every recording there is on your site ...

[francois8]

Thank you for your message and your opinion that I respect.
Francois.

[db05]

Funny, I thought I coined the term "neoromantic":
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,31880.msg371168.html#msg371168
but someone beat me to it and even added the word "melodist". I think it's redundant, though.

I am a fan of romantic music, too, but I didn't quite like your recordings. I don't know why.

[francois8]

Well I am sure that you find something else!...
Thank you,
Francois.

[dimitrimus]

Thank you for sharing... 
I like your sensitivity very much. I specially love your Schumann...and the Carnaval.
Well done, I wish you the best! Good luck 

[iumonito]

I think you should work on your tonal palette and your dynamic range. From what I saw on your site, it's allmost inexistant. Other very good aspects of your playing compensated but I perceived most recordings as "dry". Your sense of characterisation seems weak and this makes your interpretations more or less convincing. Sorry for the negative feedback, it's just the way I feel when I listen to your recordings. I do not think you breath life into the works you play. If it would be the case for one recording I wouldn't have minded, but I feel the same way for every recording there is on your site ...

You are too kind, Francois (as you have to be, of course).  Thierry: Mindless, truly.  I recommend you get an oxygen mask.  Francois is obviously a very major artist.  His playing is personal and distinctive, sensitive without indulging in oversentimentality.  I invite you to post one phrase of music that would demonstrate what is this tonal palette and characterization you seem to be so fond of and that you find lacking in Francois' superb playing.  Make it Brahms second concerto, just for kicks.

Francois, thanks for posting.  I did not look into the website very deeply yet, but I would love to get my hands on some of your compositions and find out more about suites for piano extracted from your film music.  Also, at some point it would be great to hear your stories about Yvonne Loriod and Jean Hubeau.  By chance do you play any Messiaen or Dukas?

[thierry13]

You are too kind, Francois (as you have to be, of course).  Thierry: Mindless, truly.  I recommend you get an oxygen mask.  Francois is obviously a very major artist.  His playing is personal and distinctive, sensitive without indulging in oversentimentality.  I invite you to post one phrase of music that would demonstrate what is this tonal palette and characterization you seem to be so fond of and that you find lacking in Francois' superb playing.  Make it Brahms second concerto, just for kicks.

Francois, thanks for posting.  I did not look into the website very deeply yet, but I would love to get my hands on some of your compositions and find out more about suites for piano extracted from your film music.  Also, at some point it would be great to hear your stories about Yvonne Loriod and Jean Hubeau.  By chance do you play any Messiaen or Dukas?

Sorry to disappoint you, I was simply honest, as everyone should be. I'm glad you liked his playing, I didn't. Tough, I have to admit I compared him to professional standards, so that allready gives him credit. I wouldn't pay to attend a recital of his, I find the playing dull. Some people think Richter and Brendel are dull, so my opinion should be no big deal to take for him 

[francois8]

Thanks a lot for your kind message.
It would take hours for me to talk about my classes at the Conservatoire in Paris...and I am sure that you will become tired really quickly!..
Let's just say that when you enter the Conservatoire you have to be really and deeply strong!... All my Masters were great, honnestly, but I have to say that Germaine MOUNIER was one of the most impressive one.
Yvonne LORIOD is a definitely great artist, but it was sometimes difficult for me to share those magical and sensitive moments and emotions with her that you can find in the Schubert's world or the Rachmaninoff.  Of course I love the French composers. But unfortunately to be honnest I am not so good when I play Messiaen. I have some difficulties to feel this music. Jean Hubeau was a great Master, he was the best and he will stay THE reference for me for Chamber music.
One of the most important moments was also when I met Rostropovitch with my TRIO. Those magical moments will stay for ever in my mind.
Music means emotion, passion for me. That's what I try to express and share through my interpretations and my compositions. And I am sincerely happy when you say that you can feel my music.
Thanks a lot again and keep in touch of course. Sincerely,
Francois.

 

[ronde_des_sylphes]

It's curious. Though iumunito is clearly right and you are obviously a pianist of considerable ability, I didn't especially warm to your playing. I listened to the Liszt, Chopin, Franck, Schubert and some of the Rachmaninoff and found the playing very polished and professional - lots of nice nuances as well - but in the main the playing didn't grab me. I think you rightly avoid oversentimentality, but that your playing is rather introverted. I felt this approach worked best in the Schubert (as was perhaps predictable), but, strangely, that you came out of your shell more in this performance. (I thought the Schubert was really very good, btw.) Some of the other slower pieces (for example the Liszt) I felt that you played slightly too fast and without any great affinity for the romantic idiom (perhaps a bigger [not necessarily louder] sound is needed sometimes?).

Of course these criticisms are at a high level of music making - perhaps a level that I'm not qualified to comment on - but I can't help feeling that way. I'm sure you're professional and experienced enough to have thought about such issues of interpretation, but it crosses my mind that you've taken the same introspective, no oversentimentalisation approach somewhat regardless of which composer you're playing.

Thanks for posting the link; despite my criticisms it is clear that you are a pianist of distinction.

[francois8]

Thank you for your time and for your advice.
All the best,
Francois.

[dimitrimus]

Congratulations for your concert at the LACMA last sunday!
It was great...
All the best!...

[chozartmaninoff]

Welcome to PS.

I enjoyed your recordings i thought they were played well, however they didnt stand out as really great performances.

Liked the layout of your site, was easy to use. Wasn't too keen on your compositions but they wern't bad at all.

choz

[dimitrimus]

Thanks for adding the Lacma's concert live recording...
I definitely love your Beethoven!
All the best...

[pokeythepenguin]

[ahinton]

Hey guys.  Check out my youtube page.


https://www.youtube.com/user/John11inch

And the relevance to the thread topic is?...

If you want to draw attention your your own web page, why do;t you initiate a thread about it rather than seek to hijack someone else's?

No obligation, of course...

Best,

Alistair