Chopin - Polonaise in C-Sharp Minor Op.26 №1 - Enzo

[emill]

We would wish for any suggestion, comment or input...   Many THANKS !!

This was recorded using a Canon HD vidcam in an intermediate sized room
with cement floors and minimal sound proofing on March 20, 2010.

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May I resurrect this post since the AUDITION forum has been quite
active these several weeks.  It has been exactly a year since we
posted this    and surely there must be something?

THANKS FOR ANY COMMENTS .....

[emill]

May I resurrect this post since the AUDITION forum has been quite
active these several weeks.  It has been exactly a year since we
posted this  and surely there must be something?

THANKS FOR ANY COMMENTS .....

[birba]

don't you just hate the way this polonaise ends?!  I think you should always follow it by the second one.  Not that that one ends much better, but it does sound a little more final!  And it moves into the second one almost like a prelude.
You play it very well, Lorenzo.  You did some beautiful things in that glorious middle section.

[becky8898]

Hi Enzo. I really liked the way you did this. Why? hmm. Because you seemed to be in charge all the way thru.  Unlike me with op 53 . If I could say anything its really kind of small.  But here goes.  One is in the middle section , I just thought at times the melody line needed a tiny bit more volume , while at the same time staying soft and velvety as you pressed the keys.  The other thing is more showmanship than playing, but I think its important and my family has always taught me its important.  Perhaps instead of always shoving your face into the piano, once in awhile look up above you , kind of like your smiling at Chopin in heaven.  Its silly , I know its showmanship, but it seems like audience's like that kind of thing. And when you end the piece, dont jump out of your seat like your pants are on fire.  Sit there a moment , like your showing reverence to the piece of music you just performed.  Yes again its  all show business but if you show great respect to the music , so will your audience show great respect to you. At least thats what my family tells me. Like I said its not really the playing part, but it is part of being a pianist.

And hey  I tell you I have reverence for your playing.

Cheers, Becky

[ladypianist]

Hello Enzo. Let me tell you something we used to say in conservatory about Chopin. he could be such a trickster. A Magican, a slight of hand artist.  Starting pieces without formal introductions. Ending pieces with no warning.  Making you pay attention to one hand while it is the other hand that is the one that gives the flavor of the piece.  You pulled off the start of this piece very nicely . I would like to see you end it as nice. This is like a dance isnt it. Think of the people dancing and you are about to stop playing , how can you bring them to a graceful conclusion. What could you do as a pianist to prepare the way. NO easy questions I ask of you. Very thoughtful you need to be about this. Just something to think about when you do Chopin. Very different from Beethoven isnt he. I noted your father said you did this a year ago.  It would be nice to see you do it again and to note how much you might have changed in that time. 

A very nice post as always  , your always - Lady Pianist.

[birba]

Words of wisdom.  That ending is SOOOOOO problematic.

[lelle]

Hey - fine playing! You play it very expressively and competently. It does seem a bit lonely without that second polonaise to finish it off, though.

The other thing is more showmanship than playing, but I think its important and my family has always taught me its important.  Perhaps instead of always shoving your face into the piano, once in awhile look up above you , kind of like your smiling at Chopin in heaven.  Its silly , I know its showmanship, but it seems like audience's like that kind of thing. And when you end the piece, dont jump out of your seat like your pants are on fire.  Sit there a moment , like your showing reverence to the piece of music you just performed.  Yes again its  all show business but if you show great respect to the music , so will your audience show great respect to you. At least thats what my family tells me. Like I said its not really the playing part, but it is part of being a pianist.

I disagree with this, when I watch a pianist perform I always get annoyed when they start looking up into the sky, or waving their hands in a showy manner, etc. It doesn't look sincere to me - probably because that it isn't - it's like, hey, this part sounds emotional so now I have to look emotional, or, hey, this part is difficult, so now I have to wave my hands arround to show what a Gods gift to the piano I am. I don't buy it. It makes the pianist look distant from the piece, like the music and the pianist are two separate elements, while to me they should be as one - after all the pianist is (should be?) channeling his very own ideas and being into the piece he/she is playing. It just takes away from the experience to me, I prefer when the pianist is calm and concentrated, giving the music his fullest attention.
/rant over I'm probably taking this way too seriously  I agree about waiting a bit after the ending though!