Berman
Anyone who chooses someone other than Lazar Berman is either ignorant or just futilely attempting to be contrary. This question is on par with, "what is 1+1?" There is a right answer, but that doesn't stop the internet from feeding you crap, particularly Arrau (or Berezovsky, who will only be mentioned because there are high definition videos of a soulless, live performance of the set on Youtube, and that's what matters, right?). Arrau is comparative garbage in the TE's; at least say Cziffra if you have this desperate urge to choose someone other than Berman. Christ. Sgouros and Richter make even less sense; seem to be deigned by being a fan of the pianists, as opposed to the recordings (I can only assume). Ashkenazy's is not that great, but a lot of people hold it in high regard, so check it out, I guess. Busoni didn't record the whole set as far as I know; I'd love to be proven wrong on that, but as far as I know most are missing. So selecting Busoni is equally suspect, regarding motive.In the interest of fairness, Arrau's is usually considered to be the other "best" set, along with Berman's, so certainly take a look at it, but in my opinion, they're just worlds apart in quality. Take a look at Bolet's, if you want; they are far from the most technically impressive, but the quality of interpretation supersedes that, in most cases. Also, you might be able to get a more interesting conversation if you asked about best interpretations of each etude separately.
I'm worried about you. Go to a psychiatrist. You haven't a monopoly on the truth. In art 1+1 doesn't exist. Respect some opinions; that's the whole point of this forum anyway. Otherwise, go, and right a book or something.
Literally everything you said is wrong.
And literally everything you said shows your close mindedness and elitism.
Well I've been a good boy for a while, now, but I'm due, so here we go.UH OH. SOMEONE CAN USE BUZZ WORDS."Elite"? So sorry to be being "elite" when someone asks what the "best" recording is. How much pussy-footing should I do when stating that Berman's is the best? Or, excuse me, that I personally think, and I apologize to no end if someone else disagrees, and please don't yell at me, and I know everyone has different opinions, and I'm so sorry if someone's offended, and everyone can think whatever they want, but I personally (only personally and subjectively) think Berman's is the best, er, I mean, enjoy Berman's performance (apologies, apologies all around), but that's not to knock someone else's, which might be just as good (or better! Sure, why not?!?), or anyone's differing opinions, which are of equal value to mine, no matter what. So sorry! Please forgive me! It's just how I feel!
Is that better? You know, the 70's, hugs-and-kisses self esteem movement kind of ended. . . in the 70's. Why don't you stop getting your dick in a knot and just realize that, of course, and necessarily, when I say that something is better, it means that such is my opinion.
Anyone who chooses someone other than Lazar Berman is either ignorant or just futilely attempting to be contrary. This question is on par with, "what is 1+1?" There is a right answer,
Hey, you know what, Sherlock? Why don't you get out your baton and magnifying glass and go scour Pianostreet for other posts where people have said things, but didn't put, "in my opinion," in front of every, single statement (not that I didn't in the post you're referring to, which is the most ironic part; is this really the only thing you could find to moan about?). Maybe it's just me being an "elitist", but I bet you can probably find more! In my "elitist" opinion, if you're too stupid to understand that, then thank god for us non-stupid elitists! Glad to know I'm in that crowd; wouldn't want to be down in the unintellectual quagmire you non-elite guys are.
Regarding your choice of words, "elitist" is so philistine, pedestrian, plebeian etc.
Why don't you learn to express yourself in a manner that has a meaning, as opposed to hurling what has become an idiotic catch phrase for the ignorant and uninitiated in some attempt to, in the greatest display of mass-appeal, denigrate intelligence/knowledge and idolize lack thereof and/or a cultured taste.
You keep telling yourself that's what's going on, and not only might you eventually convince yourself, but you'll definitely miss out on the opportunity to actually learn something (much less give people the impression that you have; I have this sneaking suspicion that the latter is more important to someone like you).
What does "elitist" even mean, and how does it apply to this context?
Is it that my selection of Berman is elite, that Berman's recording itself is elite, or that my opinion on the other sets is elite, or that having such opinions in and of itself is elite? Can you be more specific?
I know this is sort of abstract and you don't understand the nuance, but when you try to use abstract terms in a vague manner, sometimes people ask follow up questions.
Is Berman himself "elite"? If so, how? Because he's a good pianist?
Should I get in my time machine and tell him to play them worse so some snot on pianostreet isn't going to accuse him of being "elite"? let's try to figure it out.
Ironic to the specific pianist, Berman is probably one of the "great pianists" who fits into the tacit understanding of what "elite" means in the arts the worst. Big, brash, loud, a bit sloppy, overtly romantic, anti-intellectual etc. So it must not be Berman's performance that's elite. . . One must assume that I wouldn't select such a recording if it wasn't elite and I am an elitist, so it must not be that I selected Berman's performance that is causing you to feel this abstract emotion, or whatever it is. So there's two down.
Is it my negative opinion on the other sets in comparison to Berman's that makes me an "elitist"?
Surely you can't come up with a logical explanation, formal or modal, as to why a positive statement is not elite, but its second degree is. "Berman's performance is the best," is not elite, whereas, "performances that are not Berman's are not the best," is? You are aware that the statements are different degrees of the same statement, correct? So it's not that. . .
So is it that me having opinions regarding which one is the best is "elite"? Again, it is the same statement as the others. There is no difference. If my opinion is elite, then so is anyone else's who has written a pianist's name in this thread. So it must not be that, because you're not complaining about them. . .
OH. I SEE. Now I get it. I called Berman's good and someone else's not good! I am elite because I have a negative opinion about something. Well sh*t; again, let's get to calling everyone in this thread elite. I think you owe me an apology for singling me out when every person in the entire world is actually elite.
No wait; I have an even more compelling theory. My post had the most words in it. So I am an "elitist" because, instead of my post consisting of the brainy, intellectual 1-3 words, I actually wrote something and dared to make an assertion (which I claimed was an "opinion" and elaborated to the negative regarding giving an "unbiased" answer; is it that you missed that, or that you don't know what those words mean?). God help anyone on this forum who can't express how they feel in less than a single sentence (fragment).
And there's more! I have a feeling that if I wrote whatever crappy recording you like the most, and just inserted it into the exact same thing I wrote above, then you wouldn't complain in the slightest. So you are the one being biased. It is your view which is biased; not mine. You make an assertion of elitism regarding an opinion that differs from yours (coming to Berezovsky's rescue? Just like Lassie!), then state it unequivocally in the context of me doing so is "elitist," whereas I stated how I felt, noted that it was an opinion, explained that my opinion differs from the status quo and recommended he look into the Arrau. So, in fact, it is you who is being "elite," and not me.
I'm still not done. Have you ever heard of "rhetoric" or "sarcasm"? Are you aware that these things do not operate exclusive to the internet, pianostreet or my posts? What about "exaggeration"? Perhaps you should look these things up (assuming your narrow field of interests, brought on by your crippling case of Asperger's Syndrome, will allow it).
I know these are big, scary words, but with effort and perseverance, you can figure them out and realize that they probably applied to my post in some way or another. Not that it matters: my post at Autistic, face value is still in no way different to the one-word posts.
They assert the same thing. I'm sorry that, A- our opinions differ, B- do so in a manner as flagrant as that represented in my post (be aware that such means YOUR opinion is equally strong), C- you are incapable of realizing this.
I'll be sure to be more innocuous when I think your royal majesty might grace us with his authoritative presence and declare all opinions that express dislike for something you enjoy to be "elitist" because your opinion that it is good is just as valuable as my opinion that Berman is good.
And you are aware that such a train of thought renders anything equally good, correct? Picasso and my retarded four year old cousin are equally good artists, correct? You can't say Picasso is better! They are equally good. That is your logic. If opinions are equally valid, then so are their suppositions. Want me to take you on a kick-ass tour of epistemic justification really quick in case you don't understand? Because I will.
Wait. What about your opinion that something is good contra my opinion that something is bad? Surely you can logically state how they are unequal, and not only that, but in your favor. Not that you would be able to do that within the regressive, naive framework of "logic" you've set up. How is it that you can be so idiotic in such a short sentence? Usually it takes a lot more effort to evince such a lack of basic, human understanding. Most animals have to try harder than you did.
Why don't you go crawl back to youtube and find a bunch of stuff you don't understand and call it "elite"? Seems like the sort of thing that probably takes up a lot of your time. By the way, what's the cutoff? You've got a lot of Nickelback and. . . I don't know. . . Green Day in your favorites there, right? Because it would be elite not to. To have the opinion that something is worse than something else would be elite, and make you elite o_O Say it: "I like Nickelback, who are as good as Beethoven." Say it. Unless you're a hypocrite (which you are).
I mean, come on, kid. You're the elitist. You're the one who thinks his opinion is worth more than it is, because you think it's worth as much as someone else's. The assumption that all opinions are created equal. . . THAT is elitism. If I brought the entire piano and musicology departments in here from Moscow Conservatory, Paris Conservatoire, Curtis and Juilliard and they all said that Berman's was the best, then you come up in here and say that you like what Maksim did with Mazeppa, you're the one overvaluing your opinion when you think it's as valuable as theirs. They're not being "elitist" by being smarter/more knowledgeable than you. That just makes them elite. You do know what "elite" really means, right? It means better than you. Get used to this fact: your opinion is not as important as others. I'm not even going to go there as far as whether your opinion or my opinion is more important, but your train of logic doesn't even allow for the discussion, which makes it asinine.
And if you write another long essay for a response, I'm not going to bother replying to it, you bore me.
So let's stop with the patronising and actually talk to me like an equalthis is someone being an ***And again with the insultsyou egotist.I'll make an effort to reply in a reasonable manner*** you!I'm not repeating myself again.Again, *** you. conceitedI respect the opinions of other people.I couldn't a crap about our different opinionsMan, can you actually make a coherent argument against someone without insulting them multiple times?you have no interest in discourseScrew you.you are interested in insulting other peopleThis is really all your post consists of, isn't it?you're just an *** with an inflated ego. I have respect for my fellow human being.Here you go again not making a substantial argument, instead opting for the easier insult.you self obsessed, condescending, egotistic ***.even more of an arse than you already have.
making assumptionsI bet you honestly think
There is no objectivity stating picasso is superior to your cousin.
I also shudder at the fact you call your cousin retarded, have you such little respect for other human beings that you would stoop as low as insulting one of your own relatives?
First asperger's, and now autism, make up your bloody mind.
Would I say that Nickelback are inferior to Beethoven? No.
Seriously, get off your high horse, what makes you so superior to me?
Happy? And john:You really NEED to see a physiatrist
Topic: Best Recording or Performances of Liszt Transcendental Etudes