How Good is Kentaro Noda?

[djealnla]

Discuss.

[richard black]

Well, a bit of a difficult subject as I've never heard him play any repertoire that I've heard in other hands, but from what I've heard and seen I'd say he's quite extraordinary, phenomenal, in a class of his own - technically. Musically? Most of the pieces he plays don't really press my buttons but I do get the impression they mean something to him so I can't put him down on musical grounds, at the very least.

[djealnla]

Musically? Most of the pieces he plays don't really press my buttons but I do get the impression they mean something to him so I can't put him down on musical grounds, at the very least.

Well, the impression his performance of Sorabji's Etude No. 73 gives me is that he is musically clueless:

https://www.sorabji-files.com/audio/noda/etude_73.mp3

Perhaps it's the piano's or the recording equipment's fault, but I doubt that.

[djealnla]

Well, a bit of a difficult subject as I've never heard him play any repertoire that I've heard in other hands

Have a look here, then:

[birba]

How come we only SEE him play when he's doing the bizarre foot sonata or other equally ridiculous compositions?  But when he plays ligeti or alkan it's only the audio?

[djealnla]

How come we only SEE him play when he's doing the bizarre foot sonata or other equally ridiculous compositions?  But when he plays ligeti or alkan it's only the audio?

Ligeti has already entered most people's concept of "normal music"? That's quite remarkable.

[birba]

But I'm suspicious that he's not actually playing the ligeti.  Why is it only audio?

[djealnla]

But I'm suspicious that he's not actually playing the ligeti.  Why is it only audio?

Well, who plays it, then? The performances are quite remarkable and do not sound like a MIDI (unless I happen to be deaf).

[thalbergmad]

I think he is an 8th Dan, but I am not sure.

Thal

[richard black]

I'm embarrassed to admit I'm a bit clueless about the Ligeti (I mean I simply don't know the pieces at all, and I'm not very familiar with the compose in general either), though it sounds pretty decent. The Sorabji and Alkan are shocking though, aren't they? The former actually sounds like sight-reading and I can't help wondering if the latter is anything like properly studied. It's clear that Noda can get round the keyboard at speeds most pianists don't even dream about, so when someone like that plays that inaccurately (and boringly, actually) one has to wonder....

[birba]

I think he is an 8th Dan, but I am not sure.

Thal

Please clarify! 

[pianoplayjl]

I just listened to all the videos menitoned above. Clearly it is much worse than atonal music and lacks anthing. Sounds like nothing but a beating of the piano and mindless banging. The worst of the worst of piano.

JL