Videos of pianists with good visible technique and sound

[_achilles_]

I've recently realized that simply watching a good pianist produce good music goes a long way in developing my own sound the way I want. When I watch one I feel like a sponge absorbing aspects of how they play/express. I know youtube has thousands of such videos, but I figured a thread consolidating some of everyone's favorites would be beneficial to a lot of people.

If you want to post a video please post one where you can see the pianist's movements for at least most of the music. Also looking for beautiful sound obviously.

Starting off with Totentanz by Valentina Lisitsa

[m1469]

Yeah, I like watching Lisitsa - Hi, Lisitsa - it's difficult not to comment about what it is that makes particular techniques good or bad, if these are going to be posted.  One of my favorite things about Lisitsa's approach is to detect her source(s) of movement, coupled with her ability to just go for those motions and sounds like nobody's business.  I wouldn't recommend a person following her favored posture in this video without understanding the principles behind how she sits and moves, though, because -as with anybody else- to emulate something strictly (not just in principle) *can* cause problems.  For example (and she doesn't always do this), I wouldn't recommend everybody has their head constantly digging in like that ... I think she does that for a specific purpose and it's part of her own unique understanding of a piece, how to embody its character, and how to listen and focus in a particular way - and you can tell she knows what she's doing because it doesn't restrict her whereas it may very well do so with somebody else who doesn't know what they're doing.  But, she knows if it is causing her pain and probably makes any adjustments as needed.  If somebody does that just because they believe that is an example of "good technique" and/or posture without a deeper understanding of themselves and of principles, there could be some problemos!

Anyway, woot!

[_achilles_]

I see your point m1469. I suppose people could take this in a very rigid way and try to copy technique exactly, but I was just looking at this as a way to see how the passion for the music flows through the body to the piano. If someone just looks at the body and the piano I can see where that can lead to problems.

Here's another: Martha Argerich plays Jeux d'eau by Ravel

[m1469]

You know, I have not viewed and listened to nearly enough Argerich, I'm sorry to say.  That was absolutely magical.  I miss something about that era that this video "represents" ... and I'm not even sure what I mean by that, exactly, because even if I were in this life at that point, I certainly wasn't a part of the piano world as we know it (or rather, as we knew it).  This is a very strange observation, but her hands look *exactly* like her personality seems, and *exactly* like the sounds that come out of them.  I know it seems that you should be able to say that about everybody, but this is different.  There is something different about it with her.  She and Lisitsa are *so* different, aren't they?  Argerich as a person, at least here (and I don't know her playing well enough to know any better), is very internal and her music is very much focused out into the instrument.  Lisitsa embodies it all very differently than that, though I venture to guess that she feels very much as though her body reflects *exactly* the music, and in that sense there is nothing extra or unnecessary, I don't think, to her.  Argerich probably feels like she does not bodily express anything "extra" or unnecessary, either, but obviously their ideas of that are so entirely different.

But, the sleevy, no frills dress on Argerich, the reserved mannerisms ... so different than today's pianists.  Perhaps it's similar to the differences between eras, where one era goes one direction and the following era is some kind of polarization in the other direction.  So, at some point people say "enough with the reservedness and not showing a skin ... I'm going to get naked"  .

Anyway, if you have any other Argerich favorites, I'll keep my eye out .


*watches thread like a hawk*

[patrickd]

[goldentone]

In an interview with Charles Groves years ago, Argerich away from the piano was quite a contrast to her focused catlike intensity at the keys.  She was bubbly, and strikes you as capricious, even "a mess", though I don't wish to be critical.  Here is that interview followed by her classic performance of the Rach 3rd with former husband Riccardo Chailly:

   

[jmanpno]

As one more knowledgeable than most the world in such things, Argerich is a far finer example than the blonde pregnant dog.

[m1469]

Thanks for the links, Golden, and I didn't mean to claim that I know her as a person when I remarked about her "person" ... I meant, my perception of her person while playing ...   ... but it was much easier to just say "as a person."  I will watch ... I may have seen at least one of these before, but I'm not sure since I haven't viewed yet!  Soon!

the blonde pregnant dog.

That is strange to say about anybody, really.  It seems to not be a reflection at all of who I think it's supposed to be about, but rather of the thinking within the one who says it.  Lisitsa is a little bit my piano sister ... even if she doesn't know it yet  .

[49410enrique]

this guy is pretty boss on this piece

[pianowolfi]

That is strange to say about anybody, really.  It seems to not be a reflection at all of who I think it's supposed to be about, but rather of the thinking within the one who says it.  Lisitsa is a little bit my piano sister ... even if she doesn't know it yet  .

Yes that is strange, and I think too that it falls back on the person who says it. I like your piano sister, m1469!

[pts1]

As one more knowledgeable than most the world in such things, Argerich is a far finer example than the blonde pregnant dog.

Jealousy takes all forms, doesn't it? 

 

[werq34ac]

You can't see him playing, but my god does Rachmaninoff get any better?

[m1469]

Yes that is strange, and I think too that it falls back on the person who says it. I like your piano sister, m1469!

Yeah, I think she is historical .

[gregwer]

Well i always loved Pogorelich's Technique, specially in the scales... Oh god it's such a pleasure to the sight!!

Look in the video, the second movement, really incredible, starts at 14:25  :

[_achilles_]

On one of the videos they posted somewhere on this site there was a nice interview with Kissin. I like how the sweat flies off him!

[philb]

Anyone hear of Daniil Trifonov? I found some of his Scriabin on Youtube recently, worth a listen.

[austinarg]

I can't stop listening to this, it's like a drug.

[rmbarbosa]

Interesting... I dont like Lisitsa sound nor lisitsa posture nor Lisitsa performings... Sorry! I do prefer, for example, Valentina Igoshina, namely when she plays Chopin. Compaired with Valentina, Lisitsa seems like a cowboy... I must apologize but... it`s what I feel...

[49410enrique]

i'd never seen this video till today, what a gem!
Sviatoslav Richter: Handel Keyboard Suite No. 3 in D-minor  pts 1,2,3. Andrei Gavrilov turns pages. France 1979

[_achilles_]

Interesting... I dont like Lisitsa sound nor lisitsa posture nor Lisitsa performings... Sorry! I do prefer, for example, Valentina Igoshina, namely when she plays Chopin. Compaired with Valentina, Lisitsa seems like a cowboy... I must apologize but... it`s what I feel...

No need to apologize for an opinion (in my opinion  ). When people start name calling that's another thing..

I also like Valentina Igoshina from the little I've heard. I heard her play a song I've played and that provided a lot of inspiration for how I could improve. It was by far the recording I liked most so far of Chopin's Minute Waltz:

[m1469]

Well, most pianists have strong points and weaker points in terms of what you can observe as "correct" or not about their physical characteristics at the piano.  I think it's wise to note both, if you're 'into' that or learning about it at the time.  Lisitsa has a lot of strong points.  I had to close the window for Igoshina almost immediately after the trill because I strongly didn't agree with part of what I saw  .  Probably I'll give it another try at some point to try to focus on more than just that.

[_achilles_]

<vid>

I can't stop listening to this, it's like a drug.

Wow, thanks for that one.. it just tossed my rather oppressive mood out the window

[lovevision]

[marik1]

[patrickd]

[49410enrique]

eugenia tarasova  , gireg ballade op 24

i particularly liked how she didn't play until she was 'good and ready', i'm ok with taking an extra 8 seconds just before starting if you really need it, and if we're rewarded for our patience and she does here.

[49410enrique]

really reccommend watching her channel, her videos are HD, very well shot and synced, she used good mics for the sound and a split screen over head camera to see the keybaord and hands, videos (as a collection) i think are the best on youtube as far as capturing a high quality sound, well put together piano work with a solid visual of the physical approach to her playing 

just an example (she is fantastic with Chopin and I think has more of his works uploaded than any other composer on her channel, highly reccommended subscription)

[marik1]

Something different, but if we are talking about producing good music and sound here is one of my very favorite piano Ballads ever. This beautiful man lived only 36 years, but made cry with his music many people in this world. He had everything--sound, soul, breath, imagination, charisma, abundance, and just... magic. Whenever I am in Paris I always visit his grave in Père Lachaise cemetery. It is easy to find--his little body rests right next to F. Chopin.