Felix Mendelssohn - Rondo Capriccioso Op. 14 - Enzo

[emill]

We know that there had been a good number of audition posts for this piece this year, but please bear another one. We would be grateful for any observation or comment.  THANKS a lot!!!

This was during a practice session in an empty Aberlardo Hall at the University of the Philippines using a ZOOM4HN audio recorder.

[starstruck5]

I wasn't following the score -so my comments won't be helpful probably -all I can say is that the few notes which could have been more subtle or softer or louder or longer or shorter and so on mattered not at all -the overall performance was simply outstanding to my ears -

[costicina]

I join Starstruck's comment!
As a plain member of the audience, I'm stunned as always by Enzo's self-confidence, sine musicality, and his outstanding ability to 'communicate' trhough music deep, beautiful, pure emotions....
Bravo Enzo!!!

[scherzo123]

-the overall performance was simply outstanding to my ears -

+1 Simply amazing.

[candlelightpiano]

What a charming, delightful and romantic performance!  My imagination runs wild with images of fairies and pixies cavorting in the light of the moon as two lovers enjoy a moonlit stroll, hand in hand.  You play with so much maturity, Enzo, and you have incredible musicianship.  Such a talent and a gift and joy to the music world!  Thank you!

[emill]

hello to all!!

We would like to thank everyone, with Enzo smiling delightfully, for all your kind and encouraging comments.  This is made more meaningful as Enzo says he took some liberty in the interpretation of the piece which his teacher, a strict "conservative" allowed because of the overall effect so to speak and which for those who posted comments, seem to confirm. We are happy that you found the rendition enjoyable.

Personally while taking the video, I was ready to listen to commentaries by teacher, but to my surprise she just reminded Enzo of how this part and that part should be played and was finished in less than a minute .... ending her comments with "a very good!!"

starstruck5 and scherzo123 -  I am really glad you considered the overall effect. Though details are so important, but one must to a  certain extent imprint his"soul" or personality to the piece through one's playing. THANKS!!!! 

I am really glad that starstruck has decided to stick around.... while temporarily giving up the piano. Your inputs and encouragement goes a long way in boosting the confidence of young pianist like my son. THANKS!

costicina - Thanks for the wonderful description ....  "being able to "communicate' through music deep, beautiful, pure emotions...." .... which really is a cardinal objective for any pianist who performs in public. ... that is,  how to draw the audience into your playing and music.  THANKS my slim and fit Italian friend!!

candlelightpiano - thanks for the vivid imagination and description of the romantic scenery!! and thanks for coming out of semi-seclusion to do so. You should try the piece
and I am sure with time the romance will flow!!

[49410enrique]

as usual for me, i loved it, heard this piece so many times yet it seemed 'fresh' to me somehow. full of brilliance and playfulnes. i've always loved this piece. thanks for sharing!

[rachfan]

Hi Emill and Enzo,

Bravo!  Enzo plays the "Rondo Capriccioso" with obvious confidence and with a marvelously lucid and fluent interpretation.  The playing is very clean-cut, expressive, attentive to dynamics, and shows a thorough mastery of touch.  The bravura octave passages were playing with a fine virtuosity too.  

Keep up the good work!

David  

[andhow04]

Overall i really like this and think it is a good job!  i especially like a lot of phrasing in the andante introduction, and most especially the tempo for the Presto which is not too fast but still gets the right impression across. tho it was controlled you also showed you could change it to suit new material... we shouldn't be too strict after all...
also good score-reading with the crescendi in the right place and fastidious with the articulation, more so than i am.

the main things i would think about are the musical logic in the andante section, it can't be all be easy breezy, because there are long lines as well as short ones.  right now you have a lovely collection of short, pretty much unrelated phrases, all poetry and little form.. it's too spongy for my taste.

in the presto section, when the sixteenth notes come, especially at m.82 it is a chance to make a capricious contrast.  i think they should be much, much lighter, and much more articulate, they are too legato right now and too much like all the other music.  you capture it better around m.150 or whatever but it just can be so much more lighter and different than the rest. 

although i liked the way the presto started, whenever the theme came back, you tended to play it louder and louder each time... i would keep the pianissimo of that theme as a special sound that you always return to, and not let it get intense in that part, but in other parts...

but overall great!

and thanks for listening and commenting on mine.

[thalbergmad]

This is made more meaningful as Enzo says he took some liberty in the interpretation of the piece which his teacher, a strict "conservative" allowed because of the overall effect so to speak and which for those who posted comments, seem to confirm.

Thank God he did take liberties. If he did not, it would sound the same as many other renditions of this piece. Although this performance was stunning, I hope he never plays it exactly like this again. Each performance should be different and if a pianist allows himself to play as his mood dictates, he becomes an artist.

I pray that his highly individual approach is not contained by his "conservative" teacher. It is the way he plays that makes him so special and lifts him above the endless stream of the young mechanicus.

I thought Rian de Waal played this how I would (if I could), but it appears I must think again.

Thal

[emill]

Hello David,

We could not ask for more .... the encouragement all these years from you has been generous, but at times where you felt advice was needed, it was also there, clearly stated in the highest form of civility. THANKS will never be enough !!!!!!


Hello Enrique,
We are so glad that you found some "freshness" to Enzo's rendition.  That is perhaps always the challenge of many pianists .... how to imprint their signature on a piece without offending the sensibilities of the composer .... and maybe come up with something more appealing... if possible.
THANKS !!!!!!

Hello andhow04,
Thank you for the suggestions .... it is always welcome to have observations as it generates a good amount of discussions between Enzo and his teacher and sometimes with some of his close piano peers.  Like most who have given in the past he asked for a printout which he had already discussed with his mentor. As one member observed some time ago, observations are critical in the learning process of a young pianist ...  many THANKS !!!!

Hello Thal,

Thank God he did take liberties. If he did not, it would sound the same as many other renditions of this piece. Although this performance was stunning, I hope he never plays it exactly like this again. Each performance should be different and if a pianist allows himself to play as his mood dictates, he becomes an artist.

I pray that his highly individual approach is not contained by his "conservative" teacher. It is the way he plays that makes him so special and lifts him above the endless stream of the young mechanicus.

Exactly what his teacher emphasizes from time to time.  Yes, she is "strict and conservative" and requires Enzo to learn and feel how a piece should be played as required in the sheet. But this year I have noticed a MAJOR shift .... she seems to advice and suggest rather than command and teach.  She gives Enzo an overview of the piece and allows him to play it according to how he feels he should.  She seldom "commands" compared before and if she does it is always on a "suggest" level ....  "if I were you" thing.  And to my surprise she has accepted many of Enzo's approach to particular pieces or parts of pieces.  It is really a major change which has brought more positive results.

Thank you so much THAL for your generous comments!!!!

[furtwaengler]

Wow, that is a very fresh and free Rondo Capriccioso full of life and suspense. It's got an "at the symphony" sensation, as if we are present for a great orchestra playing a famous overture...even though you know what's coming, the build up and pounding of the timpani gets you every time. Very, very good control of the moment, never peaking the climaxes too soon, but waiting for the precise moment to let loose. Suspense is the word I keep coming back too. I do love the light touch at the start of the Rondo Capriccio, after that very warm introduction...keeps people on the edge of their seat. You will be one of the greats if you can balance all of the natural spontaneity with an overarching structural integrity. I feel is one of the strengths of Andhow's playing - a roundness of tone and intellect and integrity of form and structure, placing all the nuances, phrasing, details nicely in the big picture (a challenge for every piece and every pianist) - I think in studying both his feedback and the recordings he's share on this site, you will find an excellent role model.

Great work, Enzo. You are really blossoming into a great artist.

Dave

[m1469]

Wowza, Enzo.  Beautiful playing, nice sensitive aria, very fun scherzo, numerous things that you brought out which I haven't thought of.  Wish I could play it like that  .

[thalbergmad]

But this year I have noticed a MAJOR shift .... she seems to advice and suggest rather than command and teach.  

I think this is a very good sign. A teacher that relinquishes some control has to be very happy with the progress of their student.

No doubt Enzo is lucky to have this teacher, but on the other hand, perhaps the teacher is very lucky to have Enzo.

Thal