Scarlatti sonata, etudes by Chopin/Debussy, Hammerklavier 1 + 4

[fnork]

D. Scarlatti: Sonata G major, K 431
F. Chopin: Etude F major, Op. 10 No. 8
C. Debussy: Etude “Pour les accords”
L. van Beethoven: Sonata B flat major, Op. 106
   Allegro
   Largo – Allegro risoluto

Yeah, I'd have to normalize the sound, as the microphone was far away from the stage...but sharing this for now no matter what, here's the link:


https://rapidshare.com/files/3700781890/R09_0005.MP3

[fnork]

with normalized sound:

https://rapidshare.com/files/52159766/R09_00051.mp3

[goldentone]

Fnork, this is the best Hammerklavier I've ever heard.  The life and energy you infuse it with are supreme.  And your playing of the last movement unfolds as one who has been completely set free. Bravo!

[rachfan]

Hi fnork,

I listened to the whole recital.  All were very highly lucid performances.  The Beethoven was spectacular.  Bravo!

David 

[fnork]

THank you both for the kind comments. The performance was in fact taken from a first round of a piano competition where I passed to semis (playing Prok 3rd concerto) but not to finals. Opinions among jury members were quite divided, especially with regards to Hammerklavier, and divided in an "interesting" way - the three jury members that had actually performed the piece ALL gave me highest praise, while the negative comments mostly came from the four remaining ones that had never studied it, and in one case didn't even want to study it - yes, indeed, there was a jury member who, after we discussed during the feedback session, finally admitted that "perhaps" the problem he had with it was more the piece itself than my very playing of it. How professional...

[fnork]

The general critical remark I heard from people was that they had a problem with my sound, which was harsh much too often. I found it to be a half-truth at best - in fact, I happened to choose quite a bit of "heavy" repertoire which showcased perhaps a more "one-sided" approach to playing. I don't really have a problem creating nice pianissimos, but the outer movements of Hammerklavier don't give too many opportunities for this. Occasionally, there were sounds that were too harsh, I agree. But it was at least in the context of a heavy piano sonata, rather than in a Mozart adagio or a slow Debussy prelude...