Pletnev - Genius or Balsphmer

[pianopoet]

I have only recently discovered the playing of Mikhail Pletnev and to be honest, I can kick myself for taking so long to listen to his playing! I started off with the Scarlatti sonatas... Oh my WORD! Is it just me or are those not THE most neurotically awesome recordings ever! Those relatively simple pieces are given life for once! Of course there are those who hate it... Then I went on to the Schumann recital disc and it blew me away to say the least! His tone is something I have never experienced! Needless to say, his recording of the 3rd Scherzo inspired me! I learnt the piece and it has become my trademark piece in my home town, a piece I with which I have won every competition I enter... Im a Pletnev addict - BUT- his handling of pieces makes me wonder if what he is doing is correct! Any input?

[BoliverAllmon]

if you ask 10 artist to paint a house you will get ten different looking houses. If you like the piece and the way it is performed, then it is correct. Music is suppose to inspire. if that is accomplished I can't see anything wrong with it.

boliver

[anda]

pletnevis deffinitely a genius, and, like all genius, has unbelieveble performances and horrid ones as well. i recently heard him playing bach partita 6, and it's as good as it gets. i also heard a live recital with beethoven, schumann and chopin, and it didn't seem like the same person... he is obsessed - he is known also for practicing 14-16 hours every day when he was a student...

[tph]

pletnevis deffinitely a genius, and, like all genius, has unbelieveble performances and horrid ones as well. i recently heard him playing bach partita 6, and it's as good as it gets. i also heard a live recital with beethoven, schumann and chopin, and it didn't seem like the same person... he is obsessed - he is known also for practicing 14-16 hours every day when he was a student...

Funny, I heard the opposite: I was told that in Moscow, he never practised, and was seen only playing football (soccer) with kids, and still managed to prepare a new Beethoven concerto each week for lesson.

Pletnev's latest CD with Argerich kicks ass!  It's gotta be a modern recording miracle.  Phenomenal playing and ensemble by both pianists, and an amazing transcription of Prokofiev's ballet. 

On the downside, I can't say I share the same enthusiasm for his Schumann disc - too idionsycratic, and lacking in coherence for my taste.  But I agree, his sound is exceptional.

tph

[zhiliang]

Anyone heard his Islamey? I would say its one of the greatest recording of that piece.....

[chopiabin]

For a long time I have thought that his recording of the Moonlight, Waldstein, and Appasionata sonatas was the greatest recording of those three pieces, but I never spoke out in fear of being condemned I truly think the man is a genius - check out his live Carnegie Hall debut album.

[benji]

For a long time I have thought that his recording of the Moonlight, Waldstein, and Appasionata sonatas was the greatest recording of those three pieces, but I never spoke out in fear of being condemned I truly think the man is a genius - check out his live Carnegie Hall debut album.

Yeah, the Live Carnegie Hall album is amazing! His chopin scherzi are possibly the best I've heard.

[pianopoet]

I agree with all your comments. As to the painting of houses analogy: Some pianists piant houses in a bland way, some go out of their way to make it colourfully new and others, Pletnev notwithstanding, breaks down the house and rebuilds it. On listening to his Carnegie Scherzi (which are the best ever recorded in my opinion - an I have heard a lot) I came to the conclusion that character indications given by the composer serve as a starting point for Pletnev. He takes that as a basis and then breathes life into it. Is that not what art is all about? Making something your own? After all, we are all artists and to follow indications like the gospel can surely be seen as telling a painter what color to use where and in what technique! I'm glad there are so many of u who actually agree with me! Quite refreshing...

[anda]

Funny, I heard the opposite: I was told that in Moscow, he never practised, and was seen only playing football (soccer) with kids, and still managed to prepare a new Beethoven concerto each week for lesson.

really??? maybe you're right, i heard about him practicng from one of my teacher's old teacher, who also studied in moscow... but maybe i'm wrong, appologies

anda

[m]

pletnevis deffinitely a genius, and, like all genius, has unbelieveble performances and horrid ones as well. i recently heard him playing bach partita 6, and it's as good as it gets. i also heard a live recital with beethoven, schumann and chopin, and it didn't seem like the same person... he is obsessed - he is known also for practicing 14-16 hours every day when he was a student...

Funny, I heard the opposite: I was told that in Moscow, he never practised, and was seen only playing football (soccer) with kids, and still managed to prepare a new Beethoven concerto each week for lesson.

Definitely he never practiced 14-16 hours a day.
Lev Vlasenko (his teacher, after J. Flier death) told me that Pletnev with Flier could not decide which Beethoven Concerto to choose, so next lesson (in Moscow lessons are twice a week) he brought all five (of course from memory--it was nonsense to play with music). Also, on bet he learnt Russian-French dictionary in three days. He learnt Kreisleriana and Mephisto Valse before his recital in Grand Hall of Moscow Conservatory in 5 days. He doesn't sight-read--he plays the piece he sees for the first time as if he has been working on it for years...

[tph]

Definitely he never practiced 14-16 hours a day.
Lev Vlasenko (his teacher, after J. Flier death) told me that Pletnev with Flier could not decide which Beethoven Concerto to choose, so next lesson (in Moscow lessons are twice a week) he brought all five (of course from memory--it was nonsense to play with music). Also, on bet he learnt Russian-French dictionary in three days. He learnt Kreisleriana and Mephisto Valse before his recital in Grand Hall of Moscow Conservatory in 5 days. He doesn't sight-read--he plays the piece he sees for the first time as if he has been working on it for years...

How did you meet Vlasenko, if you mind me asking?  Did you study in Moscow?  If so, then when and with whom?

tph

[m]

Definitely he never practiced 14-16 hours a day.
Lev Vlasenko (his teacher, after J. Flier death) told me that Pletnev with Flier could not decide which Beethoven Concerto to choose, so next lesson (in Moscow lessons are twice a week) he brought all five (of course from memory--it was nonsense to play with music). Also, on bet he learnt Russian-French dictionary in three days. He learnt Kreisleriana and Mephisto Valse before his recital in Grand Hall of Moscow Conservatory in 5 days. He doesn't sight-read--he plays the piece he sees for the first time as if he has been working on it for years...

How did you meet Vlasenko, if you mind me asking?  Did you study in Moscow?  If so, then when and with whom?

tph

Yes, I studied in Moscow. For Vlasenko I played audition, but ended up studying with Lev Naumov, and a little bit with Vera Gornostayeva.

[dlu]

Pletnev's (I think it's him...let me know if I'm mistaken) "transription" of the Nutcracker suite is blashphemous. I doubt he even looked at the score. He's a wonderful pianist though!

[m]

Pletnev's (I think it's him...let me know if I'm mistaken) "transription" of the Nutcracker suite is blashphemous. I doubt he even looked at the score.

Why do you think so? In fact, his Nutckraker was one of the reasons why he won Tchaikowsky competition in 1978. In my opinion sometimes he puts into two hands more than Economou into 4 hands, and I am sure he looked at the score allright.
BTW, he is a composer, as well.

[dlu]

Pletnev's (I think it's him...let me know if I'm mistaken) "transription" of the Nutcracker suite is blashphemous. I doubt he even looked at the score.

Why do you think so? In fact, his Nutckraker was one of the reasons why he won Tchaikowsky competition in 1978. In my opinion sometimes he puts into two hands more than Economou into 4 hands, and I am sure he looked at the score allright.
BTW, he is a composer, as well.

I didn't say I didn't like it. It is quite remarkable and very worth that awar but he just adds a lot of "fluff" I guess to make it more grandiose and to have bravura. That is the making of a paraphrase or a fantasy, not a transcription.

[m]

Pletnev's (I think it's him...let me know if I'm mistaken) "transription" of the Nutcracker suite is blashphemous. I doubt he even looked at the score.

Why do you think so? In fact, his Nutckraker was one of the reasons why he won Tchaikowsky competition in 1978. In my opinion sometimes he puts into two hands more than Economou into 4 hands, and I am sure he looked at the score allright.
BTW, he is a composer, as well.

I didn't say I didn't like it. It is quite remarkable and very worth that awar but he just adds a lot of "fluff" I guess to make it more grandiose and to have bravura. That is the making of a paraphrase or a fantasy, not a transcription.

I see what you mean. But I guess that's how transcription genre has historically developed. For example take most of Schubert-Liszt songs and other stuff, or most of Rachmaninov transcriptions. Rachmaninov did not put "fluff" only in those, which have already had more than enough--like Mendelssohn Scherzo, or Flight of Bumble Bee. Then came Sziffra and "decided" that the Bumble Bee is not "fluffy" enough...
Not that I am trying to argue, but just for sake of historical accuracy.

[ax166]

Yeah, the Live Carnegie Hall album is amazing! His chopin scherzi are possibly the best I've heard.

well, i do not know pletnev, but i am looking for a better recording of chopin's scherzi than pogorelich's one !! so, do you things pletnev's scherzi are better than pogorelich ones?

[xvimbi]

Yeah, the Live Carnegie Hall album is amazing! His chopin scherzi are possibly the best I've heard.

well, i do not know pletnev, but i am looking for a better recording of chopin's scherzi than pogorelich's one !! so, do you things pletnev's scherzi are better than pogorelich ones?

Try Horowitz, Rubinstein, Idil Biret and Ashkenazy for a comparison. Regarding Pletnev's Scherzi, some people like them, some people hate them, his rendition certainly polarizes.

[julie391]

pletnev is a great pianist, i applaud any pianist who tries something new - even if it is not to my taste.

[tibidi]

I have heard Pletnev's four Chopin scherzi but  only scherzo no. 3 from pogorelich. I quite like the four scherzi played by Pletnev although he didn't really impress me that much. At least he didn't distort them like pogorelich did sometimes.  I prefer Rubinstein and Ashkenazy than Horowitz for these Chopin scherzi, but Idil Biret's scherzi  is quite a disappointment - the worst I have ever heard, both her technique and interpretation are not good enough.

[steinwaymodeld]

Anyone heard his Islamey? I would say its one of the greatest recording of that piece.....

There is still Simon Barere, Boris Berevozsky, John Ogdon.

I don't think I like the Islamey in his CD as much as other pieces there.

[steinwaymodeld]

The most controversial recording by pletnev and as well as my favorite is his Rach3.

He was so experimental in that recording, yet it gives completely different angle of perspective.

[Alde]

Pletnev is definitely a genius.  Did you know that he learnt those Scarlatti Sonatas on the plane before the recording session.

[m]

Did you know that he learnt those Scarlatti Sonatas on the plane before the recording session.

Would not surprise me.

[stringoverstrung]

I know this is an old thread but i'd like to comment anyway:

The father of the tuner of the concert hall that i visited told me that:

- Pletnev changes the depth of the keys from 10 to 9.75 (sorry i'm no specialist i don't know what it means) 
- he sends 2 or 3 pages by fax a few days before the concert to inform the concert hall about the necessary  adjustments to the piano.
- on the day of the concert he trys 3 piano's  and chooses one with additional instructions for the tuner.

i heard him twice in 6 days and my conclusion is:
- he plays some pieces incredibly well 
- others really horrendously.  It is clear that he did not polish them up and played them on the concert to get the money and go. It might of course be because of his busy schedule (conducting etc...) but i think it's a true shame that a person as talented as that performs like that especially when after the concert he receives a standing ovation: this is not good for the education of the public and no service to classical music.

An horrendously performed encore Ballade no1 from Chopin then came our way as if to say: "i'll give you what you like: something well known but you don't know anything about it !"

PS: horrendous = horrendous in relation to what this amazing artist can achieve.

[arensky]

Genius 

[chopiabin]

I'm telling you, his Beethoven is transcendent.

[vladhorwz]

What about his Tchaiovsky 18 pieces???!!!!!  That is my favoriote CD/recording I must have listened to it 2000 times.  That one is GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[stringoverstrung]

What about his Tchaiovsky 18 pieces???!!!!!  That is my favoriote CD/recording I must have listened to it 2000 times.  That one is GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Make no mistake about: i agree: he's a genius

[MattL]

i especially like his profoiev recordings, sonatas concertos. His tone perfectly brings out the melodies and true beauty of some of prokofievs pieces