Recordings from a recent competition - semifinals and finals

[fnork]

I know it's not the first time I post these pieces here, but I was just given the recording of the competition I participated in a month ago, and thought I'd share! I have to stick with some of this repertoire for another month, as my diploma concert in my academy is coming up in early december, so, comments are more than welcome! The general impression when listening back is that everything is there, everything is solid, but everything seems a tiny bit too fast, and I think I played things slightly slower in concerts prior to the competition. A lot of adrenalin here, I guess, which is normal.

Here's the semifinal:

https://soundcloud.com/martin-malmgren-1/ljunggrenska-semifinal

PRogram:
Magnus Lindberg - Jubilee 1 (2000)
Chopin - Berceuse
Ravel - Gaspard de la nuit (complete - note the funny applause after Le gibet, which actually was edtied - it lasted for a LOOOONG time, people must have thought I was done playing, as I went straight from Chopin to Ravel...)


Finals:
https://soundcloud.com/martin-malmgren-1/final-ljunggrenska

Program:
Szymanowski - Nausicaa from "Metopes" op 29
Medtner - Skazka op 26 nr 3
Rameau - Les tendres plaintes
Couperin - Les barricades mysterieuses
Debussy - Etudes : pour les tierces, octaves et huit doigts


Note - the finals ACTUALLY started with Beethoven sonata op 78, which I edited out for good reasons smile

[andrewkoay]

Wow, that sounds pretty good! The acoustics and the microphone that they used is really quite amazing too. How did you do in the competition?

I think it's quite an innovative program, with a lot of modern works. You're pretty solid technically, and play very consistently. I like your rather sensitive touch too.

I feel that your playing is little on the conservative side (I'm guessing it's probably to suit competition judges who generally dislike overly creative players who deviate too much from the norm). I used to play that way in competitions too (which generally produces pretty OK results). That is why I didn't really like going for competitions in the past. They just seem too conservative and sometimes out of touch with what the general public likes in general.

However, I think in recitals, you can afford to be a lot more daring in your interpretation. I would really encourage you to really play around with the sound and rhythm, try new things, and to make every passage sound REALLY special. But of course when there's things on the line, it's a huge risk to play that way, so take my suggestions with a grain of salt.

Best wishes for your future endeavors! 

[fnork]

How do you mean that it's on the conservative side? I played every single note the way I wanted to, and wouldn't dream of playing differently in recitals vs competitions. Of course, a competition is normally a rather stressful event, and I noticed a few things, as I listened back to the recordings - almost everything was slightly faster than I imagined as I played it (or more than slighly faster). It's mostly noticeable in Ravel and Medtner, perhaps. What I WOULD do differently with some more experience would be finding more places to breathe somehow, perhaps.

[fnork]

As for the competition, I was lucky to win it - now a tour awaits, with Ravel left hand concerto, in February!

[andrewkoay]

Wow that must be quite an opportunity for you! Congrats on your achievement!

I didn't mean to criticize, but I thought perhaps you could experiment more with rhythmic and dynamic changes, phrasing, voicing, which not necessarily has to follow the score strictly. I always liked performers who played in their own way and sound unconventional. But that's just my opinion and like everyone else's, it's just an opinion, that's all. Music interpretation is after all an extremely subjective/personal matter.

I thought you really demonstrated some very solid technique, control and sensitivity throughout the performance and it is no wonder that you have got 1st.

[nanabush]

That's really cool that you did some Szymanowski!  The Metopes are really cool, and must have been fun to work on.

I'm going to listen to the Gaspard when I get back from class today; anyone who can finish that set is a genius, and if you won a competition with it, then, just wow.

I'm thinking of attempting Ondine and Scarbo in the near future (am working on Miroirs and some Scriabin, so it's a bit much to add that in :S ), and will probably have some questions about practice methods in Scarbo.

Anyways, awesome playing!  Only got to hear the Symanowski and the Chopin, but am excited to hear the Ravel.

[david456103]

very nice playing!! i especially enjoyed your gaspard.
may i ask which competition this is?

[fnork]

nanabush- thanks for the comments! I did all of Metopes a year and a half ago, very rewarding. Not sure if the competition version of Nausicaa was my most accurate, but the energy seemed to be there at least! Do ask if you have questions about Scarbo - tons of work behind that one...

andrewkoay - no worries, its mostly a matter of different taste/opinion, I'd say! I'm still somewhat young, and I do feel that at least for now, my way of playing comes from strict studies of all details in the score. Perhaps in time, when I've done these pieces 100 times on stage, I'll grow into them more and find more possibilities, but this is how I play now!

david456103 - thanks! its a yearly national multi-instrumental competition in Sweden, the largest and the only of its kind. It is called the Ljunggren competition and all money - a very hefty sum for the winner! - are given out as a scholarship for future studies. A tour in February also awaits me, with Ravel left hand concerto. Looking forward!

[gvans]

I had no doubts you would win. Congratulations! How Swede it is. Fine playing, ambitious program--the world is your lutefisk!

[gvans]

I gave the Ravel a second listen. The Ondine is truly fabulous, washes of sound, yet every note distinct. You nailed it.  I liked Le Gibet a lot, but felt the Bb tolling bell was somehow a bit more ominous in the earlier studio recording you posted. Just a first impression. Scarbo was excellently crazy, a real tour de force.

Congratulations again. Here's hoping you tour in California someday.

[fnork]

I'd love to visit California again! I was there all last summer, but was somewhat stuck at Music academy of the west in Santa Barbara - would've been fun to see something else, but there was little time. Where in CA do you live?

Yeah, I decided for keeping the bell more 'distant' throughout, and paying lots of attention to keeping it at precisely the same nuance throughout. I don't know if I'd do it differently now in that regard, however, I think I might've played it a tad too fast in the competition. Thanks for the comments, again!

Oh, and...the world is my lutefisk?!

[gvans]

Where in CA do you live?

Oh, and...the world is my lutefisk?!

San Diego.

Sorry, a play on the trite "the world is your oyster," Scandinavian version...

[fnork]

ah, cool! a friend of a friend lives there...get me a gig, and I'm coming

heh, I was thinking along those lines with the lutefisk thing, just wanted to be sure more recordings should be up soon, new concerts coming up