Igor Stravinsky (transcribed by G. Agosti)- Firebird - Enzo . . . (for BIRBA)

[emill]

Many months back and in reply to my email Birba said:

I'm very very curious to hear the firebird.  Agosti was a teacher of mine in the 70's x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x....".

So with much apology to Birba for all the delay, here is Enzo's attempt at this extremely challenging piece which he played in a music festival last July 12, 2015.  It is AUDIO only but we superimposed it on a video clip of the same piece he played a year ago.
 
THANK YOU and my apologies for posting on behalf of my son.  ANY comment is welcome!
 

[dcstudio]

that is a way way cool transcription wow... Firebird transfers nicely to the piano.  Kudo's to your boy that is some fine playing...  I really love the beginning--he did a superb job of capturing the energy of the piece--it's so startling and dramatic.. really very well done...  I don't say this often around here but damn, I think I might have to learn that one.

[emill]

..... Firebird transfers nicely to the piano.  Kudo's to your boy that is some fine playing...   I really love the beginning--he did a superb job of capturing the energy of the piece--it's so startling and dramatic.. really very well done...  I don't say this often around here but damn, I think I might have to learn that one.

THANKS .... I know Enzo worked hard for this piece which gave him the "nod" of the jury in his school.
Good luck on your attempt of the FIREBIRD. Personally, I feel more should attempt this piece or at least study it. THANKS again!

uhoohhh .... Birba's last post was way back in April. It would have been interesting to hear from someone who was mentored on the piece by Agosti himself and that would be him. Hope he passes by.

[birba]

Bravo enzo!  You really do this impossible piece more than justice.  It's not an easy piece to carry off.  Mainly because it's so unpianistic at times, even thoigh written by a first class pianist.  I wonder how agosti actually performed it. Of course, when he was teacing it he could play parts to illustrate certain points, but i'm not sure if he could have pulled it off like you.  I wonder if there's a recording somewhere out there.  The FFF at the end is absolutely impossible with jUst the chords and repeated broken octaves on B.  You do use the sostenuto pedal at the molto pesante section, right?  Keep it down till the ppsubito at the cesura sign.
The berceuse was lovely.  Maybe not so pianissimo.  Pianissimo in the atmosphere but more "espressivo" in the actual sound.
It was great playing.  You can take more liberties then you do.  A transcription is always a transcription, if you get my gist.  It's a piano rendition of an orchestral work, and certain "anticipations" and "marcato" and cesuras are more than permitted.  They actually enhance the performance.

[enzopiano]

Hello Birba!

First of all thank you for all your help and suggestions in my past videos especially in Gershwin’s Three Preludes and Liszt’s Un Sospiro because you even created videos explaining and demonstrating on the piano your suggestions.

When my dad told me that you had comments on my performance of Firebird, I got so excited and immediately went to pianostreet forum to read your comments especially because you are a student of the great Guido Agosti. Thank you for your compliments and suggestions. I’ll follow your suggestions to keep the sostenuto pedal down in the molto pesante section until the subito pp, to make the berceuse not so pianissimo but more expressive in sound and to take more liberties.

Again I would like to thank you so much for all your help and suggestions in Firebird and in my past videos. Take care and best wishes!


- Enzo -

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Bravo. No real hints of strain anywhere in this difficult piece, and a big and varied tonal palette. I agree with birba's comments about liberties: conductors will often permit themselves little discreet liberties and that's exactly what you are here - a conductor on the piano.

Really well done!

[rachfan]

Hi enzo,

Bravo!  Your rendition of this very difficult music is absolutely marvelous.  You handle the challenges with full self-assurance and amazing technique and expression too.  You transition very well between the colorful and exciting motifs to the tenderness of the reverie.  I don't believe I've ever heard this piece played better.  My hat is off to you for this truly amazing performance!

David