Upcoming Piano Competitions- and discussion

[ajlongspiano]

Hansen is right up my alley for sure. I love pianists like him. Reminds me of Cortot, who you all know I virtually worship haha.

[rubinsteinmad]

Hansen is right up my alley for sure. I love pianists like him. Reminds me of Cortot, who you all know I virtually worship haha.

It's unhealthy to worship Cortot. Hehe lelele

But just LOOK at his hands near 0:40! They're HUGE! An octave for him is like a fifth for many people!

This performance is AMAZING, by the way.

[rubinsteinmad]

OMG the Belle of the Hall is amazing too! No one else I've heard makes as much sense as her for this piece! However, this is the first performance at this competition that I heard, so maybe someone else may be better/ But still, playing this Etude like Ivett is no small feat.

[rubinsteinmad]

Here is Julian playing in the 2010 Competition and in the 2015 COmpetition.

I like how in the 2010 Competition, starting from 0:14, he brings up something which makes it sound like he has 3 hands! He didn't do that in the 2015 Competition, though.

In the 2015 Competition, however, it was MUCH more graceful and the technique was flawless. It was much less turbulent.

[ajlongspiano]

Ivett's performance of the etude is marvelous (and she's gorgeous so she gets extra points from me haha) But no one plays it like Eric Lu

=3h29m50s

[rubinsteinmad]

Ivett's performance of the etude is marvelous (and she's gorgeous so she gets extra points from me haha) But no one plays it like Eric Lu

=3h29m50s

Oh wow, you're right !

[rubinsteinmad]

OMG I just heard Eric Lu's Ballade 4 and it was MARVELLOUS!

BTW I'll start another "sub-thread":
What is your dream repertoire for the Chopin Competition?

Here's mine:
Stage I:
Nocturne Op. 27 #1
Etudes Op. 10 #1, Op. 25 #5
Fantasy in f minor

Stage II:
Ballade 1,2, or 4, or the Scherzo #1 or 3, or the Polonaise-Fantasie.
Any of the Waltz Choices (I like all of them)
ASGP OR Heroic Polonaise
Waltzes Op. 64
Prelude Op. 45
Nocturne Op. 27 #2

Stage III:                                                    
Preludes Op. 28  or Sonata #2 or 3
Mazurkas Op. 30  
Rondo a Mazur                                  

Stage IV: I JUST CANT DECIDE

[ajlongspiano]

The program I'm going to run with/prepare is

Round 1: Ballade 1, Nocturne Op.27 No.2, Etude Op.10 No.8, Etude Op.10 No.11

Round 2: Scherzo 4, Waltz Op.42, Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise Op.22, Mazurka Op.67 No.4, Mazurka Op.68 No.4

Round 3: Piano Sonata No.3, Mazurkas Op.59, Nocturne Op.62 No.1, Impromptu Op.29

Finals: Concerto 2

[pencilart3]

Nice rep AJ! I'll post mine in a few minutes...

[david456103]

im not sure about each round, but some pieces i will definitely include if i make it in are:
op 25 no 5
op 25 no 11
nocturne op 48 no 1
scherzo #2
ballade #4
fantaisie in f minor
heroic polonaise
andante spianato et grand polonaise
sonata #2
concerto #1

[pencilart3]

im not sure about each round, but some pieces i will definitely include if i make it in are:
op 25 no 5
op 25 no 11
nocturne op 48 no 1
scherzo #2
ballade #4
fantaisie in f minor
heroic polonaise
andante spianato et grand polonaise
sonata #2
concerto #1

We are going to have VERY different programs.

[rubinsteinmad]

The program I'm going to run with/prepare is

Round 1: Ballade 1, Nocturne Op.27 No.2, Etude Op.10 No.8, Etude Op.10 No.11

Round 2: Scherzo 4, Waltz Op.42, Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise Op.22, Mazurka Op.67 No.4, Mazurka Op.68 No.4

Round 3: Piano Sonata No.3, Mazurkas Op.59, Nocturne Op.62 No.1, Impromptu Op.29

Finals: Concerto 2

Great Taste!

[rubinsteinmad]

im not sure about each round, but some pieces i will definitely include if i make it in are:
op 25 no 5
op 25 no 11
nocturne op 48 no 1
scherzo #2
ballade #4
fantaisie in f minor
heroic polonaise
andante spianato et grand polonaise
sonata #2
concerto #1

OMG AWESOME AWESOME TASTE

[rubinsteinmad]

We are going to have VERY different programs.

OK, let's see.... You are NOT going to do Sonata #2

[pencilart3]

OK, let's see.... You are NOT going to do Sonata #2

Correct! Here's mine...

I: Barcarolle, Etude 10/10, Etude 25/5, Nocturne 62/1
II: Ballade 1, Waltz 34/3, Polonaises Op. 26,  Nocturne 72/2, 3 Nouvelle Etudes
III: 24 Preludes, Mazurkas Op. 50, Nocturne 15/2
Final (yeah right): F minor

Not sure about stage 2 but I feel that 34/3, 72/2, and the nouvelles need some love.

[ajlongspiano]

Awesome rep Noah! The nocturne is 72 1, not 2 . Looking forward to seeing you there in five years and having you kick my butt!

[rubinsteinmad]

Not sure about stage 2 but I feel that 34/3, 72/2, and the nouvelles need some love.

OMG My (not-b!tch [I. e. 1st])  teacher gave me that nocturne. I was like "No!! It's not pretty!". Now, I'm older, and I can finally appreciate its beauty.

[rubinsteinmad]

kick my butt

The last thing we need is someone visualizing it

[rubinsteinmad]

Correct! Here's mine...

I: Barcarolle, Etude 10/10, Etude 25/5, Nocturne 62/1
II: Ballade 1, Waltz 34/3, Polonaises Op. 26,  Nocturne 72/2, 3 Nouvelle Etudes
III: 24 Preludes, Mazurkas Op. 50, Nocturne 15/2
Final (yeah right): F minor

Not sure about stage 2 but I feel that 34/3, 72/2, and the nouvelles need some love.

OMG Etude 25/5! AWESOME WICKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ballade 1! AWESOME WICKED!!!!!
THE PRELUDES!!!!!!!!!! AWESOME WICKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chopin's 2nd!!!!!!!!!!!!! AWESOME WICKED OMG THAT 2nd MOVEMENT IS BEAST!!!!!! (And so is part of the 1st movement).

[rubinsteinmad]

So nobody is gonna do the 4 Ballades? I mean, if you speed up your Sonata and your Mazurkas in Stage III, you might be able to fit all of them in there

(just so you know, it takes 30-40 minutes to play the complete Ballades)

[rubinsteinmad]

I think the 1st Sonata is underappreciated. Especially the slow movement and the finale.

[ajlongspiano]

I'd rather be more diverse in my programming than doing all the ballades. I might do 4 in 3rd round, if i get there of course

[rubinsteinmad]

I'd rather be more diverse in my programming than doing all the ballades. I might do 4 in 3rd round, if i get there of course

I know, 4 Ballades in a row is a bit boring and overwhelming. But it would be a HUGE project, and you might get extra points if you are able to make it interesting.

[rubinsteinmad]

The program I'm going to run with/prepare is

Round 1: Ballade 1, Nocturne Op.27 No.2, Etude Op.10 No.8, Etude Op.10 No.11

Round 2: Scherzo 4, Waltz Op.42, Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise Op.22, Mazurka Op.67 No.4, Mazurka Op.68 No.4

Round 3: Piano Sonata No.3, Mazurkas Op.59, Nocturne Op.62 No.1, Impromptu Op.29

Finals: Concerto 2

Whenever I see "Op. 29", I think of Lowell Liebermann, or I think of the Gargoyles. WHAT IS WRONG WITH SOCEITY

[pencilart3]

Awesome rep Noah! The nocturne is 72 1, not 2 . Looking forward to seeing you there in five years and having you kick my butt!

Sorry, yeah I meant 72/1, and I might change that seeing as I would be playing 3 nocturnes, but I don't really need to worry about that, do I? Nah, I'll just buy my ticket to watch AJ play the f minor concerto.

[ajlongspiano]

Dude we'll have to go to all the best cafe's in warsaw and do a bunch of fun stuff together if we go!

[rubinsteinmad]

Dude we'll have to go to all the best cafe's in warsaw and do a bunch of fun stuff together if we go!

Have you 2 met in person?

[ajlongspiano]

No but we're like best online piano buds because we have so much in common haha

[rubinsteinmad]

No but we're like best online piano buds because we have so much in common haha

OMG You know what? When ur in that Warsaw Café with Ivett and Pencilart3............

 (Just so you know, people's tastes change...)



BTW I just came back from doing something harder than the Prokofiev 2nd Concerto 

[ajlongspiano]

Post it in the audition room!

[rubinsteinmad]

Post it in the audition room!

Actually, I'll post it here:
https://cdn.kutasoftware.com/Worksheets/Geo/1-Simplifying%20Square%20Roots.pdf

[pencilart3]

Dude we'll have to go to all the best cafe's in warsaw and do a bunch of fun stuff together if we go!

Yes totally! If you aren't there with Ivett instead... LOL!!!!

Actually, I'll post it here:
https://cdn.kutasoftware.com/Worksheets/Geo/1-Simplifying%20Square%20Roots.pdf

Oh that's so difficult. NOT! Compared to my pre calc anyway.

[schumaniac]

If u refuse to appreciate the genius of Hansen, fine. He is like another Pogorelich. Except, Hansen's eccentricities help the music, while Pogorelich's destroy the music.

Uh, I would disagree... Pogorelich was great before 2000 (haven't we been over this??). And as for Hansen, quoting my long-ass comment on his qualifier performance

I don't know what to make of his playing. It's certainly good- he has really good command of his technique and musical ideas (both of which set him apart from many of the other competitors). But his ideas come off as somewhat eccentric. They are "interesting" - dynamic changes, inner voices, etc.- but after a while the "interesting" seems to become an end to itself or over-the-top (beginning of Ballade 4- !!). Whether or not he gets in depends on what the judges think of such playing- perhaps they prefer more "conventional" performances...

In my opinion, the beginning of his Ballade 4 was waaaay overwrought. He chooses to "swell" passionately and accelerate the tempo. This seems like a "natural," "emotional" approach to the music. But it doesn't seem like one that took mature deliberation to decide and formulate...

[rubinsteinmad]

Uh, I would disagree... Pogorelich was great before 2000 (haven't we been over this??). And as for Hansen, quoting my long-ass comment on his qualifier performance
In my opinion, the beginning of his Ballade 4 was waaaay overwrought. He chooses to "swell" passionately and accelerate the tempo. This seems like a "natural," "emotional" approach to the music. But it doesn't seem like one that took mature deliberation to decide and formulate...

Sometimes swelling can be a good thing. At least it's better than being a metronomic ass like my b!tch teacher.

I thought that Hansen's swelling was natural, I. e. instinct. However, I forgot what the beginning sounded like, so I'm not sure. Usually I start paying attention at the Exposition, which is where all the musicality tests start.

His swelling wasn't like Lang Lang's. Lang Lang's swelling doesn't sound like instinct, and it CERTAINLY doesn't improve the music.

As for Pogorelich, I think that his Ballade 2 performance from the Chopin Competition is really dull, and so is his Prelude Op. 28 #11. Those are the only Chopin pieces I heard him play before he became a wierdo.

[rubinsteinmad]

Yes totally! If you aren't there with Ivett instead... LOL!!!!

AJ would TOTALLY want to go with you instead of Ivett. It's such a no-brainer

Oh that's so difficult. NOT! Compared to my pre calc anyway.

>talking like a male< bruh, your pre calc is like Bartok 3.

[schumaniac]

Sometimes swelling can be a good thing. At least it's better than being a metronomic ass like my b!tch teacher.

I thought that Hansen's swelling was natural, I. e. instinct. However, I forgot what the beginning sounded like, so I'm not sure. Usually I start paying attention at the Exposition, which is where all the musicality tests start.

His swelling wasn't like Lang Lang's. Lang Lang's swelling doesn't sound like instinct, and it CERTAINLY doesn't improve the music.

As for Pogorelich, I think that his Ballade 2 performance from the Chopin Competition is really dull, and so is his Prelude Op. 28 #11. Those are the only Chopin pieces I heard him play before he became a wierdo.

What about his Second Sonata?? Third?
And from other composers: His Gaspard?? You should also listen to his Scarlatti

It's interesting what you say about "swelling" - "it can be good y'know!" But I feel it's almost always more bad than good. Maybe I'll have to listen to Hansen's playing again. (By the way, I didn't say I didn't like it- I think he's one of the most distinctive competitors in here; he'll probably advance.)

[rubinsteinmad]

What about his Second Sonata?? Third?
And from other composers: His Gaspard?? You should also listen to his Scarlatti

It's interesting what you say about "swelling" - "it can be good y'know!" But I feel it's almost always more bad than good. Maybe I'll have to listen to Hansen's playing again. (By the way, I didn't say I didn't like it- I think he's one of the most distinctive competitors in here; he'll probably advance.)

I guess we have a different interperatian of "swelling", then. When you said "swelling", I thought you ment subtle accelerandos/ritardandos/rubatos, etc. That's what that b!tch teacher refers to as "swelling". However, now that I think about it, I guess you must have meant EXTREME accelerandos/ritards.

Yes, Ive heard the Ravel, its brilliant. However, many people are great at contemporary music, even when they suck at Chopin (hint Argerich)

[pencilart3]

AJ would TOTALLY want to go with you instead of Ivett. It's such a no-brainer

I don't know... there were a LOT of hearts on her picture on that attractive pianists thread

>talking like a male< bruh, your pre calc is like Chopin Sonata 3.

Exactly. Sonata 3.

[rubinsteinmad]

I don't know... there were a LOT of hearts on her picture on that attractive pianists thread

 

Exactly. Sonata 3.

I wrote Bartok 3, dumbass. If I wanted a Sonata in b minor, I could've wrote "Liszt's Sonata".

[chopinlover01]

My ideal repertoire:
Stage I:
Nocturne Op. 48/1
Etude Op. 10/4
Etude Op. 10/2
Scherzo #3, Op. 39
Stage II:
Grande Valse Brilliante, Op. 18
Ballade #3, Op. 47
Polonaises Op. 26 (So hard to choose between this and Op. 22!)
Stage III:
Mazurkas Op. 17
Sonata #3, Op. 58
Allegro de Concert, Op. 47 as my extra piece
Stage IV:
Concerto #2, Op. 21
F minor concerto all the way.
plus the first movement of the e minor is too damn long

[pencilart3]

plus the first movement of the e minor is too damn long

Amen. 1st movement of f minor is completely beast.

[rubinsteinmad]

OMG, guess what I found today?

It's not nearly my favorite interpretation, but still, it's worth listening to

[schumaniac]

 
I wrote Bartok 3, dumbass. If I wanted a Sonata in b minor, I could've wrote "Liszt's Sonata".

I'm learning that!

Also- YouTube's partnerships with CD companies mean that a LOT of albums are available on YouTube

[rubinsteinmad]

I'm learning that!

Also- YouTube's partnerships with CD companies mean that a LOT of albums are available on YouTube

Sarcasms, Bartok 3, or Liszt Sonata?

[rubinsteinmad]

Man, because of the Chopin COmeptition, Zimerman's 4th Ballade is no longer my favorite!

[schumaniac]

Man, because of the Chopin COmeptition, Zimerman's 4th Ballade is no longer my favorite!

whose is it now then?

[rubinsteinmad]

whose is it now then?

idk but I'm listening to Zimerman right now, and I'm like "bruh theres someone better than him!"

[pencilart3]

Man, because of the Chopin COmeptition, Zimerman's 4th Ballade is no longer my favorite!

no

[rubinsteinmad]

no

You don't believe me?

[rubinsteinmad]

Not as good as Zimerman, but still worth a listen.

I like the beginning played by Dang Thai Son the best, but I think for the Exposition, he plays to much like a waltz.