Brrooaaaahms !! - Lukas Vondracek - Brussels - Queen Elisabeth Contest

[alessandro]

Hello everybody !
It is probably a cliché to say that "the quality of the participants of this year's contest is exceptionally fantastic" ! But frankly, there are lots of wonderful pianists coming towards us, wow ! Such a joy to hear that.

Here is just one example (starts around minute 9:00)

https://www.rtbf.be/auvio/detail_queen-elisabeth-2016-piano-lukas-vondra-ek-demi-finale-recital?id=2108744


The Brahms Sonate fa minor opus 5, by the Russian terribly onychophagiac Lukas Vondracek.   I do not find very suitable metaphors (wizardry, a gap in the earth with fire and heat down below coming towards me and there a black hole and I can't find an adjective right now for the kind of delicacy and tenderness in this performance...)  

This is a marvellous performance, isn't it (or am I exaggerating in some way or another ?)

Very kind greetings to you all.

[irrational]

I saw and heard Vondracek when he won the UNISA competition in 2012.
I was really impressed by his playing.The 2 things I can still remember clearly is his Haydn which was unfaultable to me and Martinu 3 Czech dances.

He is doing some recitals in my country later this year I think and I will do what I can to attend them. He is quirky at the piano, but his playing is of the highest quality.

[irrational]

So now that he's won.
What were your views on his Rachmaninov?
I found it quite impressive and very enjoyable.
Some very odd lines came out that I am not used to, but I thought it was a great performance. He has such a strong technique to back it up and energy all the way through.

[alessandro]

So now that he's won.
What were your views on his Rachmaninov?
I found it quite impressive and very enjoyable.
Some very odd lines came out that I am not used to, but I thought it was a great performance. He has such a strong technique to back it up and energy all the way through.

Absolutely.   I'm in awe.   What a pianist.    It rained journalistic metaphors : "dangerous territories, a vertiginous mountainpath, rhythmcliffs, thrillervolcanos, detailjungles, lawines of chords"...
It would have surprised me if there would have been a more exceptional talent.   He was out of league.    What an artist.    I do not come across artists like him very often.
You know, I have to admit that I have a penchant for sculptors of sound, the moulders of sound, you know what I mean ? Evgeni Bozhanov, Sviatoslav Richter, the distillation in concentration and total passion.   It is music, but I love it when it's even more not "just" music or "only" music.    And with these guys (I also liked Yoonji Kim by the way,  it's not just a male type of thing !) you feel that they are absolutely and totally involved in what they are doing when they are doing it, you know.   I know they are playing the piano and at the same time I'm hearing well... things ! Different things.   Ofcourse, they are often taking some risks, and they lose sometimes a little bit here and a little bit there, but you feel, well, what can you call it, alive, life ! Irrational, I don't find words for it.    I'm in awe.    What a life ! Indeed, this is a truly un-for-gettable Rach 3.    There were things to be heard in this music that I never heard in any performance before.    Call me naïve or idolatric, it is a milestone in Rach 3.   Beau-ti-ful !

A must hear... (click on "video bekijken" starting at approximately 17:00)

https://www.imkeb.be/4DCGI/cgi?lg=nl&pag=1645&tab=146

Very kind greetings !