Kissin's musicality?

[aki]

I was just at wikipedia, reading about Evgeny Kissin,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kissin

He is considered by many musicians as one of the top pianists in the world, but while he has a huge technique, his musicality has often (and increasingly) been questioned.

Is it true that he's not very musical?

[pianiststrongbad]

I think he is very good.  I am still amazed at how well he plays some of the Liszt Transcendental Etudes along with the Rhapsody Espagnol.

[donjuan]

Kissin not musical?? I think thats all BS IMHO.  I saw a VHS of his recital in Tokyo when he was still a little kid and was completely blown away by his musical performance as much as the technical performance.

[Cadenza_Ad_Libitum]

He did have great musical qualities while he was a little kid. But critics often said that this quality of his decreases as he grows, and the pinnacle of immaturity seems to be his Rach 3 recording with Seizi Ozawa.

While I've not heard of the recording itself, I've previewed some of his Transcendental Etudes in Amazon, and though the technical command is fabulous, the musicality is pretty much average (no, not bad, just plain average) compared to some earlier legendary recordings (I'm sure you know).

That is in my opinion.

[Alde]

I attended a Kissin recital several years ago.  He performed a late Schubert Sonata and all 4 Chopin Ballades.  I believed he also played 8 encores.
Amazing pianist, with excellent technique - gets all the notes.  However, not very moving, and does not play with any passion.  His playing is somewhat cold.
After the concert, I went backstage for an autograph.  And you know what?  His playing is just like his personality - very cold and not friendly.  He is very arrogant.
I don't understand these artists.  I drove 4 hours to attend his recital!

[Will Millar]

I agree. I went all the way to London (Royal Albert Hall) from the Isle of Wight to see him on the 3rd of October 2004. His playing of Emperor Concerto by Beethoven was good but his personality and politeness were none existent.

other pianists (Better pianists) for Example Louis Lortie are incredibly talented and very talkative and very pleasant - no arrogance at all.

Take notes Kissin

Will

[Motrax]

Kissin can be musical - his recording of Schubert's Bb Sonata is my favorite of all that I've heard. But I find that he lacks personality in most of his recordings. I havent' seen him live, so I can't comment in that respect.

[Floristan]

His recent recording of the Brahms Op. 5 sonata is excellent and very musical, in my opinion.

[Etude]

His personality and politeness were none existent.

Agreed.  I went to a recital of his at the Bridgewater Hall and afterwards, I went to get a CD signed by him.  He just seemed miserable, like he wasn't even pleased that all those people had payed and travelled just to see him play.  It is indeed very rare that Mr. Kissin even politely smiles to his admirers.  On his musicality however,  I can only say that I am not at all experienced as a critic, but I do feel that similar to the end of the concert, when he met all the people who had kindly paid to see him play, he quite simply didn't seem to be enjoying himself on stage.

[steve]

That's strange.  I had the opposite experience when I saw him in Glasgow last year.  He seemed almost nervous at the beginning of the recital, but by the end when he was taking his bows he was visibly appreciative of the audience's response.  I guess he was having a good day!

[anda]

he's well known for being inconsequent, i've heard some of his recitals - some were extraordinary, and some for simply dreadfull - meaningless. so, hearing that the same goes for his personality, i'm not surprised at all.

[zemos]

I was just at wikipedia, reading about Evgeny Kissin,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kissin



Is it true that he's not very musical?

I agree. Great technique, no emotion... but again, it's only opinion. Personally- I don't like his playing in any way...

[larse]

I wonder if his personality lacks and the inconsequence in his performances has anything to do with the person we're talking about. I mean...this is a person who's musical carear began at the age of 10. Since then I believe he has'nt done much more than playing recitals and recording cds...I mean, if I were him I would certainly be miserable...They're no more than humans, you know..

[aki]

I wonder if his personality lacks and the inconsequence in his performances has anything to do with the person we're talking about. I mean...this is a person who's musical carear began at the age of 10. Since then I believe he has'nt done much more than playing recitals and recording cds...I mean, if I were him I would certainly be miserable...They're no more than humans, you know..

Yeah, you have a good point there.  He probably didn't even have a childhood, and probably didn't have many friends either.  If I were him, I'd want to die.

[Motrax]

  If I were him, I'd want to die.

Those are quite strong words... maybe Kissin is happy with the way things are, and maybe he's not.  I find that I'm quite content going a week without speaking to anybody (besides the occasional hello), just practicing away, and Kissin might be content going a year without saying so much as a single word.

(And I just got tickets to go see him in APril, yay yay!)

[Awakening]

The only recording I have heard of Kissin is his Carnegi Hall Debut Concert, which was when he was 19 (I believe), and I was blown away by every aspect of his playing. 

[aki]

By the way, how do you get him to sign your CD after the concert?

[Etude]

You buy the tickets, travel to the hall, find out whether or not he will be signing CD's, enjoy the concert, queue for about an hour, then get the CD signed.

[anda]

Yeah, you have a good point there.  He probably didn't even have a childhood, and probably didn't have many friends either.  If I were him, I'd want to die.

i'd rather feel sorry for those who made just the same sacrifices and didn't end up with a career like his - it's not always about talent and hard work, sometimes it's all about luck and timing.

[pianobabe56]

On the topic of his childhood (or lack thereof)- I think it's entirely possible that he's unhappy with his life, but I wonder if his lack of a more average childhood gives him less experiences to bring to the table- less emotion that he's personally experienced to be able to transfer to the music.

[steve]

On the other hand, it's plausible that an intensely introverted and introspective personality gives a great amount of depth and insight to a person.

[steve_m]

g.

[debussy symbolism]

Greetings.

I must say that I love Kissin's recording of the "Pictures at an exhibition", certain Bach pieces on that disk and "The Lark" by M. Glinka. I think that it is very musical and emotionate.

[countchocula]

His musicality has good moments and bad, like every pianist... at his best, he is sensitive and elegant, at his worst he can be cold and mechanical.
His technique, at its best, is eerie, that's how good it is.

[brewtality]

I attended a Kissin recital several years ago.  He performed a late Schubert Sonata and all 4 Chopin Ballades.  I believed he also played 8 encores.
Amazing pianist, with excellent technique - gets all the notes.  However, not very moving, and does not play with any passion.  His playing is somewhat cold.
After the concert, I went backstage for an autograph.  And you know what?  His playing is just like his personality - very cold and not friendly.  He is very arrogant.
I don't understand these artists.  I drove 4 hours to attend his recital!

I know I'm quoting an ancient post here, but I think Kissin is 'over' emotional at times. His ballades are generally not very good, but the problem is not a cold interpretation but one of exaggerated feeling imo. For example, take the second subject of the third ballade, Kissin takes the easy (and I feel wrong) approach by opening with really "moist" Cs and then layering on the sentiment heavily for the main theme, compare this to Cortot who gives the theme a 'playful'- for lack of a better word- feel whilst keeping the momentum moving forward and not rendering the listener cold.

Kissin's early recordings are of a very high standard, especially the E minor concerto. Listening to this, even excepting the fact that he was 12, makes me think that he was a genius. However, despite other great recordings, I don't think any have yet matched the playing in the chopin concerti. His family situation is bizarre and maybe that has impacted on his emotional maturity, though this purely speculation. Still, he is young and inherently musical, so if he can free himself of baggage perhaps he will become the great pianist we all hope he will be. Or he might be another Cliburn.

[elevateme]

i think i agree with that

[steve jones]

I love Kissin's Ballade in Gm. My favorite recording, and VERY musical imo.

That said, I felt some of his Chopin Preludes were a little immature, if I can say that! Technically phenomenal (Iv never heard a technically better No16), but some of them were lacking in musicality I felt.

Then again, Iv no idea when he did those.

Imo, Kissin is absolutely amazing on all levels.

[steve_m]

g

[steve_m]

d

[stevie]

why limit one's own expression?

chopin wasnt a pussy, he demanded insane fury, and kissin provides

[cherub_rocker1979]

why limit one's own expression?

da chop waznt a pussy, he demanded INSANE FURY, and da genie providez

Thatz Rite!

respect da stevie and da genie

[steve_m]

t

[montiverdirocks]

Kissin can be musical - his recording of Schubert's Bb Sonata is my favorite of all that I've heard. But I find that he lacks personality in most of his recordings. I havent' seen him live, so I can't comment in that respect.

yeah, so i actually bought the recording that he has of the Schubert Bb with the Mephisto and maybe a few others on it, not sure. Botton line is that I listened to the cd, had a fantastic laugh followed by a headache, and threw that s**t in the trash, making sure to tear it in half and scratch it up really bad first. Kissin really needs to quit playing the piano and go to work at Burger King or something.

[stevie]

It's so obvious that you are self-taught.  No teacher would ever tell you to bang on the keyboard like an ape until a string explodes.

Chopin (or music, in general) isn't about how fast you can move your fingers around, or how loud and "furious" you can be.  You seem to think it is.

an ape could never move his hands as fast as me, poor comparison.

[brewtality]

yeah, so i actually bought the recording that he has of the Schubert Bb with the Mephisto and maybe a few others on it, not sure. Botton line is that I listened to the cd, had a fantastic laugh followed by a headache, and threw that s**t in the trash, making sure to tear it in half and scratch it up really bad first. Kissin really needs to quit playing the piano and go to work at Burger King or something.

 

"PS is stupid people acting stupid", quite.

[cherub_rocker1979]

"PS is stupid people acting stupid", quite.

Yeah

[steve_m]

j

[countchocula]

It's so obvious that you are self-taught.  No teacher would ever tell you to bang on the keyboard like an ape until a string explodes.

Chopin (or music, in general) isn't about how fast you can move your fingers around, or how loud and "furious" you can be.  You seem to think it is.

Kissin wasn't self taught either, but he snapped strings - so did Horowitz and Liszt.
I say it's ok to snap a string once in a while - flex your muscle once in a while! 
Just not in every piece...

[montiverdirocks]

"PS is stupid people acting stupid", quite.

just an opinion, nothing else. and i used to work at the BK lounge myself

[matt haley]

yeah, so i actually bought the recording that he has of the Schubert Bb with the Mephisto and maybe a few others on it, not sure. Botton line is that I listened to the cd, had a fantastic laugh followed by a headache, and threw that s**t in the trash, making sure to tear it in half and scratch it up really bad first. Kissin really needs to quit playing the piano and go to work at Burger King or something.

What an absoulute load of drivel..... maybe some recordings he made lack a musical sense but that is said for so many pianists.i was'nt to keen on what kissin did with the moonlight but let me tell you, ive seen him play four times and was blown away everytime...i own many cd's of theis genius and on a technical leval he is incredabile and the MAJORITY of his recordings i find extremely musical....

 yes he doesnt socialise much and has little personality( when i got his autograph and looked into his eyes he did'nt even seem to be on this planet) but god made each of us differently and i say aslong as he's happy in himself and carries on being at the forefront of the greatest pianists alive i would not complain.....

montiverdoricks...  i understand its an opinion but it does disturb me... his schubert aint as good as his chopin but it is still a great recording imo..

  Matt Haley

[crazy for ivan moravec]

he's only human. he has some great moments, he has some crap ones. i don't necessarily admire his playing in general (although his Liszt TE no. 10 in fm is great!), but admire him for what he is, a pianist, just like everyone else in this forum.

[stevie]

Maybe not, but he could still play the piano better.   

hahaha, something makes me think you havent heard my playing

[I Love Xenakis]

non-existant?

[montiverdirocks]

Matt, i guess we can agree to disagree, because Kissin is a mockery of good music usually. I went to hear him live and left halfway through the concert because I couldn't take it anymore. I will say that his Petrouschca is amazing though. He was musical as a child too, but as he got older his playing is way over- sentimental and cheezy for my tastes.

[pianojems]

I don't think you can play hard enough to snap a string...just try it wont work. If the piano and strings are high quality and not worn out from repeatedly playing for years, this should never happen. The problem i'm sure is in the faulty string not the person.

[henrah]

As every human being is, he is subjected to a wide range of emotions, and is probably more succeptable to these than the average person. Therefore, as Crazy for Ivan posted: he has his good moments, and he has his bad. I think that he has an emotional link between him and the piano, and if anything is out of balance (attitude of audience on arrival, piano brand/tuning/voice, suit etc etc) he can be subjected to a bad performance. I noticed in his Scriabin Etude Op.8 No.12 video that he looked kinda pissed off with the audience, especially how hurredly he left and the look he gave them before he started.
Henrah