finally

[rogers]

i recently heard volodos play live for the first time and all i can say is thank god finally there is someone to fill the shoes of richter, michelangeli and gilels. what do i mean? pure mystical stage presence conveying an unknowable enigma. technique and interpretation as quasi religious experience. i heard each of these pianists play many times live. they were in a class by themselves. argerich, mentioned so often in the same breath as them always remains "of this earth" despite her phenomenal technique. she is not the real thing. volodos knows that he is in possession of one of the greatest gifts in all musical history. no wonder he drinks.

[cziffra]

he drinks?

[SDL]

isnt he having a breakdown at the mo?!

[cziffra]

He could be, but that would mean he's even more brilliant: he gave a performance in singapore in december of 04 and someone i knew was there, he said it was the best performance he's seen in years.  There were like 4 encores.  Maybe his breakdown just makes him play more emotionally?