Arnaldo Cohen?

[benji]

I just got back from a concert in which Arnaldo Cohen played the Grieg Concerto, and I must say it ranked right up there with Cziffra and Michelangeli. What is weird is that I'd never heard of this pianist before hand; have any of you guys? What do you think of him?

[dinosaurtales]

He recently did a recital here in Portland, Oregon, which was of interest to me because he did all 4 of Chopin's ballades, one of which I am working on, so I was quite interested to hear it live.  I foiund him very interesting, although I thought some of his playing seemed "rushed through".  I know some of the parts need to go fast, but I couldn't help thinking he was just showing how fast he could do it, and not necessarily doing nice music.  Just my thoughts.  In all, it was a good recital.  He also performed Lizsts funeral march and the Spanish Rhapsody, both of which were great.  I liked him overall.  My teacher doesn't though.  Not sure why.

[steinwaymodeld]

I just got back from a concert in which Arnaldo Cohen played the Grieg Concerto, and I must say it ranked right up there with Cziffra and Michelangeli. What is weird is that I'd never heard of this pianist before hand; have any of you guys? What do you think of him?

Em.... I have heard he is a far better pianist when he was in recording session, and he is quite dissapointing to be heard live.  But he might have changed.

but I seriously doubt he is in par with the 2 great pianists u mentioned.

O yes, get his SOLO Totentanz recording. The SOLO one.

[lenny]

He recently did a recital here in Portland, Oregon, which was of interest to me because he did all 4 of Chopin's ballades, one of which I am working on, so I was quite interested to hear it live.  I foiund him very interesting, although I thought some of his playing seemed "rushed through".  I know some of the parts need to go fast, but I couldn't help thinking he was just showing how fast he could do it, and not necessarily doing nice music.  Just my thoughts.  In all, it was a good recital.  He also performed Lizsts funeral march and the Spanish Rhapsody, both of which were great.  I liked him overall.  My teacher doesn't though.  Not sure why.

when fury is called for, fury should be unleashed

what was his tempo in the presto con fuoco of the 1st ballade?

i doubt it was faster than mei-ting sun's

[Fhugo]

Well I know little of Arnaldo Cohen, just the essential - he is brazilian and rarely performs here. I like his playing very much, he´s kind of a role model to me, since he only started to take piano seriously at the age of 18 and smell him now! I began piano at 18 and the mere fact of his existance keeps me going. I agree about the recordings - he has great ones, and Totentanz is really chilling, along with La lugubre gondola II, which is on the same CD I believe? Anyway, would realy like to know what you guys think of him too.

fhugo

[lenny]

judging from his energetic and sweaty sounding performance style i would rather NOT smell him now.

ive never heard him live, but his liszt cd on naxos is PHENOMENAL, the greatest piano playing ive heard on all naxos recordings(except historical of-course)

his danse macabe, totentanz, and liszt-meyerbeer fantasy are all phenomenal modern recordings.

[Rockitman]

I saw Cohen last month and he was fabulous!

He started off with Chopin's preludes and finished with the Spanish Rhapsody.

His playing of Liszt was phenomenal.

And yes, it is encouraging to see a concert pianist who started late in life and has come to this level.

[lenny]

i just have to inform you of the thing bernhard often says.

never forget the distinction between seriously studying late and starting late.

cohen started early, he was just primarily actually a violinist before he concentrated more on piano.

[chopinisque]

Well, I have the ABRSM grade 8 cds for 2005-2006 and he plays a few songs there.  I don't really know how he compares to others.  He plays Mozart sonata K330, Beethoven's op90 mvt 1 and alla tadesca, a few Haydns and a Schubert.  But the ones I remember most are his Beethoven (what can I say?  I'm a Beethoven fan), especially op90 mvt1.  His fury isn't that exceptional although I really like it.  And I feel he gets the restlessness right, not rushed at all.  His Mozart is also very perfect and has that bright Mozartish feel although I feel he might do better at Clementi.  I don't really pay much attention to the Haydns because I don't really like them that much.     

[lenny]

his fury is pretty exceptional on his liszt cd, very big sound

[Fhugo]

i just have to inform you of the thing bernhard often says.

never forget the distinction between seriously studying late and starting late.

cohen started early, he was just primarily actually a violinist before he concentrated more on piano.

Yeah i´m aware of the calous area development in the brains of pre-teen musicians, even so... And what´s the story with Alfred Brendel, didn´t he started taking it seriously at like 18 also?

(calous area is the intersection between oriental and occidental sides of the brain, meaning if you have a fully functional one there will be more communication between both your body sides... right?)