|
Milly Jones
|
 |
« on: 21:14:48, 31-08-2008 » |
|
Did anyone here attend tonight's performance? I watched it with the child as usual and he was particularly interested in the 9-year old's performance.
For myself, I find all that elaborate throwing around of the arms, rocking about and showmanship very irritating. I did enjoy the duet with his father on that very unusual instrument that I didn't catch the name of.
I'd be interested to hear other's opinions.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
We pass this way but once. This is not a rehearsal!
|
|
|
|
Il Grande Inquisitor
|
|
« Reply #1 on: 21:22:58, 31-08-2008 » |
|
I missed the first half hour of the broadcast on BBC4, but I'm afraid that I wasn't impressed, apart from the Schubert with 9 year old Marc Yu, which I find a hauntingly beautiful piece anyway, and where I enjoyed Lang Lang's almost paternal care for the young lad. But the Rachmaninov wasn't good and as for the Liszt... it's a favourite piece, but I don't enjoy the Horovitz 'arrangement' at all. There's a suggestion that Lang Lang's 'showmanship', for want of a better word, masks his immature approach. There's an amusing thread running at TOP. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency
|
|
|
|
Milly Jones
|
|
« Reply #2 on: 21:26:36, 31-08-2008 » |
|
I'm glad someone over there has mentioned Liberace, because I was reminded of him all the way through. Some people don't think they're performing unless they're turning the piano on its head. I know he's very young and flamboyant, but he's going to teach the little boy to be the same. He was already throwing his arms over his head and rocking in synch. I love the Horowitz arrangement usually.  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
We pass this way but once. This is not a rehearsal!
|
|
|
|
Eruanto
|
|
« Reply #3 on: 21:27:24, 31-08-2008 » |
|
I attended, but only for the reason that a Proms piano recital is such a rare event. I'm not a Lang Lang fan, and pitched up at 3:40.
So that I don't subject anyone to my rants, the only comment I will make is regarding the sound. Piano-in-the-middle is clearly not a good place. I was standing in front of it (i.e. pianist on the left), with several rows of people in front. Given enough time before the next, each and every note was there to be heard three times. This was particularly noticeable for the final notes of the second Debussy prelude...
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
"It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set"
|
|
|
|
BobbyZ
|
|
« Reply #4 on: 22:05:49, 31-08-2008 » |
|
This is one of those rare occasions when I'm in agreement with the general concensus at TOP ( Murder at the Albert Hall ) Not that it came as a surprise after previous encounters with Lang Lang's playing and on stage persona. Actually, it was quite entertaining in a car crash tv kind of way if watched with the sound muted.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Dreams, schemes and themes
|
|
|
|
richard barrett
|
|
« Reply #5 on: 22:07:49, 31-08-2008 » |
|
Actually, it was quite entertaining in a car crash tv kind of way if watched with the sound muted. This I believe is what we call damning with faint praise.  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Bryn
|
|
« Reply #6 on: 22:20:50, 31-08-2008 » |
|
Actually, it was quite entertaining in a car crash tv kind of way if watched with the sound muted. This I believe is what we call damning with faint praise. Well, with the sound turned down, at least you don't get to hear all the glitches, and the microphone apparently devoted to somebody constantly unwrapping boiled sweets. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
autoharp
|
|
« Reply #7 on: 01:48:41, 01-09-2008 » |
|
Caught some of it on TV. Phenomenal technique but pretty soulless, utterly colourless, some dodgy rhythm and not a nice sound. Apparently it's more important to be a performing seal than to play music.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Milly Jones
|
|
« Reply #8 on: 07:44:22, 01-09-2008 » |
|
The rhythm was more than dodgy I thought!  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
We pass this way but once. This is not a rehearsal!
|
|
|
|
Don Basilio
|
|
« Reply #9 on: 10:11:07, 01-09-2008 » |
|
I was there with Sancho (sorry to have missed you eru, I did look) and enjoyed the experience. I am not a pianist or piano buff, so I felt unable to comment on the musicianship.
However over a late supper, my companion shared his thoughts, of which he was happy for me to pass on my impressions.
Mozart - played as early Schubert, far more romatically, than expected.
Rachmaninov - lacking in majesty.
Chopin - baby bear's porridge, not too hot, not too cold, but compared to the preceding just right. Got Chopin's combination of passion and elegance.
Schubert - To my suprise, Sancho owned up to having played this domestically with a more musical friend than I in his time, so he knew it was not that technically demanding. He felt it was like teacher and pupil having a play through, and never touched the dark emotional depth of the piece. Grumpy old bachelor that I am, I felt a lump in my throat at the sight of this little kid, but at the same time a bit manipulated. After the piece, Lang Lang was giving his pupil lessons in the important matter of how to acknowledge applause.
Liszt - Sancho's kind word was idiosyncratic. I thought it was shamelessly and gloriously showing off, which seems a perfectly appropriate interpretation of that particular piece. When I come across a more nuanced reading in future, I hope I will appreciate it by comparison.
What was the first encore?
|
|
|
|
« Last Edit: 18:47:08, 01-09-2008 by Don Basilio »
|
Logged
|
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh: a time to mourn, and a time to dance
|
|
|
|
Sydney Grew
Guest
|
|
« Reply #10 on: 10:34:56, 01-09-2008 » |
|
Liszt [...]. I thought it was shamelessly and gloriously showing off, which seems a perfectly appropriate interpretation of that particular piece. Well put Mr. Basilio! We are in entire accord with your view. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Eruanto
|
|
« Reply #11 on: 13:11:16, 01-09-2008 » |
|
What was the first encore? I admit I did have to listen in to the radio broadcast for this  , but it was Chopin Etude Op. 10 no. 3. If you want to hear it again, it only appears complete under Discovering Music, starting at 17 minutes. |
|
|
|
« Last Edit: 13:24:03, 01-09-2008 by Eruanto »
|
Logged
|
"It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set"
|
|
|
|
Philidor
|
|
« Reply #12 on: 15:34:55, 01-09-2008 » |
|
I thought nice old Hornspieler, now happily returned from his flounce, puts it rather well on TOP: For heaven's sake! This was an afternoon matinee designed to attract those who would not normally go to the RAH and it succeeded in that. If it caused only a handful of young people to take an interest in classical music-going, it served a valuable purpose.
 I felt a lump in my throat at the sight of this little kid
Me too. Great to see Lang Lang’s dad also, and I liked the way LL handled the gas pedal in the duet -- the kid was too short to reach  -- with sweat pouring down his face as he guided the child through. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Reiner Torheit
|
|
« Reply #13 on: 15:43:57, 01-09-2008 » |
|
But as you said quite correctly on TOP, Philidor, it provided another sop to the Buftons, Blimps, and Captain Haddocks there to wheel-out their Disgusted-Of-Cheltenham drivel...
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
"I was, for several months, mutely in love with a coloratura soprano, who seemed to me to have wafted straight from Paradise to the stage of the Odessa Opera-House"
- Leon Trotsky, "My Life"
|
|
|
|
|
|
