Her performance was masterful! I would definitely pay to see her perform. I felt soooooooooooooo bad for her at the 9:57 mark. That's what happens sometimes when you play live. Not many can play as well as she can. That's for sure!
Wooow I was not expecting that king of playing!! She plays it to perfection. Its disgusting how easy she makes it look. To me it's probably the hardest thing to play!! tried it a few times but gosh its a hard hard piece, and I have played hard pieces but this one... WOW
questa è la famosa ballata, forse la più enigmatica di chopin, quella su cui vive il libro di cotroneo: PRESTO CON FUOCO
ascoltarla da queste mani esce un piacevole e dolce timbro che sa di note evocanti un tempo senza data, quel tempo che solo chopin poteva creare con le sue note...
Astonishing, transporting. In awe of both the creative genius of Chopin and the extraordinary execution of his work by Ms Buniatishvili. She plays with great musical intelligence, mastery and articulation. And she is beautiful to the eye. Can there be any finer confluence of delights?
I thought that was beautifully played. The coda may have been played a bit too "beautifully" for my liking though, as it lacked the sharpness and strenght for the full effect. I too prefer to broaden the last chords as opposed to quickening them. However, since one speeds up gradually to the end, what she chooses to do is probably more correct technically, though not musically in my opinion.
This is a sensation performance full of gorgeous colors and plenty of bravura. Unfortunately Khatia makes the same mistake as do so many other pianists in playing the final chords double timed rather than in the exact counting they should be played in. I don't know why, but it is incorrect.
@Grigor99 It's not even close to that. I certainly wouldn't play them that way myself but it's neither double speed nor is it incorrect not to count them exactly. This is the last place you should be going metronomically (although personally I much prefer to broaden them than rush them).
@cziffra1980 I appreciate you're respectful disagreement cziffra as it seems that there are far too many here that look to "jump down your throat" anytime one critiques a performance. I can only say additionally that maybe if one takes the "stretto" Chopin marks on the last page to it's "enth" degree one could make an argument for the final chords being faster. But, to my ear, there isn't enough time left in those last few chords to speed up THAT much. Guess I'm just a little too purest! :)
@Grigor99 You're quite welcome not to like it. I don't particular like the fast chords myself. However, claiming that it's double speed and saying it's "incorrect" is a whole different matter.
@cziffra1980 I guess I just prefer a little more "break" between the last few amazing chords for dramatic effect-an effect that I feel is cheated/lost when the pianist just continues to barrel through them. It's far too "easy" to just crash through them. So, while it may not be "incorrect", Chopin did apparently write 2 eighth note rests between each chord which even at a fast speed, I feel should have the appearance of being observed.
@Grigor99 I prefer it that way myself. I'm just saying that there is no basis to say that going a little faster is "incorrect", or to accuse her of miscounting and playing the chords at double speed (which is certainly not the case).
Did Chopin ever write or play a definitive version of any of his pieces? Even the publishers can't decide what to put in and what to leave out. It is still fabulous music and that lovely opening theme, yummy.
She's cute and I just love her cleavage; the jiggle during the arpeggios before the stretto (8:30)...........I'll have to go back and have a listen now as I found it hard to concentrate on that.
In response to bryancrook1991, you are soooo correct. She plays this piece beautifully. I wonder if anyone here ever really heard Chopin play it?????? I hope not. And the guy who comments that the "left hand octaves it 9:40, that's fast...." oh puuullleeeaassseee! get off your high self and enjoy Khatia's playing. This isn't the New York Times! But I bet the Times would have been a little more receptive and loved her performance.
Well played. Nice variety for all this piece has to offer. there were a few parts that I felt were played through a little to quickly but over all, just wonderful playing. You did a great job of bringing out all the counter-melodies. that kind of thing moves me. Bravo.
Masterfully concieved and beautifully realized, such a deep and profoundly beautiful work, it is easy to image Chopin sounding like this at the Rothchilds. thank you for this!
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Most women are good as singers but aren't good at classical piano, save for Rosalyn Tureck. They don't have a balance of heavy and soft moments. To them, everything is delicate and soft as this gal's interpretation shows, another obvious feminime rendition..
You have obviously never listened to Hélène Grimaud play Beethoven's Tempest...or to Ilana Vered play Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto. I have also heard Murray Perahia play Chopin's Ballade No. 4, and it is as 'soft and feminine' as Buniatishvili's....as if this were a bad thing.
This is a beautiful performance, I'm so tired of hearing so many criticize for the application of Rubato. No doubt the end is indeed the most difficult part. For me this piece will take a nearly lifetime to play correctly.
i am also practicing this amazing piece and have it all memorized except for that crazy coda. But wow this is definetly one of the better performance of this i have heard!! great job!! the only thing i would critique is that she plays just a bit too much rubato at times..of course its chopin but not too much!!!
its OK to have rubato but you should always arrive at the end of the phrase - she hesitates before some of them - especially in Chopin - Rubinstein emphasized finishing through the phrase to the end. Must be why she didn't win.
You are just perfect.You play magnificent.Bravo it is my favorite piece and you play it better from many others in Youtube that i have heard.Thank you for sharing it with us.
With regards to everyone who critisises this and other pianists about how they have played someone elses tune - just because a piece is writtern one way, doesn't mean it cant be played another. Its not wrong or right, just different. I imagine Khatia listened to Chopins articulation and purposefully did her own, how she felt it, and no one can say thats wrong, because it stills sound beautiful!
oh mate, there's always question: do you want to play chopin or variations on chopin themes...
many pianists thesedays says 'i play like this because i feel this way' - but that's the easiest path.
great polish pianist witold malcuzynski said once 'there are 2 types of pianists: first after listening to whom i think 'what a great pianist he is' and second, after listening to whom i think 'what a great composer this is'. i prefer those second'.
The section in Db - how Chopin introduces it at first - like taking the top of a bottle of some exquisitely opiate and richly scented perfume - we get just a wafting of it's fragrance before he empties the potion out. I really love that!
I have been having a love affair with this piece all my life. For me it ranks equally along such masterpieces as the Mona Lisa - her smile could well have be through her listening to this had she lived in Chopin's time! - and those other great works that live on through the centuries to teach us something of life's meaning. You play it beautifully as if from out some gossamer threaded dream. Chopin! And you! What a combination! I was brought up on Cortot - you are different but equally divine.
The Josef Hofmann performance of the Op. 52 ballade remains for me the most amazing I've heard. Only Hofmann could play it like that and no one should try it that way. There are other pianists who play it "academically correct" or whatever that means. The D flat part is perhaps Hofmann's great playing on record.
This is certainly better than I could hope to do. But Soyean Lee at the Esther Honens competition in calgary gave the definitive versio n of this piece IMHO. I have it saved on my play list. I wish I could give to you all to hear. It's as if Chopin himself were playing it, and playing it for the first time to an audience.
It isn't self indulgent in the least. The slow parts are as expressive as the fast. It's no wonder Soyeon won the prestigious Arthur Rubenstein award.
This is absolutely the most lovely version I have ever heard...or seen. She is wonderful on so many levels. Now I have to go out and buy her stuff. Thanks Naiki9!
Her performance was masterful! I would definitely pay to see her perform. I felt soooooooooooooo bad for her at the 9:57 mark. That's what happens sometimes when you play live. Not many can play as well as she can. That's for sure!
Composer1997 3 months ago
@Composer1997 it's not like it's a gigantic, noticeable error, just a finger slip :p
Pianoplayer002 2 months ago
I like it very much, she plays it without excess but fluid, very gentle and nice, she is a gem.
lisztnet 3 months ago
Really starting to like the Chopin ballades because of videos like this! Thanks!
Hereigns28 3 months ago
Wooow I was not expecting that king of playing!! She plays it to perfection. Its disgusting how easy she makes it look. To me it's probably the hardest thing to play!! tried it a few times but gosh its a hard hard piece, and I have played hard pieces but this one... WOW
frenchdjo 3 months ago
Really, who the hell voted dislike to this classical masterpiece?!
OrfeoEnajenado 4 months ago
Absolutely stunning!
Cryptografiek 5 months ago
Shit. :') Played so well, such a tune. :'D <3
wellardgerrard 5 months ago
questa è la famosa ballata, forse la più enigmatica di chopin, quella su cui vive il libro di cotroneo: PRESTO CON FUOCO
ascoltarla da queste mani esce un piacevole e dolce timbro che sa di note evocanti un tempo senza data, quel tempo che solo chopin poteva creare con le sue note...
carlo lamberti
email:rimskijverdi@aol.it
carlolamberti1 5 months ago
Yundi Li 0 points this 11 out of ten. she plays with out excessive rubatos at the end of EVERY phrase
chadmaster410 8 months ago
in my opinion, even more enjoyable than pollini, rubenstein, perlemuter and perahia.. amazing
sidewinderxx 9 months ago
Astonishing, transporting. In awe of both the creative genius of Chopin and the extraordinary execution of his work by Ms Buniatishvili. She plays with great musical intelligence, mastery and articulation. And she is beautiful to the eye. Can there be any finer confluence of delights?
iansdigby 9 months ago
This is one of the loveliest renditions of the Ballade I have ever heard and watching her is mesmerizing.
MrsScherzophrenic 1 year ago
I thought that was beautifully played. The coda may have been played a bit too "beautifully" for my liking though, as it lacked the sharpness and strenght for the full effect. I too prefer to broaden the last chords as opposed to quickening them. However, since one speeds up gradually to the end, what she chooses to do is probably more correct technically, though not musically in my opinion.
thisismeplusyou 1 year ago
Beautifully played, such a moving masterpiece by the great Chopin!
singingmaster008 1 year ago
She enjoy herself and I eojoy it too!!!=)
Yulian9935 1 year ago
This is a sensation performance full of gorgeous colors and plenty of bravura. Unfortunately Khatia makes the same mistake as do so many other pianists in playing the final chords double timed rather than in the exact counting they should be played in. I don't know why, but it is incorrect.
Grigor99 1 year ago
@Grigor99 What the hell are you on about? She hurries them just very slightly.
cziffra1980 1 year ago
@cziffra1980 Are you speaking about the very last chords? She actually does play them very much out of time-in fact it's just about double timed.
Grigor99 1 year ago
@Grigor99 It's not even close to that. I certainly wouldn't play them that way myself but it's neither double speed nor is it incorrect not to count them exactly. This is the last place you should be going metronomically (although personally I much prefer to broaden them than rush them).
cziffra1980 1 year ago
@cziffra1980 I appreciate you're respectful disagreement cziffra as it seems that there are far too many here that look to "jump down your throat" anytime one critiques a performance. I can only say additionally that maybe if one takes the "stretto" Chopin marks on the last page to it's "enth" degree one could make an argument for the final chords being faster. But, to my ear, there isn't enough time left in those last few chords to speed up THAT much. Guess I'm just a little too purest! :)
Grigor99 1 year ago
@Grigor99 You're quite welcome not to like it. I don't particular like the fast chords myself. However, claiming that it's double speed and saying it's "incorrect" is a whole different matter.
cziffra1980 1 year ago
@cziffra1980 I guess I just prefer a little more "break" between the last few amazing chords for dramatic effect-an effect that I feel is cheated/lost when the pianist just continues to barrel through them. It's far too "easy" to just crash through them. So, while it may not be "incorrect", Chopin did apparently write 2 eighth note rests between each chord which even at a fast speed, I feel should have the appearance of being observed.
Grigor99 1 year ago
@cziffra1980 Btw, I think that Yundi Li plays the ending exceedingly well with just the right timing for those chords. Have a listen :)
Grigor99 1 year ago
@Grigor99 I prefer it that way myself. I'm just saying that there is no basis to say that going a little faster is "incorrect", or to accuse her of miscounting and playing the chords at double speed (which is certainly not the case).
cziffra1980 1 year ago
@cziffra1980 Ok. Fair enough. I just couldn't even count the rests she played them so fast!
Grigor99 1 year ago
Did Chopin ever write or play a definitive version of any of his pieces? Even the publishers can't decide what to put in and what to leave out. It is still fabulous music and that lovely opening theme, yummy.
JohnAndrewHall1 1 year ago
Simply magnificent.....
pissoul69 1 year ago
Yes, she is outstanding, both technique and interpretation. I wonder if she's available for private lessons.
urquell69 1 year ago
She's cute and I just love her cleavage; the jiggle during the arpeggios before the stretto (8:30)...........I'll have to go back and have a listen now as I found it hard to concentrate on that.
urquell69 1 year ago
In response to bryancrook1991, you are soooo correct. She plays this piece beautifully. I wonder if anyone here ever really heard Chopin play it?????? I hope not. And the guy who comments that the "left hand octaves it 9:40, that's fast...." oh puuullleeeaassseee! get off your high self and enjoy Khatia's playing. This isn't the New York Times! But I bet the Times would have been a little more receptive and loved her performance.
obrienjohnj 1 year ago
Beautiful performance, though I feel the overall tempo was just a bit too fast. Really exquisite beginning with the arpeggios just before the coda.
houstonian2000 2 years ago
nice rubato !!!
ekmyran 2 years ago
This is the most beautiful interpretation i've heard of this piece.
Veggilicious 2 years ago
check out zimmerman...
09thomj 2 years ago
@09thomj Check out Perahia...:-)
Ellinidara 2 years ago
Left hand octaves at 9:40, that's fast.
kingdave84 2 years ago
Well played. Nice variety for all this piece has to offer. there were a few parts that I felt were played through a little to quickly but over all, just wonderful playing. You did a great job of bringing out all the counter-melodies. that kind of thing moves me. Bravo.
ColoradoBansuri 2 years ago
A#1
belis9 2 years ago
Masterfully concieved and beautifully realized, such a deep and profoundly beautiful work, it is easy to image Chopin sounding like this at the Rothchilds. thank you for this!
PhilPhilUSA 2 years ago
She's showing some nice cleavage too! What more can one ask for?
urquell69 2 years ago
Comment removed
Chaney547 2 years ago
Beautiful!!!
pianolover1004 2 years ago
Or listen to anything by Martha Argerich. She kicks ass on the piano.
2young2fallinlove 2 years ago 3
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Most women are good as singers but aren't good at classical piano, save for Rosalyn Tureck. They don't have a balance of heavy and soft moments. To them, everything is delicate and soft as this gal's interpretation shows, another obvious feminime rendition..
freeqwerqwer 2 years ago
Please listen to Myra Hess playing Beethoven's Appasionata and Annie Fischer playing Beethoven's 5th on youtube and then rethink your statement.
kusuna7 2 years ago 2
You have obviously never listened to Hélène Grimaud play Beethoven's Tempest...or to Ilana Vered play Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto. I have also heard Murray Perahia play Chopin's Ballade No. 4, and it is as 'soft and feminine' as Buniatishvili's....as if this were a bad thing.
Jauhara 2 years ago
omg how could you say that after watching this?? Are you effing deaf.. errrr
mlr2107 2 years ago
your interpretation is magnificent! so profound and intense,yet so conveying of the complexities of the emotions it conveys! bravo bravo and bravo
gyseegy 3 years ago 4
Wasn't this Chopin's last work before he died?
dracutey 3 years ago
Wonderful playing. A lovely composition and played with, what seemed to me, proper emotion. A great talent.
andretchaikowskycom 3 years ago 2
This is a beautiful performance, I'm so tired of hearing so many criticize for the application of Rubato. No doubt the end is indeed the most difficult part. For me this piece will take a nearly lifetime to play correctly.
forensiceyes 3 years ago 9
i am also practicing this amazing piece and have it all memorized except for that crazy coda. But wow this is definetly one of the better performance of this i have heard!! great job!! the only thing i would critique is that she plays just a bit too much rubato at times..of course its chopin but not too much!!!
mlr2107 3 years ago
Wery tender and pretty girl.
bobon47 3 years ago 4
2:49 - 2:53 was kinda ugly.
viewbody 3 years ago
its OK to have rubato but you should always arrive at the end of the phrase - she hesitates before some of them - especially in Chopin - Rubinstein emphasized finishing through the phrase to the end. Must be why she didn't win.
viewbody 3 years ago
You are just perfect.You play magnificent.Bravo it is my favorite piece and you play it better from many others in Youtube that i have heard.Thank you for sharing it with us.
chrislibhi 3 years ago 5
have you heard Pollini on this piece? He's wonderful...
K189T 3 years ago
With regards to everyone who critisises this and other pianists about how they have played someone elses tune - just because a piece is writtern one way, doesn't mean it cant be played another. Its not wrong or right, just different. I imagine Khatia listened to Chopins articulation and purposefully did her own, how she felt it, and no one can say thats wrong, because it stills sound beautiful!
bryancrook1991 3 years ago 16
@bryancrook1991
oh mate, there's always question: do you want to play chopin or variations on chopin themes...
many pianists thesedays says 'i play like this because i feel this way' - but that's the easiest path.
great polish pianist witold malcuzynski said once 'there are 2 types of pianists: first after listening to whom i think 'what a great pianist he is' and second, after listening to whom i think 'what a great composer this is'. i prefer those second'.
mx19idlewilder 8 months ago in playlist Chopin's Works
Why does she slow down at the very end of the stretto chords? It's supposed to stretto right up until the end of the chords.
Grigor99 3 years ago
does anyone have any idea where i could find some more informations on khatia?
ichadzis 3 years ago
I LOVE IT, I LOVE HER
ichadzis 3 years ago 3
The section in Db - how Chopin introduces it at first - like taking the top of a bottle of some exquisitely opiate and richly scented perfume - we get just a wafting of it's fragrance before he empties the potion out. I really love that!
PhillipLWilcher 3 years ago
I have been having a love affair with this piece all my life. For me it ranks equally along such masterpieces as the Mona Lisa - her smile could well have be through her listening to this had she lived in Chopin's time! - and those other great works that live on through the centuries to teach us something of life's meaning. You play it beautifully as if from out some gossamer threaded dream. Chopin! And you! What a combination! I was brought up on Cortot - you are different but equally divine.
PhillipLWilcher 3 years ago
that piano is massive!!
monobrow638 3 years ago
The Josef Hofmann performance of the Op. 52 ballade remains for me the most amazing I've heard. Only Hofmann could play it like that and no one should try it that way. There are other pianists who play it "academically correct" or whatever that means. The D flat part is perhaps Hofmann's great playing on record.
stan724 3 years ago
This is certainly better than I could hope to do. But Soyean Lee at the Esther Honens competition in calgary gave the definitive versio n of this piece IMHO. I have it saved on my play list. I wish I could give to you all to hear. It's as if Chopin himself were playing it, and playing it for the first time to an audience.
It isn't self indulgent in the least. The slow parts are as expressive as the fast. It's no wonder Soyeon won the prestigious Arthur Rubenstein award.
refrmcetsryt 3 years ago
Extraordinaria!!!! Bravisimo!!!
alexcamara82 3 years ago
wow omg one of the best live performances i have seen omgggggggggg!!
p4tttrick 3 years ago
This is absolutely the most lovely version I have ever heard...or seen. She is wonderful on so many levels. Now I have to go out and buy her stuff. Thanks Naiki9!
Jauhara 3 years ago