Boris Berezovsky plays prelude op. 23 No. 2 by Rachmaninov

[ageshero]

Im almost convinced this is fast forwarded

[mytchilla]

AAAAA!! The ground is shaking!!** AWESOME!***

[SakramEleventh11]

LOL... when Boris graduated in piano, Lang Lang was still drinkin' milk from his mom...

[2hyeok]

@SakramEleventh11

Berezovsky > cry baby

cry baby > Lang Lang

[k0it123]

gilels plays it a bit betterly, he gets into the song, atleast i think . Emotion is also needed in this song.

[nicoejz]

There is no problem with this interpretation, I mean, okay he plays it fast but he dpes it because he wants it and he can afford it. Therefore it's alright.

[chobeethaninov]

I prefer Kissin, but this is still very good!

[89hedgehog]

It's Gilels in the stratosphere on this, and everyone else looking up :)  BB does remind a bit of LL's style, but this is better.

[jerdawg553]

Incredible...he has the virtuosity of mozart, and the emotional skill of barenboim on this piece.

[Lieder83]

Porca troia!! suonare così dal vivo! eccezionale!

[JoeTownley]

The guy is a force!

[Mr1329932]

after listening to this interpretation for a along time know it actually makes alot of sense to me i like it

[danielito1979]

beyond insane 

[gainweighttoday]

I stood up and shouted BRAVO!

-then I realised I hurt my leg and was in front of the computer ...

[SmackUp7778888]

Watching this guy play makes me physically tense.

[twlneo]

awesome~!!

[JoeTownley]

Did he miss some chords at 2:17? It sounded he started to play the way the first statement goes at :43. Or is it possible he deliberately edited it because he likes it that way?

[maddorox]

@JoeTownley the chords were all there

[JoeTownley]

@maddorox No, the chords are indeed NOT "all there". Check Richter's recording on YT which has the music with it. You'll notice (if you read music) that Berezovsky leaves off the first six chords of the string of chords starting at 2:44 of the Richter version. I knew it sounded strange on first (and subsequent) hearing because I have my own performance of this here on YT (though to say I'm no Berezovsky is the understatement of the century) and know the music intimately.

[maddorox]

@JoeTownley  oh wow, im retarded, it becomes so obvious when i listen a second time haha, my apologies he does in fact leave out considerable amounts of chords in that section, i should think before i comment! sorry! >_<

[JoeTownley]

@maddorox S'all right. Easy mistake to make. I wasn't sure the first time myself and had to play it several times to make sure. Incidentally, it's not a slip. There's another video of BB playing this as an encore after a performance with a chamber orchestra and he does the the exact same thing. Obviously, he prefers it this way. The performance is nearly identical to this one. He's still an amazing pianist.

[busylifemeto]

@celach You studied at the Royal Conservatoire ??? yes I can see by the refined use of the english language your a would be imortal and obviously very well versed in the finer things of life :)

[celach]

@busylifemeto No not me, I was quoting someone else who said that. =P

[markpolemos]

I heard Boris live at the Doelen Concert Hall in Rotterdam (Netherlands). He had a BAD first half that evening. Sloppy in every aspect, like he wanted to get out of there ASAP (which I admit is understandable when you're in Rotterdam :-)). After the break things got better. I have this feeling about the whole volume of his videos here on YouTube, some are good, but many sloppy, like he's just in a big hurry. The thing I admire the most about him is his courage...

[crapatitus]

so many dislikes???

whats wrong with this interpretation? it sounds great!

[theecollective11]

@crapatitus agreed.



[CammehYaBams]

I think it's incredible, but I think it could be a little bit slower. This doesn't have a huge amount of emotion in it. Just my opinion, please don't come and get mad at me folks, I still think he's one of the best pianists around!

[chidlers99]

Boris is great.

[mytchilla]

I've heard that the power of his piano sounds incredible when you're listening him live at concert. So I believe this recording might be missing that most important component. That's why most people here think he plays it too fast etc.

[oldmanatsea]

Great execution, but too fast in my humble opinion.

[Aul1kki]

@mvolkov11 Well kissin simply wouldn't be able to play those pieces in bereszovsky's tempo, so yes berezovsky have better technique. But which sound better is totally different story.

[maddorox]

@celach Toronto? :O... did u study with David louie

[belialah]

@mvolkov11

both kissin and berezovsky are greath.

Hes no trying to play all clean as Kissin does, hes different.

Just as Volodos and Lang Lang are different too.

They all are great musician and pianist, the think i like the moust of Berezovsky, is that he plays pieces like Godowsky studies, and things like that tha shows that everything is possible, but for me there is no pianist playing Brahms as Kissin, u know what i meand?

Volodos too plays absolutely clean, but not all people like him.

[Frozentoes1]

@belialah Interesting. You used the names Volodos and Lang Lang in the same sentence.

[belialah]

@Frozentoes1 lol what do u mean?

[busylifemeto]

@Frozentoes1 LOL using both those names in the same sentance says it all, Lang lang is a circus clown and should be playing an old Beale Piano on tour

[busylifemeto]

Respond to this video... Really, I think Richter is very hard to beat on this piece.

[belialah]

he is the best

[mvolkov11]

Rachmaninoff is the poet laureate of heartache and loss, but Berezovsky plays here like he's installing memory into a computer's hard drive. By ignoring its epic sweep while blowing through the achingly beautiful middle section without a trace of feeling, Berezovsky totally destroys this piece. If you can't feel the poignant yearning and sadness that permeates Rachmaninoff's music, please get off the stage. Berezovsky is a giant technically, but musically he is a cripple and a fraud.

[brengf]

@callenishss That can happen if the line between your computer and the source is overloaded.

[eutuveMusic]

medici...have you acquired the copyrights ?

How dare you "macchiare " the performance ?

Affanculo!!

[Fixolas12]

amazing it s impossimble

[Perkeno]

Agreed. It's physical, much more so than playing violin or flute.

[MiserableWish]

I actually think violin is much much more physical when it comes to virtuoso pieces.

[ClassicMusicOnly]

Ths prelude itself is amazing , but Mr.Boris here just makes it even more amazing than it already is. Very lively play and wonderful technique. Wonderful pianist! Along with the piece as well.

[syrius3060]

Questo grande Artista esegue 2 concerti di Rachmaninov in una sola serata e in due sere consecutive completa l'opera!

Un solo aggettivo UNICO!

[Burnsomatic]

Boris is certainly great, but the camera work is very aggravating - it switches views way too often. You could just set the camera on a tripod and let it run and it would be exciting because of the music and the playing.

[jasonextreme]

Go listen to Lil Wayne, this interpretation is great.

[CammehYaBams]

@jasonextreme respect to you my friend

[looney1023]

its in b flat major

[mussaris]

congratulations!!!very beatiful!!

[ragtimest]

this is great!

[nelsyeung]

I love BORIS!!! the first guy done all the transcendental etudes in one recital!!! he played this well!

[urahara53]

hey there was another pianist who did all of them, i cant remember his name though i want to find out now XD

[ann03071874]

@nelsyeung What is your source on this? I would love it to be true, but I doubt he is the first...

[ann03071874]

@nelsyeung I don't think that is true...I have always wondered if he was the first. Apparently Berman was the first...if you have a reliable source to say that he was I would love to see it. I also love his recordings of the 12 transcendental etudes...they blow me away!

[HjalmarGuitarMaster]

what is the most important thing to bare in mind when you try to learn really demanding pieces?

It seems as everywhere you read about piano on the internet people always talk about injuries so what can one do to prevent from injuries?

Thanks!!!

[xo4u1dessert]

he plays in lang lang style????? when berezovsky gegan to play the piano, lang lang wasn t born yet

[gainweighttoday]

@xo4u1dessert

Hwo is Lang Lang?

[hellmaniac666]

@gainweighttoday yep, indeed, like Ozzy Osbourne said: "Who's the fuck Justin Bieber?"

[solrock220]

Your mum.

[Anzuo]

@solrock220 successful troll is successful.

[potpolnaludost]

AWESOME!!!

[OrangeSodaKing]

He needs some Alkan to slow him down, hehe.

But seriously, his technique is crazy.

[tommy9882]

he has played some Alkan I remember

[solrock220]

Omg Who The Fuck Do You Think Your Talkin To You Fuckin Cuntt! I studied at The Royal Conservatoire, and have studied at the mozarteum and have a diploma in piano, flute and voice. Feel free to ask for my website with videos of me playing this on it :) PROPERLY. then we'll see who knows more abar classical music you sad twat :) xxxxxxxxxxxx<3

[davidgray2]

OMG how could you be so ignorant?? Language and culture evolves, but the way we feel emotions deep inside never does, and that's what music feeds on, regardless of when it was composed. It is infinite, never ending, and a communication far more powerful than your simple words could ever be.

[solrock220]

stfu and stop trying to put a false meaning to something that is indoctrinatingly pleasing, dammit!

[thunder1909]

Okay, but to say that there is no technique would be absolutely false, as there is obviously a very high level of technique here, just a low level of musicality (according to you anyways).

[666KINKY999]

when i said "there's no technique here" i meant that he doesn't play clear at all in this video..not that he doesn't have technique generally!!of course he's got extremely good technique,but not in THIS video..this is a very bad moment here for Boris.

[PianoGirl555]

I kinda agree

[staphinfection]

Sorry Borris, but Lugansky plays Rachmaninoff better than anyone....

[code933k]

Sorry staphinfection, but you are utterly mainstream and a little deaf...

[Alejandro270193]

yeah ur right, but Berezovsky is a great pianist. Have u seen the Liszt Etudes by him?

[Cillitpeng]

omg.. stop crying. just do it better, or listen to other pianists -.-"

i like it..

no matter if too fast or not...

[daeviydt]

Holy crap! this is, I'm sorry to say, just a little bit too fast for my tastes... was it an encore?... it sort of seems like those Gavrilov Chopin etudes that I love to hate and hate to love -- sort of like "i'm playing it this fast just because I can, and because you can't..." There could be just a little more breathing room, a little more elegance, but Jesus Christ he makes each and every note sing, you hear all those inner-voices -- which leaves me wanting so much more!

[ChrisWatch]

I know he played a few encores and joked around with the audience. But I know he does like playing this piece a lot.

[Perkeno]

Boris is like a hurricane, not very subtle, but so much force and momentum.

[CodyNelsonMusic]

Why do they have to make the camera so dramatic, it makes me sick.

[amigainspired]

Amazing!

[shrinkingglasses]

maybe he forgot to read the word "maestoso" that rachmaninoff wrote on the score...

[jasonextreme]

Nothing is worse than Lang Lang and just remember that. I actually kinda enjoyed this piece.

[666KINKY999]

i really adore boris berezovsky...but this interpretation really sucks!!!...no color,no technic,no emotion,no music,NO NOTES AT ALL!!!!very dirty playing...it sounds to me like "oook..i,ll do your favor...here it is...fuck off now...satisfied??...can i go now???"....

[MajorOlly]

I can definitely see what you mean, but this piece is very difficult to play correctly with emotion... but it's much easier at the proper pace. This is far too fast.

[666KINKY999]

of course it's a very difficuly piece to play but this is BORIS!!...i'm sure he could play this just perfect.i wanna believe that he just had a very very bad day when this performance took place....and that's it.we all have "bad days" for our performances.there've been such bad days that i couldn't even play a simple valse...!!

[thunder1909]

Im sorry, did I read this right, or did you just say NO TECHNIQUE ('technic' according to your dictionary')? Because if you did you must be the dumbest person to ever listen to this.

[titochion]

bellisimo

[larayang1]

I've watched quite a lot of his performances and he seems to play encores a bit in a rush. He sounds more rich, expressive and passinate in his recordings.

[bachprelude]

Its a ETUDE, Men...And Rachmaninoff is a genius.

newtony 1 You are a great stupid. :)

[RandomMocker]

I always thought "Prelude op. 23 No. 2" was a Prelude.

[KearneyPiano]

lmao u legend :L:L:L

[miliona1re]

I really don't like how he plays this prelude.Gilels is probably the best version on video.

[DarkRaimundo]

I personally think he plays this piece too fast.

With no emotion...

[guitarwizard6]

Something has happened to Berezovsky--his playing is not as passionate as it once was.

[newtony1]

no music, only technics..

[tweriovnzxclb]

What a joke. Listen to Ashkenazy's version. That's music. This is banging as fast possible.

[astroedic]

You are a joke! if you can compare the incomparable

[tweriovnzxclb]

Why can't I compare two pianists playing the same piece?

Ashkenazy plays it a bit slower with much more nuance and better accents. He really brings out the melody and puts more feeling into it. IMO. I would not even have liked this piece if I had only heard Berezovsky's performance. Ashkenazy: watch?v=hI8KnHO2F8s&fmt=18

[Matthewfawr]

Damn right! I can't find a better interpretation than Ashkenazy for any Rachmaninov Prelude, although I'm very fond of Berezovsky's performances of other works

[afertyus1000]

i heard john lill play this live a few months ago and it was outstanding

[fatalerror1943]

How much more inspiring, more noble and intelligent in his playing, Nikolai Lugansky is in comparison to this elephant in a china shop :)

[anonymousQ45]

his hands are small

[liliannepiano]

Disgusting! He is showing off his hands. There no artistry or any imagination or any trace of depth. Unfortunately great Russian school these days is represented by this "physical" pianists. Times of Neuhaus, Igumnov, Feinberg, Sofronitsky are gone for good.

[xclassicheadx]

speed doesnt necessarily mean speed?

I dunt know.. but he is going fast.. I couldn't understand the harmony at some points.. it was smeared.

Lugansky.. listen to that guy play..

[Rach3Piano]

too much left hand, and he plays too soft the right hand at some passages.

Anyway, good performance

[StrivetobeDust]

I think he intended it to sound that way. It's very similar to his CD performance. In both cases it sounds as if he's trying to give this triumphant piece a grim overtone that doesn't fit it. This is one time I feel that Kissin's interpretation is better.

[nextren]

Thrilling. It's an interpretation, and a quick encore tossed off as such. As to musical quality...admit it: if this exact same performance were in mono, on a 78rpm record, and from the hands of Josef Hofmann, we would be worshiping it as a "classic" recording.

[Mpiman]

Well, sometimes I actually Do like his interpretations.

[MashaGarfield90]

great!!!!! :))))

[Mpiman]

To be honest, I have expected better from him. Technically it's great, but he runs through it as if he wants to show us how great his technique is. The profound musical richness of this peace seems to be ignored here.

[raveyd1]

This is too fast and mechanical. I'm not even pretending I can play it, but this is not a good version. It doesn't convey any emotion. Vladimir Ashkenazy plays this beautifully.

[BRRF]

Uh oh! In that last chord passage ~2:20 (bar 53) he skips an entire group of chords. Then his V6/4 chord arrives an entire beat early.

But besides that, I don't enjoy this interpretation. Far too rushed. This is supposed to be broad and encompassing. The middle section is marked p on the F in bar 19. I don't know why he insists on playing fff the entire piece. The form loses definition.

[beryllium2]

Yeah... Oops... I noticed that too.

[afertyus1000]

yeah it sounds like he was rushing it cos he might miss his bus home,maybe he was a bit pissed? smudgy throughout but got away with it

[ohvg61]

not very inspired, but a great routine performance

[cattleman6420012000]

He is a truly wonderful pianist.

[OverFjell]

I love this piece, and Berezovsky nails it.

Oh, by the way, Medicitv, this piece is in Bb Major not Bb Minor :)

[BrentAudi]

Awesome!

[dialecticon]

Notice the cantabile in the bass in the middle section. There is beautiful polyphony and it rings so Russian and expansive, like a winter rhapsody.

[crackapolo]

yes to mutch mister berezovsky the great virtuos to less the hypnothick rachmannoff that is in this prelude (do impressive)

[LemonPie17]

It's good, but not not great. I think he plays it too fast, like he's in a hurry...

[natyysantos]

Evgeny Kissin played this very very better, i think. The video is here, on youtube.

sorry for my English.

[Perkeno]

Kissin is like a child compared to Berezovsky.

[chutdigadut]

@Perkeno technique wise, this is true, but as far as musicallity goes I believe that Kissin may have him beat. Kissin truly plays from the heart were as I feel that Berezovsky prefers to show off his technique as much as possible before playing musically

[minasgekos]

@Perkeno finally one youtube user with common sense.

[Haeronthegreat]

This is a bit different to normal. The lyrical section is more agitated than you normally hear it. I quite like it :)

[medicitv]

What do you mean ? This video seems good on my equipment!

Thiese piece was recorded in live, and is an encore, which made it more difficulte to film, but the result seems good to me..

[OverFjell]

What did he play this as an encore after?

[mcstikkel]

@medicitv It's probably just how fast his hands are moving.

[cattleman6420012000]

It's wonderful to hear this live performance. He is of course a fantastic pianist.