Beethoven "Appassionata" Sonata Mvt 3/3, Sean Bennett

[oceanprincess318]

Love your dynamics and energy!!!!!

[oceanprincess318]

SPEECHLESS!!!!!!!! That was Amazing!

[TheWolfmannC]

Perfect

[chrisczajasager]

wonderful capture of the essence and message of this turbulent movement.BRAVO!

all happiness and health!

[TheWilliam916]

Agree with all comments. Long ago, a critic wrote that the closing strains of opus 27, "MOONLIGHT" , " the notes rush to their doom". I contend that the final bars of Opus 57, Appasionata, " TAKE THEM WITH YOU " !!! Beethoven Forever. William

[adriasansa]

I thought he was going explote at the end

[IonBeamXXIV]

when he ended i was like, FUCK YES

[helenlinpiano]

Played with lots sensitivity and nuances..and passion!!

[anonymousQ45]

This is a great performance and it's played with so much confidence my god you have the most natural movements in your wrists and arms I'm studying this performance

[benjamindimeglio]



Reading music and playing it are two entirely different subjects. I very much enjoy your aggresive, passion in this 3rd movement. Your interpretation of Beethovens passion is exemplary! I commend you! Bravo.

[benjamindimeglio]

@slambennett

Reading music and playing it are two entirely different subjects. I very much enjoy your aggresive, passion in this 3rd movement. Your interpretation of Beethovens passion is exemplary! I commend you! Bravo.

[gerardbedecarter]

Magnificent. The coda - wow!!!!

[benjamindimeglio]

Damn I love the way he plays this!

[piopare]

強弱がおそろしく上手い・・・

独特の曲弱の入れ方もおもしろい。

[3NUNS]

sean this is tops van Beethoven --- well, we don´t know his personal taste --- may well have approved ... David

[3NUNS]

inspiring

[RayAtBristolUni]

Impressive. A real feeling of spontaneity and with intelligent interpretative decisions everywhere.

[scout6686]

YOU LITTLE DORK.

[CYYZspotter]

lmfao

[parsifal3142]

I didn't think you left enough room to go faster for the coda but you did. Wow!

There are rays of sunshine, moments of reflections and masculine bravura in your playing. Some people say extremes - but if you don't have them they will say boring - you can't win.

To be pedantic - as is clear some people here are nothing but - you didn't play a chromatic scale but a melodic F minor scale as written.

I like your fingering for the main figure (12345), which I am going to try myself, thanks!

[chaos4u2]

cool man!!!!!

but here, the interesting thing is to have a large HAND!!!

[TastyColoda134]

And what was the point of that comment? to be an idiot and try to sound, "cool?"

[Ncunningham]

*That's not in any way to put myself on par with Bennett* Somebody in the thread mentioned how some people choose a "fast interpretation and make a mess of the song." ... I'm one of those guys.

[Ncunningham]

That's supposed to be "pianists split" not split... Let me also add for all fairness that I will be performing this in the near future withOUT the repeat because 1) of time constraints and 2) because it's just so damn hard to play the whole thing with the repeat.

[Ncunningham]

Here's the thing, there is no scholarly debate over whether or not Beethoven intended for there to be a repeat: He put in the repeat sign and went so far as to write, "La seconda parte due volte" - "The Second Part Two Times." We all know that Sir Donald Francis Tovey disagreed with Beethoven's use of the repeat but nobody doubts that Beethoven intended for it to exist. Pianists splits nowadays on taking or skipping the repeat, but regardless, Bennett is the only one who plays a scale there.

[taticastro]

man, that rocked my socks off

[bannnjac33]

3:06 he wrong..he is verz good..but i don't like that unclear tones in beethoven compositions!

[Valerio241059]

Nella parte finale, privilegia troppo, troppo, troppo la velocità rispetto alla pulizia e all'espressione.

Troppo atletico per essere bello.

Certi livelli di ritmo se li possono permettere i Richter a 50 anni.

L'inizio è assai più convincente.

[Valerio241059]

C'è del vero talento, e tanta tecnica per la sua età. Deve maturare molto a livello interpretativo, nonostante abbia già una rimarchevole attenzione per i fraseggi e le parti più "cantate".

Sentiremo parlare di lui, ne son convinto.

Disturba molto nel video lo scarto fra audio e video.

[Aaronfails]

damn that piano will need a tuning after hes done with it.

[Yollaboe1993]

This's powerful... so fast ...

it's deep and vigorous.

you're the angel in the black suit!

[jswham]

This is by far my most favorite interpretation of this movement. I have the Horowitz version and it frustrates me when I listen to that version because he slows down at some parts but you do it justice!!

[andy957]

you are a great pianist. how come we don't hear more about/from you?

[shortt4j]

agree with benjamin, i like sean bennett's version because it is powerful and confident. if you watch many others it seems to me that they are just pounding away on the keys. he has a certain tenderness to those parts that need a little bit of senseitvity to it. its not that he is playing "fast" that makes it great, its the balance between aggression mixed with spunkiness that makes this interpritation my favorite.

[HurricaneHeidi]

To me there is definite difference between passion and aggression (or anger)... and I hear genuine passion tempered with tenderness in this performance. Very beautifully textured... Loved it.

[shortt4j]

i think there is a difference between aggression and passion, however i believe they are closely related. i think aggression is based on any extreme emotion. obviously our entire lives all we see is aggression caused by anger. so naturaly thats what we relate it to. in this case his passion for the peice gives that aggression that makes it powerful. when you say "beautifully textured" i think that is spot on.

[benjamindimeglio]

Schylyosis2, please keep the ignorant comments to yourself. His interpretation is unique and amazing. How do you place the piece different?

[amilisom]

I noticed that this song ends very similarly to the third movement of Beethoven's Moonlight.  How does he play chords so fast? I mean, I understand playing notes fast, I do that, but chords?

[schylyosis2]

eh, good technique, BUT, this song is RUINED if he plays it like that, just because he can play fast doesn't mean his interpretation is THE best, this song is meant to be fast, but still understandable, he does it like a hurricane storm and just COMPLETELY RUINS THE PIECE...

[Steinway12345]

You are so ignorant. Please go somewhere from whence you will not return in the forseeable future.

[Medsas]

toooooooooo fast

[kherynn]

GUSH GUSH GUSH GUSH!!!! I just watched Mvmnt 1 and thought he was awesome!!! but this!!!! THIS is my favorite performance by a friggen mile....He's so powerful and I LOVE the way his hands fly across the keys...dude...I love you! hehehe...Imagine what his hands would be like in bed? (ew that was inappropriate)

[shortt4j]

hell yeah!!! you worked that piano like it was an old girlfriend! leep it up dude!

[pianolistenerk]

ha ha ha ha ha ha...ha

[schuylkillpahaven]

Valentina still plays this best overall, but I liked your ending the best. :)

[gretchen198442]

this guy is my god

[Chopianist3]

DUDE this is the coolest interpretation of this Beethoven Apassionata, better than the dingbat pianists who play it like some nocturne. Fiery and Extreme = AWESOMENESS

[tchebinai71]

i just find the end too fast . i like hen the fast notes at the end are very clear .

impressive staccato but one more time ,a bit slower fits more to my taste.

provided my taste has any importance ?? :)

[anonymousQ45]

i wish it was in sync

[amilisom]

me too

[mtldemon6]

God damn dude, this guy really doesn't fuck around!

[anonymousQ45]

he has great technique and showmanship!

[AndyPapirru]

este muchacho es el segundo pianista que me gusta como toca esta cancion, despues de Hugo Wolf, cuando los escucho se me figura el mismo Beethoven tocando, con esa interpretacion!!! Felicidades!!.

[TGarzarel]

The way he played coda at the end sounds like he was inspired by Richter's appassionata -very fast and intense. Good job

[Desmonddd2002]

It is so gorgeous that I think this piece is rather played a bit rush... Because you kept your timing too "squared", you should let it like swing a little, just a little, or you can not feel the musical of Beethoven, only technical... that is what I think of beethoven... This is a concert, not a competition... But Again GORGEOUS

[transponster99]

Its quite good, although this piece -and Beethoven generally- is not one of the cases where the faster is the better

[Skygrapped]

Just because you can play this piece only at half-speed doesn't mean that Sean has to do the same!

[dolce711]

I agree 100%．　Those mother fuc.kers just cannot　Stop bitching coz they think they are non famous PIANISTS too. Those wannabes man, chil

[jegspillerpiano]

Another jolly little dance?

[CaptainPinguGuy]

dance?!!?!? i don't think so! lool! ;)

[Atarien6]

Absolutely phenomenal. The speed on this makes me jealous. I can't play it that fast and keep it clean yet... :( To all you who are criticizing him. Fuck u. You all probably suck balz and can't play at all. Unless you are better than this which I doubt any of you commenters are then STFU.

[CaptainPinguGuy]

erm...this piece is not really meant to be played tht fast lol! It sounds better played a little slower (not much) since it allows the piece to sound more passionate!

Btw, all the comments tht critisize him are only constructive citisizms...they are not being nasty about it! and Valentina Lisitsa plays this slightly better than him i think!

[jegspillerpiano]

It sounds like a dance the way HE plays it, is what i meant. He makes it 'skip' along at times, losing the real passion. It is was you say, too fast. Lisitsa is far better.

[CaptainPinguGuy]

yeh. ur right lol!

[Belamus]

i love your pianissimos and the overall idea of your interpretation very much. just one complaint: your speed in the coda takes quite a bit away from the drama and sense of finality that beethoven, in my opinion, intended there.

[Elicgt]

a little too fast.

[jazzjayk]

Dear Sweet Lord are you speeding. You have to remember the time period when playing a piece like this no piano Beethoven ever played on would have stood up to this tempo. But your technique is phenomenal and you obviously put in some major practice time. Bravo.

[dvirkup]

Very impressive! but... work on your sudden chords.. its sound like your hitting the keys. you need to be more gentle yet tough and strict about your message.

[googolplex101]

Hehe my names Sean Brennan :p almost the same, I play this piece but not as well as you. I would have to agree that the tempo is quicker than my liking, but everyone plays it around this speed, so thats Beethovens doing, I prefer to play it slower but thats partialy because my technical skills arn't up to the level that would allow me to effecitvly play at the tempo stated on the piece, 'Allegro non troppo', this seems alot faster than 128MM for a quarter though...

[Ankaboot25]

Well, my comment has a little harsh tone, but actually I compared your performance with those of Golden age of piano(Kempf, Schnabel, Backhaus, etc)

The technique and sound is incredibly great. If I could get half of your technique to implement my music fantasy as I wish, I would not make any more wishes in this life.

[Ankaboot25]

Perfect technique indeed. However this performance is not "Allegro non troppo", but an absoloute "presto" or even "prestissimo". It is intersting from an acrobatic point of view, but defenitely not what Beethoven wants.

There are plenty of more difficult pieces, which one can plays presto or prestissimo, showing his/her technical abilities. Why today pianists like to destroy any spritual piece like this just for show?

[JSbeat]

I agree with you. Beethoven should be more music and less show off.

[ManWithManyShurikens]

holy shit! Perfect!

[kocamt]

very skillful fingers. His fingers look like magic!!

[PianoGirl555]

how old is he here?

[ChipmunkForEver]

well, you see that they're in a concert house...ECHO!

[0xxxLIFExxx0]

I'm completely stunned. I think that was an AMAZING performance for a sonata of that level.

[wilmoer]

I'm learning this sonata right now and plan to be able to play it real well by a year from now. But I'll never be able to do it as professionally as this young man.

[terraflux16]

Very dramatic, excellent performance, captures the spirit of the music.

[pianoholickyp]

wow! blimey this damn good! excellent

performance and interpretation!

[My0wnMelody]

can i marry him?

[sparkleglosz]

i caught myself actually clapping in front of my laptop. this is truly amazing!

[fashionista157]

omg me toooo isnt this gr8? im sooo playing dis!

[fuckshitass911]

grade 3

[DerosVerlobte]

wow

[Swirlychan]

OMG that is some skills.... (trying to pick up my jaw from the ground)

[Essexpianos]

Steinway???

[Cloakdeath]

Obviously the playing is excellent.

But the strange faces just put me off.

[paminaase]

the dynamics of the fingers... Wonderful technique and interpretation!

I tried only 3 pages and that was enough for me !

[AK47Chenkov]

bleeeeeeeeeeeeeee IT IS NOT A SONGGGGGG

[fashionista157]

hm?

[kocamt]

Amazing interpretation. The final part of the song is really fast

[PacoPiernas]

just do not put this faces...loses a lot...avery well all in all

[OorvakanSar]

The way you play is very real. You have very natural talent.

[TomSoleon]

nice comments! ^^

[heroicpolonaise]

he moved the piano at the end isn't it??

[nico22059]

I´ve heard this interpretations so many times, but I don´t get tired of listening. Brillant playing! And by the way, do you play the heroique polonaise?

[heroicpolonaise]

yeah!!

heroic polonaise

[arobrasil]

Absolutely love these sonata!Shine!Congratulations too!

[davidbaker03]

this is amazing! i am currently learning this sonata. and i have never heard this movement played this well, it flows great, the dynamics are amazing, this song is so much more interesting to me after this video. well done

[eloquent680]

He is a great player no question..but, I like this piece played by Fazil Say better.

[nico22059]

What an amazing playing!

[wang3639]

so what do you guys tink about girls playing this peice?

[ChrisWatch]

like valentina?

[nico22059]

There are some that are great. Listen to Valentina´s Appassionata

[ChrisWatch]

i hear some sorta cord ringing towards the end.?

[seahyimin]

bennett has full control

[lachness11]

BRAVO! BRAVO! To me you are a cross between the master himself, Herr Beethoven and Vladimir Ashkenazy. Just awesome!

[Mamsecks]

That was... I was going to say "professional", but I believe this deserves to be called perfection, or higher.

[romain2608]

absolument somptueux!!!!!!

[JSbeat]

This is just awesome

[pianoholickyp]

Wow!Sean this was GREAT! You played a real Beethoven

[BobKy12]

WONDERFUL performance!! You are a great pianist.

[jhondusky]

bravo si.. però fa troppa scena.. mamma mia! non lo sopporto

[Desmonddd2002]

That was great but I think you can be a little bit slower

[piannos]

5 stars Sean.

Are there discs to buy. I want to support this.

[TysonMS]

Quite ze superhuman! Read a brief biography about him. He has accomplished so much.

[birminghood56]

When Beethoven wrote that, it was perfect. Changing even one note would diminish it. Your interpretation is flawless.

[sppe769]

perfect!!! that was outstanding! the presto part was nice and fast, I never seen faster.

[guboub]

Good bouncing quality. That's one of the secrets to play fast: being able to "reset", ready for action, immediately after playing anything

[Olidamara]

Oh, by the way, there is a little lag in the video, don't know if anyone noticed it, but it freaks me out.

[TangledLace]

lol yeaaaa

[Olidamara]

Just GODLIKE and now Beethoven can rest in peace!

Even though there is a bit of expression in his body while playing he keeps it polite and decent. About the interpretation... just flawless, the best ever heard in my entire life, above Arrau and even Ashkenazy. Keep playing Beethoven! Maybe The Tempest, Hammerklavier or grant us the 3rd movement of moonlight plz.

[PianoVader]

Awesome performance. Just out of curiousity, is this a good piece to play for chics? What kind of reactions have you gotten from chics after playing this piece for them? I would think the reactions have been good but I'm scoping out a new piece to learn and I wanna make sure I get the most bang for the buck, so to speak.

[chouana7]

scodremalin listen the sonata "Pathétic" it's a jewel !

[Scodremalin]

That was actually my favorite by Beethoven until I heard Appassionata! Still a close second. :)

[sangeetamondal93]

ummm.....this is a part of the appasionata. :)

[Pianoplayer555]

yes, movement 3.

[Pianoplayer555]

mov.3

[Scodremalin]

My favorite piano sonata. Great interpretation.

[vocux]

lol... especially because the speed of the movement is 'allegro MA NON TROPPO' lol...

but you played it perfectly

very great!

[nsod]

Arrau plays this mov in about 8 minutes, you can figure out how fast he plays this one by that. Still I like it.

[TGarzarel]

There's a repeat in this movement that some pianists play and some don't. Arrau plays it, SB doesn't. That's the main reason for the huge difference, although SB does play it faster than Arrau.

[DonCucho]

It seems it's perfectly played, but I think it is a bit fast...

[pianoenthusiast11]

Sean Bennett is a wonder! I hope he comes and play in UK soon, he is marvellous...he has such a great spirit Lets have more of him!!

[ethere4l]

perfection, flawless!!

[nico22059]

Just great your interpretation

[fortissimo25]

he was really cute when he was young :)

[googolplex101]

This 1 of my fav renditions thanks heaps for posting :)

[joelbs1]

It is awsome. Those of you idiots who dont like it, dont mention it, go suck your selfs some were elese.

[maxi937]

Too fast and not rough enough for me, but flawless technique.

[Furinax25]

This was my dream song. Thank you for playing it.

And thank God for youtube haha!

[englishphil38]

very very good. i've never heard of him. should i have?!  i'm guessing he's national-on the way to international standard if he builds on that. i think the climax cold benefit from going quite that fast. we lost detail

[Jerrez]

"you tube" is one of the most popular sites on the internet, so my guess is there is a bigger chance that our friend Sean here is going to read these comments (even if he's not the provider of the videos) than that you, dagamezmasta will win the lottery! Exellent playing...

[dagamezmasta]

wow this is sad. are so many of you oblivious that sean bennett will never read your comments? the person who posted this video isn't the pianist. so please, stop addressing the pianist. it really looks quite pathetic.

[PianoPlaya123]

LOL you dumbass, you don't think he reads your comments? He is also the one that posted this video, go to his profile and check it out and go to his website

[luganskymichelangeli]

yeah he actually replied to one of my comments on the liszt-horowitz HR 2 once. a great guy. great that he takes the time to offer feedback.

[BankFace]

Yes, I agree that some do post their own vids, but some don't either. Some fans post their fav playas.

;)

[dsamogray]

good range of dynamics and overall a very good interpretation. flawless technique as well. i love the contrast near the end; u do beethoven justice. why did you not repeat the middle secton though?

[PianoPlaya123]

Absolutely genius Sean, one of the greatest interpretations of this movement i've heard, excellent use of dynamics

[nocturne1992]

magnifique !

[Deicidal]

woah! amazing recital! was jus a shame the vid/audio wasnt in sync

[GrMPianist]

I believe there are two ways to play this song. You can play it at a slow pace to show off control and allow the listener to feel every note. Or you can play it rather fast, filled with passion. Many people choose the fast interpretation and make a mess of the song. I could actually follow along as you played it rather rapidly, well done.

[Appasianata]

Very good. How come you didn't repeat?

[BankFace]

Assasianata: Repeats are boring! I don't do them either. Yawn...

[MJGriftz]

Apparently Beethoven didn't think so...

[BankFace]

He's entitled.

;)

No, actually, if you can play the repeats differently, i.e., softer like a reply to the original, or perhaps emphasize the base more, or bring out something different from the original, then repeats are useless to me and sounds redundant.

[guitarike]

proof that you can give an excellent recital with your own character without distorting the music and exaggerating dynamics, which is all too common nowadays

love your playing

[westwardho101]

Oh WOW u r better than Artur Rubinstein onthis one form his last isreal recital . GREAT job SIr! YAHOO