Weissenberg - Prokofiev sonata n.3

[th3wing3dpaint3r]

If this exact same performance had been given by an anonymous pianist most people would have said something like "needs more work" or "too many wrong notes"

[Bret6464]

@th3wing3dpaint3r You are totally wrong! Very few have Weissenberg's technique AND artistry. It is Rachmaninoff, Gilels, Horowitz, Moiseiwitsch, Alexis Weissenberg and Argerich who are the true extraordinary artists.

Alexis was one of the greatest masters ever, he performed with immense pianism and musicality. May he rest in peace.

[th3wing3dpaint3r]

@Bret6464 Well, sadly your opinion weighs very little in proving the falseness of my statement.

[Bret6464]

@th3wing3dpaint3r Enough that you are in the small minority - what is the point in your insulting Alexis? Have nothing better to do than post insults to extraordinary artists on the net?

[th3wing3dpaint3r]

@Bret6464 I have no particular interest in insulting Alexis. I was simply pointing out how we're very influenced by "brand names", so to speak, in our judgement of performances. You, being an avid fan, took the comment to heart and thought it necessary to defend an idol of yours...

[darkblueangel1956]

Tanta tecnica, tanta agilità, un cantabile "scolastico" e limitato, dinamica quasi inesistente, il suono è SEMPRE inesorabilmente martellante e spietato. Prokofieff ha scritto opre di stile cubista, espressionista di neorealismo sovietico, ma tutte queste considerazioni non interessano a Weissemberg. La sua inevitabile discesa è cominciata già da molti decenni, dopo un inizio brillante !!!!! Che peccato !!!

[xyaqua]

Alexis is of the mind that the notes belong to the composer, but the tempo is the realm of the performer. How can you argue? This sounds so much more alive than any other performance of this that i have heard. This is genius of a Bach or Scarlatti level, and skill way beyond either. One in a billion. His interpretation is unique, and he is unique in the the fact that he is qualified to interpret the movement as such. I'd follow his teaching anywhere, and always come out the better for it!

[Starwalker6978]

Why so quick? Where is the poetry that we can find in Gilels and Martha Argerich? I never was an admirer of Weissenberg the musician!

[revorrah]

@Starwalker6978 Poetry in Argerich's interpretation!? What?! Argerich is just as fast as Weissenberg on this one except dry and with a narrow dynamic range. Plus, if this Sonata is a poem, it would be a very angry poem and Weissenberg tells the story better than anyone else I've heard.

[Starwalker6978]

@revorrah There's poetry in all great music, and yes, there are many angry POEMS, VERY ANGRY indeed! That includes both music and literature. This sonata is not all just angry, in fact I think that it is more 'maestoso' with a very beautiful sensitive middle part. And this both Argerich and Weissenberg miss!! Yet I like Argerich better than Weissenberg.

[darkblueangel1956]

@revorrah

It's true, I totally agree ! Just listen to Gilels, Richter and Ashkenazy!

[lovesGenet]

He ignores dynamics .This is messy from the first notes.World famous top class pianist :careless here.Not like his amazing Petrouchka! The extremes of pp are ignored .Contrasts little.Gavrilov is a world away better.I 've heard unknowns play this better .Drive is all i hear .Gilels ,Gavrilov have logic.Gavrilov has more finesse than anyone alive perhaps.

[marinakeys]

beautiful

[maximusjesse]

nice take on this piece, a slightly faster approach. i do think he sacrifices some musicality for his speed, but i like it fine. bravo!

[billyguns2]

The more I hear Weissenberg the more I am convinced that he was one of the past century's greatest pianists; in certain music, e.g., Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev, he was also one of the greatest musicians.

[xyaqua]

i do not appreciate prokofiev...  but holy cow what a performer!

If weissenberg plays it, it must be worth appreciating...

it will never stir me like scarlatti k450, but i'm overawed!

[ingute1992]

how can you not appreciate prokofiev? he was a genius.... for me, as a performer, he is one of the most interesting composers.

[xyaqua]

I guess it's not so much that i don't appreciate, but that i never heard enough that i liked. I'm still rather a neophyte to the classical gamut.

I'll never understand the work like you do as a performer, but i hope i'll grow to appreciate prokofiev more.

[xyaqua]

@ingute1992

I can appreciate the complexity- but there seems to be a specific patterns that seems to jibe with the listener that really grabs them- and i am not able to get that yet. I admit it is most likely my own failing to appreciate it. techniclly it is beyond my ability to comment. But being able to watch alexis helps draw me into the spirit.

I'll continue to watch this- who knows, in a few years it may click for me. if it does, it will be a very wonderful thing i am sure.

[picklemyliver]

This is a great performance and has real excitement which is missing in so many performances these days!

[lenee100]

Я восхищаюсь произведениями Прокофьева

[toiletkid77]

gilel's version is better. Even though it is a little on the slow side, he has a beautiful 2nd movement with the emotional musical parts. I feel that Weissenberg rushes the part too much, making it less enjoyable.

[anotheraznpianokid]

now that's a fast interpretation.

[mandyschulz]

das idol meiner jugend

[fabio0077]

There are here someone who speaks with ABSOLUTELY NO knowledge of what really says!!!!...wow...NO NOTES???...hahahah I can listen EACH single note, perhaps he is deaf?, mistakes (madness!!)...Lang-Lang???????­?????? hahahahahahahahahahah YOU MAKE ME LAUGH!!!!...as you say, he plays with the expressions of his face...AND NOTHING ELSE!!...hahaha. If you DO not know about music, SHUT UP!...please.

[sagalat]

Was his Opinion removed? I can't see what he originally said.

[micheldvorsky]

Weissenberg was a phenomenal pianist, no doubt. But his tempo here is was way too ambitious for the level of control he had in this piece.

[cutza7]

hahaha

lang lang...

please...

come on

if you don't know anything about this music, don´t bother commenting about it

...making the whole thing up...

hahaha

you need some help

[revorrah]

Honestly, that is the worst opinion I have ever heard in my life. That made almost NO sense at all.

[sagalat]

What was the Opinion referred to? I can't find it

[MIFFLISH]

A number of problems: (1) You need to listen to more Prokofiev, Maby then you'll respect him more; (2) Prokofiev's music is beautiful and very unique. And this performance of the piece is very good too.; (3) Weissenberg and Horowitz play with plenty emotion. Besides, you even said his interpretation of Rach 2 is the best. And comparing Horowitz to Lang Lang is one of the most foolish things you could ever do. Horowitz destroys Lang Lang in all pianistic skills.

[sagalat]

What is this in Reply to? I don't see it.

[MIFFLISH]

it is to your foolish comment.

[sagalat]

Sir: I take umbrage. You are confusing me with another. I certainly have NEVER had an "Opinion" on anything anywhere. And May your Name be Effaced from All Monuments.

[ReturnOfTheStienway]

Wow! Nice footage here of one of my favorite Proko sonatas.