Cliburn 2009 Evgeni Bozhanov Final Recital

[CHANTAL1747]

MARAVILLOSO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



[ErminTkalec]

i think Liszt played it the same way. Excelent!! :)

[tifftt]

this is such a fresh and interesting interpretation, even at the expense of a few wrong notes. thanks so much for this!!

[59fields]

@1Thompsonmusic like the pot calling the kettle black

[hlpianin]

bravo!

[MaestroBoot]

Go Bozhanov!!!

[snatchingthepiano]

Wonderful playing. I like that he doesn't hold anything back, even at the expense of occasional wrong notes. Schnabel showed us that note-perfect performances are merely a luxury.

One thing did strike me though. Would anyone else agree with me that when the opening theme returns at the end and the camera focuses on his face, that his expressions make him look like Jim Carrey?

[classicalmusicbox]

About juries and verdicts: Even a jury of God, Jesus, the Buddha and the Devil herself would pick a mediocrity, no doubt. (Quantity can't judge quality.) So..., ignore competitions and enjoy the music!

[piano1kful]

he is THE BEST

[PhilPhilUSA]

Genius perfers 'art' to 'winning'. Winning is often academic. Genius goes further... the people know...

[coleporteroyster1]

I was in the audience and will never forget this amazing performer.

[debbyplayer]

De gustibus non disputandum est - I don't like him

[goodguysdoll]

Are you telling me he didn't win first prize? is that what i'm reading here? If that's true I am never giving my attention or money to the support of any "foundation" that supposedly supports piano. WHO WON THEN? Did God win??!

[Grazpop]

Utubuser10, you truly have no idea what you are talking about. Bozhanov left Warsaw before the winners' concert because his teacher was hospitalized, and he rushed to his bedside. What sort of self-interested individual does THAT? try to get your facts straight before putting down a great artist, or anyone.

[xlinfer]

@Grazpop Perhaps he left before the winners' concerts to tend to his teacher, but it's a fact that he failed to communicate this to the competition. The administration never heard a word from him; he simply left Warsaw. He hasn't claimed his prize monies nor played in the prizewinners' concerts both in Warsaw and abroad. These are facts! I absolutely ADORE & LOVE his playing, but he couldn't do more to imply that he disagrees with the results besides outright refusing. Whatever floats his boat!

[Grazpop]

@xlinfer I can't take issue with your information, but I'm curious here it comes from. I know a LOT of Bozhanov-crazies (I mean, people who love his playing), and none of us were able to ascertain this, for example, about the prize money, or what he told the competition. All we know is that the competition did not transmit this information to US; it could be that Bozhanov didn't wish them to broadcast personal health information. Regardless, I'm happy to learn that you love his playing!

[JunPianoforte]

really great!!

[Eristhenes]

W-O-W, truly spectacular! This IS music performance at its best-stimulating and engaging.

[zelikris]

The best pianist in the world!

[zananzun]

I become behoder with this sound.

[27021991ify]

C'est magnifique, il joue comme un Hongrois....

[711ATOM]

I think that Nobuyuki Tsujii was the best performer at this particular competition, but don't worry Evgeni fans - 2nd prize (the highest awarded) at the Richter in 2008; a 2009 Van Cliburn finalist, a 2010 Chopin finalist - and he seems to have a already established a good relationship with Yamaha - Mr. Bozhanov is going to be just fine

[Jaychra]

Now this is just plain fun :)

[nelidaniela]

wonderful! Go ahead Evgeni!!

[takeox]

Amazing colourful playing !!!!

[chad410]

actually I ve listened to the gold medalist now and they should have shared gold because he was outstanding too.

[luigifla]

He's quite obnoxious. Look at Nobuyuki's simplicity and heart-felt expressions.

[ickatabg]

@luigifla your mother is obnoxious stupid

[gabitico82]

Amazing...

[janicezany]

Just finished listening again, for probably the 8th time. I just can't get enough of the cosmic radiance of his phenomenal touch, phrasing, and musical concepts.

[kinghikonghi]

fantastico.....mi piace da morire...

[Bognarfan]

Utterly fantastic interpretation, powerful and inspired.

[bomberchicken]

holy crap even Lang Lang couldn't manage dancing and facial contortions like those ones!

[Katakachev]

Браво, Евгени! Просто нямам думи, момче!

[adXok]

So who should win a competition either it is ice sliding, atheltics, music or whatever competitions when there is only one First place: yes almays will be the russians. Do not understand me wrong. We are cousins but they have the big stick and land.

[opussangneuf]

@adXok Bozhanov makes me think about Glenn Gould. What he does is so unique, and so unexpected. That makes that people adore him... or hate him : there is no possibility between and that's not a good thing in competition. Kozhukhin, the russian 1st prize, is a great pianist and a great guy. He deserved it. I only hope that Bozhanov will have a great career so that he can gratify us with his art a long time because he is MORE than just a good pianist !

[adXok]

So here it is Bulgaria with maybe three or four great composers (Vladigerov, Staynov, Iliev... do you know them, well maybe no) and there are the russians Prokofiev, Chaykovski, Rimski-Korskov, Borodin, Musorgski, Shostakovitch, Scriabin... should i continue?

[adXok]

Oh, common guys. He is just a boy from a small Eastern European country (Bulgaria, my country) which by the way is where the cyrillic alphabet was created (and obviously russians use it too but they are almost 20 times bigger than we are). But we thankfully to the russians won our Independance.

[felix0911176727]

Love his expression :P

[66thales]

Fabulous! One of the best pianists I have heard, ever. (and one of the best pianos.)

[jogola7]

C'est la passion incarnée, je serai vigilante, mais j'aime ça.

I'm trill there's a artist like that around. he's in Brussels now. Wish for him to win this time, he is, as U put it so well, "Unique".

[KOEKIEkasper]

HE has been selecten for the queen elisabeth competition in Belgium-Brussels OMG

[opussangneuf]

@KOEKIEkasper. Evgeni Bozhanov was the best but he only got the 2nd prize in the elisabeth-competition in Brussel... that's a pity because he is such a great artist. Listening to Bach, Mozart or Beethoven played by him was just like rediscovering these componists... He is intelligent, he has a deep conception of music. His sound is marvellous and his personality is strong. I wish you a great career, evgeni.

[KOEKIEkasper]

@opussangneuf I saw it live on television yesterday. I also think Bozhanov is a really great artist!!

[KOEKIEkasper]

HE has been selected for the queen elisabeth competition in Belgium-Brussels. OMG

[PianoKid1171]

facial expression has nothing to do with a persons playing.....what if he had a deformed face and played this?...would the way he played it change?....no....and its more appealing to watch someone play that has a personality

[malwambi]

This is the most original interpretation of this piece that I have ever heard--I LOVE IT!!!

Has he ever recorded a copy of it? I would love to buy it.

Thanks Van Cliburn Foundation for posting videos from your competition!

[singood1300]

People say a few wrong notes doesn't matter but in my opinion they do matter. Hearing a wrong note can ruin a good performance, breaks the moment when listening to someone perform.

[Masmorra84]

@singood1300 you are clearly not a pianist and if you are, then you are surely a very bad one...if what you say is true, then people like Arrau, Rubinstein, Cortot, Richter, Gilels (...) are all bad pianists because they all played ocasionally wrong notes...

[gcaee]

disgusting facial expression.

so so rendition.

[kcostell]

During the competition itself I found a very easy way of dealing with your complaints...minimize the window, ignore the facial expressions, and just enjoy the magnificent music.

[pyroprince78]

his version (in the beginning) sounds different... different chords, change in the accompaniment. does anyone know about this version or edition?

[MrAsungot]

Too much facial expressions ----- is he a comedian????

[grampasso1989]

Yeah... fantastic... but why does he play the glissandos in pp???

[300Leaves]

@grampasso1989 fantasy effect, I think.

[88alan8800]

absolutely brilliant playing

[jawnps]

I still am mad at the jury for not picking him. So what if he missed a few notes? When it comes down to it, music is about emotion. He EASILY had the most to "say" in his playing-- he wasn't playing for the jury, he was playing for himself and us! I'd definitely go see him play over any of the others.

[DaPianist]

agreed! Bozhanov has more attention now than Haochen and Nobuyuki. Seems those gold medalists have disappeared quicker than I thought.

[utubuser10]

@jawnps as if hitting wrong notes validates him as an artist...he's got to at this stage prove himself and hit all the notes. it only seems fit that "upstart" pianists respect composers specific and careful notation. maybe after a long career, when said 'artist' has proven himself and is already an octogenerian, should we excuse one's technical failings.

[nearenough3]

A little too crashy; lacks finesse; I can't help feeling that more than a few chords were blundered. Overall a good conceptual offering but nearly all on the same ff level.

[demosj]

Fantastic interpretation, towers over Di Wu's crude performance of the same piece earlier in the competition.

[k0guma]

Understandable but I don't think it's lack of something.... it's probably a kind of differences. Everybody has own world of music, even he/she is a player/listener. it's just an my opinion as a player, we cannot put own soul ,however, we put something understanding of the composer's heart into playing. Even he has passion and wonderful skill, to play sophisticated music we need to be more cool or calm down sometimes. All Cliburn's finalists are very good players and I respect them all.

[varghapay]

great performance, hilarious facial contortions !

[dangunwangum]

I have no formal training in classical music. So I don't know all the technicalities of what is good or what is bad. However, to me Evgeni Bozhanov seems to put life into that piano and the piano becomes an extension of him. Amazing talent.

[seremerow]

我想這就是所謂的演奏中有"自己的小宇宙"吧~非常投入!他表現­了他的天才!非常棒！

[sicko0011]

What piece is this? Thanks

[ThatRachGirl]

@sicko0011 Gounod/Liszt "Faust" waltz - says so right in the description.

[DualThunder]

read the bloody vid info you tard.

[shechaiyah]

Okay, I'm going to be Jingoistic here. I prefer the Italians and Russians to the Chinese, who are technically superior but lack "something" I cannot define, like "heart" or "feeling" or something. But that's just my opinion. ... I'm hoping Cliburn will do another complete video like he did in 1985 that I still love to watch.

[300Leaves]

C'mon, this is supposed to be about  a circus, not a war. There's plenty of room in the world for lots of good pianists.

[Bennie347]

Why oh why did he not win the GOLD MEDAL??? What is wrong with this world? Please tell me? He was the ONLY finalist that had something unique to offer. Well, that is why people now say that the last really great first prize winner of the Cliburn had been Radu Lupu (and Sultanov, but he is not with us anymore). And I am sorry, I don't give a $%$£ if there are wrong notes. Imagination, soul, love, culture: these things are important! Go Bozhanov!!!!! Greater things await you.

[igorek1982]

@Bennie347 and Olga Kern among the great first prize winners... otherwise you're right, thumb up

[goodguysdoll]

@igorek1982 Olga Kern is not great. Have you ever heard her play a live recital? I was her number one fan until that day. Now I think nothing of her. And she goes around playing Yamaha pianos.

[igorek1982]

@goodguysdoll Take it easy, have heard her play live MANY times. She is not only great, she is SPECTACULAR. You probably attended one recital (maybe she had not her best day or it just did not meet your doubtful "criterions") and now you're an "expert"...hilarious. And the comment with Yamaha pianos-don't see any point, yamaha is a great instrument.

[PifchoBG]

@Bennie347 because he is Bulgarian, thats the world we live in !

[01jemph]

@Bennie347

It's not just a few missed notes. There many, too many. Sorry, but in these competitions, feeling and emotion are evaluated right next to technique. This guy is good but the technique needs work.

[janicezany]

@01jemph

"It's not just a few missed notes. There are many, too many."

Hey, what about the 3 Million he got RIGHT??!! Anyone who would even "notice' wrong notes in such a trandendental performance, with timings, phrasings, and touches, one hears only every century . If you can't hear THESE things, then yes, you are equipped only to "spot" wrong notes. ARRRGHHH!

[lenechka836]

@janicezany Absolutely agree with you!!! Now I enjoy listening to his amazing playing in the Chopin Competition.He is a great artist. I hope this time he'll get what he deserves because Cliburn & QEC jury verdicts about him were ridiculous.

[chad410]

@Bennie347 I agree wit you

[utubuser10]

@Bennie347 for all his individuality he still didn't win the chopin int'l competition. but sore loser that he is, he refused to accept the verdict of the judges as a 4th place winner . he's all about bozhanov. he's really a small-minded, convinced-of-his-own-greatness individual. he should just declare himself "King" so that morons like you don't have to come to his defense.

[MrYou2ber]

@Bennie347 He cannot win because he's much too controversial. For example, take a look at the judges' scoring during the final round of Chopin competition. Judges had to rate him from 1-10 (1st place - 10th place). One judge gave him rating of 1, another judge gave him a rating of 10, and other judges gave him different ratings in between. He was too controversial, and such pianists do not win. Now, Tsujii winning the gold medal was just plain ridiculous.

[Pianist46]

@MrYou2ber I agree. Now I am not disrespecting blind people, but I think the medals should have gone to very different people. I think the whole "blind" factor perhaps sugar-coated Tsuji a bit. I think the Italian girl should have won, with Hoachen perhaps getting silver, and Di Wu or Bozhanov getting bronze.

[pianomarina]

@Bennie347 ,I absolutely like your comment.I just clicked the wrong button. That's right-Go,Bozhanov !!

[musicstars2005]

Is it just me or does the audio not seem to match the video at points? Excellent pianist!!! I watch this almost everyday. It's one of my favorite pieces of music and played splendidly!

[ThatRachGirl]

@musicstars2005 It's a YouTube thing. Mostly, we can nothing but ignore it.

[MagicDonDino]

From 5:27 to 5:55 is my fauvorite part!!

[Klinkibergi]

i dont know the piece so please tell me ....is the last note he plays supposed to sound that wrong?

[TheChai23]

Stylish and magnificent ! Evgeni's sparkly playing of this piece reminds me of Vladimir Horowitz, Cecile Licad and Rudolf Serkin. BRAVISSIMO !

[Pianisteny2k]

Seriously... Not even top 3 is a shame to music!

[alexongcs]

I LOVE IT! He's making a fantasy out of it!!!

[kdj24370]

Bravo!!!!!! Love him more than the others

[ngexpert]

he looks like he's flirting with the piano...

[tkpss1b15]

check out Colleen Lee's rendition in Prague.

She played this piece as well. Go search it up on youtube ^^. Hope you enjoy it.

[talentedpianogirl]

I don't mean to be rude or anything, but after hearing Di Wu's style of playing this piece, I have to say that Di Wu is just a tad bit better.. Ms. Wu's articulation is better, and well, this pianist is still amazing, very amazing, so I wouldn't consider this bad. This pianist plays quite well.

The last chord was.....like wow..

[alexongcs]

YOU SHOULD WIN!!!!!!!!!!!! The other pianists are fake!

[markheesen]

Tell me exactly how the 19 year oild Zhang is fake . . .

[Pianisteny2k]

Tell me exactly how Zhang is better than Bozhanov . . .

Though... This guy has got imagination, so ofc he couldn't win.

[pianosig]

Zhang was note perfect, while Bozhanov was not. But I prefer Bozhanov's originality.

[Pianisteny2k]

And to make the music come as second just to hit all the right notes is, imo, wrong. But tht' probably something to get used to in these bigger competitions...

[BrentAudi]

Amazing!

Brent

[pookiehohn]

This song seems like a day at the Circus for me. Or a carnival for that matter.

[musicman24]

ok pick on the last chord of all things - wow you people amuse me

[mimimimimira]

I liked Di Wu's interpretation of this piece better, that was more natural, but of course Mr Bozhanov is a great pianist, as well.

[nigu54]

assolutamente un genio puro.

[MagicDonDino]

Assolutamente una performance straordinaria!!! Diventerà sicuramente un grande musicista suona questo waltz come se fosse un opera teatrale!

Al minuto 8:23 ..... sensazionale!

[SsteinwayS]

I think I like Di Wu's performance of this piece in the preliminaries better because it struck me as more sincere in terms of expression, but Mr. Bozhanov's rendition is really classy and has a really great waltz-like quality.

[markheesen]

The audience overlooked his last chord which seemed way OFF. LOL They still stood and cheered.

[SsteinwayS]

Uh yeah...the end wasn't exactly the most polished I've heard, but it was still great (and boy, that last chord was...wow?)!