Zimerman plays Chopin Ballade No. 2

[angelvgiobbi]

..NICE... VERY NICE..

[dreaming0snow0]

6:07 GOD

[PhillyB702]

I think this might be the best interpretation I've heard of this piece. Everyone seems to play the presto con fuoco sections at ridiculous speed and bang the octaves over the right hand. This is a great rendition.

[cancionguerrera]

I found him so fucking hot.

[gagovich100]

the story of that ballade is about a man that is telling his girlfriend that he is loving her but she have wanted to test him so she turn herself with magic into very beautriful other girl and are trying to seduce her boyfriend when she sucsses she is drawning him in the river. the accords in the end expres his death.

[sluzki]

I loved the ninja style in 6:50

[7511540]

@sluzki

haha.. exactly!

[Ulqui91]

Seems not kira xD

Btw nice song, pianist, & interpretation.

[kiRAito39]

Does somebody care about me?

[7511540]

@kiRAito39

no

[kiRAito39]

@7511540 ahah you're funny but I'd like someone do it...

[Poet2916]

I love Chopin, and I love piano, and I love the Romantic Era of music, and though this may be off topic, am I the only one that thinks Zimmerman is...rather cute?

[Bristlehoth]

@Poet2916 No. I also LOVE Chopin, Piano, and Romantic-era classical music. And Zimerman is gorgeous, no homo- or maybe. ;)

[Poet2916]

@Bristlehoth We need to best friends. right. now. =D =P

[jen1989z]

@Poet2916 every handsome man playing the piano is cute ;)

[kiRAito39]

What's the meaning of this piece in your opinion? Please tell me your point of view I'll let you know mine...thanks

[YuriYakIshch]

Превосходное, аристократическое исполнение! Но все же иногда аристократизм граничит с декоративностью, и тогда, к сожалению, поэтичность шопеновской музыки отступает на второй план.

[redheart7]

Bravo..encore..

[GuyFawkes40]

They have these Mormon videos at the top of the selection all the time. Every time I look at it I keep thinking it says MORON.

[whneo97]

How does he always manage to achieve the right sound with so little force used?

[cowheadcow]

@whneo97 2 ways: 1. most of the force should come from the upper arms/torso. People who play with their forearms and wrists get tired. 2. That's a really, really nice piano. lol

[doomless198]

why would someone search for ballade 2 only disliking it cant understand that

[Kinjutsuu]

46 people... oh wait, these jokes aren't funny.

[supersonic1608]

@Kinjutsuu are people that have no life

[Cuneglasus]

AB SO LUTE PERFECTION! THE singular definition of musical form, rubato, melody, harmony ..... Chopins music! Infinite beauty, and the only fault with this piece, is that it has to end!

[mcrettable]

my favourite chopin ballade.. i can't explain why

[Alkoholic666]

@mcrettable No need to, my friend. :) No need what so ever!

[mcrettable]

@Alkoholic666 it's your favourite too? :) even though Chopin himself said his favourite composition he ever wrote is the first ballade, i just love this one the most :)

[YetHaterLover]

@mcrettable This one is indeed phenomenal. I never knew that the first one was his favorite, it's mine too! In my opinion the 1st one is much more "balanced" than the other ones, and much clearer to understand.

[PhillyB702]

@YetHaterLover It's also hackneyed ;).

[TheRippwood]

@YetHaterLover Yes, the first one is also my favorite. I am practicing the 3rd one at the moment because it's the easiest one in my oppinion, but the 1st is definetly the more consistent and nicer of the four.

[BassicStorm]

@TheRippwood 4th is the "best" :)

[basehead617]

the harmonies of this piece are among the best in any composition ever

[tierzuchtZentral]

2:21 oh My god I got frightened!!! *shock*

[tierzuchtZentral]

Heiliger Strohsack!!! uffffff schon wieder so ein tolles Stück in dieser Besetzung

[A8opi]

this pieces should be in a dvd, so we can watch again again in a BIG screen (:

[bicopp]

la migliore interpretazione di questa ballata a tutt'ora (per me eh?)

Grande Zimermann.......

[MrSebas56]

i love the first part, i remember my childhood :)

[Sharkkanpgm]

Nice Job.

[martlad1]

superbly played.

[haussman234]

I love how perfect his hair is in the beginning. Haha

[LittleMauraMonster]

if only chopin lived a bit longer imagine what he could have written!He was too young at 39 to die :-( ..... and i love the part from 5:50 onwards its soooo beautiful...

[Ghost2499]

The first time I heard this ballade (exquisitely performed by Zimerman) five years ago, the first Presto scared the SNOT outta me.

The most elegant, beautiful interpretation of Chopin's Second I have ever heard.

[Gthecool]

I believe Justin Bieber saw Zimerman and tried to match his amazing flow. But he couldnt get it right. Same goes for the music.

[Nganguenf]

A play of passion and fantasy played by a piano virtuoso. I do love it...I try to play it but it's not easy at all!!!!!!!!

[MrElmoist]

my favourite part is 0:00 - 7:27

[maggielovesrelientk]

I watched this for a music theory course, but will proceed to make an immature comment anyway.

HE HAS HELMET HAIR!

:D

[htljoyce]

What a wonderful pianist!!!!

[kapirapiopa]

感動しました。私もこういう演奏がしたいです。

[SuperMustacheman]

Obi Wan ? Is that you ?

[darthtrinna]

@SuperMustacheman HAHAHAHAHAHA

[uUUu314]

Everytime, no matter what volume setting, I shudder at 2:21. And in a good way. So powerful!

[aSinnerMan7]

@uUUu314 lol yeah, I was about to post something similar and then I read your post.

[jackey18704]

what a masterpiece. One of my favorite pieces by Chopin, especially when Zimmerman plays it. Thumbs up if you agree

[amanda92079988]

Gosh, the only thing I can think of when I listened to this is..OMFG. He's Chopin himself! The piece is absolutely flawless and perfect. Most of all, Zimerman's really handsome, just like what I imagine Chopin to be. Romantic~

[giangra92]

@amanda92079988 eheh, and you are very romantic at thinking "OMFG!!". Americans, you just cannot understand this =)

[thebrainnugget]

@giangra92 Hey, don't stereotype, but otherwise I agree with you on their comment because it did sound ignorant rofl. :P

[0915boss]

@giangra92 lol ikr americans suck shit, and all they know is eminem

[samuelsixvids]

Great music, not so great haircut

[siuwilly]

It's Edward Norton on piano!

[Alessandro32m]

Zimerman is the master OBi-Wan Kenobi :)

[Seekles]

Is there any recording of this?

[AdaRdor]

@Seekles Yes there is. You can find it on Amazon as: Chopin: 4 Ballades, Barcarolle in F Sharp Major, Op.60; Fantasy in F Minor, Op. 49. There's also a DVD of him performing these and Schubert pieces

[Seekles]

@AdaRdor Your name, dear sir, shall be cherished through centuries.

[jesusitoantonio]

Zimmerman plays really good!! but Rubinstein does it much better

[dustinngo0629]

What, no applause?

[m0tAguy]

I love the way his hair goes crazy like a swiffer duster @ 6:51

[Tubztele]

WOW this preformance was great

[dsm2240]

I wonder if Chopin was thinking of Mozart's K313 piano sonata when he wrote this.

[fronesis7]

This tones steal the soul.

[leninsoviet1917]

Zimerman you are the top man



[beckereur]

Magnifique oO

[Xorunia]

I have to play THIS? o_o

[crabbywabbysu]

@Xorunia I know right T_T

[Bochum96]

@Xorunia

If you want to play it... Your decision

[GodGiftedMusician]

I don't see any Obi-wan Kenobi quotes... We, as YT commentators are not living up to our full potential.

Even as Obi-wan was strong in the force, so too is Zimmerman with piano.

[Strimlarn87]

this performance was not shallow and pedantic at all. Very nice

[MrMitza09]

I had the chance to hear this ballade today at school played brillian by one of my friends.I love it now :X

[Dinelril]

lol, 3:40 he get's an eargasm himself XD

[Tubztele]

LOL CHOPIN MAKes you shit yourself on this one.. That man was fuckin unreal knew every single note on the keyboard hahah I wonder what it feels like at that level making something that sounds that incredible and musical hopefully ill get 6/10ths that good.. playin with melodies and fuckin with harmonies like they are jokes hahahaha

[Tubztele]

@MrRaphaelBM LOL IBM STANDS FOR BOWEL MOVEMENT FAGGOT

[MrRaphaelBM]

@Tubztele

Its not i its L .But any way i am sorry for talking to you like that.

[jackplaysdarts]

the clarity of notes he plays is amazing... maybe its the piano but i wish i had the clarity zimerman has!

[Mrzse4rfvd]

I was writing. My pencil just jumped from my hand at 2:21 D:

[homerosalazar]

@Mrzse4rfvd why?

[Aphrayd]

@Mrzse4rfvd hahaaa this makes me gigglee ;)

[39myteens]

i have his album that features ballade no1 to 4.

i want you to listen to it once.

[kiaretta89ct]

according to me zimermann is one of the best important pianist of this century!! i love his interpretations!

[studmuffinn537]

steinway all the wayy(:

[NeutralAeroplane]

Chopin is one of mankind's greatest achievements.

[kenjaypatson]

@NeutralAeroplane

Nah bro, one of the universe's greatest achievements. WOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA­AAAH

[A8opi]

He is definately one of the greatest pianist ever ! I love him so bad.

[A8opi]

I think its cute that fact that he uses his wedding ring while playing, most of people don't like to play with it. Sweet, sweet !

[R1chWaltz]

40 ppl got smacked by Zimmermans hand at 6:50

[LongJohnProduction]

M0:00RE!!!

[Chopinumbreon]

It's interesting how this ballade changes mood suddenly...scared the heck out of me when I listened for the first time.

But that's the joy of this piece, I think.

[pianoclouds]

This ballade is so beautifully tragic... The theme makes me think of a childhood song from the memories of a troubled man. The contrasting, dark melodies are the hardships in his life, and the reoccurring subject describes how he constantly recalls the peaceful days of his youth. And at last, the theme is repeated in a minor tonality, perhaps that one happy memory alone can't keep him going anymore and he's given up.

Or, at least that's how I interpret it. A bit melancholic, yes.

[jsmaster94]

I like this interpretation a lot, though Rubenstein's seams to be unmatched. I am most impressed with Zimerman's technique; the notes all speak very clearly. I have to say, I hate Horowitz's interpretations of the ballades. He over-exaggerates to the point of distortion, thus ruining the fluidity of the pieces.

[Kachukeland]

I've always wondered what alternate endings Chopin considered when writing this. I always want to hear this piece end with huge chords, like the other ballades. Well, I suppose this one sets itself apart from the others for that very reason.

[tektojov]

Where is he playing?



[MozartK365]

Mr. Zimerman, I wish one day you will visit Indonesia and play Chopin...I will certainly come to the concert in that case

[nowayemily]

the 40 people who disliked this video are tone deaf.

[pianoman930]

I coulda sworn I saw smoke coming from his fingers...

[boomboomdrums]

WOW Amazing Performance

[CreeperSage]

This is a magnificent piece! Out of all my years in Piano, Zimmerman plays Chopin the best. With such feeling and passion. It's great!

[zhupnhormaii]

his wife must really love his finger.

[zachmaster7]

40 people were looking for the Call of Duty soundtrack. In all seriousness, however, amazing piece, and terrific interpretation.

[spiritfool]

to me it starts as a peaceful dream.. you wake up, and you see all this destruction, people run... then this person falls asleep again, but the dream is different, it fills in the story how the dream char got there. the dream ends sadly as this person wakes up to reality...

[coolsambo60]

Watch him swat a pesky fly at 6:50.

[GodGiftedMusician]

@coolsambo60 lol

[honron21]

@coolsambo60 you made me literally cry with laughter... actually you almost killed me with laughter, you are a genius!!!

[pytoche]

thats what i call a chord progression! great stuff!

[edwin9436]

the diminished chords of the presto part is just like nightmare= =

[Cruntet]

i prefer rubinstein version, but this one is still nice

[ProkofievRules]

Of all of his performances of the Ballade, I think he does the best job with this one. Previous to this year I didn't really like this Ballade. But I gotta say, if it's played right, it's just awesome.

[GianneC]

@coolsambo60 Well it's in the soundtrack, that's where I hear it from. So I just figured it was in the movie.

[GianneC]

@jeannypoo the pianist probably

[coolsambo60]

@GianneC The pianist had ballade no 1 and nocturne 20, not ballade no 2 (if I'm not mistaken), so he must have heard it somewhere else.

[jeannypoo]

Where have I heard this? This is the first time I've made an effort to go find pretty Chopin music, so I know it wasn't just while listening to Chopin. Is it perhaps in a movie somewhere? It sounds SO familiar.

[ParaParaschiva]

and... it's Chopin

[ParaParaschiva]

how can you not to like it?? I mean, it's classical music... it's "the mother" of all genres of music.

[psychomotif]

I live the way Zimmerman fixes his hair before starting the piece. very meticulously :)

thumbs up if you agree.

[mrvexingparse]

@psychomotif i love how they included that 5 second footage!

[davidsmffei]

@psychomotif Are you saying that you LIVE very meticulously?

[whneo97]

@psychomotif You mean 'love', right? :P

[maaskeimorgen]

@whneo97 maybe it's a mix between love and like, but i think it's more likely that youre right. I and O are right next to eachother. sorry, i couldn't help it... now i'm gonna press Send O.o

[Eyesxlikexaxtarget]

Who taught Zimerman how to play? This is fantastic.

[Dicerivan]

Andrzej Jasiński

[OriginalBasaliskos]

@Eyesxlikexaxtarget Andrzej Jasiński. I don't know who that is, but Zimerman has gorgeous phrasing, doesn't he?

[arlongan]

@Eyesxlikexaxtarget Who can teach Zimerman anyway?

[sundaydsus]

I like to think that Zimerman is in that room playing constantly in some other universe.

[Oromhegy]

Zimerman the best Chopin player.

[BreakneckWalrus]

2:22 startled me! xD

[Mewzickchannel]

This is so overwhelmingly amazing. Thanks Sissco for the upload!

[doomless198]

39 reasons to wear condoms

[OriginalBasaliskos]

@doomless198 I usually hate dislike button jokes, but yours is the best I've ever read. haha.

[decemberbenjamin]

I'm sorry, but what is there to dislike ? I don't get it.

[MrsAltiste]

the dislike button click that people who dislike F. Chopin

and i'll kill these 39 people.

thanks to Chopin and all other composers that we have music of our time.

[insicurafragile]

who could click the dislike button???

[Ziad31]

imagine ball room dancing to this hahahaha! chopin is a genius..

[hartesmusic]

dont always agree with his phrasing but im a big fan

[Speedbid744]

Incredible..

[wanernogueira]

Zimerman's view is always very beautiful

[TheJonMG]

Really someone who voted no, is able to do something better in his life ?

[pianisticphilip]

i hate ignorant people that not aprecieted that !

[Dannydoo199263]

39 dumbos only watched from 0:00 to 0:15 ;)

[plagueofangels666]

@Dannydoo199263 heel i even like those first seconds :p

[snake1179]

39 people got smacked at 6:51

[vuanhkhue]

39 idiots misclicked Like buttion

[mlr2107]

Love this ballade. It's almost as if somebody came in and interrupted Chopin while he was writing this ballade and then he got really really angry because of it and this is how it turned out. lol

[marksanderlin]

his hair had to be perfectly feathered for the piece to come out correctly.

[ForeverLoveWLh]

@marksanderlin haha, was just thinking the same lol

[puidebachh]

i think people who pressed DISLIKE, they made a mistake...because all they want was to press LIKE. Good piece ... great Chopin.

[leonardoaugnas]

Great Pianist

[akagrin]

6:39 - best 10 seconds of the piece IMHO

[kajciaable]

No, he is married. In Poland married people wearing ring on right hand :)

[YDG777]

how old is this guy now?

[piojo1987]

@YDG777 Wikipedia has the answer! 

[korosuoni]

This is absolutely amazing.

[kittykittymehmeh]

Zimmerman's wearing a ring on his right hand; is he engaged?

[smirnov452]

why do people not like this?

[ThePinkFloydPig]

NICE ENDING !

[Nganguen]

This song is exactly the path of the man in her life: slow and innocent in his early ages, fiery, impetuous in his adolescence and then, in his youth and later, he becomes quiet, slow, peaceful .... ....No words!!! If Beethoven is the father of Romantism, Chopin mastered it... Awesome, Waouuhh!!!