i think the speed is appropriate ... sure, other pianist play it at a much slower pace, but if you know what the song is about and what mood it conveys, i'd say that this tempo the dramatic atmosphere is really emphasized.
I want to know HOW you got the recording in the first place!! I went to hear her and even before she appeared I was just filming the inside of the building and was told to shut my camera off. Had it not been my first time hearing here and the fact we had travelled a long way, I would have told the person to get lost! I wasn't filming HER - (yet - ha!) Hey, c'mon. Everybody films concerts at some time. I'm just SO glad you filmed this one, and a HUGE thank you. Yuja is a HUGE-A talent!!
@geertdehoux It is the proper understanding and execution of the correct movement that is determing for ones level of technique.Miss Wang is constantly changing the position of her wrist from low to high.In this way different sets of muscles are alternately engaged in the playing of f.e. fast and repeated octaves.Hence she is capable of using the octave vibrato technique.This way fatigue or cramps can be avoided.Miss Wang has extraordinary nerve speed and great legs.:-)Groetjes
Kudos to the sound engineer. she is about 100-110 lbs and cannot strike that type of volume from a piano unless she is standing up and even then.... enough of the fraud. It would be nice to hear someone play normally without the artificial sound enhancements.
Sorry, but if you know what is actually happening in the (original) poem and song, you must come to the conclusion that Yevgeny Kissin (also here on YT) plays it much more masterfully. Her play does not sing at all. But she's got quick fingers though.
I don't think she's playing too fast. The melodic lines sound perfectly sensible to me. She cares a lot about the voices in the piece and play them very convincingly.
I am a fan of Yuya Wang and consider her one of the current great pianists. Even here it can be seen that she feels the music. Still the tempo IMHO is too high. To show off pianistic skills it is ok, but for interpretation of the song it is not suitable. Her other Liszt/Schubert-recordings are really convincing. I would like to hear her play this piece a little bit slower. But maybe she will do so at a later time when she does not have to proof pianistic superiority.
@costep "pianistic superiority" what a load of bollocks. This piece is rushed and is diminished because of it. Greater speed does NOT mean greater virtuosity. Music is about the feelings you create in your audience.
@costep I didn't intentionally post twice, that was something to do with the computer I think. My comment was more about your idea that there is something as ridiculous as "pianistic superiority" and that somehow this was linked to greater speed. The appreciation of music is a subjective experience.
@costep "pianistic superiority" Really? Greater speed does NOT equal greater virtuosity. Music is about the feelings you create in your audience. This piece is rushed and is diminished because of it.
I keep wondering when I see a performance like this what the limitation on muscle contraction and restoration really is for a human being, or any animal for that mater. Not to mention how long someone can keep it up without depleting the glucose and oxygen necessary to make it all work. The music often demands more that what a normal person can deliver, hence the idea that some virtuosos are super-human.
@WJE37FCSM You make a very astute observation.I think the answer is twofold"1/ correct understanding and execution of the right movements.2/ Something western medicine still does not understand and therefore rejects:Qi= energy.Given the fact she is Chinese I would not be surprised she is a Qigong practioner.
@riorin8829 Haha...your comment is kind of funny....in the last 15/20 years chinese people is enjoying the same freedom as we have in the west, except to talk or critizice the government.....Yuja like the "12 Girls Band" chinese instruments players, just to mention another great artists, could study whatever they wanted to ....China actually is today more "capitalist" than US ...sorry to talk this subject here where we are just to enjoy good music...
her newer version at verier 2010 is much more refined. anyone disliking this performance should see that before criticizing. its obvious how much she grew in interpretation after only a year
I personally believe this tempo fits the piece better, the story isn't bright and cheerful and this tempo kind of conveys a bit of madness and darkness that is lost in slower performances. That's just tempo, I'm not familiar enough with other parts of the piece like dynamics or phrasing to comment on them, but the tempo does make it more intense and makes the listener lean forward.
germany itself is not that good for performers to get educated, our system produces masses of lawyers, business guys and engineers (even for that there are some better adresses in the US). As I can see the influence of europeans in classical music is decreasing and there are just a few "younger" people in my age that are interested in classical music, I think in china there are more.
Iam from germany ( but my dad is from iran), I had not the luck to have parents that are big fans of classical music and so I came in contact with classical music when I was 19 ... now iam 23 and studying computer science but I learn as much as I can about composition and piano playing... the truth is I will never be a professional musician... its really hard to accept this :)((((
@orleomarty When i read your post you reminded myself so much i had to post something:D
I too am studying computer engineering(well not exactly same but..) and i started to listen classical music when i was 20. It has only been 2 years but every month my love for it grows bigger. Unlike you, i came to contact with classical music when i was 7 or so. In my hometown(Antalya, Turkey) there is an opera festival every year in an ancient greek theatre.
My father would save money every year and take us to one of the concerts.To my regret though i liked it, i never got into it enough to ask my father to sent me to learn an instrument. I am still just a listener but since i came to italy for my erasmus, i started to listen c.music so much i decided when i go back to turkey i will do whatever i can to go to a piano course:)
And really sadly in our age not many people bother listening to c. music.
@tinithraviel If you can finally play other's music, you are still not much more than a listener. I learned piano for a few years - then I became bored and frustrated since I couldn't really make music on my own. In the beginning it was fun to be able to play a composition perfectly but later it didn't feel different than just listening.
What you all arent taking into account is her age. Kissin is 39 or forty and Richter performed it when he was older. those who say "she's no horowitz" dont understand that she isnt even thirty. plenty of time for beethoven later, let her enjoy the cziffra arrangements and the schubert/liszt song transcriptions while shes still young and strong
Don't get me wrong. I want Yuja (or anyone else--I don't care who!) to play better than Hofmann!! She is still young and there's time. I hope the success and amount of music she has to learn/play don't keep her from maturing as a musician
Hofmann's performance I can listen to repeatedly and with sustained fascination. His noticeable tempo fluctuations make me swoon, and I can only fantasize about how he would really let loose in a live performance. The difference is that H. never loses his (unique) sense of proportion, and sounds like he is speeding/pulling back always because that is what he wants. Yuja sounds a little beyond control from the beginning and never really manages to get back on top. (in contrast to Richter...)
One of the other youtube critics mentioned the 'more virtuous' (I like that!) accounts by Hoffman, Richter, and Kissin. I agree, though my personal favorite is by Josef Hofmann. (There exists a similar but better recording than the one posted on youtube by Gullivior.) Listening to this performance has all the highs and lows of a one-night stand--- It's exciting and impulsive, but also rushed and not very well thought out/a bit out of control: in short hearing it once is enough.
@darrenabcd1 Most youtube listeners (or let's just say most of the human population in general) cannot play like this, therefore the hype is understandable. Virtuosity can be stupifying, and hype blinding: clearly this is not a Perfect performance, and I imagine that the 33 dislikers (I'm not one of them, though I do feel them) are more interested in deflating the hype than implying that Yuja has no talent.
white ppl are so racist always calling the asians playing empty and then comparing to a Horowitz who has some of the worst professional interpretations ive heard and i swear if i took a pic of Horowitz and put the audio of some Chinese pianist ppl would be all, 'oh Horowitz is amazing he plays with so much emotion' fcking give me a break asian pianists are just as good as anyone else
I was just listening to Kissin play this. Sounded quite a bit better in terms of clarity. Don't know if she's using a bit too much pedal or if it's the lousy recording quality. Anyway, I still like her playing, Kissin and Volodos are hard to beat for those nice punchy clear notes with good note separation.
Not taking anything away from Yuja. I am an admirer of hers. She's an awesome talent.
Fantastic. Wang really finds the spirit and soul of this piece. I have to add, it is ironic that SourCream criticizes commentators, but would rather not hear any from others. My advice, SourCream, is yours: since you can't "play this". shut the hell up. Consider yourself insulted. I don't need or want your moralizing aphorisms.
@TempoFurioso sorry i was having a bad day when i wrote that comment; you're right i was trying to make myself feel better by critism, forgive my immodesty. however, the core of the belief in my comment still stands. anyway enough arguing, i love this piece by Schubert and Wang's interpretation is pretty cool, but i still like the piano-vocal version :-); the color contrasts seem more prominent
If she doesn't receive criticism, how can she expect to get better? If she were open-minded, and truly cared for music, she'd be glad she's getting criticism. Criticisms, to me are doorways to perfection. Additionally, you have no right telling the uneducated not to speak, who do you think you're are? It's often the little people rather than the elitists who you can learn the best from, for they have the gift of common sense.
I don't know if she's cutting notes to make it easier (my first comment was "I don't know why" just for that). Anyway I consider a couple of things: "the text first of all", that means that every pianist must start from what's written in the part. Then, I'm sure that Liszt knows how to emphasize a musical episode, so you don't need to change what he wrote (and Schubert itself wrote, because the first part it's almost the same in the lied). Then, in that place there is not the v
For the ones who misunderstood the expression "missed notes" or "missing notes"...we are not meaning "mistakes", everyone can do them in a piece like this...we are meaning "notes that she doesn't play BY PURPOSE to make easier some passages": for me that is defenitively a bad thing to do, she is intellectually and morally not correct, that is my idea...you can't deliberately cut some notes in a piece to make it easier, it's just not fair! That is my idea...
@darbon85000 do you actually think that she leaves out notes to make it easier? if yes, then you're very naive. she doesn't play some octaves, but only single notes in order to emphasize the melodic part of the piece, thus creating more clarity. for a pianist of her level it's not really about technically easier or harder anymore.
What would you say, how much experience one needs to play this? I would like to try it. I've been been playing the piano for about 10 years and practice 2 -3 hours a day. Do you think I could make it?
Yes, I have been playing for about 13 years now and I am learning this piece right now. You practice way more than I do, you will have it down in no time. I am taking it slow with a metronome set at 112. When I can play it at that speed I'm going to start picking it up a bit. This song is a blast to play, I hope you stick with it.
@Kansasinventions Thanks for the answer!!! I've actually started learning it now and you were right, it really is a blast to play. But I pity my neighbours ... ;)
Its not the same without a Soprano singing about a pedophile Elf who tempts a boy, and a hallucinating boy carried by his father, and a father who is on a horse that has a perfect triplet. Still a fantastic interpretation though, not even in my wildest dreams could I even attempt to play such a beautiful piece.
Interesting, passionate performance, but overall to my mind unsatisfactory. Yuja would do better, I think, if she doesn't speed up so much some of the most dramatic. It's a mistake. Everybody can play fast. This is not the point. Erlkoenig is a fine example when it is much more difficult to play it slow. Also, though this may be due to YT's lousy sound, Yuja right hand sometimes tends to overshadow the left, where most of the vocal line lies - which is pretty disastrous.
LOL! first you hear Oleksandr Poliykov's interpretation and you are impressed.. then you hear yuja playing it at almost double speed.. And you're blown away.
@chibura Wow. Come on. Kissin is one of the most robotic pianists out there. Sure, his techniques are top notch, but you're using Kissin to compare EMOTIONS? Are you serious? That's like calling Macdonalds "heathy". Sure, you have the right to express your opinions, however obscure they are. But so are others in calling on your more-or-less incorrect views.
@bucciflash: Oh, come on. Her technique is not the problems. But her interpretation is shallow. If that's what I see in her, then I have the right to say. This piece is too famous for not knowing other pianists who are more high-level than Yuja. No offense, really. I just think Kissin's version is too much better. He made the piano SING.
@th3wing3dpaint3r I agree, sometimes really bright toned pianos actually seem to kill the mood. It's like the sound dominates the pitch or something. Good point.
I must say, she is amazing. She has, this great interpretation of Erlkonig. But the thing is piano, at least in this song, must stay as secondary, not primary. Since she is pianist, and playing without actual singer, I must say she has done nice job.
But if I was the one about sing Erlkonig, no doubt I despise her.
@jnthnswift2 , well this is the language i use to express myself, it is crude yes, but i was expressing the beauty i was seeing in my way, i dont have the knowledge to talk as everyone else in these posts, im saying what im feeling and enjoying, and because of this are you saying im exempt, is that youre prejudice, i like all styles of music and the energy you can get falling into a piece.... so screw you and keep your cliques if you want, youre mind will be closed and youll suffer for it
American or not, music is a universal language and that is used to express the performers feelings. This may be Schubert's piece, Listzs arrangement or have influences from Europe, but Yuja is the performer, and this is her interpretation. Insulting her music is insulting her. You wouldn't like it if someone just blantantly hated on you, so don't do that to her. And to all who criticize but can't play this, you hae no right to speak.
@SourCream232 if music is a universal language then why do you need to be able to play this to give an opinion? Are people allowed to say that they like it if they cant play it?
@SourCream232 Oh really? There's piano judges that have every right to criticize the pianist's playing and some can't even play the piece the pianist is playing. So even though they can't play a piece, they have the right to criticize her playing as long as they understand how classical works and if they know the song fully to the extent where they should know the dynamics, tempo, etc.
@lavamaster530 "How classical works" and "song"? You're an idiot, and it's retarded people like you that comment on videos of concert pianists; Horowitz, Volodos, Gould etc. about "dynamics, tempo etc" that shouldn't even be allowed to listen to this great music. You apparently don't appreciate and understand anything that's involved, let alone what's involved regarding performance. People that can't play/perform are relegated to teach/critique... 99.99% of the time.
@SourCream232 "American or not" "have influences from Europe"... What are you talking about? If it's not American than it's still good music? Liszt and Schubert were from Europe, that's a little more than 'influence from' right?
There's a difference between respecting musicianship, commenting on an interpretation, and technical prowess. Yuja Wang has a huge reputation for her musicianship. No question about that. People can comment on this all they want. I personally do not like it. I feel that the speed takes away from the driving bass. But the speeds seems to add to the dolce melody so much, it's hard to decide what to do, as keeping up the tempo is big in this.
I ran out of characters to say this last bit: You don't have to be able to play to be able to comment. That's absurd. All you have to do is know the piece and listen. You may not be a trombone player. But you could definitely comment on the interpretation of a trombone player's solo, regardless of the technical demands of that solo. If what you say about having to be able to play to be able to criticize was true, nobody would ever have gone seen a concert.
@jnthnswift2 those that can't do?? I would be very careful before you make judgements about me. I am a concert pianist and have played this piece many times. The "German aspects" are the differences in intonation to bring the meaning of the piece to light. All this lady does is plonk along on the keys without any meaning or feeling. She also plays it much too aggressively. But then I wouldn't expect an American like yourself to understand anything about European or German culture....
To everyone thinking she played it too fast or like a machine, I think you're used to the original lied. This is the arrangement by Franz Liszt, perhaps try listening to this with a mindset expecting a typical Liszt style virtuosic frenzy of notes, instead of the textural delicacy of the original Schubert work, and you might realize what a very well executed performance this is :)
I like Yuja Wang's performance. She understands the piece well but missing octaves gave less character
Look at the score of Erlkonig & compare the score to Yuja Wang's performance. Visually, you can see she didn't play some of the octaves that were meant to be played. 0:08 is an example of some octaves she missed in the right hand. This renders your rude insults completely invalid. Please learn to read notes before insulting a true,valid comment
I absolutely disagree that this wonderful pianist plays this too fast .. if you sing the words in your head as she plays it, she seems to have it just right. I think it is marvellously nuanced and in no way 'robotic' as someone says. I only dream of being able to play like this .. it has such drive and energy. The father is desperately gallopping through the night to save his son after all!
I'm sorry to say that but the way she plays the piano is totally ruining this wonderful piece. It's much too fast and seems somehow sped up... All those people have to learn that it is not only the speed that counts!!!
There's some rude comments in here, I don't get it. This is amazing performance! I never heard the Liszt version before, it's amazing and I thought she brought out the three different characters very well and the desperation of the father. So people writing, no expression, what are you talking about?
this is rubbish. This is one of the most German of all music pieces and she has taken every Germanic aspect out of it and completely ruined it. Probably because she has no idea of the meaning of the song!
@123mazeppa Hi. I believe this piece has been graded at 8+, although it's commonly acknowledged that this is one of the most challenging of all piano pieces, particularly the Liszt version.
The way this woman plays it ruins the whole meaning of the piece though! She's like a robot.
That's totally weird, lol. I can play Winter Wind Etude very well and can play fantaisie impromptu very easily but I'm learning Erlkonig right now and I cannot play this.
@123mazeppa Yes I mean the Liszt version. I don't believe the Schubert Lied version has been graded. The Liszt version is graded 8+, which means above grade 8. I would even say significantly above grade 8. I'm a qualified piano teacher and this piece is very challenging. It took me many weeks of practise to perfect it! It's nice to know that you are learning it. Keep at it, it will pay off in the end! :)
@utki17 umm... I have to disagree with you. I think this piece was MEANT to be played THIS fast.Listen to Frederic Lamond's performance. He was a pupil of Liszt and played the piece faster.
he was a pupil of Liszt, thus I believe that given he played Erlkonig fast, Liszt may have intended it to be played this fast.
The criticism I give to Yuja Wang is that in here, she missed quite a lot of notes.
This renders the piece with less character. She needs to play ALL the notes e.g. 0:08 to 0:11
To those saying she plays with no feeling: Yes, she does. Before I read the comments, I was actually thinking how well she portrays the different characters' emotions - the boy is frantic and frightened, the Erlkönig is sweet and captivating, and the father is increasingly worried. If you mean the ostinato pattern has no emotion - of course it wouldn't. It's a horse running at top speed, which she emulates perfectly. The lyrics are perfectly easy to "hear" in this version: if you know them.
i think the speed is appropriate ... sure, other pianist play it at a much slower pace, but if you know what the song is about and what mood it conveys, i'd say that this tempo the dramatic atmosphere is really emphasized.
lovewatermelon1 4 days ago
She butchered Schubert with great skill.
InXLsisDeo 4 days ago
I want to know HOW you got the recording in the first place!! I went to hear her and even before she appeared I was just filming the inside of the building and was told to shut my camera off. Had it not been my first time hearing here and the fact we had travelled a long way, I would have told the person to get lost! I wasn't filming HER - (yet - ha!) Hey, c'mon. Everybody films concerts at some time. I'm just SO glad you filmed this one, and a HUGE thank you. Yuja is a HUGE-A talent!!
Mrphilharmonic 1 week ago
@440HertzPiano
Of course, she is!
geertdehoux 2 weeks ago
Horrible music!
geertdehoux 2 weeks ago
@440HertzPiano
With all respect, I'm convinced the' muscular body' and weight have MUCH to do with piano playing!
Regards,
Geert Dehoux, pianist (Belgium).
geertdehoux 2 weeks ago
@geertdehoux It is the proper understanding and execution of the correct movement that is determing for ones level of technique.Miss Wang is constantly changing the position of her wrist from low to high.In this way different sets of muscles are alternately engaged in the playing of f.e. fast and repeated octaves.Hence she is capable of using the octave vibrato technique.This way fatigue or cramps can be avoided.Miss Wang has extraordinary nerve speed and great legs.:-)Groetjes
abmsghost1 2 weeks ago
Ochjoeng, allieëndelazaarbermaangkongdaspèèjlejoeng!
geertdehoux 2 weeks ago
Kudos to the sound engineer. she is about 100-110 lbs and cannot strike that type of volume from a piano unless she is standing up and even then.... enough of the fraud. It would be nice to hear someone play normally without the artificial sound enhancements.
op106 1 month ago
Sorry, but if you know what is actually happening in the (original) poem and song, you must come to the conclusion that Yevgeny Kissin (also here on YT) plays it much more masterfully. Her play does not sing at all. But she's got quick fingers though.
TommyHaegin 1 month ago
I don't think she's playing too fast. The melodic lines sound perfectly sensible to me. She cares a lot about the voices in the piece and play them very convincingly.
hd9xc1k2 1 month ago
I am a fan of Yuya Wang and consider her one of the current great pianists. Even here it can be seen that she feels the music. Still the tempo IMHO is too high. To show off pianistic skills it is ok, but for interpretation of the song it is not suitable. Her other Liszt/Schubert-recordings are really convincing. I would like to hear her play this piece a little bit slower. But maybe she will do so at a later time when she does not have to proof pianistic superiority.
costep 1 month ago
@costep "pianistic superiority" what a load of bollocks. This piece is rushed and is diminished because of it. Greater speed does NOT mean greater virtuosity. Music is about the feelings you create in your audience.
Aarrmehearties 2 weeks ago
@Aarrmehearties Posting twice does not enhance the meaning of your posting.And I wrote that it is too fast IMHO.
costep 2 weeks ago
@costep I didn't intentionally post twice, that was something to do with the computer I think. My comment was more about your idea that there is something as ridiculous as "pianistic superiority" and that somehow this was linked to greater speed. The appreciation of music is a subjective experience.
Aarrmehearties 2 weeks ago
@costep "pianistic superiority" Really? Greater speed does NOT equal greater virtuosity. Music is about the feelings you create in your audience. This piece is rushed and is diminished because of it.
Aarrmehearties 2 weeks ago
What version are you playing?? I want it! :P
Chaserpeach 2 months ago
brravo!!!!!
TataRealMadrid 2 months ago
I keep wondering when I see a performance like this what the limitation on muscle contraction and restoration really is for a human being, or any animal for that mater. Not to mention how long someone can keep it up without depleting the glucose and oxygen necessary to make it all work. The music often demands more that what a normal person can deliver, hence the idea that some virtuosos are super-human.
WJE37FCSM 2 months ago
@WJE37FCSM You make a very astute observation.I think the answer is twofold"1/ correct understanding and execution of the right movements.2/ Something western medicine still does not understand and therefore rejects:Qi= energy.Given the fact she is Chinese I would not be surprised she is a Qigong practioner.
abmsghost1 2 weeks ago
I cant see the fingures :O
TheHatiner 2 months ago
what did communist China do to this girl? what have you done to turn a innocent normal girl into a crazy amazing world class pianist?
riorin8829 3 months ago 3
@riorin8829 Haha...your comment is kind of funny....in the last 15/20 years chinese people is enjoying the same freedom as we have in the west, except to talk or critizice the government.....Yuja like the "12 Girls Band" chinese instruments players, just to mention another great artists, could study whatever they wanted to ....China actually is today more "capitalist" than US ...sorry to talk this subject here where we are just to enjoy good music...
wwwtips 1 month ago
her newer version at verier 2010 is much more refined. anyone disliking this performance should see that before criticizing. its obvious how much she grew in interpretation after only a year
stevef095 4 months ago in playlist Liked
I personally believe this tempo fits the piece better, the story isn't bright and cheerful and this tempo kind of conveys a bit of madness and darkness that is lost in slower performances. That's just tempo, I'm not familiar enough with other parts of the piece like dynamics or phrasing to comment on them, but the tempo does make it more intense and makes the listener lean forward.
aztecsaxwarrior 4 months ago 2
i like Kissin version than this one. But Yuja has her own style. Strong and definitive, she really does good job.
susannguyen91 4 months ago
super!
777Muse 4 months ago
awesome
Cherrya996 4 months ago
Look at the angle of her wrists, which enables her fingers to move in any way!!
camomile988 4 months ago
germany itself is not that good for performers to get educated, our system produces masses of lawyers, business guys and engineers (even for that there are some better adresses in the US). As I can see the influence of europeans in classical music is decreasing and there are just a few "younger" people in my age that are interested in classical music, I think in china there are more.
orleomarty 4 months ago
Iam from germany ( but my dad is from iran), I had not the luck to have parents that are big fans of classical music and so I came in contact with classical music when I was 19 ... now iam 23 and studying computer science but I learn as much as I can about composition and piano playing... the truth is I will never be a professional musician... its really hard to accept this :)((((
orleomarty 4 months ago
@orleomarty When i read your post you reminded myself so much i had to post something:D
I too am studying computer engineering(well not exactly same but..) and i started to listen classical music when i was 20. It has only been 2 years but every month my love for it grows bigger. Unlike you, i came to contact with classical music when i was 7 or so. In my hometown(Antalya, Turkey) there is an opera festival every year in an ancient greek theatre.
tinithraviel 4 months ago
My father would save money every year and take us to one of the concerts.To my regret though i liked it, i never got into it enough to ask my father to sent me to learn an instrument. I am still just a listener but since i came to italy for my erasmus, i started to listen c.music so much i decided when i go back to turkey i will do whatever i can to go to a piano course:)
And really sadly in our age not many people bother listening to c. music.
tinithraviel 4 months ago
@tinithraviel If you can finally play other's music, you are still not much more than a listener. I learned piano for a few years - then I became bored and frustrated since I couldn't really make music on my own. In the beginning it was fun to be able to play a composition perfectly but later it didn't feel different than just listening.
MrCmon113 4 months ago
@orleomarty You can't be sure about that. You're still young and if you're creative in finding melodies you could make money with your music one day.
MrCmon113 4 months ago
Hrm. Good performance, just I prefer Richter's.
MrLieblingsessen 4 months ago
First time I met somebody that loved to play the piano, it was a Malaysian lady.
aikido8888 5 months ago
her fingers have springs...wow..=D
x0x0musiclover0x0x 5 months ago
Amazing!!
Playing the octaves in this speed requires such a training..
London23193 5 months ago
What you all arent taking into account is her age. Kissin is 39 or forty and Richter performed it when he was older. those who say "she's no horowitz" dont understand that she isnt even thirty. plenty of time for beethoven later, let her enjoy the cziffra arrangements and the schubert/liszt song transcriptions while shes still young and strong
stevef095 5 months ago
one of the most difficult pieces for piano.. superb performance
FishGush 6 months ago
I respect that she can play this piece at such a high tempo, but I think it's much faster than intended. Never heard it played so fast.
Also, I think the balance between left and right hand could be better, but that could have something to do with the botchy recording.
rubenblijdorp 6 months ago 21
@rubenblijdorp
"but I think it's much faster than intended. Never heard it played so fast."
Now you are educated on something new. Do not hate things that you have never experienced before.
zerosum88 4 months ago
@zerosum88 faster does not equal better, and I don't like her style here. Nothing to do with hating, just personal preference...
rubenblijdorp 4 months ago
Comment removed
philiphoward123 4 months ago
@rubenblijdorp oui,il faut écouter Josef Hofmann (1916).......pour entendre la musique au même tempo cependant
Yes, it is necessary to listen to Josef Hofmann (in 1916) ....... to hear(understand) the music to the same tempo however
antoinezygfryd 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
This was even beatifull .. and I never say that of Liszt .. but this was T_T
Darkboy2525 6 months ago
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Darkboy2525 6 months ago
Comment removed
Darkboy2525 6 months ago
MAravilloso. Enjoy.
pacodelcampopaz 6 months ago
Must give her a lot of credit for being able to pull this piece off.
lourak 6 months ago
she is pure art, period.
this is no place for racist comments.
Kev1nt 6 months ago
@Kev1nt period? o.O
123mazeppa 6 months ago
how much are they insured for?
KarenSilver915 6 months ago
Hätte sie sich doch mal eine Liedeinspielung des Orginals angehört
baerschob 6 months ago
her side view reminds me of Nodame Megumi from the live action of Nodame Cantabile
lavamaster530 7 months ago
Unreal :D
hunterj86 7 months ago
Absolutely fantastic. I'm so thrilled, my goose bumps won't go away
TheSchroedingersCat 7 months ago
I just came her fingers are great
ron619 7 months ago
Don't get me wrong. I want Yuja (or anyone else--I don't care who!) to play better than Hofmann!! She is still young and there's time. I hope the success and amount of music she has to learn/play don't keep her from maturing as a musician
thelowyoyo 7 months ago
Hofmann's performance I can listen to repeatedly and with sustained fascination. His noticeable tempo fluctuations make me swoon, and I can only fantasize about how he would really let loose in a live performance. The difference is that H. never loses his (unique) sense of proportion, and sounds like he is speeding/pulling back always because that is what he wants. Yuja sounds a little beyond control from the beginning and never really manages to get back on top. (in contrast to Richter...)
thelowyoyo 7 months ago 2
One of the other youtube critics mentioned the 'more virtuous' (I like that!) accounts by Hoffman, Richter, and Kissin. I agree, though my personal favorite is by Josef Hofmann. (There exists a similar but better recording than the one posted on youtube by Gullivior.) Listening to this performance has all the highs and lows of a one-night stand--- It's exciting and impulsive, but also rushed and not very well thought out/a bit out of control: in short hearing it once is enough.
thelowyoyo 7 months ago
The other 32 students of Wang's academy watched this
22030815 7 months ago 3
How can someone dislike this???!!!!!!31 dislikes???What the FK!!!!!
darrenabcd1 8 months ago
@darrenabcd1 Most youtube listeners (or let's just say most of the human population in general) cannot play like this, therefore the hype is understandable. Virtuosity can be stupifying, and hype blinding: clearly this is not a Perfect performance, and I imagine that the 33 dislikers (I'm not one of them, though I do feel them) are more interested in deflating the hype than implying that Yuja has no talent.
thelowyoyo 7 months ago
well played!
i like more of this played in the violin, but still very nice
MrRiR1 8 months ago
white ppl are so racist always calling the asians playing empty and then comparing to a Horowitz who has some of the worst professional interpretations ive heard and i swear if i took a pic of Horowitz and put the audio of some Chinese pianist ppl would be all, 'oh Horowitz is amazing he plays with so much emotion' fcking give me a break asian pianists are just as good as anyone else
anonymousQ45 8 months ago 3
Comment removed
arnowaschk 8 months ago
I was just listening to Kissin play this. Sounded quite a bit better in terms of clarity. Don't know if she's using a bit too much pedal or if it's the lousy recording quality. Anyway, I still like her playing, Kissin and Volodos are hard to beat for those nice punchy clear notes with good note separation.
Not taking anything away from Yuja. I am an admirer of hers. She's an awesome talent.
robertslistening 8 months ago
Fuckin' easy for chronic masturbators...
Mythic219 9 months ago
@Mythic219 Are you a poor Neanderthal or a Cromañon?
Sophiestelle 9 months ago
@Mythic219 at least we know how you spend your time.
conetkacat 8 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Interpretations of a Master,
Heart of an Angel,
Technique of a Devil.
Bravissimo!
GGefter1 9 months ago
mah
newFranzFerencLiszt 9 months ago
iwth wrists like that, 15 seconds tops...
utubuser10 9 months ago in playlist Yuja Wang
great song if you have parkinson's jks thats so dogg
Vinvolve 9 months ago
Fantastic. Wang really finds the spirit and soul of this piece. I have to add, it is ironic that SourCream criticizes commentators, but would rather not hear any from others. My advice, SourCream, is yours: since you can't "play this". shut the hell up. Consider yourself insulted. I don't need or want your moralizing aphorisms.
mycatsapunk 9 months ago
@TempoFurioso sorry i was having a bad day when i wrote that comment; you're right i was trying to make myself feel better by critism, forgive my immodesty. however, the core of the belief in my comment still stands. anyway enough arguing, i love this piece by Schubert and Wang's interpretation is pretty cool, but i still like the piano-vocal version :-); the color contrasts seem more prominent
hybridfox 9 months ago
Excellent !
red8hk 9 months ago
Thumb Up!
Very beautiful! So very beautiful piece of music and Yuja performance!! Brava!!
ANTONIVSLVCIVS 9 months ago
If she doesn't receive criticism, how can she expect to get better? If she were open-minded, and truly cared for music, she'd be glad she's getting criticism. Criticisms, to me are doorways to perfection. Additionally, you have no right telling the uneducated not to speak, who do you think you're are? It's often the little people rather than the elitists who you can learn the best from, for they have the gift of common sense.
hybridfox 10 months ago
@hybridfox
Who are you speaking to?
darbon85000 9 months ago
Wow, thats real empty after hearing Kissin's!
mephistodimitrov 10 months ago 2
@lovewatermelon
I don't know if she's cutting notes to make it easier (my first comment was "I don't know why" just for that). Anyway I consider a couple of things: "the text first of all", that means that every pianist must start from what's written in the part. Then, I'm sure that Liszt knows how to emphasize a musical episode, so you don't need to change what he wrote (and Schubert itself wrote, because the first part it's almost the same in the lied). Then, in that place there is not the v
darbon85000 10 months ago
I'd like to see her playing while having a seizure.
9yurii 10 months ago
For the ones who misunderstood the expression "missed notes" or "missing notes"...we are not meaning "mistakes", everyone can do them in a piece like this...we are meaning "notes that she doesn't play BY PURPOSE to make easier some passages": for me that is defenitively a bad thing to do, she is intellectually and morally not correct, that is my idea...you can't deliberately cut some notes in a piece to make it easier, it's just not fair! That is my idea...
darbon85000 10 months ago
@darbon85000 do you actually think that she leaves out notes to make it easier? if yes, then you're very naive. she doesn't play some octaves, but only single notes in order to emphasize the melodic part of the piece, thus creating more clarity. for a pianist of her level it's not really about technically easier or harder anymore.
lovewatermelon1 10 months ago 4
DAS KIND.....WAR TOT!
BFL0W 10 months ago
Non seulement c'est une des plus grande virtuose actuelle ...mais en plus elle est belle!!
Elle annonce peut être la fin de la suprématie occidentale sur la musique classique .
Grero38 10 months ago
Liszt reincarnated in a Chinese girl...!
StephenChin1 10 months ago
looks at those buff arms go!
andrew517 10 months ago
What would you say, how much experience one needs to play this? I would like to try it. I've been been playing the piano for about 10 years and practice 2 -3 hours a day. Do you think I could make it?
PancakeTutu 10 months ago
Comment removed
Kansasinventions 10 months ago
@PancakeTutu
Yes, I have been playing for about 13 years now and I am learning this piece right now. You practice way more than I do, you will have it down in no time. I am taking it slow with a metronome set at 112. When I can play it at that speed I'm going to start picking it up a bit. This song is a blast to play, I hope you stick with it.
Kansasinventions 10 months ago
@Kansasinventions Thanks for the answer!!! I've actually started learning it now and you were right, it really is a blast to play. But I pity my neighbours ... ;)
PancakeTutu 9 months ago
Its not the same without a Soprano singing about a pedophile Elf who tempts a boy, and a hallucinating boy carried by his father, and a father who is on a horse that has a perfect triplet. Still a fantastic interpretation though, not even in my wildest dreams could I even attempt to play such a beautiful piece.
TheHuMoCa 10 months ago
Interesting, passionate performance, but overall to my mind unsatisfactory. Yuja would do better, I think, if she doesn't speed up so much some of the most dramatic. It's a mistake. Everybody can play fast. This is not the point. Erlkoenig is a fine example when it is much more difficult to play it slow. Also, though this may be due to YT's lousy sound, Yuja right hand sometimes tends to overshadow the left, where most of the vocal line lies - which is pretty disastrous.
Spiritakis 11 months ago
LOL! first you hear Oleksandr Poliykov's interpretation and you are impressed.. then you hear yuja playing it at almost double speed.. And you're blown away.
meesbroersen 11 months ago
DAMN! That's fast!
Awesome performance.
therealmaxfening 11 months ago
no emotion,extremely boring =__=''
chibura 11 months ago
@chibura What is "emotion" to you? Why don't you post a video of you playing this, to show what "emotion" you're talking about?
YSFmemories 11 months ago
@YSFmemories: Why don't you listen to Kissin's version of Erlkonig. You will understand why I said that.
chibura 6 months ago
@chibura Wow. Come on. Kissin is one of the most robotic pianists out there. Sure, his techniques are top notch, but you're using Kissin to compare EMOTIONS? Are you serious? That's like calling Macdonalds "heathy". Sure, you have the right to express your opinions, however obscure they are. But so are others in calling on your more-or-less incorrect views.
YSFmemories 6 months ago
@YSFmemories Kissin is not robotic pianists. Classical music lovers know that.
chibura 6 months ago
@chibura It is not she, it is you who have no emotions.
bucciflash 11 months ago
@bucciflash why don't you listen to Kissin's version. You will know
chibura 11 months ago
@bucciflash: Oh, come on. Her technique is not the problems. But her interpretation is shallow. If that's what I see in her, then I have the right to say. This piece is too famous for not knowing other pianists who are more high-level than Yuja. No offense, really. I just think Kissin's version is too much better. He made the piano SING.
chibura 6 months ago
@chibura I agree. As much respect as i have for anyone who can play at this level, this is sort of a cold take on this. I haven't heard Kissin yet.
As much as it pains me to say this, Valentina Lisitsa plays this very well. It might have something with the Bosendorfer she uses.
th3wing3dpaint3r 6 months ago
@th3wing3dpaint3r I agree, sometimes really bright toned pianos actually seem to kill the mood. It's like the sound dominates the pitch or something. Good point.
tombennettpiano 5 months ago
@chibura no, I disagree! Don't you see the way her had is tilting, and floating with the music?
cookiewar 11 months ago
Impossible is nothing!!!
sirLightnin 11 months ago
Its like watching a superheroine movie.
MinorityMans 11 months ago
I must say, she is amazing. She has, this great interpretation of Erlkonig. But the thing is piano, at least in this song, must stay as secondary, not primary. Since she is pianist, and playing without actual singer, I must say she has done nice job.
But if I was the one about sing Erlkonig, no doubt I despise her.
joshuashorn 11 months ago
@jnthnswift2 , well this is the language i use to express myself, it is crude yes, but i was expressing the beauty i was seeing in my way, i dont have the knowledge to talk as everyone else in these posts, im saying what im feeling and enjoying, and because of this are you saying im exempt, is that youre prejudice, i like all styles of music and the energy you can get falling into a piece.... so screw you and keep your cliques if you want, youre mind will be closed and youll suffer for it
whiteman59 11 months ago
woooooooooooooooooooooooooooo w.
jaymeeharkeen 11 months ago
American or not, music is a universal language and that is used to express the performers feelings. This may be Schubert's piece, Listzs arrangement or have influences from Europe, but Yuja is the performer, and this is her interpretation. Insulting her music is insulting her. You wouldn't like it if someone just blantantly hated on you, so don't do that to her. And to all who criticize but can't play this, you hae no right to speak.
SourCream232 11 months ago 55
@SourCream232 if music is a universal language then why do you need to be able to play this to give an opinion? Are people allowed to say that they like it if they cant play it?
elkwolf 9 months ago
@SourCream232 Oh really? There's piano judges that have every right to criticize the pianist's playing and some can't even play the piece the pianist is playing. So even though they can't play a piece, they have the right to criticize her playing as long as they understand how classical works and if they know the song fully to the extent where they should know the dynamics, tempo, etc.
lavamaster530 6 months ago 16
@lavamaster530 "How classical works" and "song"? You're an idiot, and it's retarded people like you that comment on videos of concert pianists; Horowitz, Volodos, Gould etc. about "dynamics, tempo etc" that shouldn't even be allowed to listen to this great music. You apparently don't appreciate and understand anything that's involved, let alone what's involved regarding performance. People that can't play/perform are relegated to teach/critique... 99.99% of the time.
pguitar13 3 months ago
@pguitar13 What sort of music Nazi are you? Everyone is entitled to their opinion however ill informed.
Aarrmehearties 2 weeks ago
@lavamaster530 that is the nature of art. everyone's a critic
VenomsRage815 2 months ago
@SourCream232 "American or not" "have influences from Europe"... What are you talking about? If it's not American than it's still good music? Liszt and Schubert were from Europe, that's a little more than 'influence from' right?
titusbeertsen 5 months ago
@SourCream232
There's a difference between respecting musicianship, commenting on an interpretation, and technical prowess. Yuja Wang has a huge reputation for her musicianship. No question about that. People can comment on this all they want. I personally do not like it. I feel that the speed takes away from the driving bass. But the speeds seems to add to the dolce melody so much, it's hard to decide what to do, as keeping up the tempo is big in this.
Pdnorell 4 months ago
@SourCream232
I ran out of characters to say this last bit: You don't have to be able to play to be able to comment. That's absurd. All you have to do is know the piece and listen. You may not be a trombone player. But you could definitely comment on the interpretation of a trombone player's solo, regardless of the technical demands of that solo. If what you say about having to be able to play to be able to criticize was true, nobody would ever have gone seen a concert.
Pdnorell 4 months ago
@jnthnswift2 those that can't do?? I would be very careful before you make judgements about me. I am a concert pianist and have played this piece many times. The "German aspects" are the differences in intonation to bring the meaning of the piece to light. All this lady does is plonk along on the keys without any meaning or feeling. She also plays it much too aggressively. But then I wouldn't expect an American like yourself to understand anything about European or German culture....
englandcalling22 11 months ago
To everyone thinking she played it too fast or like a machine, I think you're used to the original lied. This is the arrangement by Franz Liszt, perhaps try listening to this with a mindset expecting a typical Liszt style virtuosic frenzy of notes, instead of the textural delicacy of the original Schubert work, and you might realize what a very well executed performance this is :)
mliao1 11 months ago
Demon fingers! DEEEEMOONN FINGERRRSSSS!!!
PandaHatMusic 11 months ago 50
@PandaHatMusic more like demon WRISTS for this piece.
trtnec 8 months ago 2
@PandaHatMusic I can feel them burning into my SOULLLLLL.
XAnimexStarX 6 months ago
@PandaHatMusic WORD!!!!0_0
RyokotheDemon92 4 months ago
@jnthnswift2 What are you trying to imply here?
I like Yuja Wang's performance. She understands the piece well but missing octaves gave less character
Look at the score of Erlkonig & compare the score to Yuja Wang's performance. Visually, you can see she didn't play some of the octaves that were meant to be played. 0:08 is an example of some octaves she missed in the right hand. This renders your rude insults completely invalid. Please learn to read notes before insulting a true,valid comment
123mazeppa 11 months ago
@jnthnswift2 Did you actually read my comment? We said the same thing, yet you're disagreeing with me.
aretrospection 11 months ago
Liszt's jaw would drop if he could hear Yuja.
StephenChin1 11 months ago
I came
AirRaj 11 months ago
shes amazing...i have never seen such an amazing hand technique when a person plays the piano.GOOD LUCK IN YOUR CAREER!
EMILYMRODRIGUEZ 11 months ago
Serious right hand chops. Damn, she's good.
DoctorGreyMD 11 months ago
I almost passed out when I watched this. I could only dream of playing this piece with that kind of passion and intensity.
riverofperil 1 year ago
I almost passed out when I watched this. It is amazing.
riverofperil 1 year ago
She is as beautiful as her virtuous way of playing the piano!
Holy lord, simply awesome!
TheOneAndOnlyYeti 1 year ago
She looks like she's having a siezure
ItsAnneChickenNugget 1 year ago
@ItsAnneChickenNugget Haha :D and a good one lol
NeonyK 1 year ago
I would like this girl to massage me by playing this piece on my back.
Chakiejan 1 year ago
Beautiful performance by a beautiful woman. I can imagine that great showman Liszt playing it similarly.
Claudius131 1 year ago
How it was meant to be played, folks.
kr1st0ff3rs0n 1 year ago 2
I absolutely disagree that this wonderful pianist plays this too fast .. if you sing the words in your head as she plays it, she seems to have it just right. I think it is marvellously nuanced and in no way 'robotic' as someone says. I only dream of being able to play like this .. it has such drive and energy. The father is desperately gallopping through the night to save his son after all!
byrolinda 1 year ago
Fast too much
Elfulano 1 year ago
I'm sorry to say that but the way she plays the piano is totally ruining this wonderful piece. It's much too fast and seems somehow sped up... All those people have to learn that it is not only the speed that counts!!!
nightwishsoulreaver 1 year ago
There's some rude comments in here, I don't get it. This is amazing performance! I never heard the Liszt version before, it's amazing and I thought she brought out the three different characters very well and the desperation of the father. So people writing, no expression, what are you talking about?
LarsenPiano 1 year ago
she's moving fast enough that it almost creepy, like exercist creepy. but she's so fucking good.
Cgunny14 1 year ago
many would love to do what this machine can do
mikosaaol 1 year ago
no expression, like machine..
papaschubert31 1 year ago
this is rubbish. This is one of the most German of all music pieces and she has taken every Germanic aspect out of it and completely ruined it. Probably because she has no idea of the meaning of the song!
englandcalling22 1 year ago
@englandcalling22 Hi, I just need to know. What grade is this piece in?
123mazeppa 1 year ago
@123mazeppa Hi. I believe this piece has been graded at 8+, although it's commonly acknowledged that this is one of the most challenging of all piano pieces, particularly the Liszt version.
The way this woman plays it ruins the whole meaning of the piece though! She's like a robot.
englandcalling22 1 year ago
@englandcalling22 You mean... The Liszt version is graded at 8?
That's totally weird, lol. I can play Winter Wind Etude very well and can play fantaisie impromptu very easily but I'm learning Erlkonig right now and I cannot play this.
Are you sure it's graded 8?
123mazeppa 1 year ago
@123mazeppa Yes I mean the Liszt version. I don't believe the Schubert Lied version has been graded. The Liszt version is graded 8+, which means above grade 8. I would even say significantly above grade 8. I'm a qualified piano teacher and this piece is very challenging. It took me many weeks of practise to perfect it! It's nice to know that you are learning it. Keep at it, it will pay off in the end! :)
englandcalling22 1 year ago
my god....this piece is not meant to b played so fast.......
if she ever played for elisie, it'll finish in 10 seconds
utki17 1 year ago
@utki17 umm... I have to disagree with you. I think this piece was MEANT to be played THIS fast.Listen to Frederic Lamond's performance. He was a pupil of Liszt and played the piece faster.
he was a pupil of Liszt, thus I believe that given he played Erlkonig fast, Liszt may have intended it to be played this fast.
The criticism I give to Yuja Wang is that in here, she missed quite a lot of notes.
This renders the piece with less character. She needs to play ALL the notes e.g. 0:08 to 0:11
123mazeppa 1 year ago
Holy Carpel-tunnel!!!
Zebeldarebel 1 year ago
i like how she seperates the different parts (father, son, erlkönig)
she plays in her own style and i like it...
perfect !!!
psnelke1 1 year ago
just awesome watch her fingers, fucking intense, beautiful to see, the skill of "thinking body dancing mind"
whiteman59 1 year ago
To those saying she plays with no feeling: Yes, she does. Before I read the comments, I was actually thinking how well she portrays the different characters' emotions - the boy is frantic and frightened, the Erlkönig is sweet and captivating, and the father is increasingly worried. If you mean the ostinato pattern has no emotion - of course it wouldn't. It's a horse running at top speed, which she emulates perfectly. The lyrics are perfectly easy to "hear" in this version: if you know them.
aretrospection 1 year ago
Nodame jung lol <3
pararaewpraew 1 year ago
Wow she murdered that piano, in a good way :P
BillieBaby143 1 year ago 2
1:25 to 1:49 gives me the chills every time I listen to that part. It's so beautiful to listen to.
1001dlee 1 year ago
@1001dlee love it, extended to 1:57
weeddespot 1 year ago
Liszt reincarnated as a Chinese girl.
StephenChin1 1 year ago
I agree with abdias, she's cheating and cutting notes, I don't know why...
darbon85000 1 year ago
No feeling for the music, lot of pedal, mostly loud - hear Katsaris for good interpretation and perfect technic
09Tabby09 1 year ago