Cliburn 2009 Eduard Kunz Semifinal Performance

[peandy]

has he got a bad back?? makes too many errors

[jcncgcn]

Ok, so you can criticize, but when you walk in his shoes...I have...performed this sonata twice in concert when I was only 16. It's a bitch...you have to be VERY technically proficient. To say it's "not that difficult" is naieve at best.

[MusicClassical1]

Check out John O'Conor's version! In the John O'Conor playlist on my channel

[MrsKlausen]

What a wonderful musician! Will follow his career! 

[minirausch]

i hope he played better than this in new orleans.

[Vhu100]

@minirausch How could he play it better than this??? I mean of course, he could work on his accuracy a little more but musically this is perfection.

[squishym]

Honestly, I wasn't expecting to hear anything special in a performance of Waldstein, but this completely amazed me - the passion and nuance in Kunz's playing makes me want to hear more!

[quinto34]

I was going to comment, but Grigor99 already said what I was going to say :-)

[bagdad4]

he looks completely terrified and his posture is terrible but this is a fantastic effort...one of the best waldsteins ive heard bar none

[pianomaster272]

He kind of reminds me of Kissin..in a good way

[wbfulton]

I've heard the opening movement of the Waldstein many times, live and recorded, but as I watched this video, I felt like I was hearing it for the first time. He's placed first in many important competitions so the note bobbles were probably an anomaly. However, they probably cost him one of the top prizes,but I'm glad he did leave with a special award. Also, as several others have said, someone needs to talk to him about the way he presents himself while playing.

[Aul1kki]

severin von eckardstein's version was my favourite for a long time until I saw this! Just amazing. I can understand why he wasn't one of the winners, but he is definitely one of the best players in that competition.

[ColtHz]

The positive comments here are, in my view, right on point. Extra-ordinarily fine Beethoven. I don't care about the little missed notes. He's a bit nervous and not as relaxed as should be. Wonderful, satisfying Beethoven. Execution-choice on those glissandi in the coda is first-rate.

[Grigor99]

While not as "perfect" in terms of being note-perfect this guy has a musical mind far superior to any of the other competitors. This sonata is not that difficult to "play" with someone with a big technique, but to know the structural nuances like he does is very special. Some of the best Beethoven I've heard in a while.

[UncleNathan]

His grasp of the architecture of this piece is absolutely astonishing. I urge everyone to go to the Van Cliburn website and listen to Kunz' preliminary and semi-fInal recitals in their entirety. I've been attending piano recitals and concerts for some fifty years and never have I encoutered such a towering musical mind in someone so young. He is poised to become one of the most remarkable performers of our age.

[vladimirgligoric]

Congratulations my friend. Keep going in that direction.

Your friend, Vladimir

[fortissimo25]

wow, he is smokin hot! i saw him on the website!! plus he should have been before the first place winners, he's way better!!!

[flylooper]

Extraordinary rendering of the Waldstein. Thank you. By the way, you can bend to the piano anyway you care to. I just listen.

[lynndelano]

STill my favorite. I think if his presence was polished, he would be our winner.....regardless or small errors. He is the closest one to the 'complete package'. All the others are fantastic but are no Cliburn, to look at. Van Cliburn could miss as many notes as he wanted and still come up a winner. He has just an AMAZING stage presence. Ed Kunz will have the greatest career of them all if he just corrects that posture. Best of luck to all of the Semi Finalists.

[cpanati]

Watched your clip to the end, and you have an extremely handsome face, all the more reason not to hide it with bad posture. With a handsome face, and beautiful technique, great emotional sensitivity, you not hunch over the keyboard so very much.

[etude12]

cpanati,

There are reasons for his having that posture; it can be a natural "protection" mechanism, which could partially be the case, for he also closes his eyes when a mistake is made which is another natural reaction to nerves- I do it, too. Also, the close seating and hunched gait make for good control and, though that can be restrictive, for the Waldstein it is perfect- such controlled little l.h. movements need perfect consistency and mastery.

I really enjoyed his performance, anyway!

[cpanati]

You play beautifully. But you must correct your posture. It's not only distracting, it's bad for your back. It's a habit you've gotten into, and it can be corrected.

[klingsor93]

Too many small mistakes,he will never make it to the Finals.......

[lynndelano]

He made it, no?

[pianogirl98]

No, he did not make it to the Finals.

[3cplantin]

But he did win one of the special jury prizes ($4000), so he didn't go away empty-handed.

[UncleNathan]

Masterful! Just heard the "Waldstein" in performance by Arnaldo Cohen...this is even better! Go Kunz!!!!!