Ashkenazy plays Ravel: Gaspard de la Nuit - Scarbo

[julnprge]

Next time you see some kid playing simple pieces on a piano and you want remark at how talented they are, watch this first. ;)

This is absolutely incredible, he must have practised endless hours to get it that good, and in front of an audience too, "bravo" would be an understatement!

[dlfunky1]

wat i love abou tmusic and particuary he panao you can get los in your own world its just him, the piano and this eerie and unusual piece.

[Lunogiaros]

I would like to say a word to those who think that someone who plays Gaspard de la Nuit would need to show more facial expressions. Gaspard de la Nuit and particularly Scarbo, is one of the hardest compositions for piano. Ever. Now print out the notes of Scarbo and try to smile while playing it.

In this very record, Ashkenazy is playing amazingly. He has really mastered it and plays it with true emotions. Thanks for posting this! :)

[meredith218461]

As always with this diminutive giant among pianists he displays outstanding technical mastery, yet always at the service of the music. Nowadays an outstanding conductor of course, however I'm sure he is greatly missed by many as the recitalist he was during his early years.

[virginiamaes4th]

@meredith218461 YES, I really miss him at the Piano. I`m so grateful he recorded a great deal before becoming a Full-Time Maestro!!!

[jamietrhcp17]

This piece is incredibly different depending on the interpreter. I love how I hear a new piece of music every time I hear another performance of it.

[pianofortegermany]

I was able to review the performance method of the Scalbo seeing, and renewing the movement of the hard of Ashkenazy.

He is playing it by the right hand though the homophony hitting of D sharp and DD sharp of three minims notes repeatedly is originally played by the left hand in the theme of this tune.

Moreover, because the orchestra is played from the image of the piano imaging it, it.. different contrast.. plays it with other Pianists.

I'll also imitate his performance method.

[Frozentoes1]

@pianofortegermany Why do yo think Ashkenazy plays it this way? 

[meredith218461]

@Frozentoes1 What an extraordinary question!.

[pianofortegermany]

@Frozentoes1 Good afternoon! nice meet you! I'm sorry to the dealy in reply. I was referred to the Mr. Ashkenazy was unique because of the performance of hands movement. I am against music that is written in the hand movements of a pianist. He was playing good for me to learn.

[dkanrjskgkwlanj]

Hi

Anybody in London interested in going to South Korea for a concert tour?

If you are a pianist and are interested, please contact me.

Email: gackukocamui@yahoo.co.uk

Thanks :)

[HarrietStubbs]

@dkanrjskgkwlanj

I would be very interested.....what does it involve?

[mimochien]

Amazing recording. Completely controlled, yet scary like hell. He makes it seem easy, even though it is a live performance. The gesture is so economical it becomes mind blowing. Probably the reason some people feel the urge to say that the interpretation is "cold". Probably they wish the Maestro would put a few appropriate faces to tell them what and when to feel something.

Thankfully, he does not play to satisfy his ego, but to serve the Music, and he is probably its most dedicated servant ever

[BenMcCormack91]

Ashkenazy is one of few pianists who doesn't appear to have any ego when he performs. No nervousness, no cockiness; he doesn't seem concerned with himself so much as with the music. Even with something as difficult as this piece, he just plays it. No acting in his body, no exaggeration in the sound.

[bachkwt]

scary but good

[hotbebimauz]

so scary....gaspard de la nuit is so impressive

[derefis]

Ah forgot, Great interpretation by Ashkenazy but i must say that Argerich beats almost everyone on this one.

[cattleman6420012000]

I really like this live performance by Vladimir Ashkenazy. It's magnificent playing. I heard many wonderful performances by this marvellous pianist.

[Rach3Piano]

Listen to Haochen Zhang's interpretation.

[derefis]

You know why there are so nasty comments in Academic music videos? because most of the people who think they "understand" and "appreciate" academic music don't realize that they do not have the right to be pedantic ***holes. Thank you.

[stomentendo]

Yeah, I think that's why.

[Pischnaholic]

Oh it's very good, if course, but it sounds lackluster and uninspired compared to the marvelous realization presented by RUPERT EGERTON-SMITH.

Please LISTEN:

YouTube - Rupert Egerton-Smith plays Scarbo by Ravel

[Liblibido]

I never understood Ravel--he had the potential to create truly sublime melodies, but chose instead to muddle them up. This piece is just pretentious. Though Ashkenazy does a nice job.

[Haeronthegreat]

There's far more to music than just 'sublime melody'. Tchaikovsky wasn't the greatest composer ever, you know.

[maddorox]

do u kno why IMPRESSIONISM is called impressionism? obviously not... ravels music paints a surrealistic painting in your mind which many other composers fail to do... sublime melodies do sound good to the ears.... but whats the point if those beautiful melodic lines do not tell a story.... unlike scarbo or ondine... truly hard pieces to interpret

[cattleman6420012000]

This is fabulous playing and excellent interpretation.

[azormage]

Why are comments on classical music videos always so nasty? I don't get it.

[Snafuski]

@azormage Classical music? They are tame here...

That's because the Internet is the homeland of the drama queen. Suddenly anyone can say anything, pour out the bile, diss, etc. without getting slapped around...

[TheGreatRichter]

@azormage Snobbishness nothing more nothing less. They think they have the monopoly on what is the right and wrong way to play a piece. To a certain extent this may be correct from a technical standpoint but from an interpretative one it is a matter of personal judgement and taste. Problem is they probably can't play to save their life!!.

[Mercari1964]

Lisag6 can carry on (and on, and ON, apparently!) about how this "restrained" version conveys meaning and insight and all that pseudo-intellectual DRIVEL. This sounds like Kohler played by an inebriate!. This is the problem with "classical" music in the last century -- it's all this crap played (in-) elegantly and we're all supposed to swoon. This is a mere tone poem with bad rhyme. If this is supposed to quicken my pulse, I prefer the solitude of death!

[wnxg4nd4lf]

You have no idea what are you talking about. Your ignorance is liek HUGE

[Mercari1964]

This is posted in response to wnxg, below.

[wnxg4nd4lf]

I dont care if you listen to me or not. Listening to me or not doesnt change the fact that you're Ignorant with a capital I. I won't bother to explain you the reasons here. If you're a positive person and take criticism in a good way then you'll try to understand your mistake. If not then it's your problem. Take care.

[crzytilprvnothrwize]

It's a shame that you don't appreciate ALL classical music. I agree with wnxg4nd4lf, you're extremely ignorant.

[Mercari1964]

And you can't sort between beautiful music and poorly composed tone poems. You can't just anoint everything with your blessings JUST BECAUSE it's played by a noted artist and JUST BECAUSE the composer did other good work. We all need to develop some critical thinking to distinguish the great work from the merely mundane (like this!).

[gnatural]

maybe you just haven't heard any good interpretations of this piece. listen to Pogorelich, its incredible. this really is a great work!

[piedijon]

i used be big chopin fan, but now i no like he as much as prokofiev, ravel and other composers 20th century- five year ago, this, scarbo, sound me like trash, but i come to appreciate this more modern music- i no blame you not like this- you no have to either- you opinion- you have own music background and taste

[samautumnwood]

"We all need to develop some critical thinking to distinguish the great work from the merely mundane"

"Learn to distinguish great music "

The sheer banality of these statements is shocking, LEARNING to distinguish great music is nearly a paradox in itself, as truly great music does not beg the listener to ask that question. Whether I like this piece or not, is not the issue.

The issue, is you telling myself and others what to think - a task for (by the sounds of it), you're not qualified.

[Brideshead09]

Did someone say "pretentious"?

[lisag6]

Listen to all the other versions, then..... this one is best -- As virtuosic as Ashkenazy's version is, you still have the sense that something is held back (vs. the all-out, no holds-barred versions by others). This "something in reserve" creates the mystery and suspense which brings the piece to life. It's like how the restraint of a corraled horse, pawing at the walls, is more powerful than a horse running free. Again, if this doesn't quicken your pulse, you're dead.

[lisag6]

If this doesn't quicken your pulse, you're dead.

Full of suspense, mystery and rapture. Ashkenazy "explains" this piece perfectly!! No one carries off a melodic line like he does. My favorite pianist ever!

[NOSEhow2LIV]

Highly artistic,well thought-out,cleanly executed.For me,this goblin is played(almost "applied")by much too nice a man.Having lived thru the demons of certain others(Martha,Pogo,Samson.....­.)....!

[edisonbhola]

he has a big head

[virginiamaes4th]

@edisonbhola

I think you mean "Big Hair"...I LOVE it!!!!!!!!!! and I thoroughly enjoyed this Performance.

[aliosaronin777]

in general i prefer askenazy more than pogorelich as a pianist although this piece is played in my opinion better from pogorelich...sorry for my english

the way he played it its magical,dont know maybe alien went inside him for those 8 minites

[piedijon]

prokofiev suggestions? Do you dig what I am laying down?

[justsimonactually]

Ashkenazy has this incredible stage presence. He owns this.

[futureboy]

My dear fellow, there are in fact only so many notes the ear can hear in the course of an evening. I think I'm right in saying that, aren't I, Court Composer?

[carneyclown44]

haha, amadeus.

[donaldcallen]

As a decent amateur pianist who can sort of get through Scarbo, it always amazes me to watch a master pianist, which Ashkenazy undeniably was, tackle this piece and make real music of it, despite the formidable difficulties. Wonderful performance.

To Salimictus, who asked if Scarbo was more difficult than Ondine. They're hard to compare. The problem in Ondine is the sound -- it can't be notey and be a water sprite, but there's a lot to play. With Scarbo, it's just hard to manage all the notes.

[656of1000]

By far and away, this is my favorite interpretation of this piece. Ashkenazy is in a class of his own. I particularly enjoy the way he pronounces each chord at both of the piece's climaxes. Brilliant!

[iamthebirdman888]

wow! multiple climaxes! what i've always wanted!

[edisonbhola]

and orgasm?

[cattleman6420012000]

Ashkenazy achieved more in life than the average person achieves in 10 lives. He is such a wonderful pianist and musician. I have met him, he is an extremely humble nice person.

[URAMESI41]

素晴らしい！　テクもそうだが、ラヴェルのこの難曲をいとも簡単に且つ芸術性を­秘めた名演！

[simsa21]

正にそのとおり。この人の演奏はこの曲が難曲だということを忘れ­る。

[g88med]

I like his posture when he finishes!...

[aldebussy]

Hmmm...boring

[SalGibet]

What an aggressive, angry-sounding performance.  Worked for me! No wimpish French understatement here. This was a vampire dwarf (Scarbo) on a bad trip. No messing around, no, sir! Loved it! Bravo!

[ownage1810]

i thought it was ghost goblin? doesn't matter i guess. a really spooky performance!

[lovesGenet]

No asshole. POGORELICH continually stuns the world with INSIGHT intoMuss ,Rach esp his GASPARD. HIS SCARLATTI SON are some of the most perfect playing any of u s willEVER HEAR> HOROW norPLetnevr,GAvrilov nor all the other supervirtuosos can say anything against his IDEAS and impecablle technical finish. Ashkenazy is above us all to but I dont run to buy his Beeth like Brendel's . Ashkenazy only sometimes engages me. He rec this long ago .live i dunno about.not captivated!

[keykanonmania84]

Scarbo is one of the hardest piano solos ever in music history and Ashkenazy played superb.

[salimictus]

more difficult than Ondine?

[englishplayer40]

i swear the piano must be specially doctored for him to get those repeated notes so fast and clear! this is really the defining performance of this piece. it suits him more than any other, although pretty much anything suits him.

[singsinsing]

THIS was really great!

[Jannie2044]

Wow... Such passion, he really has a way of drawing you in, both as a listener and a viewer. And yet, he doesn't limit himself by playing safe(to keep the control), absolutely brilliant, genius. Damn I wish he could visit South Africa!

[gxfu0127]

this is amazing.

i've always been a big fan of ashkenazy. good musicianship, good interpretation.

[cattleman6420012000]

This is amazing playing. I wish there was a live performance of him playing the Rachmaninov Second Sonata. He really played that magnificently on his recording and with such good taste.He didn't play the more showy edition.

[CoolWJL]

Listen to Ashkenazy and wonder what all the fuss is about with Pogorelich.

This is unbelievable.

[englishplayer40]

the fuss about pogorelich is because he caused Argerich (whose style is herself questionable) to resign from the jury becasue she thought he was a genius whereas the other jury members didn't. so he made his name in controversy, that's it. Askenazy made his name by being a brilliant musician and pianist whose interpretations are the yardstick for everyone.

[wnxg4nd4lf]

Englishplayer40 i totally agree with ya! Credits to all other versions ofc. each one has sth to offer to the piece. but for me this one is the best

[bongnpoon]

Love Ravel.

Love Ashkenazy even more.

ps I'm not a homo

[zkool5]

OMG, this is CLASSIC!

[Matthewfawr]

Thank you very much for posting this - do you have, or do know of anywhere I could see the whole recital?

[shrinkingglasses]

Yes, there are som Scriabin pieces that you can see on stage6

[Matthewfawr]

Many thanks for that. It tells me I have to install a certain programme to see it and my computer won't let me. I will keep trying!

[cattleman6420012000]

Wonderful piano playing. Vladimir Ashkenazy had an enrmous repertoire.

[estudiosinluz]

Along with Arrau the biggest in history.