Christopher Shih MD plays Los Requiebros by Granados

[jcmgdl]

Magistrial interpretación; creo que la mejor de Youtube de Los Requiebros, obra muy dificil de entender y sobre todo de transmitir como lo hizo el Dr. Shih

Gracias Bonstonpianoamateurs

[beethomozart]

1st page of the Goyescas fro spanish author Enrique Granados, one of the most difficult pages, where his baroque ornaments has been compared to those by Domenico Scarlatti, a brief melody at the beginning of this allegretto is taken onto variations, all the spanish folklore is shown here, very good interpretation of this tough score to play, no wonder this pianist won the 1st prize

[Pischnaholic]

This man's playing is never less than superb. What a delight it is to hear the piano played so effortlessly, and with so much style, grace and heartfelt expression.

Just lovely!

Many of the preceding remarks are irrelevant and verge on the imbecilic. If they didn't stem from captiousness and obvious stupidity, they'd be offensive.

Dr. Shih is an important musician regardless of his official status. I'm so glad we had this chance to hear him.

[wwjdchristian]

My mom met him before!!!

[mantequillavoladora]

Bravíiiiisimooooo. Very sensitive!

[wildejag]

5*****!

[pianogirl98]

Bravo!

[wildejag]

Still love to listen. We need more people like this don't we? I would like to have more friends like you!!

[dmcII]

Bravo Dr ! With those marvelously gifted hands are you sure you aren't really a surgeon....:) ?

[DelftBoy81]

Yes, Basso, Yu and DiCasoli should be banned from any amateur competition. Their piano background is way beyond a non professional person's. By the way, the list will not go on, because there are not so many people, fortunately, who are as greedy as those people. It is a disgrace to their alma mater, a person graduated from Curtis competing in an amateur competition. More importantly, it is also a disgrace to human decency. They know that they are not supposed to compete in these competitions.

[DelftBoy81]

The three example that you stated here were a good example of people who pursued to become professional pianists. All of those three individuals went to a music school to obtain a degree and also preparing them to become pianist. Who will spend years of their life, money and energy, unless they want to be in the profession.

Chris Shih is different, as far as I know, he did not go to music school, therefore, he had no intention in becoming a professional pianist. That is why, I think he is OK

[DelftBoy81]

Repeating pieces from one competition to another is not any of my concern. The only concern that I have is that Dr. Shih used to compete in a real Van Cliburn competition. To me, he has crossed over to the professional level play ground. Therefore, he should be banned from any amateur competition. The same with others who went to Julliard, or other schools with the same reputation should be banned from amateur competition. Isn't it not fun to see Lang Lang someday compete in VC for amateur?

[clsmsclvr]

How is it that he should be banned from any amateur competition? The definition of amateur is that they don't do it for a living. He is a doctor! He may play at professional level, but that doesn't mean he is one. Lots of amateurs have degrees from Juilliard and other top schools.

[DelftBoy81]

You are correct about the definition. Van Cliburn Amateur Competition needs to add some more classifications such as:

1. A person who competed in real Van Cliburn, Tschaikovsky, List Competition, Chopin Competition, Sydney Int etc should not enter.

2. People who have degree from Juilliar, Curtis, Moscow Conservatory or any other big conservatory need not participate.

[DelftBoy81]

Reasoning for No.1, it is the same like, say, Bjorn Borg who used to competed in Wimbeldon, he now may make money from selling whatever, he should not compete in an amateur competition.

2. People who went to big conservatories had dedicated their life for pianos for at least 2 decades, therefore, eventhough they do not make money from playing piano, they are a professional trained pianists.

With Christhoper Shih, if only he had not competed in real VC, I really have no problem.

[clsmsclvr]

Christopher Basso was a prizewinner in the AMSA World Piano Competition. Thomas Yu competed in Chopin Competition in Warsaw. Carl DiCasoli competed in Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow. The list goes on and on. Should they all be banned?

[risingpianofire]

Christopher,

Congratulations! Your music says it all. Just amazing.

Keep up the great work. You have to show me how you do it all.

- Calvin

[wildejag]

Absolutely loved it. The emotion, the contrast the control, I give it two stars. One for quality, and one for efficiency. The rest is up to you.

[Pischnaholic]

Oh, Wildejag, it is DEFINITELY a five-star performance. Just ELEGANT -- completely delightful in every regard.

[brahmsluver]

Maybe Dr. Shih is not as gifted as you, keybawd. Maybe he doesn't have the vast repertoire that you do that allows you to perform something different everytime you sit down at the piano.

[clsmsclvr]

Keybawd, I disagree with your criticisms. Dr. Shih has plenty of variety in his repertoire. Just look at his channel. For instance, he played a completely different program in the 2008 Concours. Just because he played one piece a few times doesn't make him trophy hungry.

[PeterStuttgart]

what a nonsense discussion

it´s normal to repeat the program on stage or in competitions..

the problem was the video itself, made in an other competiton .. an the rules allowed it..

i had an e mail exchange with the van cliburn foundation and they want to change the rules..

so you guys keep on practising..see your videos next year

et Basta :-)

[keybawd]

If The Van Cliburn Foundation want to change the rules then my point of view is clearly not nonsense.

[keybawd]

So Edbrye2008 was wrong, the good doctor didn't also play the piece "at Le Concours de Paris in 2007"?

[Edbrye2008]

Keybawd, forgive me if I am now pressing a point beyond what might be expected.

Repeating pieces in performance (of which an amateur competition/contest is but one genre) is the norm (for professionals!). Artists who offer their gift of such an "award-winning" performance, I believe, are to be applauded for showcasing a composition of such beauty. -Re: clarifying 2007 in Paris: Yes, Chris played it beautifully there, too. I wish you could have been there. - Ed.

[keybawd]

Very nice playing to be sure. But I don't quite see the point of hawking the same piece round all the amateur competitions on the planet. Does the good doctor have a trophy cabinet beside his piano?

[PeterStuttgart]

Congratulations Christopher,

and the jury of Boston wher this piece was played in the preliminary round.

I hope we will not see all the preliminary round videos of other competitions next year in the next you tube contest...perhaps the rules should be changed a little ?

Never the less congrats Chris, vou did not make the rules... and reaaly you are an excellent pianist.

But really i would have prefered such a home made video with charming birds in the

background :-)

Sincerely,

Peter

[markmegaman]

Your playing is enchanting. Congratulations Christopher!

[jorgeazamora73]

Christopher,

Congratulations on winning the contest!!!

Jorge Zamora

[keybawd]

Am I wrong or is this performance already an "entry" for a previous piano competition? A competition already won?

[Edbrye2008]

Keybawd, he played this piece at the Boston, which he won. That explains the original link to Boston. - Ed.

[artsyalchemist]

Yay!!!  You were on my shortlist for voting (since I missed the cut-off, haha). Congratulations!!! :)

[stienwayz]

Congratulations on winning! Truly a superb performance.

[melaniejsnow]

Congratulations Christopher. You are an amazing pianist and deserving of the trip to Texas. Best wishes! You are an inspiration to me and many. I look forward to seeing where your musical genious takes you.

[papabear5051]

I cannot believe this guy won. While he is a very fine pianist, the use of music for his performance should have eliminated him right away.  I would never consider someone serious about the competition if they had not performed from memory. Get rid of the music doc.

[hbasarab]

I completely disagree. In earlier centuries, all of the great pianists used music. It has nothing to do with the quality of playing. If it bothers you so much, just close your eyes and enjoy Dr. Shih's artistry.

[hbasarab]

My disagreement is with papabear, not Melanie! Just clarifying.

[BecsteinDude]

Does playing by memory make the quality of the music better. To me, memorization is not important. Playing well is much more valuable.

[Edbrye2008]

PapaBear, at first I, too, wondered why he used the music, because he sure didn't need it. At Le Concours de Paris in 2007 I witnessed him play this piece for memory in his preliminary round (and, for that matter, everything in the semis and finals until he took 2nd). Le Concours requires everything on one's program be memorized.-Ed.

[elena881988]

Thank you for doing this. I totally got the combination of flirtation and seduction and longing that are part of the piece. Makes me believe maybe true love was in there someplace! very lovely. A great gift.

[snaaptaker]

Congrats,Doc, and Bravo!! I'm glad I voted for you. It was a sure bet. You were head and shoulders the best. Good luck in the Big One.

I hope that, one of these days, I can get back to my old neck of the woods (I grew up in DC) and possibly hear you play in person.

I don't know how you played in '97, but if it was as well as you play now, you should have won. For my money, you're better than Nakamatsu.

[stephenTGV]

Absolutely wonderful. A beautiful performance of a very difficult piece. All the voices sing. Bravo. You deserve to win. Thanks for posting. (It is much more rewarding than doing polypectomies!! You are wasting your time doing endoscopies. From a colleague)

[endoscoper]

Are you a medical colleague or a musical colleague? Or both? Did you study with Fleisher? Are you at Hopkins? Have we ever met?

[Edbrye2008]

Congratulations upon taking this first ever You Tube Contest, Chris! This piece is a wonderful selection. Ed.

[DelftBoy81]

Wow....Are you sure that you are a real amateur pianist? It is unbelievably good for an amateur! Had you ever been in the professional arena before?

[wildejag]

Bravo.

[clsmsclvr]

I'm surprised this is rated only 3 stars. This is the highest level of playing in this competition by far.

[equitater]

This is "above and beyond" for an amateur. The Chopin Barcarolle is stunning!

[asdfjkll]

Is this guy a ringer or what?

[ginoreggie]

After lisetning to your Chopin on YouTube I decided to vote for you. Fabulous.

[prevac1d]

Truly outstanding. This piece was not familiar to me before, but you have provided the perfect introduction (and interpretation). Congratulations, Dr. Shih. I have no doubt you will win the Von Cliburn, too!

[MarioCavaradossi]

Check out Alicia De Larrocha's recording.

[piano5050]

Dr. Shih is my new idol.

[jojobruin]

are you a GI doc? ENT? general surgery? colorectal?

[tr64yokid]

This is wonderful!

[BecsteinDude]

Dr. Shih, is it true that you competed in Van Cliburn competition when you were in the 4th year of medical school? You are awesome!!Your playing quality is way above anybody here and sounds really like a professional.

[endoscoper]

Thank you. Yes it's true. Nakamatsu's year.

[BecsteinDude]

Thanks for participating, you will push the standard of this competition to a professional level!

[BecsteinDude]

I just wonder what is the reason for entering amateur competitions? Don't you think it is too easy for you to win, for you used to compete with the professionals in the past.

Isn't it like John McEnroe entering an old man tennis circuit again. He is now legally not a professional, but morally he is.

[endoscoper]

Well I appreciate the compliment, but there are many top-level amateurs that are professional quality and are as good or better than I. Examples that come to mind include Thomas Yu, Masanori Murakami, Christopher Basso, Michael Hawley. Morally, I'm a true amateur in that I have a full time medical (GI) practice and a family with children. I enjoy amateur competitions because they give me a chance to perform.

[BecsteinDude]

I have to agree with three of your example, but not one. People like you, Yu, Murakami and Hawley are the most amazing people. The four of you can do both worlds to the highest level. But Chris is different, he dedicated most of his life to playing piano.

[ramar205]

Sorry I jumped without knowing the facts. In any case, I hope the rest of what I said balances the scale. Congratulations again, and good luck in the Cliburn.

[larchmontmark]

I'm really glad that you got this straightened out, and GOOD JOB by you in acknowledging.

(Doesn't happen enough in the world!)

I had the pleasure of hearing and meeting Christopher at all 3 of his wins -- Washington, Boston, and Paris -- and I can tell you that he is perhaps the most modest, self-effacing, gracious person you can imagine.

[endoscoper]

Thanks for the comments. Ditto goes for Mark Cannon. Very warm, likeable guy.

[larchmontmark]

CONGRATS, CHRISTOPHER!!!

(And also of course thanks for the nice little comment!!)

By the way......I bet you'll be too modest to tell them that they LEFT OUT the Paris Concours when they mentioned the other events you've won. :-)

[ramar205]

I started out with a chip on my shoulder about this gentleman after reading his self-aggrandizing introduction. After listening to his performance, all I can say is, Shut my mouth. This is one of the most musically conceived and executed performances I've heard in 50 years of concert-going, amateur or professional. The phrasing is flawless, the dynamic control wonderful, and the tone color almost beyond belief. Aggrandize away, Dr. Shih -- you've earned the right.

[endoscoper]

Thank you for the comment, but I want to clarify the aggrandizing introduction. This is not my video. This is owned by Boston Piano Amateurs and was posted after the Boston competition last year. I had nothing to do with the creation of the video. I chose it because it's the only video of me with good sound that is under 10 minutes.

[brahmsluver]

Nice

[endoscoper]

Thanks for all of your comments. Click on the blue "endoscoper" username above for more clips.

[cdpiano27]

Terrific!!!!

[brahmsluver]

Great playing!

[brahmsluver]

Great playing!

[endoscoper]

Thanks for all of your comments. Feel free to click on the blue "endoscoper" above to see other clips.

[cdpiano27]

This video has been entered into the Van Cliburn Amateur Youtube Video Competition. Be sure to cast your vote for "endoscoper"!!!

[papalazeru]

A wonderful piece of music played well. I learned to play this about 10 years ago and have never regretted it. It's so much fun.

[KidTunder]

This stuff is beautiful but so damn difficult. Chopin's etudes are a piece of cake in comparison.

[cycler8]

Amateur? He got it right - better than many proffesionals. Wonderful!

[teamwounder]

he is my cousin's husband. very intense and extremely competitive and nice guy all around.

[guapobear]

the diversity of his two passions, medicine and music, reminds me of a quote: "I want to know god's thoughts; the rest is just details." - Einstein...

[abelrune]

my mom works with hiM!

[steinway1901]

After trying this piece myself I have a considerable appreciation for this artist. Bravo!

[goateedguy]

Absolutely stunning performance - brought me to tears. Better than De La Rocha's rendition!!

[endoscoper]

I don't know about better than De Larocha....

[leonoramarchisio]

bravooo

[leonoramarchisio]

bravooo

[piano6861]

Bravo! Beautiful style.

[pianoboyo]

Bravo - what is your profession..what else did you play and how long did it take you to learn the piece to this level...you have done amazingly

[piano6861]

It appears he is a medical doctor.

[oscarrequena]

felicidades está muy bien ;)