@demosj I would say that the middle movement technically very difficult. It's not fast and virtuosic, and it is easy to play all the right notes and right rhythms, but it is still technically definitely very difficult.
Something I noticed when just listening to the recording. This was not a good recording in my opinion. It sounds like the microphone was off a-ways from the piano, as we're hearing some extra reverb and noise. Therefore we loose alot of the clarity and subtlety of what Pogorelich is trying to express. A good recording makes all the difference!! I have both studied recording theory and recorded bands, so I appreciate good microphone recording technique.
@OriginalBasaliskos & ProRachStravinsKiev - Bloody rubbish. The most ham-fisted crap I've ever heard in my life. He wants his hands chopping off. Even I can tell that this doesn't sound anything like the theme from Star Wars, and I know nothing about music.
Rarely does a pianist approach this piece with an equal combination of musical/rhythmic sensitivity and downright lightning-rod virtuosity. He gives this piece a sense of space and engergy that makes this interpretation downright breathtaking.
Haha,your telling me of showing off?look how you just bashed me...im not trying to convince anything to anyone,is it so wrong that I ,as a croat, am so proud of Pogorelić?? assuming you are so very talented you should know that both Argerich and Hamelin admire Ivo,especially in playing this piece with him as the only pianist who is closest so far in revealing this piece's true potential using his interpretation...the evidence exists,so backup yourself with information.
@nOObR3dUct10n Pogorelich, Hamelin, and Argerich all have an equal amount of respect for one another, and probably know each other very well. It's only talentless fuckwads like you who assume they're competing against each other. Quit showing off your taste in music, nobody gives a shit.
@Rheostatik it's just my opinion i'm not trying to convice any1 here to anything..so looks like only you have personal problems with my comment and if you don't give a shit...why then showing your complex of being talentless to me?,and btw i'm not the one bashing others,look what you just did..in fact what i said IS true,but maybe in a joke way,because I, as a croat, am so proud of Pogorelić...is that so wrong??
@Rheostatik And btw...it won't hurt to be more polite as a high social circle musician as you are....I'm almost sure you won't be talking to me like this if you saw me in public believe me...
Holy shit is right.......I can get through Ondine, albeit at a lesser tempo. Le Gibet, being a middle movement, is easy......almost dinner music. However, Scarbo is one of the most frightfully difficult piano compositions ever written. Ravel himself couldn't even play it!!!! This is sheer, breathtaking, AWESOMENESS. Bravo Maestro Ivo!!!!
a lot of hatred here isn't there?.... well i guess classical music fans are no different than rock music fans in that respect eh?
also, though this is amazing to be sure, does anyone know an extremely difficult pieces that were made to sound good? im not saying this doesnt, but it does not sound as good as, say, Chopin's Nocturne in E flat
@NachtCrus that is a very difficult piece (ie, the liszt trans study no. 12). my favourite performances of it are by lazar berman and claudio arrau, both available on youtube. berezovsky is quite popular too but not my preference.
I guess for good you mean 'not dissonant'...this piece is about a horrific little monster so it was never going to a nocturne..it's an impressionistic nightmare.
One of the other movs with 'Scarbo' in Gaspard is 'Ondine' - it is very hard as well (the gentle sounding trills are actually entire chords and are in syncopated rhythms!) and it sounds beautiful....
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No 2 & 3? Lots of other concertos.
@NachtCrus I Lol'd at the fact everyone responded to your comment, but what i have to say is that this piece is really deeply affecting to me, you must just not like this song or cant really connect to the feeling that is being expressed, i am a big fan of chopin's works, i especially enjoy the grand valse, sonata #2 in b flat minor op.35, and the funeral/dead march. The Nocturne was nice and all, but i prefer songs with a pang to it, so its all musical preference.
@NachtCrus The more you listen to complicated and less diatonic music, the more you'll appreciate it. This piece is not meant to be a peaceful night song like a Chopin Nocturne, it's about a haunting, dancing demon. While the musical world owes a lot to Chopin for his many pianistic innovations, Ravel's musical genius far outshines Chopin's sometimes simplistic meanderings.
@OriginalBasaliskos Did you see the word "sometimes" before it? Read the whole comment first. And his music does wander simplistically... sometimes. His piano concertos are some of the most non-inspired music I've listened to. I'm not attacking his ballades or scherzi, which are brilliant. You obviously haven't listened to all of Chopin's music.
@ProRachStravinsKiev The 'sometimes' doesn't change a thing, because Chopin didn't meander in his music, let alone meander simplistically. The Chopin concertos are some of the most uninspired music you've listened to? What about rap made for fans and not from the heart? That's more inspired? I apologize that you are unable to appreciate their beauty, because instead of listening to them you hear them. U don't like the second movement to the second concerto, or was Chopin's melody too simplistic?
@OriginalBasaliskos Something tells me you don't understand much about music, because you haven't really understood what I'm saying. I'm sorry I've offended you for stating facts about Chopin. As a pianist who has grown up surrounded by music, this is an opinion most musicians of my level would hold. It does NOT mean we don't enjoy Chopin. I listen to simplistic music all the time if it's cleverly arranged. And I don't have much of an opinion on rap because I never listen to it.
@ProRachStravinsKiev So because I don't share your opinion I didn't understand it and don't understand much about music? I'm sorry. You just keep making all these claims without ever elaborating on them. "Chopin's concertos are the most un-inspired..." "Chopin's scherzi are brilliant..." "Most pianists of my level would hold this opinion as well." "Comparing the second mvt of Ravel's concerto to a Chopin nocturne is a futile exercise..." It's clear again, you just like talking out of your ass.
@OriginalBasaliskos I know you don't understand much about music because you can't see the colossal difference between Ravel's piano concerto and a Chopin nocturne. That's all I have to say about that. There also aren't enough characters per comment to describe how absurdly ignorant your comments are, but your ignorance still exists, doesn't it? And next time you accuse someone of talking out of his ass, check your brazenly insecure defensiveness at the door. It's not becoming of you. :)
@ProRachStravinsKiev@ProRachStravinsKiev What about Ravel's piano concerto? The second movement in that one? Was that Ravel just simplistically meandering too? The second movement is very much like a Chopin nocturne, after all. Again, I'm sorry you can't enjoy music because it's too simple. It seems to me you just like talking in absolutes, without really reflecting on what you're saying. And by the way, I own /all/ of Chopin's music on CD and have listened to it.
@OriginalBasaliskos After reading this comment, I understand now. Comparing the second movement of Ravel's piano concerto to a Chopin nocturne is a futile exercise. It's also calculated meandering for the first section. Just how long have you studied music? You obviously have an opinion, but if you understood how amateur it is we wouldn't be arguing.
@ProRachStravinsKiev@ProRachStravinsKiev What about Ravel's piano concerto? The second movement in that one? Was that Ravel just simplistically meandering too? The second movement is very much like a Chopin nocturne, after all. Again, I'm sorry you can't enjoy music because it's too simple. It seems to me you just like talking in absolutes, without really reflecting on what you're saying. Oh, and by the way, I own /all/ of Chopin's music on CD and have listened to it all.
@ProRachStravinsKiev Ravel had a more inspired ear than any other composer. Every single note was designed, perfectly crafted. That's just how Ravel wrote. It's a pity his profound genius is overshadowed.
a lot of hatred here isn't there?.... well i guess classical music fans are no different than rock music fans in that respect eh?
also, though this is amazing to be sure, does anyone know an extremely difficult pieces that were made to sound good? im not saying this doesnt, but it does not sound as good as, say, Chopin's Nocturne
okay, my first thought was to say something about pogorelich's playing, which I don't normally like, but on second thought I can't help but ask myself is this really music? :P
io ho avuto l'onore di sedere di fianco a lui ad una cena post-concerto per poi finire a berci litri di champagne con lui, me e 4 signore tedesche. Ci ha raccontato tante cose. E' simpaticissimo e insopportabile allo stesso momento e nasconde gelosamente e malamente una grandissima sensibilita'.
Rupert lacks of control and refinement. He made a lot of dynamics, phrasing, tempo and pedal mistaks. He's what it says, an amateur. He's exceptional because he may play scarbo. Anyway, all of us, musicians, expend many years of our lifes practicing and preparing us to be worthy and responsible musicians. It's ok if he wants to play Scarbo, but for me is offensive to compare him or even post his video next to a master. We already have a lot of fine examples like Argerich, Perlemuter, Delarrocha.
Pogorelich is famous in this work. His pianism is very impressive, and his Scarbo has much character, but he is nearer to Hollywood than Montfort L'Amaury. First he should be more faithful to Ravel's markings and second his restless tempo takes away all the mystery and the distressing terror of this work. It's more a demonstration of virtuosity than a visionary rendering of this poetic masterpiece.
"distressing terror of this work"? Why impose your abstract description on this piece? Some people may find the dissonant section beautiful as opposed to terrifying.
I agree. Perhaps this virtuosic-but-erratic-and-highly-eccentric video helps you to understand why I have such high regard for Rupert Egerton-Smith's brilliant but extraordinarily sensitive and tasteful performance of Scarbo?
And for sheer virtuosity no one has exceeded RES's scintillating command of the passage in rapid ascending seconds.
And I ADORE Pogorelich. His Chopin study in thirds Opus 25, #5 is so refined and so expressive it's almost in a class by itself.
@rigel48 no you are wrong,if you knew better Pogorelich like myself... this is only one third of Ravel's masterpiece, and the only part where he's "demonstrating virtuosity". Ivo would never play scarbo like this if it was the only independent peace,but it's a part of the "trilogy", check out his atmosphere in "Le gibet" you'll get what i mean,so try to be more objective pls. This is what he always does with his interpretations which makes him so unique and outstanding. A magnifying deviant :)
@nOObR3dUct10n I do know the complete recording of Gaspard de la nuit by Ivo Pogorelich for I own his DG recording. In le Gibet there are outstanding ppp chords and his tonal shading is fabulous (his wide span helps). But at the end he changes Ravel's dynamic markings (left hand chords played f) to be more attractive which is completely against what the composer intended. I much prefer him in Prokofiev's 6th sonata than in Ravel's Gaspard.
@nOObR3dUct10n I agree. Ivo has such a "big picture" interpretation. Even his Islamey at first seemed "wrong" to me until I heard him build it up into a furor before the middle section. He controls not only the dynamics but the arc of the piece. I think the composers of these pieces would very much approve of his liberties. To me they are done with ultimate artistic intent, right or wrong. He never seems to be "showing off". Maybe I'm wrong.
@rigel48 No it's not. Most pianists are solely concerned with masturbation when they play this piece. Pogorelich is thinking about sex. As for Ravel's markings - who cares? Markings only indicate the way the composer felt that particular day with having drunk that particular amount of wine the night before.
@rigel48 I think maybe he just got a way with himself, and went way too fast? His studio recording of this is fast, but not this fast, and it definitely captures more character I'd say
A riveting performance. I don't think I have ever heard a pianist get closer to the heart of this piece than Pogorelich. His uncanny ability to understand, not just the demonic character of the music, but its shifting moods, gives poetic force to his interpretation.
He sees the piece as a whole, building climaxes like a master, and leading the listener inexorably from the first note to the last.
He is able to achieve all this by means of a technique that follows his thought.
Speed is an accomplished thing to pull off, but when marred by wrong notes, it is not worth the exchange. in a really great pianist - even the wrong notes can sound well. This music shouldn´t turn into a marathon.
Was in the Usher Hall, Edinburgh last night as well (Sat, 29 Aug 09). Loved it. The whole program: Chopin, Liszt, Sibelius, Ravel - it was all played with brilliant artistry - the technique is phenominal. It was a privelege to be there - not sure why adience did not clap and stamp their feet longer - an encore would have been great! But all good Edinburgh denizens scuttled off to their buses home to Morningside as soon as was politely possible! Plus ca change!
I was hoping that somebody was going to send a comment on the Edinburgh's concert promptly- so nice you, and mrsRogue below, told us about it. The same programme (except Sibelius) was performed a month ago in Porec/Croatia and my impressions were identical. As there is a series of live concerts that Pogorelich recently performed with convincing artistry in Strassbourg, Hamburg, Kotor/Montenegro, Porec/Croatia, Edinburgh it seems that Ivo is in a top form, ready to share with us his visions.
I had the pleasure of listening to him yesterday evening (at the Edinburgh festival) and I loved his Gaspard de la nuit interpretation. He is a tremendously brilliant virtuoso and what's more, he has an original personal vision of anything he plays. I might not always agree with his vision but I will always admire his courage of expressing it.
not only one the most difficult pieces in the piano repertoire, but also one of my most favourite pieces of music. im going to see him in the edinburgh international festival in august! and this is in the programme!
Two hours ago IP was playing Ravel's Scarbo at the concert in Porec/Istria-Croatia. The intensity and virtuosity of his playing Ravel is at least equally convincing and impressive as it was 25 years ago! I wish you enjoy it soon in Edinburgh!
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Wonderful, but unnecessarily fast. The excessive speed detracts from the the expressive content of the work.
MICHELANGELI (especially in Prague) and RUPERT EGERTON-SMITH give renderings of Scarbo with more depth of feeling, insight and imagination.
It's shame only 2,500 people have listened to RUPERT EGERTON-SMITH whose reading of the entire Gaspard is world class. RES ranks with the very best particularly in this repeertoire.
I heard "RUPERT EGERTON-SMITH" playing thins and i rly dont understand why ur so obsessed with him. He is good but rly nothing special....This version is much better
Indeed we are all entitled to have our own opinion. Especially when it comes to something as subjective as music.
You are also right that we usually go for the "big" names missing some brilliant performances by other underestimated artists. That's the reason why i listened to Egerton-Smith's performance. Cheers =)
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IMO, this piece just shows technical prowess, with no real melody. Its just like one of those 'holy crap, thats fast' pieces. Its supposed to represent discord and 'frenziness', but to me this sounds like a mess.
This recording is amazing. But I prefer his more recent recording, where he takes it at still a breathtaking speed, yet slower than this one! He really owns it in that.
Ravel couldn't play it, but he did comment that he wrote it to be harder than "Islamey-an Oriental Fantasy" composed by Mily Balakirev, which was THE hardest piece of music for piano (standard repertoire) that day.
well, i think that always depends on your technical abilities and skills. that differs from pianist to pianist, some can do that better, and others something else.
i guess i personally can't judge the difficulty of islamey, since i never played it, but to me scarbo is as hard as i can imagine a piece to be - especially since it covers such a gigantic variety of difficulties: fast seconds, massive chords, fast repititions of one tone, rhythmic difficulties, a lot of different keys
he definately couldn't. Ravel wasn't that good of a pianist-he couldn't even play this piece at all. That's not to take away from him though-he was a genius composer.
But then it is even more impressionante that he could compose that piece, if he could not play it, he could not hear how it would sound while he was composing...
Sort of like how Beethoven composed his later works when he was deaf, but his situation was different... He COULD play the pieces, he just couldn't hear them!
Yeah! and this colleague was a woman, Marguerite Long, who played for the first time the "concerto en sol", piece totally unplayable for Ravel himself!
Simply amazing. Have just watched Ashkenazy's live version and this is even better. Pogorelich is a "specialist" pianist - as in he will only live long enough to master a certain number of pieces. This one is his piece. He owns it. Ashkenazy's version is brilliant (and yes there are lots of others out there - Michelangeli, Thibaudet, Argerich etc). But where with Ashkenazy you have a master playing a piece, with Pogorelich you have a piece playing the pianist.
I'm totally agree with you, I had the opportunity of watch a documentary about how he prepares this piece and he analizes every passage with methodology of a surgeon. Simply marvelous!!
Wow, what an energetic performance, and very accurate technique! I need to hear more Pogorelich.
This piece itself is also amazing. I love the almost vertical position that the hands have to be in to execute some of those crossover parts. The pianist must look diabolical in order to play such diabolical-sounding music!
Best performance with the highest-tech at that time!
notaire2 1 week ago
Loved it ! Could listen a it a whole day !
MllePortanie 1 month ago
It seems like this is the fastest version I've ever seen.
GoldisMoney84 1 month ago
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MrFreddyCho 3 months ago
to think that a demon inspired this
katiecat2001frednina 5 months ago
Molto nuovo... man spaventosamente preciso. Bellissimo.. .
massicciorso72 6 months ago
Dinner music? Wtf? Are you a musician or a football player? Music for you it´s just easy or difficult?
krakus5813 7 months ago in playlist Ravel 5
@krakus5813 He means the middle movement is technically easy.
demosj 6 months ago
@demosj I would say that the middle movement technically very difficult. It's not fast and virtuosic, and it is easy to play all the right notes and right rhythms, but it is still technically definitely very difficult.
OrangeSodaKing 5 months ago
A true virtuoso
DarkStar1O9 9 months ago 3
Incredible performance, but I wish the sound quality was better.
stp7859 9 months ago
to " snatsching...... ravel ne buvait pas beaucoup , à ma connaissance
et j habite à Montfort et je connai bien sa maison ,
je nai trouvé aucune bouteille
trimar42 9 months ago
Something I noticed when just listening to the recording. This was not a good recording in my opinion. It sounds like the microphone was off a-ways from the piano, as we're hearing some extra reverb and noise. Therefore we loose alot of the clarity and subtlety of what Pogorelich is trying to express. A good recording makes all the difference!! I have both studied recording theory and recorded bands, so I appreciate good microphone recording technique.
sbdude101 10 months ago
incredibile----...-----
kinghikonghi 10 months ago
@OriginalBasaliskos & ProRachStravinsKiev - Bloody rubbish. The most ham-fisted crap I've ever heard in my life. He wants his hands chopping off. Even I can tell that this doesn't sound anything like the theme from Star Wars, and I know nothing about music.
rhaddon91 11 months ago
Rarely does a pianist approach this piece with an equal combination of musical/rhythmic sensitivity and downright lightning-rod virtuosity. He gives this piece a sense of space and engergy that makes this interpretation downright breathtaking.
marcphilos 11 months ago
Yeah, the piano is his bitch :D
LeX140891 1 year ago
Wow!! How can one keep all these notes in mind without seing them? Great!
MrRagtimer 1 year ago
it would have been very interesting to see what ART tatum would have made of this.
browny333 1 year ago 2
Haha,your telling me of showing off?look how you just bashed me...im not trying to convince anything to anyone,is it so wrong that I ,as a croat, am so proud of Pogorelić?? assuming you are so very talented you should know that both Argerich and Hamelin admire Ivo,especially in playing this piece with him as the only pianist who is closest so far in revealing this piece's true potential using his interpretation...the evidence exists,so backup yourself with information.
nOObR3dUct10n 1 year ago
2:55.......what the......
angramainiuu 1 year ago
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA COME HAMELIN,COME ARGERICH COME ANYONE....HAHAHAHAHAHA play this piece like this!!!!!!!!
nOObR3dUct10n 1 year ago
@nOObR3dUct10n Pogorelich, Hamelin, and Argerich all have an equal amount of respect for one another, and probably know each other very well. It's only talentless fuckwads like you who assume they're competing against each other. Quit showing off your taste in music, nobody gives a shit.
Rheostatik 1 year ago
@Rheostatik it's just my opinion i'm not trying to convice any1 here to anything..so looks like only you have personal problems with my comment and if you don't give a shit...why then showing your complex of being talentless to me?,and btw i'm not the one bashing others,look what you just did..in fact what i said IS true,but maybe in a joke way,because I, as a croat, am so proud of Pogorelić...is that so wrong??
nOObR3dUct10n 1 year ago
@Rheostatik And btw...it won't hurt to be more polite as a high social circle musician as you are....I'm almost sure you won't be talking to me like this if you saw me in public believe me...
nOObR3dUct10n 1 year ago
@Rheostatik Apparently you "give a shit".
TheAtma 1 year ago
Genius performance. I couldn't play it as fast as he performed even after 2 years of practicing this...
SubL0ck 1 year ago 3
It's interesting to note many of you refer to this piece as a 'song'!!!???...
stlee74 1 year ago
Madangel, it's not a 'song'!!
stlee74 1 year ago
I wish I could play piano like that
Henriqueb416 1 year ago
Can anyone tell me where i can find the hi-fi version?!?
That´s a fantastic song! Ravel was really crasy...
MadAngelFromHell 1 year ago
Holy shit is right.......I can get through Ondine, albeit at a lesser tempo. Le Gibet, being a middle movement, is easy......almost dinner music. However, Scarbo is one of the most frightfully difficult piano compositions ever written. Ravel himself couldn't even play it!!!! This is sheer, breathtaking, AWESOMENESS. Bravo Maestro Ivo!!!!
jazzkeyboardman 1 year ago 5
@jazzkeyboardman Le gibet is anything but easy.
Butters109 1 year ago
@Butters109 I didn't mean A-B-C easy, but certainly easier than the first and last movements. I can play it myself, which isn't saying much.
jazzkeyboardman 1 year ago
I prefer his recording of this, although obviously this is incredible
friendant72 1 year ago
wow... that's reaaaaalllllllllllyyyyyyyyyy fast.
iluv2write 1 year ago
his hands are gargantuann ahh
caocao8u 1 year ago
I have "discovered" (for myself) this piece only by Ivo^s interpretation...
Galiah13 1 year ago 2
magnificant!
devilperfect 1 year ago
a lot of hatred here isn't there?.... well i guess classical music fans are no different than rock music fans in that respect eh?
also, though this is amazing to be sure, does anyone know an extremely difficult pieces that were made to sound good? im not saying this doesnt, but it does not sound as good as, say, Chopin's Nocturne in E flat
NachtCrus 1 year ago
@NachtCrus well that's your opinion. music is a subjective experience.
kingdave84 1 year ago
@NachtCrus but if it's lyricism and virtuosity you're after then try liszt transcendental study no. 12 - 'chasse-niege'
kingdave84 1 year ago
@NachtCrus that is a very difficult piece (ie, the liszt trans study no. 12). my favourite performances of it are by lazar berman and claudio arrau, both available on youtube. berezovsky is quite popular too but not my preference.
kingdave84 1 year ago
@kingdave84 What about Luganskys?
Martel211996 1 year ago
@NachtCrus
I guess for good you mean 'not dissonant'...this piece is about a horrific little monster so it was never going to a nocturne..it's an impressionistic nightmare.
One of the other movs with 'Scarbo' in Gaspard is 'Ondine' - it is very hard as well (the gentle sounding trills are actually entire chords and are in syncopated rhythms!) and it sounds beautiful....
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No 2 & 3? Lots of other concertos.
Chopin Etudes - difficult and sound perfect.
thisismymoniker 1 year ago
@NachtCrus I Lol'd at the fact everyone responded to your comment, but what i have to say is that this piece is really deeply affecting to me, you must just not like this song or cant really connect to the feeling that is being expressed, i am a big fan of chopin's works, i especially enjoy the grand valse, sonata #2 in b flat minor op.35, and the funeral/dead march. The Nocturne was nice and all, but i prefer songs with a pang to it, so its all musical preference.
Surkoplit 1 year ago
@NachtCrus The more you listen to complicated and less diatonic music, the more you'll appreciate it. This piece is not meant to be a peaceful night song like a Chopin Nocturne, it's about a haunting, dancing demon. While the musical world owes a lot to Chopin for his many pianistic innovations, Ravel's musical genius far outshines Chopin's sometimes simplistic meanderings.
ProRachStravinsKiev 1 year ago
@ProRachStravinsKiev "Chopin's simplistic meanderings"? Ok, it's clear you don't know what you're talking about.
OriginalBasaliskos 1 year ago
@OriginalBasaliskos Did you see the word "sometimes" before it? Read the whole comment first. And his music does wander simplistically... sometimes. His piano concertos are some of the most non-inspired music I've listened to. I'm not attacking his ballades or scherzi, which are brilliant. You obviously haven't listened to all of Chopin's music.
ProRachStravinsKiev 11 months ago
@ProRachStravinsKiev The 'sometimes' doesn't change a thing, because Chopin didn't meander in his music, let alone meander simplistically. The Chopin concertos are some of the most uninspired music you've listened to? What about rap made for fans and not from the heart? That's more inspired? I apologize that you are unable to appreciate their beauty, because instead of listening to them you hear them. U don't like the second movement to the second concerto, or was Chopin's melody too simplistic?
OriginalBasaliskos 11 months ago
@OriginalBasaliskos Something tells me you don't understand much about music, because you haven't really understood what I'm saying. I'm sorry I've offended you for stating facts about Chopin. As a pianist who has grown up surrounded by music, this is an opinion most musicians of my level would hold. It does NOT mean we don't enjoy Chopin. I listen to simplistic music all the time if it's cleverly arranged. And I don't have much of an opinion on rap because I never listen to it.
ProRachStravinsKiev 11 months ago
@ProRachStravinsKiev So because I don't share your opinion I didn't understand it and don't understand much about music? I'm sorry. You just keep making all these claims without ever elaborating on them. "Chopin's concertos are the most un-inspired..." "Chopin's scherzi are brilliant..." "Most pianists of my level would hold this opinion as well." "Comparing the second mvt of Ravel's concerto to a Chopin nocturne is a futile exercise..." It's clear again, you just like talking out of your ass.
OriginalBasaliskos 11 months ago
@OriginalBasaliskos I know you don't understand much about music because you can't see the colossal difference between Ravel's piano concerto and a Chopin nocturne. That's all I have to say about that. There also aren't enough characters per comment to describe how absurdly ignorant your comments are, but your ignorance still exists, doesn't it? And next time you accuse someone of talking out of his ass, check your brazenly insecure defensiveness at the door. It's not becoming of you. :)
ProRachStravinsKiev 11 months ago
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OriginalBasaliskos 11 months ago
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@ProRachStravinsKiev @ProRachStravinsKiev What about Ravel's piano concerto? The second movement in that one? Was that Ravel just simplistically meandering too? The second movement is very much like a Chopin nocturne, after all. Again, I'm sorry you can't enjoy music because it's too simple. It seems to me you just like talking in absolutes, without really reflecting on what you're saying. And by the way, I own /all/ of Chopin's music on CD and have listened to it.
OriginalBasaliskos 11 months ago
@OriginalBasaliskos After reading this comment, I understand now. Comparing the second movement of Ravel's piano concerto to a Chopin nocturne is a futile exercise. It's also calculated meandering for the first section. Just how long have you studied music? You obviously have an opinion, but if you understood how amateur it is we wouldn't be arguing.
ProRachStravinsKiev 11 months ago
@ProRachStravinsKiev @ProRachStravinsKiev What about Ravel's piano concerto? The second movement in that one? Was that Ravel just simplistically meandering too? The second movement is very much like a Chopin nocturne, after all. Again, I'm sorry you can't enjoy music because it's too simple. It seems to me you just like talking in absolutes, without really reflecting on what you're saying. Oh, and by the way, I own /all/ of Chopin's music on CD and have listened to it all.
OriginalBasaliskos 11 months ago
@ProRachStravinsKiev fail...
gnatural 11 months ago
@ProRachStravinsKiev Ravel had a more inspired ear than any other composer. Every single note was designed, perfectly crafted. That's just how Ravel wrote. It's a pity his profound genius is overshadowed.
TehYif 11 months ago
@TehYif I agree 100%.
ProRachStravinsKiev 11 months ago
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a lot of hatred here isn't there?.... well i guess classical music fans are no different than rock music fans in that respect eh?
also, though this is amazing to be sure, does anyone know an extremely difficult pieces that were made to sound good? im not saying this doesnt, but it does not sound as good as, say, Chopin's Nocturne
NachtCrus 1 year ago
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NachtCrus 1 year ago
de larrocha is a weak pianist. just like pires.
thesterlingtaste 1 year ago
okay, my first thought was to say something about pogorelich's playing, which I don't normally like, but on second thought I can't help but ask myself is this really music? :P
Tomislav4499 1 year ago
Amazing performance, but listening to it you have to wonder just what the composer was thinking when he wrote this. .-.
DJSessum 1 year ago 4
@DJSessum well i heard the name translates to ghost so that gives an idea
atozlettersonly 1 year ago
@DJSessum
in truth he was actuallt thinking that he was gonna beat Balakirev's islamey as the hardest piano piece ever written for humans
looney1023 1 year ago
@looney1023 And then Sorabji started trolling...
ilikehaku1100 1 year ago
@ilikehaku1100 And then no one played his music because it was too ugly and ignored its existence.
demosj 1 year ago
@demosj Some of it is nice, but most of it is hard to listen to.
OrangeSodaKing 1 year ago
Wow, it looks like it's in double speed or something.
DanielRI02 2 years ago 5
No, I've seen the music; he's definitely playing it at the given tempo!
StellusBattersea 2 years ago 5
io ho avuto l'onore di girare le pagine durante una esecuzione a questo fantasico pianista!
Gianjimmy 2 years ago
io ho avuto l'onore di sedere di fianco a lui ad una cena post-concerto per poi finire a berci litri di champagne con lui, me e 4 signore tedesche. Ci ha raccontato tante cose. E' simpaticissimo e insopportabile allo stesso momento e nasconde gelosamente e malamente una grandissima sensibilita'.
voolare 2 years ago
Sei fortunato! You lucky shit.
mattandtrissy 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Check this out:
YouTube - Rupert Egerton-Smith plays Scarbo by Ravel
I see that the forces of Sheer Spite have successfully removed my commentary.
It never ceases to amuse and amaze to see me how open-hearted enthusiasm generates hostility.
Ivo is very great. So is Martha and dozens of others, but RES ranks high among them.
Pischnaholic 2 years ago
Rupert lacks of control and refinement. He made a lot of dynamics, phrasing, tempo and pedal mistaks. He's what it says, an amateur. He's exceptional because he may play scarbo. Anyway, all of us, musicians, expend many years of our lifes practicing and preparing us to be worthy and responsible musicians. It's ok if he wants to play Scarbo, but for me is offensive to compare him or even post his video next to a master. We already have a lot of fine examples like Argerich, Perlemuter, Delarrocha.
EdiEllerymissing 2 years ago 4
Rupert is a joke, and so are you. Rupert would get more respect if he threw his feces at the piano rather than attempting to play it. Enough said.
mattandtrissy 1 year ago
Jajajaj Rupert is a joke and you're stupid... so what can we expect from your comments XD.
EdiEllerymissing 1 year ago
Post a better performance by you, and I will accept your judgment. Until you do, shut up and enjoy....
TDCG23 1 year ago
I enjoy Pogorelich, de Larrocha, Argerich, Perlemuter and many other amazing pianist.
Your argument is so mediocre. If you don't have anything better to say, shut up and enjoy (this, not Rupert).
EdiEllerymissing 1 year ago
@Pischnaholic amateur
Therachh3 1 year ago
@Therachh3
daeastshan 1 year ago
holy shit at 1:23
and also the rest of the video
gtyler7292 2 years ago 49
@gtyler7292
A true "This has got to be fake" moment...
This guy is incredible!...
M9andG27 1 year ago 3
Pogorelich is famous in this work. His pianism is very impressive, and his Scarbo has much character, but he is nearer to Hollywood than Montfort L'Amaury. First he should be more faithful to Ravel's markings and second his restless tempo takes away all the mystery and the distressing terror of this work. It's more a demonstration of virtuosity than a visionary rendering of this poetic masterpiece.
rigel48 2 years ago 5
"distressing terror of this work"? Why impose your abstract description on this piece? Some people may find the dissonant section beautiful as opposed to terrifying.
jakmere 2 years ago
Just read Aloysius Bertrand's poetry from which Ravel composed his Gaspard de la Nuit (3 poèmes pour piano).
rigel48 2 years ago
I agree. Perhaps this virtuosic-but-erratic-and-highly-eccentric video helps you to understand why I have such high regard for Rupert Egerton-Smith's brilliant but extraordinarily sensitive and tasteful performance of Scarbo?
And for sheer virtuosity no one has exceeded RES's scintillating command of the passage in rapid ascending seconds.
And I ADORE Pogorelich. His Chopin study in thirds Opus 25, #5 is so refined and so expressive it's almost in a class by itself.
Pischnaholic 2 years ago
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Jesus christ get off rupert's dick. Is he paying you or something? everywhere you are comment you talk about how you love rupert, are you his mom?
00girth00 2 years ago 10
@rigel48 no you are wrong,if you knew better Pogorelich like myself... this is only one third of Ravel's masterpiece, and the only part where he's "demonstrating virtuosity". Ivo would never play scarbo like this if it was the only independent peace,but it's a part of the "trilogy", check out his atmosphere in "Le gibet" you'll get what i mean,so try to be more objective pls. This is what he always does with his interpretations which makes him so unique and outstanding. A magnifying deviant :)
nOObR3dUct10n 10 months ago
@nOObR3dUct10n I do know the complete recording of Gaspard de la nuit by Ivo Pogorelich for I own his DG recording. In le Gibet there are outstanding ppp chords and his tonal shading is fabulous (his wide span helps). But at the end he changes Ravel's dynamic markings (left hand chords played f) to be more attractive which is completely against what the composer intended. I much prefer him in Prokofiev's 6th sonata than in Ravel's Gaspard.
rigel48 10 months ago
@rigel48 i agree...
nOObR3dUct10n 10 months ago
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@rigel48 i agree
nOObR3dUct10n 10 months ago
@rigel48 that's true...i agree
nOObR3dUct10n 10 months ago
@nOObR3dUct10n I agree. Ivo has such a "big picture" interpretation. Even his Islamey at first seemed "wrong" to me until I heard him build it up into a furor before the middle section. He controls not only the dynamics but the arc of the piece. I think the composers of these pieces would very much approve of his liberties. To me they are done with ultimate artistic intent, right or wrong. He never seems to be "showing off". Maybe I'm wrong.
tombennettpiano 10 months ago
@rigel48 No it's not. Most pianists are solely concerned with masturbation when they play this piece. Pogorelich is thinking about sex. As for Ravel's markings - who cares? Markings only indicate the way the composer felt that particular day with having drunk that particular amount of wine the night before.
snatchingthepiano 9 months ago 8
@rigel48 I really think Ravel would have loved this. Remember what he said to Horowitz in Paris
oliverjordan1000 9 months ago 2
@rigel48 I think maybe he just got a way with himself, and went way too fast? His studio recording of this is fast, but not this fast, and it definitely captures more character I'd say
davidbaker03 8 months ago
A riveting performance. I don't think I have ever heard a pianist get closer to the heart of this piece than Pogorelich. His uncanny ability to understand, not just the demonic character of the music, but its shifting moods, gives poetic force to his interpretation.
He sees the piece as a whole, building climaxes like a master, and leading the listener inexorably from the first note to the last.
He is able to achieve all this by means of a technique that follows his thought.
UWSResident 2 years ago 4
just looking at the music to scarbo makes me shit my pants
mlr2107 2 years ago 3
Speed is an accomplished thing to pull off, but when marred by wrong notes, it is not worth the exchange. in a really great pianist - even the wrong notes can sound well. This music shouldn´t turn into a marathon.
mrmolinodelahoz 2 years ago
you are the best musician in the world,BRAVO
NaimBr 2 years ago 5
This comment has received too many negative votes show
hardly the best musician,...he has fantastic technique, but not at the service of music.
arturon111 2 years ago
Was in the Usher Hall, Edinburgh last night as well (Sat, 29 Aug 09). Loved it. The whole program: Chopin, Liszt, Sibelius, Ravel - it was all played with brilliant artistry - the technique is phenominal. It was a privelege to be there - not sure why adience did not clap and stamp their feet longer - an encore would have been great! But all good Edinburgh denizens scuttled off to their buses home to Morningside as soon as was politely possible! Plus ca change!
Cordylcoh 2 years ago 2
I was hoping that somebody was going to send a comment on the Edinburgh's concert promptly- so nice you, and mrsRogue below, told us about it. The same programme (except Sibelius) was performed a month ago in Porec/Croatia and my impressions were identical. As there is a series of live concerts that Pogorelich recently performed with convincing artistry in Strassbourg, Hamburg, Kotor/Montenegro, Porec/Croatia, Edinburgh it seems that Ivo is in a top form, ready to share with us his visions.
Croat4747 2 years ago
I had the pleasure of listening to him yesterday evening (at the Edinburgh festival) and I loved his Gaspard de la nuit interpretation. He is a tremendously brilliant virtuoso and what's more, he has an original personal vision of anything he plays. I might not always agree with his vision but I will always admire his courage of expressing it.
mrsRogue 2 years ago 2
not only one the most difficult pieces in the piano repertoire, but also one of my most favourite pieces of music. im going to see him in the edinburgh international festival in august! and this is in the programme!
wizomania93 2 years ago 5
Two hours ago IP was playing Ravel's Scarbo at the concert in Porec/Istria-Croatia. The intensity and virtuosity of his playing Ravel is at least equally convincing and impressive as it was 25 years ago! I wish you enjoy it soon in Edinburgh!
Croat4747 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Wonderful, but unnecessarily fast. The excessive speed detracts from the the expressive content of the work.
MICHELANGELI (especially in Prague) and RUPERT EGERTON-SMITH give renderings of Scarbo with more depth of feeling, insight and imagination.
It's shame only 2,500 people have listened to RUPERT EGERTON-SMITH whose reading of the entire Gaspard is world class. RES ranks with the very best particularly in this repeertoire.
Pischnaholic 2 years ago
I heard "RUPERT EGERTON-SMITH" playing thins and i rly dont understand why ur so obsessed with him. He is good but rly nothing special....This version is much better
wnxg4nd4lf 2 years ago 4
This comment has received too many negative votes show
You are entitled to your opinion. We happen to disagree that's all.
I've been listening to music for over sixty years, have studied much of the literature myself, and have heard countless performances of Gaspard.
Rupert Egerton-Smith's performance of the entire suite strikes me as one of the best -- if not THE best -- I've ever heard.
You don't have to concur. I'm glad you took the time to listen to RES. He has not received sufficient attention.
People go primarily for "names." Alas!
Pischnaholic 2 years ago
Indeed we are all entitled to have our own opinion. Especially when it comes to something as subjective as music.
You are also right that we usually go for the "big" names missing some brilliant performances by other underestimated artists. That's the reason why i listened to Egerton-Smith's performance. Cheers =)
wnxg4nd4lf 2 years ago
This is absolutely marvellous!
jialiangwoo 2 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
IMO, this piece just shows technical prowess, with no real melody. Its just like one of those 'holy crap, thats fast' pieces. Its supposed to represent discord and 'frenziness', but to me this sounds like a mess.
theallvenerable1 2 years ago
Hello theallvenerable1
My opinion is completely different from yours, I think you are wrong.
For some people this may sound too fast and weird or just a bunch of random notes which make no sense.
I believe that Pogorelich reached the highest level of musicality of this piece with his interpretation. Check other versions.
This piece demands very high skills of techique, but just that is not enough.
It's the only version that captivated me until the last second.
JustAPianoPlayer 2 years ago 2
It's not the speed what matters
Scarbogn 2 years ago
Uh huh... there's always someone that is "faster" or "better".
Bravo Ivo. ;)
Agent7x7 2 years ago
ahah...Bravo Ivo!!!! He is by far one of the best pianists ever...BRILLIANT, MAESTRO POGORELIĆ ;) man is an artist..................
dalikusha 2 years ago 2
Jesus.......he is crazy!!
Just look at his fingers!!!
Is it fast-forwarded???
This is by far the best execution I have ever heard!!
Check other versions and compare....
JustAPianoPlayer 2 years ago
of course...he is BRILLIANT....MAESTRO POGORELIĆ ;) one and only!
dalikusha 2 years ago
with this Gaspard you have the opportunity to get all components of maestro Pogorelich's expression on the single plate.
truthinmedia 2 years ago
This mysteriosity that his music creates makes me mad.....
pianolord 2 years ago 4
He goes so darn fast. This was the first recording I heard, so it was rather ho-hum to go to all the rest.
ahern112 2 years ago
This speed is OK for me. Argerich is faster than this.
junglejim66 2 years ago
Gieseking, Michelangeli and Argerich are fantastic in this piece. Pogorelich is unique and probably the best.
chacoteris 2 years ago 2
the best is friedrich gulda for me!the version you find in "Friedrich gulda - the complete musician" :3 cd's box
guldalex 2 years ago
orospu çocuğu
bestecimsi 2 years ago
Perfect!!!! God!!
alexmanzo19 2 years ago 4
This comment has received too many negative votes show
ugly
Toooeebi 2 years ago
great!!
namaomisaki 2 years ago
Perfection....
pianolord 2 years ago 20
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coaster1000 2 years ago
..................
pianolord 2 years ago
This recording is amazing. But I prefer his more recent recording, where he takes it at still a breathtaking speed, yet slower than this one! He really owns it in that.
davidgray2 2 years ago 2
Love his musical interpretation.
Wonderful talent!
Bravo! Like the way he bulids the melody line.Great talent!
daptekar 2 years ago
This is extremely impressive. The amount of dedication and discipline it takes to get a piece of this standard to THAT level is truly phenomenal.
samautumnwood 2 years ago 5
:O just :O
VAThrasher 2 years ago
I heard Ravel wrote this just to fuck with the pianists who were better than him.
hsbocaj 2 years ago
hsbocaj:
well, sort of...
Ravel couldn't play it, but he did comment that he wrote it to be harder than "Islamey-an Oriental Fantasy" composed by Mily Balakirev, which was THE hardest piece of music for piano (standard repertoire) that day.
OrangeSodaKing 2 years ago 2
If one does not have a good octave and repeated chord technique, I would still say Islamey is harder from a stamina point of view!
davidgray2 2 years ago
Yes, you are right. Only those who can last to the very end of Islamey should learn it. If not, practice repeated octaves!
OrangeSodaKing 2 years ago
islamey is bytheway still harder, i had more problems with learning it than scarbo.
JureGorucan 2 years ago
well, i think that always depends on your technical abilities and skills. that differs from pianist to pianist, some can do that better, and others something else.
i guess i personally can't judge the difficulty of islamey, since i never played it, but to me scarbo is as hard as i can imagine a piece to be - especially since it covers such a gigantic variety of difficulties: fast seconds, massive chords, fast repititions of one tone, rhythmic difficulties, a lot of different keys
jackewiebohne 2 years ago
and extreme pathos in one instant and then very small delicate and exact movements in another.
i think nobody would disagree with attestig the gaspard more "musical" difficulty than islamey.
jackewiebohne 2 years ago 6
absolutely amazing!
majark4 2 years ago 3
Magistral!!!
MemyH567 2 years ago
man this guy owns the keys!! its not funny!
gnatural 2 years ago 3
Good video,great!
djdjurdjevak 2 years ago 3
holy shiiiit
02:41 - 02:42 unbelievable lol
is that video fast forward or what
ForrestGumpEpisodes 2 years ago 5
I just discovered Pogorelich. He's the real thing - an original. He plays the piano like no one else. Scarbo played like never before. Awesome!
troppofiato 2 years ago 4
Wonder if Ravel himself could play it as well as this?
Fanaedigg 2 years ago 2
Ravel was not a good pianist. PHENOMINAL COMPOSER-definately my all time favorite composer, AND orchestrator. But he wasn't a good pianist.
OrangeSodaKing 2 years ago 3
he definately couldn't. Ravel wasn't that good of a pianist-he couldn't even play this piece at all. That's not to take away from him though-he was a genius composer.
And Pogorelich is also a genius.
OrangeSodaKing 2 years ago 3
But then it is even more impressionante that he could compose that piece, if he could not play it, he could not hear how it would sound while he was composing...
Thanks for your comment!
Fanaedigg 2 years ago
Sort of like how Beethoven composed his later works when he was deaf, but his situation was different... He COULD play the pieces, he just couldn't hear them!
OrangeSodaKing 2 years ago
That's true. But Ravel might have had a colleague who could play it that he could listen to.
demosj 2 years ago
Yeah! and this colleague was a woman, Marguerite Long, who played for the first time the "concerto en sol", piece totally unplayable for Ravel himself!
tralalalala87 2 years ago
Awesome performance, plus it was performed ten years to the day before my birthday
jamietrhcp17 3 years ago 2
9 years and 3 days to mine. acctually 9 years minus 3 days but to me its all the same
almaster0 2 years ago
magistrallllll
lilycrumble 3 years ago 2
Simply amazing. Have just watched Ashkenazy's live version and this is even better. Pogorelich is a "specialist" pianist - as in he will only live long enough to master a certain number of pieces. This one is his piece. He owns it. Ashkenazy's version is brilliant (and yes there are lots of others out there - Michelangeli, Thibaudet, Argerich etc). But where with Ashkenazy you have a master playing a piece, with Pogorelich you have a piece playing the pianist.
TomOwen77 3 years ago 6
TomOwen:
I'm totally agree with you, I had the opportunity of watch a documentary about how he prepares this piece and he analizes every passage with methodology of a surgeon. Simply marvelous!!
Hopffnung 3 years ago
where can i watch that. i'm dying to know. am a pogorelich fanatic.
Verityseo 2 years ago
i love how he phrases the beginning repeating notes. very well done!
20009325 3 years ago
obozavam teeeeee!!
mazeppa13 3 years ago
WOAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
gnatural 3 years ago
Wow, what an energetic performance, and very accurate technique! I need to hear more Pogorelich.
This piece itself is also amazing. I love the almost vertical position that the hands have to be in to execute some of those crossover parts. The pianist must look diabolical in order to play such diabolical-sounding music!
squishym 3 years ago 4
The best
motherburger 3 years ago 6
bravo ivo
gianbattista83 3 years ago 5
im skurd to play ravel...=(
kayin4o8 3 years ago 2
I was at his concert today.He played the 3rd Chopin Sonata and gaspard de la nuit.
parule 3 years ago 2
i'm jealous of u i want to see him playing gaspard de la nuit in concert :p
motherburger 3 years ago 3
o ja pierdole! genialnie!:)
pianoplejer 3 years ago 2