Ravel marks a very quick tempo, and this interpretation makes less use of rubato than others, although the rhythmic pulse of the melody is stronger. I am happy to see that he rolls that chord in the bass at the top of the last page as well, I thought my hands were just too small. Remember that music is art, that means that there are many interpretations of the one work.
The performer must have hated this peice. You play too fast when you come to hate a peice. Like a lover that you've grown bored with, even though you know she (the composition) is still amazing.
@marcelmombeek MIJD WALTER ALS DE PEST? Misschien heb je wel gelijk.Maar wat men over jou en je vriendinnetje Greetje Dehoux zei wil ik hier niet publiceren.Zou anders onderhevig zijn aan hevige censuur.Have a nice day.Ik vind jullie een leuk koppel en ik wens jullie allebei het beste en nog veel genot met elkaar.Ajuus!!
@marcelmombeekpiano Dat je bij Gevers niets geleerd hebt daar kan ik inkomen.Toen ik 16 was deed ik toegangsexamen met Waldstein Sonata,Toccata van J.Jongen en Chopin op.10 nr.5 en 7.Sigrist en Detiege zaten te watertanden.Maar ja ..ik kwam in dezelfde boot terrecht als jij.Dus ik maar brossen.Was indertijd hevige fan van Groslot(misschien kunt ge die ook eens opbellen voor wat sappige anekdotes he) en heb van hem veel opgestoken".En wat "idereen "zegt interesseert mij genen bal!!Capito!
For those that say "too fast", i think that everyone is free to play as theyr prefare. Why all those YOUTUBE-BIG-TALENTED-PIANISTS dont take a video where THEY show to us as music should be played :P ??? If you dont like this interpretation take an old 33 lp and make it move as a 45 :P
@Kasino80 That's what Ravel said too; he said "Bolero" was trivial compared to his other works. Doesn't stop "Bolero" from being a heckuva piece, though.
The piece is called 'water games' and Richter makes it sound just like water - from smooth and flowing to sparkle. Richter was utterly dedicated to the music - he was not one for playing piece fast because he could - he didn't have to.
If anyone can find a version of this piece with a more beautiful water-like tone I'd like to hear it, because I don't believe one exists.
I'm sure that Ravel could play this piece, maybe not as well as Ricardo Vines who Ravel used to premiere a lot of his works including Mirroirs and Gaspard. Ravel could not have played it anything like Richter. Plus Ravel's work is so logically pianistic that a non virtuoso pianist would be hard pushed to compose.
He DOESN'T play TOO fast. For this piece, specifically for this piece, the tempo is on. The picture of this piece Ritcher is drawing is not as same as other performers have. If you think this is too fast, that's because you don't understand or can't draw the picture of this interpretation. By far this is the best one for my taste. Has to be done this way.
@plorkx Interesting comment from Ravel about "not interpreting music" Perhaps this is why he said the only relationship he had was with his music, and not a person? do you have the actual tempo markings of the piece?
I guess it's up to the performer. I prefer Argerich's version, even if Ravel would not approve. I usually like the composer of any type of music doing their own work, but not 100% of the time! In the end, it's all about what speaks to the listener.
@stellartunes Right you are, and it depends on the mood too (performer as well as listener). Ravel had the ability to write such beautiful music, that it's hard to dislike any interpretation. Soundshapes and soundcolours, unequalled in his league.
On the other hand I quite enjoy the Red Hot Chilly Peppers too.
I would just like to say that the Urtext edition has the metronome marking of quaver-144, with an additional marking to tell us that the autograph originally had quaver at 152. Richter is probably closer to this than most you'd hear on youtube but it is simply interpretation and taste that defines whether or not this is too fast. I take it slower because it's just so tricky! It's beautiful like this and also Argerich's way in different ways.
@LMpianogirl I agree with you. It is interesting to note that Ravel could Not play this piece himself. That is why it is not on any Piano roles that he made.
Ravel made a wonderful job trying to make this piece look like water. Richter only transforms this into real water. I don't like extreme virtuosism, it puts music in a second plan. But this is not the case. This interpretaion is water, and it isn't fast. Actually, if you listen to other interpretations of this music they are slower but much less clearer.
(I'm sorry for my writting, i don't usualy write in english)
It is sad how we have come to elect people like MrPianoLover and Ynot1666 to be judging important piano competitions nowadays...On the other hand, it is valuable to have proof like YouTube to disclose the horrible reality of our current spectators.
Especially because the tempo is really fast it makes feel the water which goes from the mountain in waterfalls, in violent stream, to the plain in little rivers.
Was Ravel good performing on the piano? I read he couldn't play his own pieces and wrote difficult music for the piano for a virtuoso friend that would perform them. Please correct me if this is not true. I'm intrigued by the charm of this lovely tune it really captures my imagination.
It's all nonsense - no such effects can be reached if not played that fast. Nothing to talk about - his interpretation is merely different from all the rest and outstandingly singular. And he was probably the only one, whose abilities allowed to play in such a way. He is simply the best of all.
Many virtuosi tend to play things far too fast to emphasize their own virtuosity, at the expense of the music. It becomes a scrabble and the music is out the window. It's a fault of being a virtuoso. The greatest virtuosi don't do this. Richter was a great pianist and I love much of his stuff, but in this case he does indeed play this too fast. Actually he slows down towards the end and that part is far better!
@Ynot1666: There is no better or worse in any part of this video. There is a simple truth that belongs to Richter which you are not meant to grasp. Same applies to claims that this rendition is "too fast" or senseless, amateur "rushing" comments brought along. The only reason you say Richter was great is because you heard about him, so he is automatically amazing to you. However, seeing your comments and other people that resemble you, it turns out you don't understand why he was what he was.
@liszt6 I think the dude's entitled to his opinion. I happen to enjoy this version a lot...but Argerich's I enjoy more because it's more fluid and, well, slower. haha
Yeah I don't think the fact that he said Richter was rushing makes him an amateur. And frankly, I never much liked Richter's playing, period. Unless it was Chopin's Revolutionary Etude, in which case I would have to make an exception.
That said, I wouldn't click the dislike button on this video, but it could better.
@Ynot1666 "Many virtuosi tend to play things far too fast to emphasize their own virtuosity" This is a very presumptuous statement. How do you know why they play pieces fast? You're calling into question their artistic integrity, which is a serious thing. Did you ever consider that they play the pieces fast because it's the way they choose to interpret them, and not because they're trying to show off? The idea that Richter would need to show off seems silly to me.
@freakytea thank you. Everyone has musical preferences. Though I do prefer this song not so fast I can see that the way Richter played really did bring out the "watery" feeling the song was meant to have and it made me really see from both angles. Whoever you were responding to really needs to start looking at things from different angles. watch /watch?v=gZncjSDh6II. played slower. but the ending is done so perfectly in my opinion.
There's nothing intelligent about giving your own "interpretation," if it is simply a bad one. I find nothing more idiotic than someone who chooses to use that as an excuse for mediocrity or a badly performed piece.
Personally, I thought this rendition was great. Although in all honesty, I don't think you can deny that it was rushed.
It's difficult to repsond to your comment, because it doesn't have much to do with what I said. I was responding (negatively) to the assumption that virtuosi must play fast because they like to show off. I never gave my opinion of the performance and certainly never tried to excuse "mediocrity or a badly performed piece."
For the record, though, I love Richter here. Superbly impressionistic, and doesn't sound rushed at all to me.
@Ynot1666 Im not really a fan of richter, but questioning one's interpretation and making such a judgemental statement as he is playing fast just to "show off" his virtuosity, this is not something that YOU can determine, perhaps you see soft flowing water, and delicate water droplets glistening in the sunlight, but i could interpret it differently, as could Richter and everyone else, nether the less i believe he does the title of this piece nad ravel justice, depicting the playfulness of water
I automatically think of Gieseking - what a fantastic pianist he was for this kind of music. But I just checked on YouTube, and I think Giesking in the posting I found (from 1955) plays this slightly too fast too!
I just went back to listen to Vlado Perlemuter (another Ravel specialist) playing this same piece and he has it right. His technique and his touch are not up to Richter or Giesking but he truly seems to feel this music. The only version of this I could find on YouTube version chops him off unceremoniously before the end - would someone post a complete version? I have no way to do this although I do have a CD of Perlemuter's Ravel with this track on it.
estas canciones deberian ser las que tengan millones de vistas y no toda esa musica comercial que muere cuando pasa de moda pero en fin interesante combinacion de sonidos me encanta ^^
why do I get the impression sometimes that the movement of pianist in some films is somehow faster than "normal".. could this be faster than what Richter played?
Ravel was definitely the last "master" of classical music composition. All other were either destroyers like Schoenberg, Webern, Boulez, and others; or ignorants like Paert, Gubaidulina; or also complete Idiots, containing "personalitys" like Cage, Kagel, Wyttenbach: Shame on these; they are criminals concerning art.
@MultiTyrannosaurus It seems obvious that you are of those people who only listen to music easier to digest. It seems that you are the the only ignorant here. Before criticizing revolutionary geniuses of contemporary music like Cage or Gubaidulina, first find out the reasons they had to make that music. Please do not criticize without having the necessary grounds to say such nonsense... :( It seems that you have an extremely closed mind
@MultiTyrannosaurus It seems obvious that you are of those people who only listen to music easier to digest. It seems that you are the the only ignorant here. Before criticizing revolutionary geniuses of contemporary music like Cage or Gubaidulina, first find out the reasons they had to make that music. Please do not criticize without having the necessary grounds to say such nonsense... :( It seems that you have an extremely closed mind
@MultiTyrannosaurus It seems obvious that you are of those people who only listen to music easier to digest. It seems that you are the the only ignorant here. Before criticizing revolutionary geniuses of contemporary music like Cage or Gubaidulina, first find out the reasons they had to make that music. Please do not criticize without having the necessary grounds to say such nonsense... :( It seems that you have an extremely closed mind
You certainly can't tell from the way he plays it. Try listening to Martha Argerich playing this. She really gets the watery potential in this composition. "Play of water" might be a better translation.
Richter is great, but like a lot of people have said, the interpretation is very tight. The high crescendo especially lacks feeling. When this piece moves too quickly, you don't get to really "hear" it.
I think this is the better interpretation I heard!! Lots of dynamism, character and virtuosistic performance. Richter is one of the best pianist of history, no doubt.
i love him. but when i meet this video, i was totally shocked bout the strictness in his tempi, its too stiff and too regluar. like a computer would play it.
Surprisingly subpar! I know and admire Richter's tendency to play everything as plainly as possible, but this sounds more like a midi. Impressive, yes. Pleasant, hardly.
Please let me point out: daniel15671 is right. After posting the former note, I looked through many other recordings, of course including Argerich's. She has a tremendously musical approach, it's stunning. But Richter - as he plays the beginning- brings out much more melody and sweetness. I would, even though, love to hear Richter slow down in the "melodic" parts, as Argerich does in 3:25 of this piece. Concluding, both simply show us their impression- but also Ravel.
I'm amazed how Richter plays this piece so fluidly. It builds upon you the image of a young boy delicately slipping one of his fingers across the surface of a pond, creating waves of ripples, one after another, barely breaking the stillness of the water. Few others have the dexterity and gentleness to play this piece as it is meant to be played.
I think Richter's tempo brilliantly builds the tension and drama of the piece. And this may be heresy to some, but I think it's a mistake to adhere too slavishly to a composer's metronome markings. Too much depends on the acoustics, the player's characteristic tone quality, the instrument itself, and other variables.
I think Richter's tempo brilliantly builds the tension and drama of the piece. And this may be heresy to some, but I think it's a mistake to adhere too slavishly to a composer's metronome markings. Too much depends on the acoustics, the instrument itself, and other variables.
Richter has a magnificent technique. This piece is definitely hard to control. But the point, that he is playing it too fast, is, according to the measurement given, true. Eighth note = 144.
Even though, Ravel was impressionist throughout. If we exclusively can tell one thing, then we definitely must still admit that it's about the artist's impression, we're talking about - Rubato.
And different variations enhance our musical understanding.
The quality of this recording is so low, all you're hearing is a shadow of what the performance really sounded like. ...And yet Richter still comes across basically as good as Argerich. He is a genius.
You may just say I'm a stupid violinist who's opinion is null on the matter, but it sems like Richter brings out the genius forms and structure of this piece, whereas Argerich really focuses more on bringing out the imagery and surreal beauty of each individual note of the piece. I couldn't say either is beautiful, this interpretation is breathtaking, whereas Argerich's is... hauntingly, surreally beautiful.
@bobbphysics You're entitled to your opinion of course, but I personally find Richter's performance, although perhaps less 'flowing', incredibly intimate and touching.
Too fast for me. I appreciate his amazing technique, but sometimes pianists of his skill played too fast just to show off their virtuosity. And while that is appreciated sometimes, I would much prefer this at a slower tempo. Jeax D'eau translates as "fountains" or "playing water". Fountains...not raging rapids lol. Still a big fan of Richter. He more than makes up for it with other of his standard interpretations.
@BreezyGraffiti When Ravel heard this piece played by a female pianist at a less then desirable tempo he said to her: "Your waterfalls sound sad!". I'm sure this tempo would of pleased Ravel...it conveys the wonderful portrait of water tickling the "water god", a quote in the score. Richter is not just pounding out notes rapidly to show off technique.
@Ckorn123 I don't think is should be played that much more slowly, But I do find this tempo to fast. This seems more like "River god racing down the rapids that chase him" to me lol. I prefer a slightly slower tempo. I feel as if various elements of the structure of the piece are bring constructed as they should, when it's played so fast. Melodic elements get swept up in the rush, and there are alot of "voices" so to speak going on at once here. I would've preferred something slightly slower.
Ravel marks a very quick tempo, and this interpretation makes less use of rubato than others, although the rhythmic pulse of the melody is stronger. I am happy to see that he rolls that chord in the bass at the top of the last page as well, I thought my hands were just too small. Remember that music is art, that means that there are many interpretations of the one work.
MelodyAtonal 1 week ago
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The performer must have hated this peice. You play too fast when you come to hate a peice. Like a lover that you've grown bored with, even though you know she (the composition) is still amazing.
TheFormerCry 1 week ago
Comment removed
TheFormerCry 1 week ago
this is a fast version, but quite enjoyable. talented performer + great composer = amusement
aeropulse 1 week ago
This guy is soooo bad. He's way too fast (I'm sure his wife can confirms).
Kasseur2fass 1 month ago
@Kasseur2fass I'm sure your wife can confirm too.
vidcatchacomgoo 4 weeks ago
@Kasseur2fass He was homosexual.
cutza7 3 weeks ago
@marcelmombeek MIJD WALTER ALS DE PEST? Misschien heb je wel gelijk.Maar wat men over jou en je vriendinnetje Greetje Dehoux zei wil ik hier niet publiceren.Zou anders onderhevig zijn aan hevige censuur.Have a nice day.Ik vind jullie een leuk koppel en ik wens jullie allebei het beste en nog veel genot met elkaar.Ajuus!!
abmsghost1 2 months ago
@marcelmombeekpiano Dat je bij Gevers niets geleerd hebt daar kan ik inkomen.Toen ik 16 was deed ik toegangsexamen met Waldstein Sonata,Toccata van J.Jongen en Chopin op.10 nr.5 en 7.Sigrist en Detiege zaten te watertanden.Maar ja ..ik kwam in dezelfde boot terrecht als jij.Dus ik maar brossen.Was indertijd hevige fan van Groslot(misschien kunt ge die ook eens opbellen voor wat sappige anekdotes he) en heb van hem veel opgestoken".En wat "idereen "zegt interesseert mij genen bal!!Capito!
abmsghost1 2 months ago
Comment removed
abmsghost1 2 months ago
For those that say "too fast", i think that everyone is free to play as theyr prefare. Why all those YOUTUBE-BIG-TALENTED-PIANISTS dont take a video where THEY show to us as music should be played :P ??? If you dont like this interpretation take an old 33 lp and make it move as a 45 :P
elicandondo 2 months ago
hmm the quality is rather good for a black and white video
FlyingBlackAndWhite 2 months ago
Wonderful imagery!
genesisx100 2 months ago
Still amazed at how effortless he makes it seem =)
SesKaralus 3 months ago
the tempo is amazing. makes it sound like a splash of water over the piano. it gives it a very fluid texture and wow his technique...
muchmoredots 3 months ago
what tempo!
Liduniya 3 months ago
too fast
apart from that, stunning of course
drcool56 3 months ago
fucking beautiful
Writtenjustice 4 months ago 3
Wow...only known bolero till recently but its nothing compared to all the other amazing pieces he created.
Kasino80 4 months ago 2
@Kasino80 That's what Ravel said too; he said "Bolero" was trivial compared to his other works. Doesn't stop "Bolero" from being a heckuva piece, though.
RagingMoon1987 2 months ago
Faster than I prefer to hear it, but his voicing is the best I've heard for this piece.
colinthepianist 4 months ago
lovely.
Likeafoxow 5 months ago
WOW.
leen14leen14 5 months ago
This video is an eternal treasure of this planet.
nostradamusguy 5 months ago
I can see the water...
isocrate27 5 months ago
The piece is called 'water games' and Richter makes it sound just like water - from smooth and flowing to sparkle. Richter was utterly dedicated to the music - he was not one for playing piece fast because he could - he didn't have to.
If anyone can find a version of this piece with a more beautiful water-like tone I'd like to hear it, because I don't believe one exists.
gabebabe1 5 months ago 2
3:40-4:41 is probably what it feels like to travel through space...
illuminatedwater 5 months ago
Thanks for the video
HELP Fingering for 4:19 ? Right arpeggios m. 82 (down) 543214321 ? 321432121?
enriquem90 6 months ago
Comment removed
enriquem90 6 months ago
I'm sure that Ravel could play this piece, maybe not as well as Ricardo Vines who Ravel used to premiere a lot of his works including Mirroirs and Gaspard. Ravel could not have played it anything like Richter. Plus Ravel's work is so logically pianistic that a non virtuoso pianist would be hard pushed to compose.
etudepatetico 6 months ago
Fantastico...
2bass88 6 months ago
He DOESN'T play TOO fast. For this piece, specifically for this piece, the tempo is on. The picture of this piece Ritcher is drawing is not as same as other performers have. If you think this is too fast, that's because you don't understand or can't draw the picture of this interpretation. By far this is the best one for my taste. Has to be done this way.
mrkwonsony 6 months ago 2
This gives me goosebumps. Especially from 6:06 to 6:10 HAHAHAA
musixpwincess 7 months ago
To be honest, I don't really like it. It's played too fast(even though Richter is a very good pianist). I prefer Marthat Argerich's interpretation.
JohnRift 7 months ago
This is so amazing! I listen to this everyday! Bravo!!!!
pianorcz 7 months ago
My face: ö
kingvictory2003 7 months ago
Although Martha's version is still superior for me, Richter no doubt does a nice job here.
Pianist46 7 months ago 2
Oh my gosh, Richter really has a train to catch. I don't like it. He plays it too fast.
JohnRift 7 months ago
@JohnRift This song is supposed to be fast!!! It makes it sound harder and more interesting!!!! Jeux d'eau means water games!!!
pianorcz 7 months ago
@JohnRift I think he plays it like a corpse. It should be at least 3 times as fast.
PWBQLY 6 months ago
Nice Hall.
Zoomkipour 7 months ago
very well played but i prefere argerich's version
yumichyumichyumich 8 months ago
Amazingly clear, even more beautiful than when Dezso Ranki plays Ravel.
Ravel said at some occasion: "Just play the music, don't interprete it".
Richter definitely does so.
plorkx 8 months ago 2
@plorkx Interesting comment from Ravel about "not interpreting music" Perhaps this is why he said the only relationship he had was with his music, and not a person? do you have the actual tempo markings of the piece?
I guess it's up to the performer. I prefer Argerich's version, even if Ravel would not approve. I usually like the composer of any type of music doing their own work, but not 100% of the time! In the end, it's all about what speaks to the listener.
stellartunes 7 months ago
@stellartunes Right you are, and it depends on the mood too (performer as well as listener). Ravel had the ability to write such beautiful music, that it's hard to dislike any interpretation. Soundshapes and soundcolours, unequalled in his league.
On the other hand I quite enjoy the Red Hot Chilly Peppers too.
plorkx 6 months ago
@plorkx -I prefer Jalapenas for flavour. lol
paulostroff99 5 months ago
Pour de la musique impressionniste, c'est trop métronomique, je trouve. Je préfère l'interprétation de Martha Argerich, plus poétique.
Korsine 8 months ago
世界一。
marinaayakashunsuke 8 months ago
I would just like to say that the Urtext edition has the metronome marking of quaver-144, with an additional marking to tell us that the autograph originally had quaver at 152. Richter is probably closer to this than most you'd hear on youtube but it is simply interpretation and taste that defines whether or not this is too fast. I take it slower because it's just so tricky! It's beautiful like this and also Argerich's way in different ways.
LMpianogirl 9 months ago 4
@LMpianogirl I agree with you. It is interesting to note that Ravel could Not play this piece himself. That is why it is not on any Piano roles that he made.
ithinks5050 6 months ago
j'aaaadooooorre....
GwendaAndMomo 9 months ago
qu'es que c'est beau la fin, la dernière minute c'est magnifique, mon passage préféré, c'est magique.
wrigleyx 9 months ago 4
Ravel made a wonderful job trying to make this piece look like water. Richter only transforms this into real water. I don't like extreme virtuosism, it puts music in a second plan. But this is not the case. This interpretaion is water, and it isn't fast. Actually, if you listen to other interpretations of this music they are slower but much less clearer.
(I'm sorry for my writting, i don't usualy write in english)
Nhfsk 9 months ago
Iam fan of Richter but this one is really too fast for my taste
orleomarty 9 months ago
It is sad how we have come to elect people like MrPianoLover and Ynot1666 to be judging important piano competitions nowadays...On the other hand, it is valuable to have proof like YouTube to disclose the horrible reality of our current spectators.
muscomap 9 months ago 4
-mind blown-
shebetheshoya 9 months ago
Cziffra. best interpretation. period.
oyecarnal 9 months ago
Looks like he did the black key glissando with his THUMB!!
WorldCupSeoul 9 months ago
This is like pure magic!
Kisoline 10 months ago
a genius player playing a genius's genuinely genius composition
sunsbelly 10 months ago
Ravel is the symbol of music translated into complex simplicity.
DZAUDZI69 10 months ago
@DZAUDZI69 Bingo!
USABG58 9 months ago
I love this tempo ,we can realy hear the water^^
loboris1995 10 months ago
Pisando em nuvens. Perfeito!
MrAlice05 10 months ago
But noises too much.
shm1968g 10 months ago
Nice Play.
shm1968g 10 months ago
When you play it too fast like this, it feels more like Course d'eau rather than Jeux d'eau. The metronomic marking is there for a reason.
alciefrederic 10 months ago
ñdsgkñjdsg I died
TheRMartz12 10 months ago
what's with Richter always playing things so much faster?
TheRiskyBoxSpread 10 months ago
It's just.... fucking rain. Its really amazing to hear this song live. There is something so deep and so... dehumanizing, its awesomely weird.
SoyIcedNenitas 10 months ago
@SoyIcedNenitas try to listen debussy's "jardins sous la pluie"!!!
DafniElissa 10 months ago
Especially because the tempo is really fast it makes feel the water which goes from the mountain in waterfalls, in violent stream, to the plain in little rivers.
hamsterdj78 10 months ago
Was Ravel good performing on the piano? I read he couldn't play his own pieces and wrote difficult music for the piano for a virtuoso friend that would perform them. Please correct me if this is not true. I'm intrigued by the charm of this lovely tune it really captures my imagination.
szopen010101 11 months ago
It's all nonsense - no such effects can be reached if not played that fast. Nothing to talk about - his interpretation is merely different from all the rest and outstandingly singular. And he was probably the only one, whose abilities allowed to play in such a way. He is simply the best of all.
Eldsnar 11 months ago
Magnificently beautiful...
TheQueenIsMalice 11 months ago
Precioso...
jordi46design 11 months ago
Too fast
jewgienij100 11 months ago
@jewgienij100 Maybe the other performances are simply too slow.
platinumdynamite 11 months ago
The tempo is too fast...
sanadasuzune 11 months ago
WTH were those 44 people thinking?
LuizVotto 11 months ago 4
@LuizVotto they think they can play it better obviously... :P
ViTO4DTR 11 months ago
@LuizVotto That it's not a good interpretation...I personally think it's way too fast for my taste.
bluematrix109 10 months ago
You are right on LuizVotto!
Ynot1666 10 months ago
Many virtuosi tend to play things far too fast to emphasize their own virtuosity, at the expense of the music. It becomes a scrabble and the music is out the window. It's a fault of being a virtuoso. The greatest virtuosi don't do this. Richter was a great pianist and I love much of his stuff, but in this case he does indeed play this too fast. Actually he slows down towards the end and that part is far better!
Ynot1666 10 months ago
@Ynot1666: There is no better or worse in any part of this video. There is a simple truth that belongs to Richter which you are not meant to grasp. Same applies to claims that this rendition is "too fast" or senseless, amateur "rushing" comments brought along. The only reason you say Richter was great is because you heard about him, so he is automatically amazing to you. However, seeing your comments and other people that resemble you, it turns out you don't understand why he was what he was.
liszt6 9 months ago 34
@liszt6 I think the dude's entitled to his opinion. I happen to enjoy this version a lot...but Argerich's I enjoy more because it's more fluid and, well, slower. haha
Yeah I don't think the fact that he said Richter was rushing makes him an amateur. And frankly, I never much liked Richter's playing, period. Unless it was Chopin's Revolutionary Etude, in which case I would have to make an exception.
That said, I wouldn't click the dislike button on this video, but it could better.
MrPianoLover1 9 months ago
@liszt6 no better or worse part? What about 3:52 - 3:53 ? Complete silence...
steamednotfried 8 months ago
@Ynot1666 "Many virtuosi tend to play things far too fast to emphasize their own virtuosity" This is a very presumptuous statement. How do you know why they play pieces fast? You're calling into question their artistic integrity, which is a serious thing. Did you ever consider that they play the pieces fast because it's the way they choose to interpret them, and not because they're trying to show off? The idea that Richter would need to show off seems silly to me.
freakytea 9 months ago 50
@freakytea thank you. Everyone has musical preferences. Though I do prefer this song not so fast I can see that the way Richter played really did bring out the "watery" feeling the song was meant to have and it made me really see from both angles. Whoever you were responding to really needs to start looking at things from different angles. watch /watch?v=gZncjSDh6II. played slower. but the ending is done so perfectly in my opinion.
moviesmyway 7 months ago
Comment removed
Carthsgtr 5 months ago
@freakytea
There's nothing intelligent about giving your own "interpretation," if it is simply a bad one. I find nothing more idiotic than someone who chooses to use that as an excuse for mediocrity or a badly performed piece.
Personally, I thought this rendition was great. Although in all honesty, I don't think you can deny that it was rushed.
Carthsgtr 5 months ago
@Carthsgtr
It's difficult to repsond to your comment, because it doesn't have much to do with what I said. I was responding (negatively) to the assumption that virtuosi must play fast because they like to show off. I never gave my opinion of the performance and certainly never tried to excuse "mediocrity or a badly performed piece."
For the record, though, I love Richter here. Superbly impressionistic, and doesn't sound rushed at all to me.
freakytea 4 months ago
@Ynot1666 Im not really a fan of richter, but questioning one's interpretation and making such a judgemental statement as he is playing fast just to "show off" his virtuosity, this is not something that YOU can determine, perhaps you see soft flowing water, and delicate water droplets glistening in the sunlight, but i could interpret it differently, as could Richter and everyone else, nether the less i believe he does the title of this piece nad ravel justice, depicting the playfulness of water
maddorox 9 months ago
I automatically think of Gieseking - what a fantastic pianist he was for this kind of music. But I just checked on YouTube, and I think Giesking in the posting I found (from 1955) plays this slightly too fast too!
Ynot1666 10 months ago
I just went back to listen to Vlado Perlemuter (another Ravel specialist) playing this same piece and he has it right. His technique and his touch are not up to Richter or Giesking but he truly seems to feel this music. The only version of this I could find on YouTube version chops him off unceremoniously before the end - would someone post a complete version? I have no way to do this although I do have a CD of Perlemuter's Ravel with this track on it.
Ynot1666 10 months ago
43 anormales
250hojas1 11 months ago
estas canciones deberian ser las que tengan millones de vistas y no toda esa musica comercial que muere cuando pasa de moda pero en fin interesante combinacion de sonidos me encanta ^^
haruhidebian 11 months ago
beautifull
why do I get the impression sometimes that the movement of pianist in some films is somehow faster than "normal".. could this be faster than what Richter played?
koumisp 11 months ago
@koumisp no, that's how he played it.
NotAgain90 11 months ago
try lip syncing this, britney
mw08149272 11 months ago 2
I like the 3:37~3:52 much.
MrBoeing283funk 11 months ago
Ravel shows such strong Debussy influence on this piece... but that ain't no bad thing ;)
thinkpad20 11 months ago
Ravel was definitely the last "master" of classical music composition. All other were either destroyers like Schoenberg, Webern, Boulez, and others; or ignorants like Paert, Gubaidulina; or also complete Idiots, containing "personalitys" like Cage, Kagel, Wyttenbach: Shame on these; they are criminals concerning art.
MultiTyrannosaurus 11 months ago
@MultiTyrannosaurus It seems obvious that you are of those people who only listen to music easier to digest. It seems that you are the the only ignorant here. Before criticizing revolutionary geniuses of contemporary music like Cage or Gubaidulina, first find out the reasons they had to make that music. Please do not criticize without having the necessary grounds to say such nonsense... :( It seems that you have an extremely closed mind
alekzlenz 11 months ago
@MultiTyrannosaurus It seems obvious that you are of those people who only listen to music easier to digest. It seems that you are the the only ignorant here. Before criticizing revolutionary geniuses of contemporary music like Cage or Gubaidulina, first find out the reasons they had to make that music. Please do not criticize without having the necessary grounds to say such nonsense... :( It seems that you have an extremely closed mind
alekzlenz 11 months ago
@MultiTyrannosaurus It seems obvious that you are of those people who only listen to music easier to digest. It seems that you are the the only ignorant here. Before criticizing revolutionary geniuses of contemporary music like Cage or Gubaidulina, first find out the reasons they had to make that music. Please do not criticize without having the necessary grounds to say such nonsense... :( It seems that you have an extremely closed mind
alekzlenz 11 months ago
lol god finger lol
pieerreon 1 year ago
its rainninnngggg :P
lov97ya 1 year ago
the end is so ... wooow
16119393 1 year ago
I wonder why the title means "games of water" in English :o
Yagutah 1 year ago
@Yagutah
You certainly can't tell from the way he plays it. Try listening to Martha Argerich playing this. She really gets the watery potential in this composition. "Play of water" might be a better translation.
k0rfuffler 1 year ago
@Yagutah
It makes more sense if you translate it as Water Games.
iLaurenicious 11 months ago
Richter is always one of the best!
Thanks a lot for your post.
123must 1 year ago
i'm i on mush or something this was soooooooo B.A.M.F.
361spitfire 1 year ago
his thump .....
but his music is amazing
claire78953 1 year ago
I thought the opening was stiff... but keeping that rhythmic precision going through out is amazing.
Ericbwoo 1 year ago
I love this.
Crazy fingers.
It really looks like the rain outside...
yeahmanfoni 1 year ago
Return of the Butcher. Richter should have been banned from "playing" Ravel. So fast, so cold.
minastronasse 1 year ago
@minastronasse Ravel is Cold.
belialah 1 year ago
I think people are putting dislikes on this so that others would make funny comments about them . haha, not funny, jerks .
sleftable 1 year ago
silencio,silencio...escuchemos. Cavafis
consuelocastaneda 1 year ago
40 people need "eau" to wake up... xD Now, seriously, amazing performance! But I agree with most of people, it lacks emotion, feeling...
cafity 1 year ago
This makes me think "Spring day in the park", totally awesome, I've never heard any of Ravel's piano work until now
tartanmusician 1 year ago
Unmentioned note: this man has no wrist bones.
girlfriendg 1 year ago
CUDO-TOTALNY CZAD-TO JEST MUZYKA PRZYSZLOSCI
Vulcan233 1 year ago
This sounds like the kind of song where you're about to be hypnotized
Yagutah 1 year ago
Listen to Tiffany Poon play this! She turns this dry exercise into spectacular and memorable MUSIC
johnij14 1 year ago
Richter is great, but like a lot of people have said, the interpretation is very tight. The high crescendo especially lacks feeling. When this piece moves too quickly, you don't get to really "hear" it.
The version by Alicio Zizzo is especially good.
nakedmambo 1 year ago 2
I think this is the better interpretation I heard!! Lots of dynamism, character and virtuosistic performance. Richter is one of the best pianist of history, no doubt.
Hopffnung 1 year ago
##Insert comment about why people pressed the DISLIKE button here##
SukoSeiti 1 year ago
i love him. but when i meet this video, i was totally shocked bout the strictness in his tempi, its too stiff and too regluar. like a computer would play it.
tastibasti 1 year ago
Che leggerezza..
drthkin 1 year ago
Surprisingly subpar! I know and admire Richter's tendency to play everything as plainly as possible, but this sounds more like a midi. Impressive, yes. Pleasant, hardly.
th3wing3dpaint3r 1 year ago
i love him!!!! R.I.P richter
TheColdPlay88 1 year ago
Richter is the only one allowed to play this piece this fast.... or maybe he's the only one who CAN.
davidofpiano423 1 year ago
Please let me point out: daniel15671 is right. After posting the former note, I looked through many other recordings, of course including Argerich's. She has a tremendously musical approach, it's stunning. But Richter - as he plays the beginning- brings out much more melody and sweetness. I would, even though, love to hear Richter slow down in the "melodic" parts, as Argerich does in 3:25 of this piece. Concluding, both simply show us their impression- but also Ravel.
Falconermalik 1 year ago
戏水..
deathinvenice92330 1 year ago
brilliant performance by a brilliant pianist!!!
AL10Hermann 1 year ago
流れる水が見えてくるみたい。
心地いい。
nyanparari22 1 year ago
I'm amazed how Richter plays this piece so fluidly. It builds upon you the image of a young boy delicately slipping one of his fingers across the surface of a pond, creating waves of ripples, one after another, barely breaking the stillness of the water. Few others have the dexterity and gentleness to play this piece as it is meant to be played.
jjsanchezramirez 1 year ago
I think Richter's tempo brilliantly builds the tension and drama of the piece. And this may be heresy to some, but I think it's a mistake to adhere too slavishly to a composer's metronome markings. Too much depends on the acoustics, the player's characteristic tone quality, the instrument itself, and other variables.
daniel15671 1 year ago
I think Richter's tempo brilliantly builds the tension and drama of the piece. And this may be heresy to some, but I think it's a mistake to adhere too slavishly to a composer's metronome markings. Too much depends on the acoustics, the instrument itself, and other variables.
daniel15671 1 year ago
Richter has a magnificent technique. This piece is definitely hard to control. But the point, that he is playing it too fast, is, according to the measurement given, true. Eighth note = 144.
Even though, Ravel was impressionist throughout. If we exclusively can tell one thing, then we definitely must still admit that it's about the artist's impression, we're talking about - Rubato.
And different variations enhance our musical understanding.
Bravo, Richter.
Falconermalik 1 year ago
my favorite composer of all. Beautiful playing!
stormchaser6871 1 year ago
shivers from 0:08 to 4:41
TheColdPlay88 1 year ago
Comment removed
Falconermalik 1 year ago
Dear people who don't like this,
The quality of this recording is so low, all you're hearing is a shadow of what the performance really sounded like. ...And yet Richter still comes across basically as good as Argerich. He is a genius.
alienalienss 1 year ago
wow this is gorgeous!
pianodudette 1 year ago
Richter the Butcher doing his usual thing. Way too fast, way too agressive.
totalannihilator99 1 year ago
I think it is a little fast
Blackwhite2277 1 year ago
Magnificent!!! (•=
jmatt4life 1 year ago
wow, so fluid!!
wrigleyx 1 year ago
ahh this piece makes me think of bathing in pure heavenly water that washes my worries away....
SuperAaron895 1 year ago
Richter is the very best Impressionist interpreter. Fabulous, I'm favoriting this!
unpodimusica1 1 year ago
You may just say I'm a stupid violinist who's opinion is null on the matter, but it sems like Richter brings out the genius forms and structure of this piece, whereas Argerich really focuses more on bringing out the imagery and surreal beauty of each individual note of the piece. I couldn't say either is beautiful, this interpretation is breathtaking, whereas Argerich's is... hauntingly, surreally beautiful.
malikrox 1 year ago
Argerich plays this much better. Much more flowing and water-like (and expressive at the same time). This sounds more like a midi file
bobbphysics 1 year ago
@bobbphysics You're entitled to your opinion of course, but I personally find Richter's performance, although perhaps less 'flowing', incredibly intimate and touching.
fbager 1 year ago
richter's technique is truly amazing
burgerchef618 1 year ago
Too fast for me. I appreciate his amazing technique, but sometimes pianists of his skill played too fast just to show off their virtuosity. And while that is appreciated sometimes, I would much prefer this at a slower tempo. Jeax D'eau translates as "fountains" or "playing water". Fountains...not raging rapids lol. Still a big fan of Richter. He more than makes up for it with other of his standard interpretations.
BreezyGraffiti 1 year ago
@BreezyGraffiti When Ravel heard this piece played by a female pianist at a less then desirable tempo he said to her: "Your waterfalls sound sad!". I'm sure this tempo would of pleased Ravel...it conveys the wonderful portrait of water tickling the "water god", a quote in the score. Richter is not just pounding out notes rapidly to show off technique.
Ckorn123 1 year ago
@Ckorn123 I don't think is should be played that much more slowly, But I do find this tempo to fast. This seems more like "River god racing down the rapids that chase him" to me lol. I prefer a slightly slower tempo. I feel as if various elements of the structure of the piece are bring constructed as they should, when it's played so fast. Melodic elements get swept up in the rush, and there are alot of "voices" so to speak going on at once here. I would've preferred something slightly slower.
BreezyGraffiti 1 year ago
ritcher is a fucking beast
a83692128 1 year ago
1216 people know how to appreciate good music
cupofreedom 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
i used a metronome and i noticed richter is not the marked '144" tempo but he is going at about 185.....O-M-F-G... thats mondo fast
sychokillin 1 year ago
i used a metronome and i noticed richter is not the marked '144" tempo but he is going at about 185.....O-M-F-G...
sychokillin 1 year ago 6
The phrase "mad skill" comes to mind
DeftFlow 1 year ago 33
incredible
zmatekova 1 year ago
33 PEOPLE DON'T HAVE EARS!
The55555SSSSS 1 year ago 56
@The55555SSSSS good point :)
SuperSaltpeanuts 1 year ago
@The55555SSSSS or else very poor fine motor skills when they went to click the like button
ubergossen 1 year ago
@The55555SSSSS make that 37 including me... BORING!!!
madowoskudu66 1 year ago
@madowoskudu66
BORING?!
This is one of the very best interpretations of Jeux d'eau.
Played by one of the greatest virtuoso of the 20th century.
Still B O R I N G ??????????
The55555SSSSS 1 year ago
@The55555SSSSS
ZARNICA5 1 year ago
@The55555SSSSS you are fool )
ZARNICA5 1 year ago
@ZARNICA5
STOP DESCRIBING YOURSELF.
The55555SSSSS 1 year ago
@The55555SSSSS is that just a general fact?
FliptopTwister 1 year ago
@The55555SSSSS
or maybe 38 people prefer justin bieber or lada gaga
looney1023 1 year ago
@looney1023
I don't have a clue who these people are.
But I am sure they don't deserve to be mentioned in this magnificent performance of Ravel.
The55555SSSSS 1 year ago
@The55555SSSSS 38 people atm don't have ears XD!!!
Henriguitarman 1 year ago