Stephen Kovacevich Masterclass on Schubert Impromptus

[chrish12345]

Also, logical or not, there is a tradition whereby less beats in the bar than one had previously thought in a piece imply either a quicker tempo than previoulsy thought and the general rule of the tempo somehow being in proportion to the number of beats. If Schubert had been privy to this 'recieved wisdom' then it certainly does make sense to increase the tempo for 2 in the bar rather than 4 in the bar. There is no hard logic to this but unfortunately traditions sometimes over-ride logic.

[chrish12345]

Alla Breve according to people of, for example, Horrowitz's generation, means '2 in the bar', even if that can conflict with the literal translation of taking the half note (minim) as the beat. Its true we don't know if Schubert wanted us to read 2 or 4 in the bar for this piece - possibly he intended a contrapuntal approach where we see it as 2 overall semi breve units each divided into 2 minims. Kovacevich says 'it can be that way' (ie 4 in the bar) but wants her to try 2 in bar for a change.

[darnmat]

I really enjoyed this a lot. Brava to the pianist and bravo to the teacher.

[thgrigoryan]

Pianist is Lilit Grigoryan.

my sister))))))

[FoiledFailure]

This is great to watch

[GMElias2863]

I find it ironic that he talks about tempos taken by Horowitz. Yes, he played some thing quite fast (though not always as fast as Argerich). But in this EXACT work, his recording is one of the slowest; and yet it shows such artistry. I would hate to play this Impromptu in a masterclass. It is so personal. Though I think Kovacevich has great ideas, the same could be said if she played it a completely different manner--that is the nature of masterclasses: one must say something. Great playing!

[XCelloVG]

Genius! Also, purple pants.

[reviewsvoiceontube]

@XCelloVG Absolutely. Marvel cartoon heros and geniuses wear purple-coloured pants.

[47viviane]

who is this graceful & talented young woman? I would very much like to hear her play in concert! Best of luck to you - whoever you are!!!

[meredith21846]

This young woman has a lovely sound. Kovacevich brings some fascinating interpretive insights to this music which further illuminates the playing.

[Nurkenova]

Such a wonderful musician.

[Schamschi]

Damn, I'm so tired of "Alla Breve" being used as an excuse for playing something faster than you normally would. Alla breve only means that the half notes should be stressed instead of the the quarter notes, or that the pulse beats are half notes, and not that something should be played faster than feels natural.

[lola020202]

there is no alla breve in my score ! ( barenreiter)

[Schamschi]

@lola020202 What!? Then what measure is it there?

[wayneredhart]

@Schamschi no it doesn;t. You clearly don't understand how pulse works. Pulse is judged from pulse notes- which is why alla breve means something totally different.

[Schamschi]

@wayneredhart Well, then tell me how pulse works, if it's even possible to do so in an objective way. Alla breve means that the half notes are the pulse, nothing more. Yes, the part where I wrote that the half notes should be stressed was inaccurate, because pulse does not necessarily have something to do with stressing the pulse notes.

[wayneredhart]

@Schamschi tempo is judged from pulse notes. If there are half as many pulse notes, obviously it's implied that the individual notes go quicker. Tempo is judged from the rate at which pulse notes go by, not from individual notes. Alla breve only suggests individual notes go by quicker. It doesn't suggest a fast tempo- because tempo is not judged from individual notes. People only think the tempo is fast is they fail to realise which notes set the pulse.

[Schamschi]

@wayneredhart Also, I think Kovacevic doesn't understand the meaning "alla breve". The way he conducts at 0:54, it looks like he thinks that alla breve means "in two" instead of the half notes being the pulse.

[wayneredhart]

@Schamschi Also, it's perfectly arguable that Schubert indeed means two semibreve beats per bar. His use of two cut common time markings is ambiguous- even if most people assume it means 4/2.

[jaijeffcom]

@Schamschi You nailed it. Alla breve doesn't just mean "two to a bar." It means the breve gets the beat, and a breve is a half note. The half note gets the beat and this piece has 4 of them in a bar. Mr. Kovacevic seems to want this piece to have a swing of two to a bar. That isn't "alla breve." That would be "alla doppio breve" or whatever the heck two breves are. I'd look it up in Grove's, but I don't care. This is just too darned fast and it sounds trivial. I don't like it.

[kyleclef]

this has really helped me, she is a fantastic pianist, and he is a genius. and he has been very close to martha argerich, so he would have picked up some of her genius also. really fantastic video.

[TheStudio05]

Very expressive pianist. I like it.

[lovesGenet]

WOw! No one has ever told me to lift pedal before playing .

[dialecticon]

A superb pianist. Getting it right with Schubert is bloody difficult...

[rabengeraun]

A most warm and supportive man - I'd like to be "masterclassed" by him.

[cris041]

Very interesting, thanks a lot !

[haynet1962]

Wonderfully sensitive interventions from Kovacevich.