Evgeny Kissin plays Rachmaninoff Etude Tableaux Op. 39 No. 6 - "Little Red Riding Hood"

[Buffoon1980]

I like this version a lot. I also like Valentina's. Two brilliant musicians who are quite different. Aren't we lucky to have both?

[swiminjim]

To me, this version builds almost zero tension. It's fractured into many bits and pieces. Tiny snippits of tension resolution tension resolution, with almost no overall feeling. It's like he learned the piece passage by passage, and never really gave consideration to how they fit together. It's very distracting to be honest. Just an opinion, (yes I prefer Valentina's version)

[kirinlager49]

This is fantastic.. The man's a genius

[Nimenicamine01]

No No!! Valentina No! Este estudio No Apto para mujeres!! (Only Man for Rachmaninoff).

[benhey100]

@Nimenicamine01 Oh gosh, I can belive I read this, you can't stand that a woman plays so damn good, (probably, better then you ever will, even if you tried your hardest). Some people are so jelous and threaten by her ability, and of her youtube popularity.

[lufeben]

I'm sorry, but Valentina's version is not even comparable to Kissin's. His is creative, musical and, yes, technically perfect, as usual. Lisita's has a lot of wrong notes, but this may not be important. What is important is the lack of color, moods and sophistication that are "musts" in Rachmaninov's music.

[PianoGuy213]

I like valentinas version just a little better, i do like how you can hear every single note clear though in kissins vetsion. either way, they are both great pianists

[mohtaa]

Other remark about kissin , he (and a looooooooooooof other pianists) do not know to use correctly the pedal.

Sometimes, th piece misses a lot of sonorities... that could have been avoided!

[mohtaa]

Valentina is way better in this piece , i know she plays fast , but this melody needs to be fast! and need the pianist to feel the fear and danger... and expose it in its work.

In fact, Kissin still needs to work on his technic , at this stage of fame, there are some faults not to be done!

[goruz]

@mohtaa you're not talking seriously!!!! O_o Valentina Lisitsa is a really great pianist... but Kissin is on another planet! Kissin is... truly musical, Valentina plays the right notes very fast... but "at this stage of fame" the really great pianist is the musical one :)

[g7727]

no motion picture?

[Isack1408]

Valentina Is much better! that's a fact! 

[ImmortalSpecies]

@Isack1408 That's an opinion.

[s1earle]

Is this the start of a funeral procession?

[fevercovers]

Negócio é o seguinte, eu vi a Yuja Wang tocar isso na sala são paulo domingo, e ela interpreta melhor que a lisitsa e o kissin. FIM DE BRIGA

[pffortes]

That haunting sound from 0:40-0:50 is such a typical late Romantic Russian musical idiom. I've heard it in Prokofiev's music and now Rachmaninoff's.

[sergiobantam]

Um é melhor... o outro é melhor...!

A quanto tempo ouvem?

O que tocam para poder julgar com tanta facilidade?

Para criticar é preciso saber fazer melhor ou ter os ouvidos infinitos com a miríade de intérpretes que felizmente por ai perambulam.

A Lisitsa é mais bonita!

[fevercovers]

Caro amigo, a da Valentina é melhor, e isso é meio óbvio

[Emanresu56]

I'm tired of the criticism "x pianist seems to play mechanically". All pianists play mechanically to one degree or another. Also, whether or not a pianist plays "mechaically" is subjective. People have argued that Marc-Andre Hamelin plays "mechanically". In fact, pretty much every pianist has gotten this criticism from people who know nothing about music.

If you want to criticize a pianist do it in a manner in which you know what you're actually talking about.

[meridianfrost]

I prefer Lisitsa's version. I realize that hers has amazing video to accompany it, but she is much more fluid when she plays this piece. Although this version is closer to the originally composed piece, I think that the pianist's interpretation of the music is nearly as important as composition itself. Very well done, but after listening to Valentina play this, I hear her's in my mind, and extrapolate mistakes from all other attempts.

[superman5212]

I'm sorry people but Valentina plays this WAY BETTER

[New4785689]

Ma guardate voi sta mandria di dementi col cronometro in mano...

[giuseppe76761]

INFATTI NELLA INTERPRETAZIOE DI HYUN JUNG LIM LA SUONA 1'20 SECONDI MA MOLTO IMPRECISA E POCO CHIARA...ASCOLTANDO QUELLE DI CZIFFRA MI SONO ACCORTO CHE SCARICANDOLA E METTENDOLA A CONFRONTO AL PUNTO 53 LUI STA FINO AD 1'01 PER POI ARRIVARE ALLA SCALA IN DISCESA INVECE LIM STA DA 53 A 57 CIOE' 4 SECONDI IN MENO IN PIU' LIM NON RALLENTA DOVE DOVREBBE RALLENTARE MA FA TUTTO UNA CORSA NON RICREA ANDANDO TROPPO VELOCE LA FERMATA E VOLO DEL CALABRONE CONSIDERANDO TUTT CZIFFRA L AVREBBE FATTA IN 1'15

[slubert]

@giuseppe76761 Padidda Boobee. paddida badipoo...

[giuseppe76761]

IL PIU' GANDE PIANISTA DI TUTTI I TEMPI E' CZIFFRA ..TUTTE LE SUE INTERPRETAZIONI LE POTEVA SUONARE ALMENO IL 30% PIU' VELOCI RIMANENDO SEMPRE PULITO E CHIARO ,,CPOME TECNICA E' E RESTERA INEGUAGLIABILE A DIMOSTRAZIONE L ETUDE 10 N 1 DEL VIDEO CRAZY IMPROV WITH ETUDE AL 3'29 INZIA CN L ETUDE 10 N 1 NESSUNO POTREBBE EGUAGLIARE LA SUA VELOCITA' E CHIAREZZA.E' IL PIU'GRANDE ANCH IL VOLO DEL CALABRONE INTERPRETATA DA HYUN.JUNG.LIM CZIFFRA E' PIU' VELOCE IL RECORD DEL MONDO SPETT A LUI

[afertyus1000]

@giuseppe76761 NO THE BEST IS RICHTER OF ALL TIME AND ALIVE IS HAMELIN

[tchykovsky]

Wow. I like this a lot. Most people just run through this like it's some sort of speed contest. What I like is how Kissin brings out the unexpectedness and emphasizes on rests. Using silence and more extreme dynamics to bring out the wolf chasing and things like that.

[Scarbogn]

I thik I have found my favorite interpretation of this etude :D

BTW does anybody know why is this etude called "Little Red Riding Hood"?

[JenniferLRichards]

@Scarbogn Just listen to it. The loud parts are the wolf and the quiet parts are little red riding hood. The part where it gets really fast are the chase scenes and in the end the wolf swallows her whole! There's a comment on one of Lisitsa's videos that describes this perfectly.

[Laudan08]

@Scarbogn Because as an Etude-Tableaux (etudes based on images/ideas), Rachmaninoff used the tale as a base so the etude should remember it.

[Chopin1974l]

Why does it all come down to who is best or better. There's NO competition. Only different interpretations. The differences are precisely what keeps the music fresh and alive. When we are talking about musicians the likes of Kissin or Perahia or Lisistsa, there is no competition. You only reach these levels of genius by being great and unique. Phenomenal technique is a given.

[azathothgr]

oh wow... I like Lisitsa's interpretation too, but hers is more aggressive, while in this the malice is so clear and detailed...

[Vierdank]

This is an exploading version! So much detail, so much colour!

[Tre8041]

I accualy think he plays this with a lot of sense and brings out the feeling.

[VladislavGomulka]

Magnificent.

[RachPhantom40]

Wow! He's playing so fast that I can't see his hands moving! An what an evil pic! A music genius!

[MondrosenPrime]

This version is...calmer, I think, more composed. It's rather peaceful compared to Lisitsa's threatening interpretation. I don't mean this one is not as good though.

[Scarbogn]

Has anyone listened to Sergio Fiorentino's interpretation of this etude?, I think that one is the best ever.

[bobthwart1]

I just heard this for another???

[Steinwaytoday]

lisitsa? mechanical? My good sir, it is called good taste.

[Potax88]

I find Ashkenazy's interpretation so wonderful!!

[sumimimi0]

this is just like rachmaninoff's version. i like valentina's version the most but i think rachmaninoff version should be the best since he composed it.

[sumimimi0]

the first part was different from other people..

[ReturnOfTheStienway]

@sumimimi0 Listen to Rachmaninoff play it... it is similar! =)

[scryabin]

I like how Kissin plays this etude different than anyone else and with a musical interpretation that's not just a bunch of fast notes. Sharp rubato that is convincing and articulation here is top notch. Fantastic playing, but then again, this is Kissin and we know to expect greatness. :)

[benhey100]

@scryabin Fast notes, you must be talking about Valentina. I personally prefer her version, but you can't criticise her like that, is very unfair, in my opinion she is the gratest pianist of our time, and she already said in an interview that she would love to know what the composers think about her interpretations, I mean it is not a bunch of fast notes, in some parts, she plays even slower then this version, and of course there are parts that she plays really fast, which I love. : )

[scryabin]

@benhey100 No, not at all benhey, I think Valentina is excellent at this piece too, though in my opinion, I prefer Kissin's interpretation. I was just saying there are many pianists who get caught up in the fastidious note-taking of this etude and fail to reveal the musical qualities.

[codycrowder]

rachmaninoff had to have been telling stories with his music

[LLPorduction]

I felt more emotion on that recording than Valentinas' those that mean somthing ? hmmm ? to me yes...

[TheFranchise417]

lisitsa version is way better

[teodortenchev]

I like this interpretation as well as Lisitsa's, this one brings out other details of the piece, I really can't say which is better, probably neither.

[cblink1000]

oooooooooooooo this is my favorite rendition. Has so much more character than what im used to hearing. Everyone likes to just go "speed-racer" style to the end instead of paying as much attention to the piece itself.

love it

[TehBrettster]

Kissin is probably my favorite pianist of this generation, and even though I don't like Lisitsa's stuff as much in general, I think I like her version of this piece better.

Kissin is still best of his generation, though.

[zzhhaannggddii]

seems like most people still like valentina lisitsa's version... so do i, because i think valentina makes this piece not only fast, but sound scary, which i think not every painist is capable of

[Vanguarde12]

Whoa, how does he play telepathically?

[muvesz0419]

this is the best recording ever with this etude... Kissin is a genious!

[Temptezt]

Amazing! I'd never expect such an interpretation of Kissin, it feels so freely. You can't really compare this with Lisitsa's version, it's like totally different (except the notes xD)... wow im still stunned about this after a while

[6lues6rother]

listen to ashkenzys version, he brings you in another world

[JHighland1]

thats a crazy picture of Kissin

[MegaTomco]

LISITSA IS BETTER

[Lukers1992]

@MegaTomco

there is no better or worse.they are interpretations. of each pianist. and must be respected.

[agniky]

@Lukers1992 and be juged...

[agniky]

@agniky jugded...

[agniky]

@agniky jugde.. damn, i really need some sleep

[agniky]

@agniky just forget what i wrote:D

[2pacAmazesSuperman]

@agniky judge

[sergeflousier]

Lisitsa's is more "epic" I would say, when Kissin's is more "intelligent" and clear...

They are both incredible :)

[mdeonx16]

I like this and Lisitsa's versions, a lot.

[leondertien]

Awesome! I read the comments as I waited for this to load and i thought I'd just prefer Lisitsa's interpretation. But they're just different.. nor better nor worse. I agree that this one builds tension a little better than hers though. And, again.. awesome!

[debussy84]

k, while i think kissin better at everything else i've heard him and lasitsa play, not this. She is the standard. Also, what the hell is he doing here. So much "poetic license" shall we say. Just because you're name's kissin doesn't mean you can change what's been written so drastically.

[LisztisKing]

Kissin plays the beginning similarly to Rach himself. Talking about poetic license, Rachmaninoff performed his own pieces differently and many times changes notes and dynamics from what's written on the page. Same with Beethoven and all of the great pianists before Rach. They were good improvisors. Teachers & performers today treat music like the bible. People are trained now to play like clones. They overanalyze. Who cares if someone adds a new perspective? There isn't "one truth" in music.

[debussy84]

Well, i agree somewhat but i think you can go too far. Rach is a good example, he adds an impressionist flare to all of his Chopin recordings, which is why they're all horrible. And its the RCM is thinks there's "one truth". You have to play section A like a cloned baroque pianist in that era, or you fail.  You can't add perspective to beethoven, or you fail. Etc. But i know what you're saying.

[jasonextreme]

QUIT ARGUING ABOUT THE BEST PIANIST IN THE WORLD!

Everyone knows Hamelin is the greatest.... teehee

[brazilamaral]

lol

[TheManRaptor]

@jasonextreme True story.

[goboenomo]

@jasonextreme he's totally right

[brazilamaral]

sorry guys for the monkey stuff , that was inappropriate. anyway, I really think lisitsa tends to play mechanicaly. listen to her interpretation of liszt's don juan paraphrase. there is nothing more mechanical and artificial than that. IMHO!

[Zeuta1]

actually i prefer valentina's version. nothing against you personally, i just enjoy her interpretation more. this one seemed to drag slightly and it was a little too "bangy" for my own personal taste. that being said, i still find it enjoyable to listen to both of you, as a great musician should never be ignored, and the mastery of an instrument is one that should be applauded no matter who the player, or who one prefers.

[TheJackHarkness]

@brazilamaral Valentina plays it a lot better <3

[codycrowder]

@brazilamaral if your honestly speaking truthfully about this, jealousy must be the problem. Mechanical isn't bad, and from the other pieces other than that one (of many) she uses crazy technicals and dynamics. You don't see many musicians out there like that.

[ethicks00]

@brazilamaral

if anything she played op 6 of Rachmaninoff's way LESS mechanically than Kissin. You clearly have no idea what you are talking about.

[ethicks00]

@brazilamaral

Not to mention this piece is MEANT to be played mechanically. It is on a very tight tempo that is not meant to be wavered from. There are 2 main parts where emotion is supposed to flood the song but the rest is supposed to be abrupt, strong, angry (basically Russia in Rachmaninoff time.)

[Evaldas521]

@brazilamaral

well listen to her interpretation of this piece! listen how fast she plays the middle! it's the best!

[Selecter8]

@brazilamaral Finally someone who don't like lisitsa :D

[afertyus1000]

@brazilamaral yes i agree it is very bad

[LURKUMALL]

@brazilamaral

just because you play a piece differently doesn't always mean it's better.

[timayyyyy]

In terms of building anxiety, this one did a better job of capturing the emotion than Lisitsa's and Ashkenazy's. Beautiful colour in this one but by no means is Lisitsa a monkey.

[Suckyea]

I agree that this is a better version,but you could have said that this is your opinion,and not spit on someone who plays far better that you could ever do.

[woezzy7]

who the f are you talking about???

There is Kissin and then there is nothing for a very long period.

[busylifemeto]

Valentiana does focus more on technical ability than interpretation but you are a complete imbecile to refer to her as a Circus Monkey. What do you play best ? The fool I am sure.

[MisantropicPersonage]

I personally prefer this version to Lisitsa's - although both are fantastic.

I enjoy segments in this that Valentina seems to rush through.

[happybirthdayamelia]

How dare you call Valentina Lisitsa a circus monkey you ignorant fool. She is better than this "artist" is and will ever be - If by my personal opinion you disagree, try looking at the views of this video and compare is to valentina's, you can also compare the ratings, if you like :) - Once again, don't diss valentina, you tool.

[busylifemeto]

@happybirthdayamelia I agree totally with you in this Idots description of Valentina being a Circus Monkey. Being fair though Valentina DOES moreoften focus on showing her amazing technical ability than the depth of meaning and interpretation of the piece. Have you listened to her playing of the Thalber Grand Fantasy ? Simply awesome and I have never heard any one else play it.  Evgeny does make a much better job of this piece I must say.

[slaviamak]

This is excellent interpretation of etude opus 39 no 6,realy,much,much better than Lisitsa !

[loosecannonondeck]

This is an outstanding interpretation of Little Red Riding Hood by Yvgeny Kissin. I have seen Kissin at Chicago's Orchestra Hall and will gladly attest to his musical prowess.

However Valentina Lasitsa I'm afraid is, hands down, the best pianist in the world,

There is no comparison between these two Titans.

Calling either artist a circus act is disgraceful, IMO

[TheIcebarrage]

You're a igorant idiot. I can't believe you call Valentina a circus monkey.. Kissin is way over rated and thinks he is so good. He charges $500,000 for every concert he plays in and rejects other ones because he thinks he is so good! Pffft.

[nickers2]

lisitsa's is way better

[DogzRock88]

i agree valentina makes you have the little reds riding hood type of feel.

[busylifemeto]

@nickers2 You need a hearing aid !! Valentina is a wonderful pianist "technically" but evgeny is every bit her equal and goes way past her in color and interpretation.

[8herecomesthesun]

circus monkey? real artists know when laughing at another's performance, you're simply laughing at yourself.

[zzhhaannggddii]

and u will see what a low rating this video has after u call valentina a circus monkey!

[zzhhaannggddii]

how could you criticize valentina that way?! everyone has his own way of playing piano, valentina's is more dynamic, i would say. but i'm not saying that valentina is better than kissin, i just prefer her to kissin. however u can't just criticize a person from her style that you don't like. that's stupid!!!

[AttemptingToBeBusy]

Such a colourful interpretation, full of brilliant dynamics!

Why is this video tagged with so much irrelevant stuff? Like Mozart? And Richter?

[lecheparavaka]

why you compare lisitsa and kissin that way? i mean, music is an art it cant be comparable men...

[eiweissexperience]

brazilamaral, you are boorishly courageous calling Valentina Lisitsa a cicrus monkey. While Evgeny Kissin does saturate his playing like a Romance novel is saturated with oozy passion, Valentina Lisitsa captures the fright and bizarre true to the very nature of the purpose of this étude, which is a child being hunted and chased by an vicious, cunning animal. Evgeny Kissin's is far, far too slow, and the meaning was, quite honestly, completely lost to me.

[Poliglo]

If u like this version ... fair enough, me personally I prefer Valentina's version... I think its more fierce and has much more force and has more the "creepy" scent... and about the circus monkey thing... i think those are the ones that brag about how fast they can play... not Valentina

[4785689]

Better than Lisitsa but Lugansky wins

[HeadCaptain]

Kissin plays it closer to how Rachmaninoff himself played it. See watch?v=zP4kn5vFyCg for a Rachmaninoff recording of it from 1925.

[snowboarderxzxz]

Lisitsa is a circus monkey? whatever... Kissin does play this more musically and makes it sound almost delicate in a certain sense. Lisitsa plays SOME things with no feeling but I feel with this song she really captured the "creepy" side of it. They are both great performances and it is opinion on this one.

[zirianos]

Well, you can not compare the lisitsa's version with this one, because the idea is different. but both are really excellent work, magnific performance.

[snowboarderxzxz]

@ Zirianos... yeah read the discription. He's comparing and saying stupid things. I agree with you though

[mcpuckett1]

I prefer Kissin over Lisitsa's. I love Kissin's sound.

[Darklord12356]

I'll throw in my worthless two cents on the whole Lisitsa thing.

First of all, I suggest that everyone close their eyes while listening...Lisitsa's insane fingers causes me to forget about the actual music and just watch her fingers.

If you do this, then I'm going to assume that you may enjoy Kissin's more, there is much more musical depth in Kissin's.

In fact...in terms of Lisitsa I think most performances by her can be described as 'technically amazing' at best.

[Rhinegoldt]

This is an interesting interpretation and unmistakably Kissin. I certainly don't think anyone could get away with it, but he makes it seem natural.

By the way, the little child prodigies prancing around at Julliard are circus monkeys. Valentina Lisitsa is a a true musician and one of the most remarkable pianists performing today. Lets not be so dramatic, brazilamaral.

[gouloum2222]

plus "lisitsa a circus monkey "... gosh you don't know what you re talking about.

[gouloum2222]

i prefer lisitsa's version. but brazilamaral i think you should use the words " i prefer " than " way better". because obviously at this level of talent, of technic and musicality you just can't say that one version is better than the other. when you say " way better than lisitsa " it can let suppose that lisitsa can'teven keep up with evegny kissin. and i'm sure you don't think that cause that kind thoughts are just for ignorants or fools. :)

[lagunagreg]

@gouloum2222 - yeah, actually you can. Lisitsa tends to play everything, even the slow things, too fast. It's amazing that she can, but it doesn't often serve Art. For example, I can hear Kissin's beat very consistenly, which gives the whole thing some shape. Lisitsa consistenly rides right over it and, consequiently, lots of the melodic and rhythmic tension is lost. her idea of thepiece consists of 2 or 3 parts, and colors. Kissin's has4 or 5, with a bigger tonal palette.

[dongolo]

Lisitsa is better i think..after the performance of her one can easyly remember every second of it as a pieaces of an whole....some details are exagrated in Kissin' s performance which is not nessesary i believe..

[HHRoblox]

Evgeny Kissin is my favorite pianist, but this piece is not as good as he has played other compositions..

[PIanoReview]

What some Kissin fans forget, and there is plenty to be impressed by Kissin, is that he has limited depth to his tone and that he can at times play so cleanly or mechanically that richness of sound are not so important to him. Comparing Kissin's virtuoso performances of the Liszt Sonata (which few consider grand), Stravinsky Petroushka (compare to Sokolov), and his solo Rachmaninoff just in terms of projection of tone (compare with Volodos), let's not Kissin too greatly in this repertoire.

[PIanoReview]

There is no question that this performance is by an outstanding pianist, as few performances of this piece reach this level. However, anyone who has seen Lisitsa and Kissin in concert playing solo Rachmaninoff should be able to tell that both have their strengths - and that Lisitsa consistently has a more bigger and more intense approach to music. Kissin, on the other hand, is quite "clean" and in the climax here it barely thrills. Nonetheless, Kissin's focus on the build up is remarkable.

[demosj]

Kissin's interpretation is a lot more mysterious and menacing than Lisitsa's. I feel the narrative aspect of the piece is more eloquently conveyed. Perfectly conjures the image of the woods with the wolf lurking in the shadows of the glades, waiting to pounce.

[Rotwatcher]

brazilamaral - you're an idiot.

[GlimpseInTheLife]

lisitsa is better...

[mrmonkeybuns]

wow kissin is usually not high on my list of interp. of pieces ,but this peice is Wow!

[Alejandro270193]

he looks like Beethoven...

[TheBluePianist]

i think both are beautiful interpretations.

i wouldnt says lisitsa's lacks colour or that she is a circus monkey :(

i quite like her interpretation also

[kempff95]

PERFECT MOOD!!!!

with colors and with superb energy!

[Pianobyme]

hmm.... Its possibly because I heard this recording before I heard Valentina's but I think this is soooo much clearer! There is no doubt they are both great techinicists, but I feel she is too fast, sometimes, the notes barely speak because there is only enough time to hear the attack... I much prefer this interpretation, there is more drama and more depth of sound despite its frantic-ness

[Mozarte2]

Plenty of light colors divine images ....!!!! I love it.

[MyOwnCliche]

Though I respect Kissin, I find this interpretation to not only lack the wonderful, frantic tension in Lisitsa's, but also the carefully thought out transitions between melodic ideas.

[iLoveChopin]

it's great. but personally i still prefer valentina's by miles.

[ThaPianoPlaya]

agreed

[marirossi]

you play frantic when you have some technical problems...I think....Kissin has no these problems...and so he can better interpret the music

[OMRLPdedicate]

His rendition is not nearly as frantic as Lisitsa's.

[brucesan]

I love Kissin. I even own this CD. But I still prefer Valentina's interpretation of this. Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 9 belong to Kissin though.

[LAMIAAFRICA]

i would prefere to see him playing this,would be great see his expression!