Viktors Berstis: Chopin "Heroic" Polonaise Op 53 in A flat major

[cciemail]

beautifully done

[dabozzcrg]

nice

[AllegroDemolish]

too much pedal.

[Nhewlayfp]

you're the best among those playing this piece.Superb!

[BChrisTH]

no.

horowitz is the best at this piece.

no one else.

horowitz.

[jmkeller]

Excellent! You make this seem effortless. May I suggest more "heroic"? It sounds like the horseman is trotting to the castle instead of at full gallop.

[TJWatson59]

My Favorite piece by Chopin, and you are the best at its interpretation I feel, since Van Cliburn. A more delicate and expressive, and therefore beautiful version, unlike Horowitz more stoic rendition. Please, play on!

[chicafreezer]

Hi Viktors!! my english is very few but is enough for say to you: I LOVE YOU!!! Vane From Mérida, México, I love your feel, emotion and times in this beautiful piece =)

[dmcII]

Yeah ! I love your ending. Extremely triumphant (i.e. "Heroic" !).

FYI I've been working on this piece and it caused me a wrist injury last Christmas that I'm still dealing with. You make it look much easier than it is. Bravo !

[shevansilva]

About your wrist. I dont know how you practice, but dont ever produce the force from your wrist/hand/fingers when you play. Use your arm weight especially for a piece like this. If interested and if you dont know about it yet read some books by Abby Whiteside. I hope your wrist heals soon. I'd be devestated if it was me!

[dmcII]

Well I have been working with Barbara Lister-Sink whose own philosophy is very similar to Abby W. Things have improved but its very slow going. Its been a frustrating year but I've learned to manage. Best advice I can give anyone about dealing with a hand injury is to not get one !

Best of luck to you !

[ksaladin]

Viktors -- I wouldn't know rubato from a rutabaga, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching you play. I always felt you were the class genius when we were in school together in the early and mid-60s, and I stand by that conviction.

Best,

Ken Saladin

[jhDSaeRY]

The sound recording had a concert hall reverb added on? Did not seem to match the ambient of the video (which left a overall "processed" or "touched up" impression afterwards).

[VBerstis]

This room has an 18 foot high level ceiling with a portion at 22 feet and is sufficeintly sized for the D. It is part of the reason I picked this house.

[pianocraze100]

You played elegantly and nobly! More fire on certain areas would have made your presentation so much more to offer! Your left hand performance can be more supportive of your right hand, it adds color to the piece. I enjoy your playing!

[cheeselover911]

remember this is chopin

there's something special about every piece that he composes

something that makes it distinct

good job

many people can play the notes correctly and make it musical

but to capture the feel and emotional of chopin

and to add something that makes it your own

you're almost there...

[kentkenttube]

Viktors,

You have great technique. You played lightly and don't seems to difficult piece anymore. I wish I would like to hear more rubato but it's only my personal taste.

[kiisaka]

As Maestro Nakamatsu reminded me in Fort Worth last June, I am supposedly unable to play Chopin according to some opinions. So it's best left to the greats like yourself!

Great job.

[VBerstis]

Thanks for the comment and for those needing explanation for the tongue in cheek, please see (Jon Nakamatsu's "Loser's Club") here at youtube.

[BeenThereReally]

Viktors .. Outstanding!!!

[sylviagraypdx]

Viktors - You're the BEST!

[BecsteinDude]

Beautifully recorded and also nice touch (light and graceful).

[keno21176]

I have listened to and watched countless versions of this piece (it is one of my favs). Yours is the best op53 in this contest, and ranks pretty high overall. very fluid, great technique, wonderful sound. Great job!

[faziolifan]

the best heroic of the bunch

[a124947]

Well done!