"Liszt Project" Recording Old-Fashioned Way:-) Analog Tape to Vinyl LP. Lisitsa

[Agiyi]

when is the cd coming out for sale?!

i hope in time for my birthday...

[alexei6003]

incredible effect, I now wanna try in the university's piano XDDD too bad it is 23:52PM

[EasyListeningLounge]

When this recording be available for purchase?

[22dimethylhexane]

Old is Good.

[Vibratica]

the sky is the limit!! there are no boundaries... only in our minds! Just keep on going, keep on showing us your love for music... we love you Valentina!

[MrCapacitors]

With LP you get the Bösendorfer exactly as it sounds in real life.I use movingcoil pickup together with the most famous discoplayer and get perfect sound.So your project is great for me.

[fapestar]

Is she replacing the Leslie Howard LIszt collection?

[wyssling]

Perhaps the very best joke you ever made was when you wrote "Der Earlkönig" up here... Actually in german this would mean: the early king, der frühe König - whereas the name "Erlkönig" referrs to the tree "Erle" - at least i guess so - dont know the english name for that species of trees.. "Wer reitet so spät durch Nacht und Wind ? / es ist der Erlkönig mit seinem Kind / etc etc thanks, thanks Valentina

[lflarry1]

Really gratifying ..But I have to say you are one Brave Brave girl to even attempt this!

Are you absolutely sure the squeak came from a mechanical component of the piano?

Sometimes magnetic tape will produce a squeak if the lubrication of the tape isn't just so,or whatever. Finding blank good media tapes must be an adventure unto itself.

BTW..I like you on so many levels because of the strength your playing has. Best of luck!

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@lflarry1 We located the squeak. It was coming from the sustain pedal - but only when a lot of downward pressure was applied to it , so it was not easy to pinpoint even forthe piano technician.

[Whitout1]

I hope you enjoy Puerto Rico during your recital in March next year! It's where I was raised :) Not sure about the demand for classical music down there but I know I'd be there if I could!

[eddie1344]

Thank you Valentina! This is so wonderful. I can't wait until it's available to purchase. Happy New Year to you and your family. Best Regards :)

[mrektor]

you promised me the "Dream of love" of liszt!!!!

[stevef095]

you forgot Hexameron ;)

[emperorkitten]

My wife and I listened to your Chopin CD last night and your playing was celestial.

[henryj2007]

Almost can wait no longer for this release .

[XPKpianist]

Just a random question, what is your favourite opening in chess when you are in white?

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@XPKpianist always e4 :-) I was a pro in Spanish , if the opponent was willing of course _ lol , . For black , c and Scheveningen ( Kasparov wonderful book helped ) or nimtzowich for d ( which Garry didn't particularly like , but nether did other players - very uncomfortable>>>>. I stop now , remember - i quit :-)

[XPKpianist]

@ValentinaLisitsa Thank you for the reply. Honestly I think it would be great if you start a little side project by writing your own biography with the details of your pianistic training and your vivid chess life you had before, plus some advices in both pianistic and chess game. I would be one of the first to order it.

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@XPKpianist Oh no :-) !!!! I don't want to go that way. First , I miss too many articles,being Russian :-) Second, I think it's music should come with a story , not a performer. Bach, Beethoven - or Liszt are deeply unconcerned whether you like dogs, cats, wolves or pigeons; whether you married once or thrice, whether you are rich or poor... Those bio books are just a marketing ploy. And marketing is often a substitute to art. Oops, lost an article again :-)

[wyssling]

@ValentinaLisitsa

Those bio books are just a marketing ploy. And marketing is often a substitute to art. HOW TRUE go on loosing articles !

[fenixfullguitar]

Muy bonito, excellent. ♫..♪...♫

[robertmazzo]

Left hand just amazing.  God bless.

[SPLEclipse]

Whoever came up with this idea is brilliant. I'm hoping more artists will simultaneously record analogue/digital albums! Valentina: you sound marvelous as always!

[hpinder1]

this is so cool *smiles* thank you Valentina !!:)

[ValentinaLisitsa]

Just today , a posting from Norman Lebrecht on Slipped Disc. Deutsche Grammophon is releasing their first vinyl LP since 1987: Dudamel and Los Angeles Philharmonic. It is coming out in May. I think I should beat them to finish line? What do you think? :-)

[lflarry1]

@ValentinaLisitsa Go for it Valentina! You've always been "cutting edge" back even with the Dropcam in your studio! Break a leg :-))

[zachattack19942]

I was wondering what do you think about "Saint-Saëns: Danse Macabre"?

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@zachattack19942 It is cute :-)

[zachattack19942]

@ValentinaLisitsa I can imagine, is that one in your list of pieces too? I am just now only attempting Rach's op. 39 no. 6 etude. It is nuts!

[trp8155]

I think it's about time to start upload the Transcendental Etudes! ;-)

[612curtis]

Awesome video Valentina! What a way to end, with Liszt's 12th Hungarian Rhapsody.

[FranKiisko]

Hi Valentina! How many hours did you practice a day when you were 15 years old? Which pieces did you play? Thanks!

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@FranKiisko To my shame, not much :( I was busy playing chess >>>

[FranKiisko]

@ValentinaLisitsa So... You have improved A LOT in this time!! Happy meaning: You haven't to be a prodigy to play as well as the greatest pianists. Valentina, you are alredy one of them! ;D

[LousyPianist]

one of the reasons why I fell for your music in the first place is that your releases are largely unedited and thus evident of your natural talent. My point of view is that if you can't play a piece, then don't record it. I don't want to listen to people play something they can't play. Something like Perahia's release of the Chopin etudes literally makes me sad, it was more or less recorded one bar at a time.

[piketormenter]

If I were to win the lottery here are some personal favorites I would hire you to record:

As one commenter already suggested, Funerailles

Liszt's Soirees de Vienne, Valses-Caprices d'apres Schubert

Rachmaninoff Suite No. 1 Op. 5, with your husband

Kreisler's Praeludium and Allegro; there is a very nice professional-level arrangement for piano

Selections --Prokofieff's Romeo and Juliet ballet

Some lyrical duo with violinist Rachel Barton Pine, whose style I think would complement yours

[42afac]

Congratulations Valentina. Great work. And what about original compositions? Have you considered that? I'm sure you would do a tremendous work :D

[DiabolusCCXVII]

07:42....I love you for playing that music!

[ugartamendia]

BELLISIMO

[ugartamendia]

BELLISIMO...TODO UN VIRTUOSO DEL PIANO...MUCHAS GRACIAS

[1963mathetes]

Clearly, I must invest in a turntable! Val, when may we hope to see this in the stores? I'm still holding my breath for your Rachmaninoff project too...

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@1963mathetes Rachmaninoff will be out in May or June as latest .

[zachattack19942]

@ValentinaLisitsa Yay! Now I know what I want for my birthday in June lol. Can't wait. And that filmed and produced way back in the winter of 09?

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@zachattack19942 Which one?  Rach started in 2009 . This one is a week old !

[zachattack19942]

@ValentinaLisitsa The one with the London Symphony Orchestra.

[iMarklar]

@ValentinaLisitsa Are you going to upload the Liszt project on your YouTube channel too? Or does it depend on your publisher? (which you haven't found yet if I read it right the other day)

[Bigoaki]

To hear the music of Valentina, you will be looking at high-end audio antique shop. Or you will have to buy a new cheaper at Amazon. Now try to start the action.

But why, her staff would not produce a DVD?

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@Bigoaki Staff? It is me, my hubby , grandma , a 6-year old , a couple of cats , various birds. A quiz : which ones of this crew can help produce DVD ? let alone wash the dishes LOL !!!!!

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@ValentinaLisitsa PS. I DON'T DO DISHES :-)

[shrdlux]

@piketormenter: I second your wish for a DVD -- I love to watch Valentina play. What a talent!

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@shrdlux There are still few copies of Chopin recital DVD/CD double disk on Amazon. Last ones:-)

[ZombieOwen23]

I wish you'll live forever

[pablosalaco]

Please Play Funerailles by Liszt, gorgeous piece.

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@pablosalaco Agreed ! It is on my short list ad I just have to think of a good program to add it to.

[eleninamyers]

Looking forward to this! Artists should use less edits in their releases.

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@eleninamyers Couldn't agree more. My experience with "professional" recordings ( I am talking about certain chamber music pieces recently released by a big label ;-)) made me sick to my stomach. 800 edits average per piece , sometimes one note is sliced and glued together from three different takes. Ugh :-(

[eleninamyers]

@ValentinaLisitsa Wow, that's crazy. I think I know which album you're talking about. Btw modern digital recordings always seemed a little too clinical and overprocessed to my ears. Like packaged vs home-grown food.

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@eleninamyers "Like packaged vs home-grown food". I like it !!!!

[TheHankster30]

Damn, I miss my old LP's! I got rid of them all thinking cd's would make them obsolete. Years later I discover that I love the sound of vinyl records much better than the cd reissues. What an idiot I am.

[piketormenter]

I just noticed that Val's dual disc Chopin is out and available on Amazon! I've ordered a copy.

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@piketormenter Last ones :) Amazon underestimate the demand in ordering - and then I was in Europe and couldn't replenish the stock .

[DLee594]

@ValentinaLisitsa I ordered mine too =), but I'm really stoked for the LP

[Jolteon206]

@ValentinaLisitsa I ordered the Chopin dual disk the other day too! :D

[onyxreddragon]

I want his record and cd soo bad when is it available?

[narcoleptus]

What an unexpected pleasure!

If I could I would listen to the finished analogue audio through a valve amplifier with huge Bass speakers.

As for the video of your fingers flying up and down the keyboard I can imagine them overheating and bursting into flames then you hit a resounding bass chord and the grand piano turns into a massive fireball! The video would go viral within 24hrs!

[FranKiisko]

Valentina!! I needed to ask you something!! Which is your hand extension?? (Ten notes, Eleven or... how many of them?)

Thank you!! I love your playing and I'm waiting for you coming to Spain!! :D

[piketormenter]

I wish you would also release a DVD version. I enjoy watching your technique as well as listening to you play -- to me they are part of the overall poetry.

[keebearfull]

@piketormenter fully agree!! top quality DVD would be best of all worlds!

[MihaiTheFirst]

@ValentinaLisitsa: Hello! I'm a 26-year old fan from Bucharest, Romania - one of Ukraine's neighboring countries as you know. ;-) I want to ask if you have ever performed here in the past and what are the chances to see you here in the future. A few weeks ago, Havasi Balazs concerted in Bucharest and registered a tremendous success. Unfortunately, he infamously claimed to be the fastest pianist in the world, citing the Guinness Book of Records (he was able to hit a note 13 times per second).

[andreea140794]

@MihaiTheFirst Hi ! I'm from Romania too :D from Bacau. I really want Valentina to come in Romania to perform. Ma bucur sa vad ca mai sunt si romani care stiu de Valentina Lisitsa :))

[MihaiTheFirst]

@andreea140794: Hey! I'm just as surprised as you are. Maybe we should create a Romanian fan-club or a special page on Facebook at least :)) In mod sigur suntem mai multi, chiar daca numarul manelistilor ne depaseste exponential...

[pigup2]

i wanna buy the lp, i hope it has great album art!

[yellowboi77]

WOW. Brilliant !!

[shubus]

I love the technical explanation! This is really going to give audiophiles something to talk about. The analog vs. digital debate is never ending, it seems and the simultaneous release is a great idea. The very long sustains of the Bosendorfer are never more evident than here. In this YouTube recording, their seems to be a decided emphasis on the bass. Can't wait for the release!

[MusicMan20061210]

I really enjoyed seeing all the technical info,since I'm a recording technology freak myself.

I still have about a dozen large Ampex Tapes in a box...many of them unused so far...lol

[gert0174]

It's all very fine, but my "analog player" hasn't existed for 20 years.

[pinkfloyddwc]

It's amazing how long the bass notes last from 1:25... Unreal piano!

[maggiescanyon]

This video is so awesome. You folks are so wonderful.

[AonGuardian]

I'm glad this video cut to the interview at times because I had forgotten to breathe during some of the play clips <3

I want this LP.

[GreekFrederyk]

You can visit and perform here, in Greece, and sell the tickets for 20,000,000 euros each.

Count me in!

[AlgarismosGomes]

Ok Val. You can message me here or post on twitter when you find it out. Oh, lets see if Rach's project comes out, too :)

[AlgarismosGomes]

Oh, if I'm not misunderstanding, that's very silly of them! How can someone get "enough" of you after ONE concert or solo? Not even if they were a thousand! I was very flattered to hear your Beethoven #3, and there are a lot more to hear - a solo would be lovely. That's what music is about! If there is anything I can do to guarantee you're coming back, please tell me :)

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@AlgarismosGomes I ahve a great agent for South America. I asked her to find out what it takes to have my own recital ,if none of the series wants me.

[belegSJ]

I'm excited already! I wonder if we still have our old LP-player in the attic and if it still functions... This recording would be a great excuse for me to not let my father destroy that player - he has a tendency to get rid of "old" things.. :-)

I can't wait to hear the complete Verdi/Liszt - Aida!!! And the complete "Der Müller and der Bach" ... You've selected some very good pieces for this album!

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@belegSJ Those things were built like tanks. I bought a 50-year old turntable on eBay and after a bit of machine oil it is working like new. Aida and Muller to come soon :-) Those will probably be not the final takes that will go to LP . The soun don YT comes from a little Korg that was fed monitor mix. Korg has decided to take a sick day out on the last session .

[Minanto91]

And Totentanz? Sob! ='(

[LousyPianist]

when will it be released? WHEN?!!?!

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@LousyPianist That's a million dollar question . My question is WHO is going to release it? After everybody is back from New Year holidays I am going to ahve this question resloved once and for all :-)

[belegSJ]

And maybe the question about the Rachy concerti as well? And what ever happened to that Totentanz, Thalberg grand fantasy etc. cd? Am I right if I say that Naxos pulled it out from the market? But one can in fact listen to it in Spotify! I wonder why it's not available for purchase. And there's also some album in which you accompany a trumpet player called Craig Morris.

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@belegSJ Naxos buried it. They still keep it on Spotify and sell it in off-places though they lost all rights to the disc. After they pulled the CD off the shelves they approached me trying to sell printed copies back to me. Outrageous :-(

[belegSJ]

@ValentinaLisitsa Gosh, that's outrageous indeed! I have a suggestion for you Val: you go and buy all those printed copies back and then sell them to us LOL :-) I'd be more than happy to buy one myself... I ordered the "Schwanengesang" -DVD via a Finnish electronics store about a year ago and I'm still waiting (I guess they ordered it for me from amazon). This global market world of ours still needs some fine-tuning when it comes to shipping products internationally, seriously...!

[zachattack19942]

@ValentinaLisitsa Oh, yeah I was actually wondering the same thing. They should sell it at walmart, fred myers, malls etc!

[zachattack19942]

@ValentinaLisitsa Yeah no kidding lol, the Rach project for example :) It will be so wonderful too! greatjov Valentina! So stressful too I'm sure.

[wa2go]

@ValentinaLisitsa Well, I will tell you this much: As soon as it comes out, I will be buying it!

[triplexxxsatyr]

Ahh...the difference is outstanding.

Well done, Val!

[wonderfalls2]

This was absolutely fascinating behind the scenes look at how music is made. Very excited to get both versions. Does this mean I have to buy a record player now? :)

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@wonderfalls2 You dont' have one in a garage or an attic ? Well, I didn't have one but i found 100s of old recordings left by the previous owners in the attic. So I had to buy a turntable on eBay. And now I have to make my own recordings.

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@wonderfalls2 CD will be available as well , and it will include "bonus" tracks such as El Contrabandista , Ave Maria etc...

[brunopiccinin]

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life" - Confucio

Valentina proves it's possible.

[Rafgeekk]

NICE !!!

[Laudan08]

@ValentinaLisitsa Use captions. When you play Gute Nacht, words come out of the piano :)

[MegaUpstairs]

will it be possible to buy quality digital copy? CD quality is very very bad... 24 bit with larger than 80 kHz sampling would be nice.

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@MegaUpstairs it is a question that we can ask Michael and Wolf-Dieter - and whatever label is going to do it :-) I don't see the reason why not. But for now it is interesting to have a direct apples-to-apples comparison between CD and LP. Not a digital transfer from one format to another - but a real contest.

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@MegaUpstairs For future, we should let Wim put his own microphones ( and he has some amazing equipment ) to get the best advantage of analog. Next time - maybe direct cutting machine :-) it is a truckload of equipment.

[mattiasims]

Oh valentina!! :) My heart is completely melted right now. I really hope I can see one of your concert one day..! Thanks for all this! You give peace to my soul :)

[FranKiisko]

Amazing!! (As all what you do)

When will we see your own transcriptions or even your own compositions? And when will you be in Spain (playing the Rondo "El contrabandista" xD)??

Thank you very much, Valentina! :D

[jrgliebermann216]

Dear Val:

Is a good idea. Wich will be the brand ?

[AlgarismosGomes]

*very commom *are you coming :P

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@AlgarismosGomes Working on it ! More updates after New Year's _ when everybody comes back to work.

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@ValentinaLisitsa You see, the classical music presenters are very conservative bunch of people ( I don't want to use stronger words, in case some of them are reading - lol) . They have this idea of "fairness" if I was in Sao Paulo last summer it is enough and other people should now play. The sam in Rio. Yes , it looks like I played too many times over last two years : with Hilary Hahn , with Simone Lansma , with OSB and Maazel. No solo recital- ever. Duh!

[thejeffmorrison]

I've never seen such clear video on vinyl before...well done! Your technical skills rival your piano.

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@thejeffmorrison lol :-) I should had have it filmed in 8 mil :-) and have a new release coming on VHS

[AlgarismosGomes]

Val, know it's a vertical commom and exaustive question, but are coming to Brazil (Sao Paulo specially) next year? I don't see it in your schedule :(

[MrRhiannonsdad]

Marvellous Valentina, wonderful imaginitive Liszt playing. I am ever so excited at the prospect of your Scriabin and Prokofiev as well... :D

[maxympol]

Чудесно. Очень надеюсь когда-нибудь увидеть Вас в Киеве. Удачи в записи!

[IBlackRockI]

Can't wait to get it!

[pinkfloyddwc]

"there are too many notes"

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@EternityinTransiency Liszt is perfect for it - it really rocks :-)

[sebastianrc]

To play that way, I would say 90 hours a day at least

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@sebastianrc I wish I ahd that time. Between January and September 11 different concerti and 5 different solo recital programs. It makes for more than 3o hours a day.

[PortgasD88rach]

@ValentinaLisitsa When Do You come to play in Rome?:-)

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@PortgasD88rach I don't have anything in schedule but Italy is great in a sense that cocnerts are booked on a very short notice, more like half-year ahead instead of 2 years in Northern Europe. So, there is a good chance !

[Gfromdastreet]

Crazy stuff- how much do you practice a day? 10 hours?

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@Gfromdastreet 14 hours :-)

[sebastianrc]

@ValentinaLisitsa Valentina! I know you are currently on a Liszt project but could you pleeeaaaseee upload Chopin's 2nd Ballade?? : D Thank you

[ValentinaLisitsa]

@sebastianrc I am not on Liszt project anymore. I am working on Scriabin and Prokofiev right now this moment. I did 2nd Ballade last summer along with other uploaded Chopin. The tape had some noise that was too bothersome. Sadly I couldn't use it.

[sebastianrc]

@ValentinaLisitsa That's not a problem, all my videos have bothersome noise!! LOL ok that's sad; besides, the quality of your uploads is beyond imagination in every single aspect. I hope you play Chopin when you come to Colombia :) Thanks for the answer