Wen-Yu Shen plays Chopin Etude No.23 "Winter Wind"

[thomasjeon1]

@1Thompsonmusic

Yeah, as if you know how chinese laundry sound like u racist noob

[XayasukiX]

@thomasjeon1 Hypocrite much? By the way, you must be a world famous pianist/composer to be able to compare yourself to Chopin....

[XayasukiX]

@thomasjeon1 lol my bad that wasn't to you o.o

[XayasukiX]

@1Thompsonmusic post a video of you playing like world famous composer Chopin, then you might have the right to call this a "chinese laundry" video

[jungwirthmartin]

robot, so what about to show little emotion

[XayasukiX]

@jungwirthmartin Tell that to horowitz...

[pattylovesmarinaaa]

this is the best thing i have ever heard in my life

[XayasukiX]

@1Thompsonmusic I'd like to see you play better

[XayasukiX]

@1Thompsonmusic Wow you really don't like asians huh?

[XZS2JH]

@1Thompsonmusic there is more than a million people in the world who thinks otherwise. you're either new here or you just don't have a life.

[gleekoutification]

Only Chopin could compose something so insanely amazing. I'd love to see the faces of people who didn't realize how hard this etude really is until they heard that passage. :P

[rafjan98]

:(((((

[PianoAbsalom]

What's the second song he performed? I wanna learn that song too..

[chatnuss]

It's a stroke not to be asian.

I could never play this piece as good as him ^^

[AnImmortalEra]

damn asians. I'm from south america and i'm just mediocre compared to all the stuff they do. No fair.

[Pianoguy32]

@AnImmortalEra well dont admit your mediocre because then you just accept it :)

[awesomenator6]

of course, he just has to be Asian, doesn't he?

[williamserpco1]

ending was a little choppy.

[BruceLeeKills1]

Pardon me? Maybe I'm hard of hearing but I didn't hear massive crowds applauding and cheering for him...maybe it's just the sound quality.

[SterminioProductions]

When Yu Shen plays the Winter Wind etudes xD

[xsznix]

i am amazzed

[hypacam12]

well played! The piano is such a beautiful instrument.

[charmclover]

How... is this... even fair? This guy is too good!

[kguy152000]

61 people failed piano 1. So amazing.

[Cupofcloud2]

Dovoljno i toliko... 14.08.2011.

[STOOPIDTIME]

Every time I listen to this piece I imagine the slow comforting beginning to represent sitting by a fireplace, snuggled up in blankets and reading a good book.

Then, you look out the window and the sudden crescendo starts as you see the raging snowstorm outside.

I love Chopin.

[MusicIsMyLife6991]

@STOOPIDTIME - Maybe that's what Chopin based this piece on :D

[Bri212211]

как быстро его пальцы

[YunZinLee]

Many people don't know that this is not a recital!!!

This is Chopin Competition.. people should clap after pianist's 50 minute performance..

[YunZinLee]

No miss, perfect technique, and he is even very emotional! I think 61 people made bad decision that he didn't got prize

[YunZinLee]

His waltz makes me cry....

[ewgrummons]

61 people only watched the first 26 seconds.

[etude555]

I like wen-yu shen. His winter wind is very very perfefct play. His sound is very clear.

His sound is similar to M.Pollini.

[violiniztapianizta]

All audience inside had an heart attack! That's why no one clapped!

[dasym]

No emotion, all technique

[poubuter]

@dasym On the contrary he gives strong and subtle emotions unlike many other asian players. One proof of it: unlike many of them, he does not act as a comedian.

[sobefobik]

Why the hell aren't they clapping?! This was such a good performance!

[liszt141]

@sobefobik Since he is playing multiple Chopin pieces, the audience usually waits until he finishes all his Chopin, then he takes applause at the end, I'm not 100% sure though. It was a wicked performance though, check out Gavrilov's if you like this.

[10freekie2]

this really is a pianist from japan aigan with no kind of emotion in his play. pfuh!

[arlongan]

it's chopin competition!!!

[BlAcKSyMpHoNy10]

D: exactamente esta es la energia ke necesitooo

[ImmortalSpecies]

This's the 23rd ever written Chopin etude, thumb this up to clear misunderstandings.

[Donkeyraza]

I shall dislike this too because he is not very good at all, at least 59 other people think that way as well :P

[LackOfSeriousness]

Just to clarify the whole No.23 thing, this is the 11th Etude written in the 2nd set of 12 Etudes by Chopin, making it second to last and therefore, the 23th Etude that Chopin wrote :D

[mycahman]

I don't think people applaud in China. that's why they dont do it because clapping is unheard of in that stinkin country

[alienacidtechno]

HAHAHA 3:30 gogog cough contest! Who's louder?

[YTcrazy]

the audience must have felt the "winter wind". Too frozen/cold to applaud. Amazing, gives you the 'chills'

;D

[thejesusfreak919]

Saw a 17-year old play this. He's famous in Russia...AMAZING. All I can say, love this piece, and I'm glad I went to that boring concert; discovering this piece was worth the two hour drive.

[BarakBreden1]

i am such a failure as a composer. i mean this is so beautiful it is immoral! it's like love making with a god or something i mean come on!

[ericjaames]

NOT EVEN ANY APPLAUSE?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

[xHuntedGunzPCGx]

@ericjaames Maybe it was filmed during a competition and he still had the rest of the recital to give.

[ericjaames]

@xHuntedGunzPCGx I don't care about that ridiculous traditional way of doing a recital not clapping until the pianist is done a set of a certain amount of songs. They deserve applause after every piece, for all the work they put into it.

[lithiumissick42]

this is my new definition of "boss"

[ekl1942]

everyone starts to cough at 3:30

[PianoForMusic]

@ekl1942 HAHAHA, I lol'ed.

[udistritalextrema]

Outstanding performance

BTW, at 05:19 he farts

[nike27111296]

And btw , u judge people like ur a pro and judge a group of ethnicity of how they play piano

[nike27111296]

"am not racist but I hate it when Asians perform western stuff ..." ermm excuse me what do u mean Asians perform western stuff ? Lol this shows what an arrogant and racist cunt you are . Why don't u shut ur hole and let people enjoy the music here .

[ak031995]

i am not a racist but i hate it when Asians perform western stuff. Asians do have outstanding technique but i can't see the passion. Move that head and arms a bit!

[Beanioski]

@ak031995 Ever heard of Lang Lang?

[1Thompsonmusic]

@ak031995

You are racist. Go away.

[ak031995]

@1Thompsonmusic dude i have more than 9 sorts of blood in my veins. including Asian, Jewish, Turkish and from South American indians. i am 100% not rasist!and i would be quite pissed off if i see western musicians perform Asian music!

[69829Dave]

Yes, I think you are right, pimasta314. I've noticed Asian audiences' responses to virtuoso performances are very muted, to varying degrees. I first noticed this when following Jean Michel Jarre's Chinese concert tour in the 1970s or 1980s. He was a pioneer in introducing Western music to that country. I was shouting "Hurrah!" in my room, but I was not accompanied by any enthiastic audience reaction. I've seen the same thing since then on YouTube featuring oriental piano competitions.

[chopinasi]

1st part Chopin - Etude in A Minor (Winter Wind) Op. 25 No. 11

[1derfulbagpiper]

wow amazing!!!

[ASAngelo]

magic ...

[thesloc]

This guy probably has a very small penis. Call it a hunch..

[nbc303]

@thesloc That's really stereotypical and extremely ignorant.

[therandomman2]

To be honest, the beginning entry into the etude was a little abrupt... but otherwise very enjoyable

[awesomenator6]

I can play about the first 5 seconds of this song. :D

my fingers start to hurt after watching this...

[awesomenator6]

my fingers start to hurt after watching this...

[Taniiuhh]

i BET HES CHINEASE! :P

[yaypurplecheese]

*stops playing* COUGHCOUGHCOUGHCOUGHCOUGH *starts playing again*

[katiush65]

3:33 Lol "okay if no applause after THAT, I give up, I am washing my hands of this whole business of recitals!"

(although may be a competition as someone mentioned)

[ptxrah]

ok 3:23 why is he having an epileptic fit, his goin crazy!

[arrau08]

OK, this is better than Valentina's play, which I first came upon on youtube.

[MATEOTL86]

a norseman should be playing this song. winter wind. ice wiiiiiiiiind

[katiush65]

@MATEOTL86 maybe he is from the north of China! ;-) That is cold like Siberia!!

[MATEOTL86]

@katiush65 Haha. Nonetheless this dude is insane!

[dalevans1]

Where is the standing ovation? Where are the roses being thrown on stage, the women promising their virginity to this master of the piano?

Something is wrong.

[danogzilla]

@dalevans1 sadly, times have changed.

[wendy321]

@dalevans1 hahaha its a rule at the international chopin piano competition not to clap in between songs. but im sure the women were all over him after the competition was over (;

[pimasta314]

@dalevans1 I guess this is just the Asian culture.

[ruckaisawesome]

@dalevans1

this is youtube... they had to cut out all the sexual encounters he recieved afterwards

[callumrocker1]

@dalevans1 its cos the audience are asian and theyve seen it to many times before from too many different kids!

[AleksiaKainovic]

@dalevans1 Lol I know he's really good.

[arcticmelodies]

@dalevans1 In classical concerts like these, the audience traditionally does not clap/applaud or "throw roses" until all of the movements in the piece are completed... this clip did not show the ending of the last movement, so we don't get to hear the audience applauding... I'm sure they did in the end though, he's very good.

[IaxobusJames]

@dalevans1 Relax, he didn`t write it.

[lithiumissick42]

@IaxobusJames im sure he knows its just if u play piano u know this is insanely hard to play.

[shinymetalobjects]

@dalevans1

the thing is, the video cuts out right as he finishes.. I'm sure there was a hearty crowd response - just after the video ended!

[xardas611]

he is playing like a robot

[thexinfactor]

LOL everyone must've been holding in their cough for such a long time LOLLL

[hbmp88]

once he finishes, there is no ovation, but instead a symphony responce of coughs... this i the type of enthusiasm we get for all our hard work and training as pianists? lol i really do hate those people that cough though...

[alejandrothefader]

@hbmp88 many thumbs up to you!

[Ianthe22]

@hbmp88 maybe it was some competition and he hadn't finished playing his pieces. People cough between pieces at competitions.

[trschaefer]

This piece is a beast. He slays the beast beautifully!!!!

[MrNoookie]

Too fast. Slow it down a little

[fredjmp]

Genius!

[dinosaur521]

UM it is OP 25!!!!

[pierrnicolas]

really? great technique? ive never seen someone more tense infront of a piano

[musicxg]

Great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!

[Oerti2]

@applefighter123

wtf has this to do with this asian piano player...?

[AQazzi]

Holy...s**t!

[maeleeeeee]

I think he has soul just being able to put all that work into dis piece and making it sound soo perfect

[kingjc44103]

synthesizer aint got nothing on is guy

[triforcepower77]

isnt this op. 25 no. 11...?

[PPJens]

@triforcepower77 indeed

[MacMaster1994]

@triforcepower77 yes, it is.

[skkwizzle]

@triforcepower77 Yep

[Balgig]

@triforcepower77 which is chopin's 23rd etude, out of 27 in total :P

[jdkrensel]

@triforcepower77 You are correct. But, this is Chopin's 23rd etude; hence, "Chopin ETUDE No. 23"

[Cilaee]

@triforcepower77 It's a bit late for a response, but you're... half-right. There are twenty-four etudes in total, (twelve in Op. 10, and another twelve in Op. 25). This is the eleventh of the second set, so it's technically the twenty-third overall. :>

[theragtimefan]

@Cilaee Actually there are 27 etudes, three of which were not named and are generally just referred to by their key.

[xardas611]

this guy plays like a machine

[TTakach999]

he hit all the right notes which is amazing considering it looks like hes playing the right hand with all fingers and no wrist, but theres no dynamic contrast (its all forte), and the phrasing... I mean, Chopin is nothing without a singing voice, and musical phrasing...it just needs a more human touch, but I wish I had his technique lol

[anonymousQ45]

the best way to hear the music is.... just that! listen dont look at the performance, i usually read the comments while i listen the first time around, it sounds very good musically and technically so shut up

[SuperSlayerX]

3:37 LoL at the coughs

[aceflier2009]

Wen-yu Shen's interpretation conveys to me the feeling of strong winter wind during a snowstorm. Any exposed skin is burned by the frigid and cutting wind. Yeol Eum Son plays a winter wind that conveys a coldness from a smaller yet colder storm. Both are great interpretations. Wish my playing skills were one tenth of their's.

[beatlebonzo]

I felt the ideas expressed in the music. Whether you look at keys is not a realistic

way of evaluating performance. Even Horowitz looked intently at the keyboard.

[Tigreloaded]

Are you him?

Were you there playing?

were you practicing for years like the pianist...?

No, you do not... but you still believe he can not feel...

[GazRockK]

awhh don't blame hime guys he looks so nervous !

[f1f1s]

The worst moment is the 3:02 where Shen smashes F as if it were a nail and his hand were a hammer. I like the performance BECAUSE it yielded me what I expected from this pianist - technique.

This amazing pianist should arrive in Poland or Russia to attend masterclasses of those who do titanic work on researching Chopin's moods!

[flatwhiteblack]

and even if it s a "robotic interpretation" there is nothing wrong, the bodily movements of the pianist do not effect the quality of the music, i think it was an excellent performance

[bobbphysics]

I really think, that if you guys had actually seen the ethnicity of the pianist here, you wouldn't have said "robotic interpretation." If it had been a white pianist, there would be a more positive reaction

[LaPrimavera2006]

So much PASSION in his music and his spirit! Bravissimo!

[drafestival]

i want to loose my soul like he did lol

[quyduong6789]

techniques: good

emotion: bad

[1023george]

No offence, as those pieces are harder than what I could play, but he slightly reminds me of toyota's violin playing robot!

[matmatlai]

his hands are a bit stiff which make the pieces sound robotic...but good techniques anyway

[leonhrad]

3:30 lol haha

[22donquijote]

@3avrillavigne: He should study in europe? How arrogant is this! And there are seven thumbs up with your comment. I dont get it. I dont think the critique on his music is fair. It is so easy to sit in front of a computer and to judge about others people playing.

[TTakach999]

@22donquijote but its true  his playing is all forte... theres no emotional scale its all on one plane. Even changing his dynamics would really open up his emotional range. And before you say anything I am a piano student, so yeah.

[callenishss]

this is so empty, im sorry

but still the guy is AMAZING in terms of his repertoire size, look at his website

[wsruletheworld]

robotic interpretation.

[jinjan90]

the first 30 secs i can play too lol

[billsteer]

3:30 they all needed to cough

[BachToChopin]

This performance is cringe-inducing.

I can't detect a hint of musicality in his playing.

[caricama]

overall, just sucks too hard. I think it is wrong for you to practice: you need to learn "music" now.

[clevelandhighschool]

I know I shouldn't post this but what the hell, but from 3:20-3:23 he looked like Marph getting electrified in Home Alone 2.

[DogzRock88]

haha

[maicalviola]

sucks

[ZekBlek]

agreed with asoidfvgi , the left hand sucks !

[asoidfvgi]

i dont like the left hand

[SlaveOfGod1993]

i don't like your face hoe

[aNimE732]

how do you pronounce chopin?

[sumfilipinodude]

@aNimE732 "sho-PAHN"

[aNimE732]

@sumfilipinodude "sho pan or sho pon"

[xiaonoobiexd]

I thought is was chopping without the g

[tommy9882]

you must have pronounced chop-in

[aNimE732]

yeah

[GilgameshFFpianobuff]

show - pan.

[aNimE732]

thanks, youre the bom-diggity

[joestaff621]

how the hell did his fingers not just die with the first few seconds?!?! and he doesn't even seem to have broken a sweat. this guy is insane, in the good way

[itsanthonyhere]

He seems to be focusing pretty damn hard. You should see Yeol Eum Son's version, she doesn't even look at the piano.

[RemovdSande11]

if you just  knew how hard this piece is without looking xD

[itsanthonyhere]

@RemovdSande11 I do know...which is why I referred everyone to Yeol Eum Son

[ziergds]

Trully Impressive.

[cronopio131]

ok, i just came.

[elcurandero44]

@cronopio131 where to?

[lekkerbekje]

@cronopio13": You like Chinese men? Hmmm.......

[Starya7]

My mom can play this.

[horekar]

Wow, gotta support what JureGorucan said... xD

AMAZING!!!

[Liebromeistal]

What's harder? this etude or op 10 no 1?

[finlayma84]

hmmm. They're so different. I find this one more difficult to get through because it's so much longer and because the pattern isn't so consistent. With Op. 10 No. 1, once you figure out how to play the first arpeggio well, you've got the key to the whole piece (except for the 4 or 5 REALLY hard bars). Winter Wind throws a lot of different difficulties at you, and it demands more endurance. That said, almost ANY CHopin etude is terrifying to perform.

[Nganguen]

This etud, Op25 No11

[KwanChi0205]

no.1 is musically hard and this is technically hard

but i think winter wind is even even even harder.

[mathpianist93]

Op. 25/11 is musically more difficult than Op. 10/1, no doubt. More substantial of a melody. Not to say that Op. 10/1 has a weak melody; it certainly has a very strong LH that forms the backbone of each measure.

[GilgameshFFpianobuff]

Is this more difficult than Op.10 No.4?

[neoonik16]

this etude is much harder

[JureGorucan]

Who knows how many times he was beaten to go practising or threaten.

[happydudenator]

What makes you think that?