Evgenia Rubinova plays Tchaikovsky Piano concerto No. 1

[pianocumehman]

Natasha Paremski plays better than!

[morekew]

Een ''koninklijke'' uitvoering, prachtig tempo!

[eos1dmkiin]

How do you play the arpeggios at 2:42 ?

[sergeypiano]

The original tempo marking here (in the autograph) is "Allegro..." while the "Andante..." appeared in later printed editions, if my memory serves me, in the ones (heavily) edited by SIloti. 8) Obvously, by marking it so Tchaikovsky clearly saw the difference between this music and the Pas de deux in Nutcracker which IS indeed an Andante maestoso. :)

[yappity]

Whoah, people, get a grip. Okay, so this discussion took place a year ago, never mind my two cents. ;-)

All I'd like to say is that this slow-tempo interpretation opens up a whole new range of dynamic details you can put in while blowing away with a larger-than-life, majestic sound. And as every note seems to come from the heart, I couldn't care less if every single pianist and orchestra in the world played it faster. Or something.

Looking forward a lot to seeing her in concert now.

[GetMeThere1]

astroedic: Could you tell us how you account for the faster tempo of all the old-time Russians, as near to "contemporaries" of Tchaikovsky as we can get? I'm thinking of Rachmianinoff, Horowitz, Richter, Alexander Siloti, and Sergei Taneyev--a student of T's, who, in his day, was considered the "torch bearer" for this concerto.

[astroedic]

I have some questions before I answer yours.

1. Who is "US"?!?

2. Did you hear Taneyev, Rachmaninoff and Siloti playing Tchaikovsky Concerto? If yes, you must be 120 years old. I would like to know where and when.

Do not listen to idiots like "cziffra1980". Listen to Richter/Karajan DG release it will give you a good idea. Most pianists, Russian or not, do NOT follow T's recommendations of tempo but this does not make them right. Gould plays Brahms' concerto "Maestoso" and others play Allegro...

[GetMeThere1]

"Us" is we, your audience.

You cite Richter's "slow" version--all his others are fast, with a version recorded with Karel Ancerl being very lively (and rewarding to hear). Tempo choices of the others mentioned are WELL KNOWN to anyone looking into it. Furthermore, virtually ALL highly regarded recordings feature a faster tempo than here--and I'm sure you know that very well.

You may answer now: Again, how do you account for SO MANY TOP PIANISTS playing at a UNIFORMLY faster pace here?

[astroedic]

I do not have to answer for the "many" pianists who play at a faster pace: you ask them, not me.

I refer you to "cases" of Gould/Bernstein?Brahms1, to zillions of of Beethovens' Op.14/2 at twice as slow as it should be (all by "big name" pianists). I would call it indifference, disrespect to composer, desire to show off themselves at music's expense... and many more human shortcomings. You pick any you like. The fact that all of them do it does NOT make it right. Avoiding cliches is quite unique

[GetMeThere1]

We are at cross purposes--we're not discussing the same thing. My ONLY point is that it's "over the top" to say that Rubinova is right and everyone else is wrong. And I say this even without regard for the precise intentions of T! That is because so MANY SOLID artists have DEMONSTRATED merit in a faster tempo--nearly 100 years of recordings just can't be ignored.

That said, of course Rubinova may offer any interpretation she wishes--and listeners will have their opinions. What else is new?

[GetMeThere1]

btw...there's no question that Rubinova is playing superbly--in every way but the choice of tempo evidenced here. Nothing about her unwise choice distracts (very significantly) from her standing at the Leeds competition.

But you can't argue that there isn't a SUBSTANTIAL artistic weight on the side of a faster tempo...

[astroedic]

I never said that Rubinova plays "superbly", may be she does, may be not, her choice of tempo of the opening is an evidence of her rather brave conviction to go "against the grain", particularly in a competition. Her playing otherwise is rather high standard.

I do argue that a faster is not only an undesirable cliche, but also not consistent with composer's ideas.

[GetMeThere1]

Here I have to explicitly disagree: There IS evidence of a tradition handed down through T's students of the faster tempo we're used to hearing. A cliche? I would think it's a cliche to play in a contrary manner just to be "different" or "original."

Still, I will NOT fight about an artist's choices. Playing at the level Rubinova would aim for requires thoughtful, insightful, and sometimes "brave" interpretation. I won't ever try to defend THOUGHTLESS expression!

[eos1dmkiin]

This is much too slow for this piece. I feel like Im riding in a Hearse

[astroedic]

You are very correct. You don't even know how correct you are!!

[astroedic]

Good for you. You seem to understand what competitions are about. Bravo!

[astroedic]

You did not tear anything apart, just exhibited lack of knowledge. You dont know how BBC operates, I know how competitions operate. This performance was called "best Tchaikovsky of Leeds Competition". It is not my opinion, but a verifiable fact. Major papers, Times, Independent, Guardian attested to that, as well as Gramophone and BBC magazines. Good enough.

I do not conduct professional discussions on YouTube, so you play "your" Tchaikovsky anyway you want,makes no difference.

[cziffra1980]

Oh, right. So the organisation of the BBC does indeed have an OFFICIAL policy that this is "best Tchaikovsky of Leeds Competition" (and judging from the quotation marks, the poor grammar is quoted verbatim from them?). Don't I sound silly now, for suggesting that to have simply been the thoughts of a particular person, rather than the policy of the whole organisation!

Anyway, just off for a walk! I'll be going a little quicker than the supposed 'Andante' of this performance though!

[astroedic]

You are irrevocably stupid, stubborn and uneducated! There is no point of any further discussions.Better walk quicker, do your sport, may be this will clear up your head

[cziffra1980]

Yes, it's easy to resort to half-baked insults when you're fighting a losing battle. I don't walk terribly quickly. However, neither do I 'walk' at Adagio molto.

[cziffra1980]

And I certainly don't try to tell people that those who do walk at staggeringly slow tempos are more profound that those who walk at a flowing pace. You seriously had the nerve to criticise those artists such as Horowitz (who obviously knew the meaning of Andante) who have taken this less ponderously?

[astroedic]

I am resorting to "half-baked insults", uneducated stupidissimo because your comments do not warrant a real argument, so stupid they are. And I am certainly not about to "battle" you, never mind losing. Rubinova won with her pace of Tchaikovsky and you are a teacher in the middle of nowhere, it is that simple.

End of discussion!

[cziffra1980]

Quite. That's a typical response, when you've already lost an argument (by making the comically 'uneducated' claim thats 'all' British critics described this as the best Tchaikovsky in the history of the competition and that those who play this at a genuinely walkable pace have not looked properly at the score). Not a terribly dignified way to bow out, but nevermind.

Incidentally, I'm not sure what kind of education you received, but Birmingham is the 2nd largest city in the United Kingdom.

[willyhog]

Slower than most I've heard, but good

[shimanezumi]

Evgenia Rubinova is magical to hear live. I just came from a recital where she played Chopin's piano concerto no. 1, in the Leeds Town Hall, and it was breathtaking!

[suzettegm]

Sorry but this passes me by...but maybe it's different when heard "life"

[Zsozsoj]

Isteni!

[Beren68]

"Too slow"? Leeds Town Hall has a special acoustics. It takes the sound a little longer from stage to the audience. So the orchestra (familiar with that hall!) and the soloist decided to play the beginning a little bit slower. Also the recording of this award winning performance seems slower as it sounded live at the hall.

However, the composers instruction is "Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso" which means "Not too fast and very majestic". And Ms. Rubinova plays it wonderfully majestic!

[astroedic]

FYI: The beginning of Tchaikovsky's op.23 piano Concerto says: Andante non troppo e molto maestoso (not "Allegro", as you wrote, it is a typo which found its place into many editions)

Ms. Rubinova's tempo is not only absolutely correct but also suits this music phenomenally well. It was intended that way. Most pianists simply do not know what they are doing, do not read composers instructions and, consequently, do not follow them

[Beren68]

You're absolutely right, it says *Andante* instead of Allegro. I should have checked my notes instead of the CDs.

After reading your post, I checked other sources like Wikipedia, CD booklets of different record companies and concert programmes. They're all wrong.

Thank you for your amendment.

[musiKraZ]

but..I kinda like a little fast-er.

[cziffra1980]

Andante? A walking pace, huh? Well, it's 'correct' (as you say) if we're talking about a funeral 'walk', but I certainly wouldn't wish to go hiking with you if that's your idea of walking speed...

[astroedic]

Go take a hike, you do not understand what music is about. When you are born to enjoy sports, don't listen to classical music - watch baseball, you will have plenty of "allegro" there

[cziffra1980]

I take it from your cheap insult and failure to respond to my factually based point, that you have realised that your claim about what is 'correct' is utterly indefensible. Despite your strawman reference to 'allegro' I would refer you to YOUR OWN reference to the marking of 'Andante', which means at a 'walking pace'.

In this case, the music is about a flowing line. Not about ponderous lumbering around.

[cziffra1980]

I think Horowitz certainly 'knew what he was doing', having consulted with someone who had studied the piece with Tchaikovsky and having played it at a tempo that bears some resemblance to a speed at which an average person (rather than a pensioner) might genuinely walk. Nice try, but your argument about what is apparently 'correct' falls pretty flat on its face, when you actually stop to think about what Andante means.

[rachmaninov1873]

the speed too slow....

[LilaVollmond]

Traeume werden realitaet! wunderbar!

[snaaptaker]

Lovely!! Could you please post the rest of this? I had it on Google, but it has apparently been taken off before I had the time to watch the whole performance!

[shorteybear]

Extraordinary!!! I love the performance - very overwhelming :)

Kudos for Evgenia :):):)

[billfolsom]

Evgenia Rubinova is an inspiring artist!

[astroedic]

WOW! What a performance! Majestic! And at such a young age. So mature and so much in love with the Music! Amazing artist! Please post the entire piece if possible.

[musicator9]

rubinova is a true musical genius

[musikguru1]

An absolutely outstanding reading of the Tchaikovsky Concerto. Please post the whole concerto ASAP!!! She is a real wonder: majestic, poised, honest and natural; in one word - a genius!

[cirosp]

What a great pianist! I think one of the best Tchaikovsky interpretations. Please add the rest!!