Wilhelm Kempff plays Beethoven's Sonata 27, Op 90, mvt. 2

[30inventionman]

Beethoven is running out of ideas.

[KarryIllanq735]

ehm wohne in leipzig

[Ghost2499]

What must it be like to play a sonata you have been playing for fifty years? I cannot possibly imagine what he was thinking during his (characteristically beautiful) performance.

Have to say Kempff is my favorite single interpreter of Beethoven's sonatas. I prefer Horowitz for the Waldstein and Appassionata, but Kempff's Op.90, Moonlight, Hammerklavier, and Tempest are beyond repute. What a great classicist.

[dongi01]

his peaceful eyes ... i wonder why he lived 95 years. If i would be God i would make him immortal

[ChinaRox100]

God kneels before Beethoven.



[justjerame]

@ChinaRox100 God kneels before no one. He blessed Bethoven with great insight and talent so that we could all enjoy his music. Imagine, if any of us make it to Heaven what music God has in store for us, considering the fact that he gave an earthly man such gifts.

[ChinaRox100]

@justjerame Beethoven is best. He cannot be beat.

[newFranzFerencLiszt]

I'm the only one who think that Chopin was insipred by when he composed his etude "tristesse"?

[steppinout67]

it doesn't sound like it's in a minor key since it sounds so happy.

[Rfa999]

@steppinout67 it's not :) the first movement is e minor, this one's in e major (for some reason..)

[Enkil0423]

@Rfa999 Sonatas don't stay in the same tonality, sometimes a movement can modulate(or start) either to the dominant or the parallel key. E minor || E Major. He could've gone to closely related keys, too.

[arnihockey]

@MusicClassical1 sppaaaamm..

[TheMonajavidi]

his sexy

[animegalc4]

6 ppl listen 2 justin faggot bieber

[desidevoke]

It's like i'm listening from a game background music hehe

[MyssFae]

I love listening to this man play the piano !!

[FirstGentleman1]

I played this piece once in public. Great interpretation by maestro Kempff!

[efkagore]

if there is music all around..especially this kind..can be life more beautiful...? :)

[ClassicalMusicPiano]

take a look at the beethoven masterclass in is villa (in my favorites on my channel)! :)

[igmz777]

A February kind of song but lovely!!!

[orloffc1]

His right hand needs to be much more legato and less thumping.

[MetallicaBLS]

@orloffc1 yeah...obviously this guy has no clue what he's doing...considering he's esteemed by many to be one of the greatest concert pianists of the 20th century. You tell him, though he'll have to hear it from his grave. you hear that kempff? More legato, less thumping you imbecile...... you're a tool bro.

[ELIEZERE1]

@MetallicaBLS That's what I love about the internet. No filter, not between 'brain' and mouth, nor between nincom and poop.

[fleammm]

@ELIEZERE1 oh shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit

[Ally123234]

@MetallicaBLS ahh this comment is ace xDD

[de4th1snt3nough]

@orloffc1 post a video of YOU doing this exactly like him with ur 'legato' thingy and i'll have no right to question you but until then, please explain what a legato is?? i play piano and idk what the hell it is and neither does google

[DanKreiger]

@de4th1snt3nough legato means the notes should be connected/smooth. in this piece the phrases should "sing"

i personally love Kempff, and the way he plays the late beethoven sonatas. i think his performance here is brilliant. it is a bit more...well, masculine - some might say. in my mind, i believe he's utilizing the beauty of the piano as a percussion instrument, he's using that little click that some steinways have when you hit the bottom of the notebed.

[DanKreiger]

@DanKreiger kempff is being more assertive with this beautiful melody, because - well, it's gorgeous - it's actually an intimidating melody to approach - it's very easy for a pianist to fall into the trap of being overly sentimental and romantic when the music is so mmmm (i do this sadly all the time)

without performances like this, much romantic music would sould like aural gumby

beethoven called this movement "conversation with the beloved" - so beautiful

[gryphon1608]

@de4th1snt3nough you say you play piano and do not know what "legato" means? save your money or go and find a real teacher!

[audhen1]

@orloffc1

I want you to play this as perfectly as Kempff when you are 75 years old.

Philistine!

[taihangdu]

it's the real german technik and music........

[taihangdu]

it's the real german technik and music..

[carlosLor]

una de las grandes maravillas beethovenianas

[defda94]

la vida sin la musica de beethoven hubiera sido muy aburrida....

[sonofabastard]

This is called knowing your craft.

[PJinBston]

@sonofabastard

you probably mean "knowing your boat"

[94jmcorrea]

@PcZocker111 you probably mean: Rest in peace....

[PJinBston]

@94jmcorrea

I'm sure he meant "wrest in piece." A wrest is a key for tuning a piano

[musicfanBRA]

This is such a sweet piece of music, absolutely charming. Beethoven must have been in an exceptionally light and good mood that day.

[ele323]

his is not playing.

truly. he is played by the music..

[vampsxvamps]

as if i were in fantastic neverland

[mary1989acit]

it's wonderful!

I'm studying it....

I hope that one day I'll play as good as him...

[Anjro0]

I always loved the last bars. I find myself whistling this to myself all the time. One of my favorite sonatas to play, "heart and head" etc

[kyleclef]

Such a beautiful tone hear...it even shines through the bad sound quality, i shudder to imagine how this sounded live...

[youtubister]

Most interesting to watch Kempff's face.

[wawa314159]

Perhaps a little too slow... Still, a charming interpretation.

[agrillage]

@wawa314159 Too slow?? Everyone else plays it too fast. This is perfect.

[wawa314159]

@agrillage There is no accounting for tastes. But both Borenheim and F. Gulda , to name a few, play it faster.

[jekihotgirl]

oh yeah! he his having fun!! very nice

[naranna29]

@baconat3r Try to play the piano like this, and then we talk.

[APRCVG188]

Amazing! Kempff is such a master!

R.I.P. Kempff, I wish you were still alive. I have a recording of Fur Elise and Sonata No. 25 from him.

[ShinatoKawasaki]

When Kempff plays, he has a tendency to look before himself. I wonder what it is that he sees when he is playing. Is it another world? Is it the future? Is it the past? Whatever it is, I am sure it's beautiful. Kempff, if it weren't for you, I don't believe this sonata could have ever been played this beautifully.

[naranna29]

@ShinatoKawasaki I would say, everything he sees is the magic of the music that he plays... Is that enorm his emotion that you could even cry because of the beautifulness of the music.

Of course, you can have another opinion, I just wanted to share it with you =D

[audhen1]

@ShinatoKawasaki

maybe he thinks about bygone days. - what wonderful moments he witnessed.

[Jackyl82334]

@ShinatoKawasaki he is seeing Ludwig V standing before him frowning outwardly, inwardly soul bursting at the love thats translated through this mans own love of his work and its medium.

[sjmmrcrdd]

@ShinatoKawasaki hes just showing that he doesnt have to look at the piano when he plays simple

[OoTFanboy]

@sjmmrcrdd I guess that means that the 3rd movement of Moonlight Sonata is easy too...

[mrbrianmccarthy]

Nice performance!

[naranna29]

That's what I do call "feel the music"! awesome!

[seattleladt]

@PcZocker111 in PEACE I think you mean...

[ettml]

kempff is a very special pianist! i love the expressions on his face

[ktang2k8]

Very unlikely to find another as talented an such emotional. Ahhhg ! Wilhelm Kempff is a name that i need to remember ;)

[DanKreiger]

Ich bevorzuge Kempff für die "Konversation mit der Geliebten"...."Conversation" back in the "Über Coca"... days of the german/austrian 19th century...this is way too beautiful.

i have always liked this guy when it comes beethoven. if one person listens to this it's worth all the talking i do with myself on facebook at least once a day

[morepl0x]

this guy makes all other pianists sound like crap

[33familyguy]

this peice is beautiful!! he is a true master at piano

[33familyguy]

this peice is beautiful!! he is a true master at piano

[33familyguy]

@PcZocker111 that's insulting

[ilovescarlatti]

Credo che Beethoven avrebbe molto amato Kempff......... Persino la sua l'espressione è affascinanate ed eloquente.....

[newFranzFerencLiszt]

B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L

Damn, incredible

[LiberateEireIRA]

Is that a pun?

[naranna29]

Awesome music! Everything is perfect here, although I don't care about the mistakes. For me, important is the emotion he gives to the music.

[Alex4LP]

And in this, Kempff is a Master. He is the best Beethoven's interpreter ever existed.

[Alex4LP]

And in this, Kempff is a Master. He is the best Beethoven's interpreter ever existed.

[cyy02]

Heavenly beatiful!...

[whofreycoconut]

he plays with so much emotion...it tells a story

[9ballalex]

beautiful : )

[canderadis]

saggitarians are are amazing musicians

[jsbad1]

A great master playing as though he were Beethoven himself improvising. Magnificent musicians!

[AkaMouTinn]

stop pointing mistakes lol. This is a great music piece from beethoven. One of his greatest amongs the great. There is not a single note that hasnt been thought in this score. And most importantly there is nothing repeated the same. Everything evolves. Its like a huge library that you will always find something new when you go through it. You got to feel awe for beethoven. He is so simple and so deep at the same time. Like Cavafys poetry

[tom66686]

i'm playing this piece at the moment and its really beauiful

there is a mistake at 3:08

should be g h d fis g.....

he plays something else....

but he plays it really great

[simsimoleole]

you're a master!

[clashtitans2]

... great is an understatement. such a mastery of touch, technique and such a unique style at the age of 75 is simply phenomenal,

[noazark94]

quite a beautiful piece. well played!

[vakho87]

borshukov

[seahyimin]

i think this is quite a beautiful movement to play

[John27346]

You're the type of person who typically frequents this kind of Youtube clip with your floral descriptions of the music you hear, as if it's possible to describe music at all. Blow it out your arse

[John27346]

It means you're full of hot air.

[petranandaji]

far too much tempo variation for my liking

[happygolucky2000]

I quite agree. Far too much rubato.  lacks control.

[willk326]

I'm playing this sonata for an audition at Peabody and Eastman schools of music and I must say this piece goes under the radar but it really is a great piece and pretty darn hard as well. The left hand in both movements is particularly difficult and in the second, to voice the melody can be very difficult so great job to Kempff!

[vortex159753]

I fell asleep while listening to this in the middle of the day because its so beautiful.

[thedragonsociety]

yes so beautiful.. im a pianist and these r my piano heros: kempf batoven and thats it

[ipwnallnubscuzirock]

its kempff and bethoven, and chopin is pretty good as well, you should check his stuff out :D

[bencze1]

riight

[DesolationRow0]

First off - "If they are your HEROES,"

Second off - "Why don't you write it well?"

Learn the fucking language before you criticize.

Anyways... Wilhelm Kempff is by far my favorite Beethoven interpreter.

[naranna29]

@DesolationRow0

Look: If I've learnt american english, is MY problem, and they don't say "well" they say "good" or, at least, I've learnt it so. If you're british, then, well, sorry.

And, why the fuck are you trying to be my fucking teacher? I mean, come on! people make mistakes, and SURELY you've made some worse than what I've written, so...

HALT DIE KLAPPE.

[KingHarkinian]

Halt die klappe? HAHAHA xD thanks for making me laugh my ass off, i love that phrase! xD

Anyway, like i said so many times before, gotta love the way Kempff plays, no matter which piece he plays<3

[oeppevnvpeb]

many americans do say "good" when the correct word is "well". i know this is true, and i'm an american (i never say "good" when i mean "well"). but american almost never say "learnt" instead of "learned" (myself included). why the fuck am i trying to be your teacher? just for fun.

[javier3522]

he`s play Fucking Awesome!! =O 

Increibleee de pana que sii.. woow!!

[RentACello]

Unglaublich, der Kempff !!! Einer meiner Lieblinge. Er spielt nicht bloß "schön" -- Musik ist so viel mehr als schöne Klänge -- aber so, dass es durch das Ohr ins Herz geht.

[Eanur]

Really wonderful!

I love this piece

[mathpianist93]

very appropriately conservative, in that he does not overdo expression in this movement.

A rather dolce movement of this very difficult sonata...lawl

[damianwrx]

"very appropriately conservative"

Very well said. People tend to overdo the expressions in Beethoven pieces, even some master pianist. Ironically it only gives the piece less depth.

Wilhelm Kempff is seriously, seriously one hell of a Beethoven interpretater.

[emerset]

Agreed. Ive been guilty of overdoing on Beethoven's music. But we also must undeniably remember that dear Ludwig DID break the piano's of his day from sheer strength, hence the piano forte of modern times.

I play a "fifth" interpretation with life and death gusto.

[JoseAndresNavarro]

i know the 32 beethoven sonates verry well, and IMO, this sonata is the best!!!

[thomasstms]

so fabulus

[musicdivinemusic]

Sublime!

[kalani027]

he seems a though he s a part f da piano amazing!!!!

[McMingDynasty]

IS HE USING THE PEDAL?????

[Grumme3]

yeah

[piano575]

Yes, cant you see the dampers moving up and down all in unison?

[osmaldexf]

I love this song

with that melody can discover the sixth sense

thanks beethoven

[ThisIsMe113]

this sonata makes me cry. cheesy, i know, but every time i hear it i can't help but get a little teary eyed, especially the very beginning.

[ThisIsMe113]

im in heaven...

[Adamalgorithm]

heaven is Earth when people are nice to each other and spend their energies in artistic and scientific creation!

[damianwrx]

This is legato at it's best. Just downright beautiful.

[Daviddinh019]

I think i can never be like him!!

[LikePianoPlaying]

He is soooo good!!If only I could be like him so my mom would stop bugging me.

[lostthebattle]

so you don't LikePianoPlaying?

[antoinezygfryd]

La version mono est très supérieure à celle-ci....

[dodismom]

One of my favourite pieces.Thank you for posting it.

[berlinzerberus]

this like schubert sounding mouvement seems to be written only for wilhelm kempff.the sound is so beautiful,the temo,perhaps a bit too slow,nice,he never looses the sostenuto,but the piano is not tuned well,what a pity.

[fwprod]

KEMPFF IS MY GOD

[Irelandlass7789]

This is such a difficult movement! I love how smooth a legato and flow he gets with it. It's interesting that the main theme repeats 7 times! Now, that makes the whole thing even harder. =P Beautiful music.

[soami2u]

I love the way Kempff makes it sing!

[MichalekM91]

He's like... genious... One of few people that made me nearly go to heaven, while listening... 4 ever in mind!

[KlavierPlaya]

I think most music scholars agree that beethoven loved the melody from the first theme a little too much.

[cracanel1]

Sure, but what's the problem? It's a very nice melody, worth repeating the 6 (?) times Beethoven did.

One of my favorite songs.

[phoolisness]

is it possible to love that melody too much?

[TheFedinaaa90]

it is

[kittyluvr1000]

@phoolisness who will ever know?

[TheSingingCello]

@phoolisness unfortunately yes, just be sure to wipe your screen off when your done.

[bratzko79]

@phoolisness : NO!!!!!

[pianoboy75]

@phoolisness no, it's just one of the most melodious works of the old Ludwid - and wonderfully interpreted on top!

[tr23shortstop]

I've seen many of Wilhelm's videos and I love the way he plays Beethoven. It's seems like the way Beethoven would have wanted it played. Wilhelm's hands know these songs so well that it's almost like he just plays with his emotions. I'm always impressed.

Tony

[vashti1970]

I couldn't agree with you more. I am one of his biggest fans.

[musicdivinemusic]

I love this piece and Kempff's interpretation. Thanks for posting.

[tchebinai71]

7.56 amazing gaze . So quiet .amazing

[1213irene0505]

excellent!!I hope I can do it very well

[gspaulsson]

Poor you

[aewanko300]

Probably because the main theme repeats itself many times in this movement. Like a theme and variations kind of thing.

[notreallyanfa]

...or a rondo, which is what it is?

[takttakiii]

love this piece

[gspaulsson]

This and the F# major are his most underrated sonatats IMHO. BTW, you can also count the Waldstein as a 2-movement sonata, since the "slow movement" is very short and labelled "Introduzione"

[sabadabaduz]

I don't want to be mean - plus I have to admit that I'm German... but what is a lang lang compared to this? I guess they have a long way to go still - when it comes to interpreting OUR music, not that we have bothered to much in interpreting THEIR music

[caradeescusado]

beethoven belongs to the whole world. lang lang does not represent all the people who are NOT german and feel beethoven to the core. By the way, I know many germans who lack musicality SEVERLY.

[Lttlmssgiggles]

This is so pretty!

[ZHONG4SHU3]

1970年の映像がこれほど高画質、高音質で残っていることがす­ごい。youtubeって素晴らしいとあらためて思う。

[scottbos68]

ive never heard beethoven like this

[bunchyburpy]

Is there only 2 movements to this piece?

[lilly763]

Yes. I can't actually think of any other sonata where Beethoven did this...

[Victor1Piano]

Yes! The only one.

[minirausch]

actually: op. 78 (f#-major), op. 54 (f major), op. 111 (c minor), all two-movement sonatas.

[rach3master]

He did this again in his last sonata, Op 111.

[chadisawesomeness]

what does the op 90 mean?

[GirFromInvaderZim]

it means the time it was composed. the later the opus, the bigger the opus number, the later it was made

[CYSOviolaplayer]

Very Beautiful, how come no one really plays this more often? One of the best works of Bethoven.

[spike2133876]

people dont play this often cause its a bloody hard peiice to play lol only wilhelm can play it the best well except beethoven lol

[CYSOviolaplayer]

Your rite, i just started to learn this and i looked at the music and i almost jumped out of my skin looking at it, its hard as heck! lol.

[Alucinoria]

To understand the piece is the hardest part.

[DEATHlookin4U]

AMAZING best of beethoven

[kajohada]

no sorry: fredy k e m p f is not the son of wilhelm k e m p f f.

his father was german his mother japanese,he is british and he lives in berlin,germany though! ;)))