Maurizio Pollini plays Debussy L'isle Joyeuse

[arturon111]

I prefer Arrau's version... more in the style of Debussy,... and better sound,...

[ThePotenzaz]

i just love thepussy

[ericrouach]

magnifique!!

[TheChopin37]

E' veramente difficile da imparare, ma ne vale la pena, credetemi!

[fledgehog]

no matter what, i always smile at the final occurance of the chordal lydian theme

[EarlOfEs]

I am in ecstacy!

[loboris1995]

I still prefer Kocsis version^^

[johnnymail500]

I agree; this version is good (hard to play this song well and not have it be good :) ) but the Kocsis version is amazing and probably my favorite.

[stevef095]

best ending ever.

[Josephontheball]

This sends me to musical heaven...

[DalokiMauvais]

I'm awestruck.

[esplorandogio]

... with this music seems to enter the meanders  of the mind in tumult! Very nice...

[JESUS1John]

very good

[painco94]

too wonderful!!! i love debussy and this performance is amazing! i print the score just becouse i want to have it, buo I know i'll never be able to do it

[vkvkvk1219]

marvellous! I see a paradise when I listen to this

[Dante121892]

THIS IS WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­! =DDDD

[ossiacadenza1]

i love those fat ass chords near the end

[Ir0nman86]

you can find free piano sheet music @ sheetsearch . com

[MusicForever020898]

My favorite part is 4:56 to 5:43

[darkblueangel1956]

Molto bella e interessante esecuzione di Maurizio Pollini, "L'isle joyeuse", eseguita con una tecnica, ancora una volta, trascendentale, accurata e raffinatissima, con una dinamica sonora molto studiata e sobria. Forse manca la fibrillazione emotiva che scatenava Horowitz in pubbilco, ma siamo in un altro periodo e gli stili sono cambiati !

[JohnRift]

I love this piece. Pollini plays it very well.

There is another version with Samson François.

[tangycheezexists]

He truly makes the piano sing...

[CharmsJr94]

I'd like to do this when i'm older someday :) looking at the music now, the subdividing makes my brain hurt

[yairquesada]

Una de las mejore interpretaciones que he escuchado

[iamhanabiyuu]

Beautiful. :) Sometimes I close my eyes, and imagine myself playing this. I vow to learn this piece! :) Amazing.

[theplatinumrockstar1]

This is so beautiful!

[Mezzotenor]

What a privilege, to experience both a composer and a performer at the height of their respective powers! I enjoy this interpretation by Pollini, and while I may not always agree with every detail of his other performances, he really understands music as STRUCTURE. That happens to be the way the best composers think as well.

[wrigleyx]

near perfection!!!

[fledgehog]

this is the kind of piece that will make you smile no matter what!

[fuzzyfeet]

6 people are pissed that they can't play this.

the rest of us are just happy that someone can.

[nonnopirro52]

Suono e ritmo scolpiti e nitidi senza tante smancerie, grande Maurizio, sei un'opera d'arte italiana

[fuzzyfeet]

This is truly beautiful music. If the whole world could sit down together and listen to Debussy or Chopin or any of the greats, we would all find peace.

[SonitiVeri]

As usual, Pollini's playing is superb! The performance does indeed communicate joy.

[nutelina]

@SonitiVeri I think the composer has some credit in it too!

[DrParkMD517]

Honestly, my instant impression from the start was that I didn't like the way Pollini was playing at all... but I kept listening and just a couple more seconds of listening after the beginning, I was already lost into his performance... this is amazing, thanks for the upload

[Gargantupimp]

thumbs up if rachmaninoff was the greatest turn of the century composer

[sbanchi]

There is someone who says that the part from 4:54 is the most beatiful and they listen only to it. I can only say that I'm one of them. Thanks, Claude!

[dotchoo]

@sbanchi :) i think that by only listening to that part you miss the whole point of the song.

[looney1023]

@sbanchi

What's wrong with the rest of it? You need to hear the rest of it so it builds up to the big finale.

[Mezzotenor]

Thanks for posting! The excellence of this interpretation is that everything flows seamlessly, not in fits and starts as some do. If nothing else, Pollini pays attention to markings, e.g., the stringendo at the end that so far I've only heard Horowitz do as persuasively.

[okarowarrior]

00:01 that picture isn't impressionist

[TheWanderingNight]

@okarowarrior From Wikipedia: "The Embarkation for Cythera ("L'embarquement pour Cythere") is a painting by the French Rococo artist Jean-Antoine Watteau. It achieved a notable place in music history in 1904 when composer Claude Debussy wrote a piece for solo piano titled "L'Isle Joyeuse," inspired by the painting."

[expressivechild]

Pollini forever!

[rurikrussi]

4:55 is the most sentimental passage of the entire piece...my favourite :)

[Likeafoxow]

very good performance, although im used to a little faster tempo. if anyone has a chance to listen to alexis weissenberg, please do so. his interpretation is amazing

[SuperAaron895]

a magical piece with an unusual ending

[browny333]

@NemoProkofiev551 apparantly he composed this when he went away to an island with his then mistress

[Vincent4688]

This is absolutely gorgeous.

[Benny190891]

I thought it sounded amazing, but rushed. I didn't get a chance to divulge and imagine in all those incredible chords. It made the isle of joy seem kinda fast paced for my liking, i'd rather the isle of relax if I had a choice. hahah

[TheBookworm24]

THIS. IS. INSANE....but in a good way obviously

[daniel15671]

He evokes the wit and joy along with the eerie tone which emerges as an subtext to this glorious music. .

[goldtogreysmoke]

Sublime

[kadijacomk]

Belíssima interpretação!!

[ibclappin]

at 2:33 i thought my gardener baba got into a fight with my neighbor again but it's pollini himself actually humming along with the music

[titi116]

une des plus belles pages du répertoire pianistique, et quel nom merveilleux Debussy

[djseadog]

very good, thank you for posting the notes with the music

[gbc1627]

Sorry, but I don't quite agree. It IS a nice reading, but: just a little rushed for my taste. I would have liked a little more definition and greater textural clarity. The triplets of 16ths, as well as the triple groups of 4 32nds just come off as being overly rushed. It's a passionte, intense, and quite erotic piece of music, and although he comes VERY close, he doesn't quite pull it off.

I happen to like very much the reading by Christina Ortiz, which I think exceptional. It's not on youtube.

[cerzule]

Fantastic! Superb! Stunning! Magical! Transcendent! I'm running out of positive adjectives, it's so good!

[chimayai]

simply flawless! I havent performed everything Debussy has for solo piano, but I consider this piece just as formidable as most any Chopin or Ravel piece. Truly a virtuosic performer beautifully weaving a virtuoso piece of music.

[dmcII]

@chimayai Oh absolutely.  This piece is a technical & emotional killer. And harder still to truly command. It will swallow you whole !

[grimmbo93]

what's that noise at 2:33?

[zeboink]

@grimmbo93

If you listen really closely you can hear very light singing throughout much of it.

[WhyNne0w]

@grimmbo93 ?there's no noise there I'm afraid. you might have been deceived by your speaker or whatsoever.

Do you actually understand the piece itself? :)

[sychokillin]

wow i truly never realized hod good pollini is becuase i was always listening to richter play... amazing......

[gwozdezzz]

INCREDIBLE ENDING!!!

[DumpTruck500]

Presently my favourite of all Debussy's pieces

[StephaCicos]

tutto il pezzo sembra un unico gesto che tende all'arpeggio finale... straordinario Pollini.

[Cillitpeng]

its so difficult... amazing.. it sounds easy at the beginning, but i cant even master the first page when the first chords for the left hand begin...

i dont have the right timing..

[arcadia1116]

I LOVE this.. FANTASTIC!!!

[fifthsoul]

this is amazing and so difficult

[meowkie]

@thespleenenator Well, duh. ;)

[rchlboyd]

outstanding... thanks

[gwozdezzz]

Pollini ON FIRE!!!

[rchlboyd]

yes ... wow

[DogzRock88]

wow. CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP. way better than how i play this. 5*****

[PoesSoul7]

Absolutely incredible.

[ashielpenguin]

this song is about falling inlove.. :)

debussy left his old wife, and went to a vacation with his new girlfriend.. he wrote this song filled with joy. <3

hahahahaha

[teddychenghonlam]

@ashielpenguin it jus tmeans "the happy island".

[dubblebubble898]

I LOVE THE ENDING!!!! :D

[theguyi26]

ooooh wtf, at 4:11 the edition i used to practice with was like that, but the edition i'm using now has all the dotted quarters in the right hand tied, in pairs, and it confused me i was like wtf, i never saw those tied notes when i was a little kid, and now i'm like wtf, my current edition sucks and i was right the whole time!

[lemonxjuice]

"That was, like, totally awesome."

[britcrit09]

Thank you for uploading this magnificent piece of music with great pictures!

[XganjamanX87]

bravo!

[douglassmcann]

imagine how novel this compostion was in its time...

and how the art paralled the music, impressionistically...

la jeune fille avec cheveux d'or....

find a piano recording of this piece as incredible as the recording here..

bravo

douglas

[liszt80]

Marvelous, breathtaking beauty. Thank you!

[2009Coldmirrorfan]

He plays very well it looks very hard to play... But I dislike this piece.

[FargandSirHomerlots]

The best rendition of this ive heard is when Arau did it, it was a video i came across on youtube... Dam youtube took it down :(

[heltonllon]

@FargandSirHomerlots i agree. I saw it long time ago. It's extremely beautiful. Now i can't find the video!!! :(

At least i have a copy of the audio...

[jedwentz]

No, I am a flute-player, so it would be unlikely that I could. But Mr Rubenstein did play it much more freely and ecstatically.

[jedwentz]

How very accurate and souless!

[jewell11]

Could you play it better?

[kobesunset]

As far as composing goes, this is mediocre at best. Very vapid music

[howiej103]

I haven't heard Pollini play any of your stuff...

[looney1023]

@kobesunset

What do you mean? Can you back up those arguements?

[werq34ac]

my playing seems so textbook like compared to this...

[TheOriginalEntz]

I love to smoke a joint and listen to something like this. My first time listening to this particular piece but I know it won't be the last. Weed allows me to hear all the parts in my head at once. To follow both hands of the pianist and hear the relationship of the melody and harmony as well as their individual nuances and the tricks the player employs to translate the emotions to the audience. Bravo Pollini. Bravo.

[Jim341046]

I'm sure it does. Also listen to Marc Andre Hamelin playing Alkan (Concerto is the best) and Ciffra playing William Tell, Blue Danube and Brahams. They are without doubt the hardest pieces played on YT.

[kaibasaid]

This is...

Breath-taking. Absolutely gorgeous. If I could play the piano...

[Pischnaholic]

If you could play the piano, you would realize that this performance is dry, sterile, unimaginative, dispassionate and ultimately tedious.

There's so much more to musical artistry than playing all the notes rapidly and clearly without faltering.

If you want to hear a compelling, truly beautiful, heartfelt, vividly imaginative and colorful account of the work, listen to Horowitz.

[kaibasaid]

I believe Horowitz is just as spectacular as Pollini is. I don't believe one is better than the other. Both pianists have their own style, their own interpretations of a beautiful piece.

I personally think Pollini plays this piece extremely well. I don't even have to see his playing and I can almost feel him swaying to the music. I'm listening to the Horowitz version at the moment, and he plays this piece exceptionally beautiful as well.

Perhaps it is just a matter of opinion.

[demosj]

@kaibasaid

I respect Pollini, but it seems like his interpretation is similar to Horowitz, and Pollini just plays with a narrower dynamic range.

[gmpeck322]

My favorite part starts at 4:22

[thedoctorthemaster]

best version ever

[Tdgonline]

I have heard this piece. before but never with such clarity!

[arkaisk2]

The most metronome-strict version I´ve ever heard...

[Pischnaholic]

Exactly and that is why it's so BAD. Pollini is a SQUARE. His playing expert, but devoid of fantasy, imagery and affect, It's JUST NOTES.

[Matteo7419]

"So BAD"??? Wow...

[advance600]

Successful Troll is successful. =D

[bsdkflh]

this is possibly one of the dumbest comments i've ever read.

1. Pollini is 67 now, and he's still alive.

2. If you have any well-founded reasons to despise Pollini (which I suspect - you don't)..

well, bottom line, just shut up.

[JohnEBProductions]

Pollini is alive.

[Paulo78180]

Pollini is alive

[mynameisniu]

is it really pollini?

[p1ano]

Truly the great Pollini.

[nonnopirro52]

@mynameisniu e chi se no, clayderman???

[meowkie]

This is truly beautiful. :) It's very easy to misinterpret the emotion from the paper to your fingers to the keys... I personally haven't heard of many pianists who nailed it as well as this! :) I wish YouTube had a repeat button. :)

[Ringosfinger]

@meowkie it does..

[3only3]

@meowkie they have you just have to put it in youre playlist and then it will atomatically repeat itselve.

[meowkie]

@3only3 Bahaha, people don't seem to understand that I know how to make it repeat in theory. I was speaking figuratively. :3 I just jam the play button over and over

[Destroyer220]

@meowkie Do you have Google Chrome? I downloaded an extension that loops videos.

[Troybeallad]

Pollini is without doubt a great pianist. Do listeners agree nevertheless, there is something lacking in this performance, though not on the technical side ?

[agreatguy6]

I think it's a bit blurred... but then again, my speakers are eff'd up.

[chrisflemming]

am i the only one who plays that final "a" with my left hand?? look at my video.

[licoricestic]

i like to think of the opening trills as teleportation to an exotic island, 5:24 the return to daily life

[dmcII]

@licoricestic - Your imagination isn't not far off. Debussy wrote this piece on a remote island where he had run off with his mistress. Hence the title which in English translates to "Isle of Joy".

[licoricestic]

thanks i already knew its translation-though i didnt know about him actually refuging to an island w/his mistress-i know about his wife committing suicide and such

[soccer4life911]

In the midst of this sucker.

It's a bitch.

[Pischnaholic]

ALL pieces are difficult, if you take them seriously.

Try using two hands at the opening. It helps you get started, and may improve control over the dynamics. Of course when the trill figure returns at the end, you can't get away with using two hands.

Also, you should MEMORIZE as you learn. Don't wait till later. Just be sure you've read the notes correctly.

This is a very uninteresting performance. Do listen to Horowitz, and you'll get a much better feel for where you should be aiming.

[Zodiarkz]

Debussy is another of my favorite composers but I never play his pieces because they're just so difficult. I fear I'll always be just a "listener" when it comes to Debussy.

[doctordrums8]

can someone give me a link to the music for this?

[muzyka31]

wow ! just amazing Debussy!

[jakubcz91]

this is fantastic work!!!!

I play for piano and I think it's the best work of Debussy...really...

[Pischnaholic]

"Keine Herz, alle Fingern."

Nicht sensitiv!

[carryon24]

ja. Du bist richt.

[godsloved3]

makes me think of fun in Candyland. with king candy and lord licorice and all them. lol....

[gogirl117]

Although I admire the verve and extraordinary accuracy I am unable to discern any other dynamic but Forte! where are the pianissimos?

[Hervinbalfour]

I agree with you on that! I have noticed that on most of Pollini's interpreations of Debussy's works. When it comes to Debussy Geiseking is still king.

[bbalmodovar]

I'm not a pianist , therefore, i cannot talk about the techniques. But i can talk about feelings and emotions. And this guy totally delivers that. He is amazing :) I love Debussy, i love Pollini and i love L' Isle joyeuse

[chamade16]

Without doubt the finest and most INVOLVED performance (for my taste) on YouTube. He distinguishes perfectly between background and foreground, has a perfect grasp of rhythm without being mechanical, and the climax...well, he must have lost his heart to a French belle at some point. Outstanding. A definitive performance.

Now then, all you Francophiles out there, move on into the deeper territory of Vierne, Duruflé and Cochereau...

[TomOwen77]

This has restored my faith in Pollini who is often too smooth and flawless. While it is as polished as ever it has lots of soul and not a fluffed note anywhere.

[Greena1re]

Wow really interesting to compare Horowitz and Pollini's performances. Two of the greatest pianists of hte 20th century, completely different interpretations of this piece. Personally this one gets my vote as I feel Pollini really gets into the spirit of the piece and brings out all it's emotional nuances and paints big and blurry sonic landscapes when it's appropriate and then has precision and clarity when it's needed. I love somewhat radical sense of phrasing as well

WOW

[sll10]

It's very fine but I find Horowitz's version the most compelling I've ever heard (it was also the 1st version I ever heard and the most exciting).

[UchihaXHanajima]

Hmmm this is probably my favorite Debussy piece.

[avroma2]

AMAIZING!!!! WOW!!

[123eldest]

Aww why did it stop. :/

[bunnyoneedge]

Learn to read the music!

[123eldest]

why was this a reply to my comment?

[SFT24]

Great recording of one of the most amazing piano compositions in the repetoir. I have to say that I prefer Cecile Ousset's version over this, but its pretty damn good!

[Randomnessk]

I have found that no one plays Debussy's preludes better than Pollini. This is just the most fantastic playing of this piece I have heard.

[4hpta]

beautiful!

[aldebussy]

What a joyous frenzy! I love it! It's like an orgy.

[OrangeSodaKing]

What a funny analogy. But you're right, this is one of the better interpretations on youtube.

[OrangeSodaKing]

I do think he could have taken a little more time over the big "flourishes" at 1:13

[ownage1810]

More like an orgy of sound.

[1810to1849]

Really nice that you edited shots of the score over the music.

[foreverblue04]

1:14-1:26 beautiful part...^^

[sp0590]

Favorite song. I cry at the last part. Always.

[infernobegins]

Wonderful! Helped me to understand this piece. I adore Maurizio Pollini's playing!

[starkey7uk]

Nice video. I love this piece. It's interesting seeing the sheet music go by as it's played, too.

[starfishg]

this is the best piano music ever.

[clubbagirl]

i really enjoy this kind of music

[Rickyr389]

great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm studying this piece and you don't know how usefull it's for me this video! in my opinion it's better than horowitz...thank you very much =D

[OrangeSodaKing]

i enjoy horowitz's version a lot, except for the rubato in the end. but he was a genius, so i guess he could do what he wanted.

[amritayang]

a creative idea to show scores in music video.

I like it.

[bokensdorf]

Showing the score while playing its piece is a great idea! This is a new experience. I like it.