Lola Astanova plays Rachmaninoff - Sonata No.2 (1st movement)

[Marko4237]

I enjoy watching her enjoy this piece. It's a monster and she plays her interpretation well. Bravo! I've studied this piece and just by watching her you can tell it's taxing on the player. I find each player's interpretation revolves around how they deal with the most difficult sections and that usually entails extreme variations in tempo and the interruption of important melodic phrases. For those interested in my favorite interpretation, youtube: "Rachmaninoff Sonata No.2 (Sultanov live)"

[JuyoNi]

rachmaninov brings out the best in people, to play it well it forces you to reach deep into yourself and pull out all the emotion that he was using, especially the op. 10 preludes and his variations on paganini, she does so well on this piece, she is truly a virtuoso:)

[Hervinbalfour]

I also want to say that I think that Ms. Astanova is very passionate about her music. I think she is a bit overly dramatic (and that is for effect) at times.

Someone stated that jumping out of your seat helps to make a strong fortissimo. For real? Power comes from the front and back shoulders and is transferred to the keys from the gravity force. There is no need to jump that high out of your seat to make a louder sound. That's professional stage drama people.

[tonbahi]

i love your attitude!!!!

[blueberries2021]

I absolutely LOVE how passionate you are about music! I don't think I have EVER seen someone put that much emotion and power into the piano! I understand you 100%!! Your work is flawless!!

[shoyru13000]

You are CRAZY woman! MAD PIANO MONSTER WANT SMASH HUMAN SKULL RAWRRAWR, lovely performance ma'am :D

[marrt88]

@1:34 I hear her fingers portraying water rapidly dripping into a flowing river...

but thats just what flows in my mind. Absolutely beautiful!

[Carlito4000]

pure epicness

[FranckFromFrance]

Hot Hot Hot ! Lady gaga is a virgin face to you.

[SlugTruffle]

I love you

[orlando2130]

omg.... I instantly have to say excuse me for everyone who likes this recording. As I see from comments everyone likes her. Well .. too bad.... I never heard this sonata in worse musical taste than this one. Just look at her omg.... What is she trying to show for us lol? Jumping... showing fake emotions with her face... omg this is so low... For amateurs only. Maybe she watches too much Lang lang? Wow... Still cannot believe you can like her...

[EuphoricDan]

@orlando2130

Lang Lang owns you. However, I agree with you mostly on miss Astanova.

I must argue one thing though, her "jumping", well... She isn't a weight lifter. That's valid piano technique for big fortes.

[shortestgiant]

Lang Lang DOES NOT own this beautiful woman. She is a technician to be reckoned with. She has as much, if not more technique than Lang Lang has.

[EuphoricDan]

@shortestgiant

:-/

[shortestgiant]

She plays this difficult sonata with GREAT FEELING, my friend. What if she does occasionally jump up? So what! So do a lot of others! You are a hypercritical, picky, picky person.

[davidbaker03]

@orlando2130 AGREED! shes like having a little O or something.

[PeacefulStrife]

@orlando2130 I honestly have to say, i've tried to do some of her expressions in some pieces, but i find it very detracting....so my point with this is that i think she is really playing with emotion. I do think you are very wrong about how this is "in worse musical taste."

[YouPrizm]

GRANDIOSO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3

[095kiki]

mort de rire !

[alexs2612]

tres bonne interpretation . a classer avec horovittz et les grandes versions rares de cette sonate. J'adore

alex 2612

[annamagdalena2]

FENOMENAL INTERPRETATION !!!!!!

[annamagdalena2]

I love Your music Dear Lola !!!!

Look im my channel.....

[flarbton]

you have great control and passion in your playing, i was unfamiliar with this piece and now it's a favorite thanks to you Lola :)

[daphriend]

Wow!!!

[tedbohne]

for such a tiny thing, she's got the power of Rachmaninoff!!

[redbaron1080]

I like the Glenn Gould left hand at 2:30

[EdiEllerymissing]

Why's she jumping from the bench and doing weird rubatos all the time?

[inturtaner]

@EdiEllerymissing cuz shes a musician

[EdiEllerymissing]

@inturtaner Yeah, right. So the next time I play the piano I will do exactly as she does... Then I'll be a musician... Bah!

[hinahanta]

Your heart is in it, love it, please post more...

[sanjosemike]

I can see no reasons to criticize this fabulous young lady, who plays in a way that Rachmaninoff would have loved. If any of you want to "criticize" her, you are just jealous. sanjosemike

[naquan1006]

OMG.... the best performance i have ever heard from this piece :x

[DrOli]

This has to be my favorite version of the sonata. The octaves at 1:10 are so hard hitting; I'm yet to find a version which marks close to this one.

[Dollymayfrosty]

She got out of here seat and WHACKED the keys! My god it was amazing. SUCH passion!

[baltim10]

Boy, she makes these typical classical

"experts" burn with jealousy! They can't even hide it! I LOVE IT! If someone is no good, what normal people usually do? Ignore. The fact that they keep coming back and slandering her only complements her playing. They are scared shitless because she proves that they are technically and musically mediocre, boring and faceless.

[Hervinbalfour]

That is such a weak justification and it doesn't prove a thing.. People come here to respond to the comments that people make back. I've criticized her long ago in the past and I'm not "scared shitless" because I'm "technically and musically mediocre". I come here to ctfu @ the comments.

I've grown to truly appreciate her interpretation. However I encourage people to listen to other maturer artists such as Zoltan Kocis here on YT. It's not all about playing loud and fast........

[demosj]

The physical mannerisms themselves are worse than even Lang Lang could do (I had assumed this was impossible), but whatever. It's not as if she acts that way on a concert stage.

The actual playing echoes Horowitz, very inspiring.

[luchess]

Bravo!

[morphytronx]

You play from the heart. I doubt you have any time to check my video out of me playing the same piece...

[booshey24]

very confused as to why this doesn't have a million views.. her passion is so awesome

[marcusadler]

When seen in the context of hotforwords (which is a lot lower-calibre, in almost all respects) Russians seem to be occupying a strange Youtube cultural namespace, combining hot and brainy in a way that is mostly verboten in American culture.

[inturtaner]

shes got a nice rach

[JBMWm318]

In all my years of conservatory studies I find it absolutely astounding how remarkably passionate Lola is in her music. WOW!! You had me jumping out of my seat when you made your standing bass cords!! You really FEEL the music! Watch and learn everyone...She IS the great virtuoso our time! Bravo

[mosichat]

Lola is AWESOME!! I'll bet her greatest nemeses will be other females. Primarily due to jealousy. Lola is truly talented, smart... and HOT!!!! It won't be until she's 50 that other women will finally applaud her talent.  Otherwise ignorant people will continue to make derogatory statements against such a young and talented spirit. It's sad but true to discriminate between the two sexes but women have always been their greatest enemies. Wow, can't believe I said that! Awesome performance.

[EnveBeats]

Yes she may come off a lil weird 2 some,,but 2 other musicians its just called being Passionate<< You may 4get,,Music is after all energy and emotion b4 it becomes a sound<< Cheers!!

[JozefFilipiak]

Stunning! I find it sad that in a venue as diverse as YouTube, where one can plummet from sublime artistry to idiocy in the click of the mouse, there are still emotional cripples who feel the need to find something wrong with Lola. Her posture? Not human? GET A LIFE!

Thanks, Lola, for another fine performance. Loved Tashkent, by the way!

[GrandPiano42]

Very appropriate!

[Luk289]

this pianist is kind of weird, but she is amazing and very brilliant. i like her.she looks diferent

[AngelinaTaylor]

this is revolting

i'm sorry....

[layla545]

what a shit and pointless comment.

[AngelinaTaylor]

I could go into detail but it's pointless. Plus my ears are bleeding. It IS revolting, what else am I supposed to say? It's worse than Lang Lang. Get real.

[MariaIn08]

@AngelinaTaylor If you are musician, QUIT today! Lola is one of the most genuine artists I've ever seen/heard. It is obvious she feels the music deep inside and it translates to her body language which may seem eccentric to a Jo Shmo like yourself. Whereas Lang Bang tries to imitate emotions (with his ahem scary face) because he has nothing inside. So it's both sad and funny. Maybe it is difficult for a Chinese to really feel Rachmaninoff or Chopin, because the cultures are entirely different.

[AngelinaTaylor]

First of all you have no idea who I am. I should quit - really? You're hilarious. Would you tell Leon Fleisher to quit? Because if you heard his personal dislikes about artists, I'm sure you would.

Genuine? Give me a break. There is nothing violent about Rachmaninoff. I'm sorry to say, but even Lang Lang has more respect than this lady. Not by much, but he does.

Her other videos are not nearly as bad, so I am simply stating my opinion of this. Take it or leave it.

[zander09401]

sublime

[EnveBeats]

Not human enough?? if u ask me the classical people who play staying still are not human,,,there like robots,,she shows u just how human she is by FEELING the Music!! Bravo!!

[GrandPiano42]

I absolutely agree - people should be "watching" the artist through their ears and hearts! Pianists (or any other musician for that matter) are not mimes - they go through incredible pain to express the music that talks to us. BRAVA!!! (5*)

[winkandrun]

This playing is a bit too sexual and theatrical for me...Talent, but not human enough

[winkandrun]

I mean it comes off as superficial and not very noble. I think that nobility is part of music, most people don't. I don't appreciate the "making classical music sexy, and hip". I'm old fashioned. And there's a beauty in classic things, people should try to preserve. I'd try to explain, but I think I'd have an easier time getting through to my shoelace. And my shoelace isn't hormonal, so it would be able to think through things. Read the comments, people aren't listening.

[GreyAlexander913]

winkandrun, I'm sorry, but ur argument is weak. First, because u base it on ur presumption that she is not genuine. But that's not a fact, only ur opinion. Having seen her live, I can't disagree with you more. She is absolutely genuine! Second, ur comment insinuates that because of her "sexy style", she somehow lacks artistic value. That's just flat out not true. These are first rate performances from every musical standpoint.

[winkandrun]

I think she seems geniune, the people who listen to her aren't. I know it's my opinion, I mentioned that. No, that's old fashioned, Liszt didn't use twitter or facebook. No, it wouldn't, if she had some sort of originality and something I've never heard, then yeah. It's not bs, but I have high morals, not sure about taste because that's opinion. Yes, there are but I would hope that sexiness stays with pop. There should be, IN MY OPINION class, in classical music.

[GreyAlexander913]

lol...winkandrun, I enjoyed your comments, because you play with words and forge meanings very well. It's brilliant to pretend that the argument was around "whether CLASS should be in classical music or not", and then state firmly "IN MY OPINION class should be in classical music". The trouble is your comment 1. implies that Lola lacks class (and that point is given as truth) and 2. That I argued against class itself, which is like saying that I argued against motherhood or apple pie.

[GreyAlexander913]

Winkandrun, class should be in everything. But opinions on what constitutes class differ. And that's where YOUR OPINION territory lies.

BTW, a slightly inexpensive life observation that those who loudly profess knowing class or morality and confidently judge others on their lack of such virtues often end up with an embarrassingly huge pie on their faces. Such behavior is either blunt hypocrisy or childish self-delusion.

[GreyAlexander913]

Finally, winkandrun, she is a modern 20 year old good looking girl so what is she supposed to look and act like? If she looked & acted like your grandma would her music somehow be more beautiful or meaningful to u? And, Im sorry, but throwing this "Im old fashioned" & somehow expecting that to automatically translate into "I have excellent taste & high morals" is just pure BS. But might work for your non-hormonal shoelace though.

[AuDiOMusics]

just at 1:04 she started to look like she was having a seizure no joke some girl at my school looked like that when she was having a seizure

[julienvsthevolcano]

its so great to see how much the music moves and flows through you. an extension of you, in a way. its moves me very intensely too, (through and through) and there's nothing to describe the way its makes us feel. It's beautiful, tragic, and not too forget super sexy. bravo

[AmiDeLaMusique]

I'm still waiting for a CD...

[HOMExSKILLET]

Oh geez , intense

[kirbysocute]

i bet u more than half of the people who play the piano are jealous of you are hating you for being so good but at the same time loving you ! u r so good how do you do this?? i mean u probably play the piano like 24/7 ! how do you practice !!!! jeeez ur good !

[victheslick0]

amazing.

stunning.

[Hervinbalfour]

A large part of the harsh sound is that piano. On a "Bosie" Imperial, a well prepped Mason & Hamlin or my favorite a Steingraeber E-272 you could bang on a bass note with all your might and there would be no harshness. Every time I hear someone live in a recital playing a Steinway I hear that loud awful reverb from the lower bass. It's not all Lola. Imo it's largely due to that piano. I would love to hear her play this on an Imperial or a Steingraeber E-272.

[ThatRachGirl]

I 100% agree. Why are you being attacked? :)

Please, I don't mean any insult to her (nor am I trolling by any means!) but Astinova's playing is too theatrical for my taste. Underline "MY." The music sounds pompous, which is everything that shouldn't be in a piece with so much soul and pain. She isn't untalented, but the wine has a yet a few years more to mature.

And though it may be the piano's fault for the percussiveness, she *did* create some of the clipped notes in some places.

[teslaphysics]

That was truely awesome! Magical! I love watching you play, such raw emotion! It gives me goose-bumps!

[kennethfrawley]

Bloody hell, Lola!

What on earth? Are you trying to destroy me? If so, well done! I am a wreck, utterly shattered. What a powerful, yet sublime performance. Simply brilliant!

Cheers!

[xxpatternsintheivyxx]

Wow! I totally did not expect that! The way you move with the music is so fucking sexy :) keep it up :) ;)

[JohnEBPiano]

I've heard you play many times, but I believe in this video you play the best. You're simply a magnificent pianist, there are no other words to describe it.

[Ifrederick]

@JohnEBPiano you should see her play Chopin Op 27. No.2. That's also a really outstanding performance that is really flawless. Also a great interpretation.

[ThaPianoPlaya]

1:06-1:12 love the expression! Fantastic job!!!

[markmusicman]

I love your performance and I beleieve the piano sounds amazing!

[Alphacat]

you are insane! this is amazing!

awesome awesome job!

[cekpoet]

5 estrellas,

que talento tiene..

y que bonita chica :D

[rarescores]

Oh wait a minute! I just noticed that you have allready posted this before. Will you ever play the Rachmaninoff Horowitz Sonata No.2?????? Will you ever play the Chopin Scherzo No.1 Opus 20 in the style of V.Horowitz??? Please let me know. Best Regards! Susan Rubinstein!

[rarescores]

OMG YES YES YES YESSSSS MOREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!­! WHERE is the 3rd movement???? I am DYING to hear it!!!! Please upload it and share it with me! Your music lives in my soul forever Lola!!!

[teddythepianist]

exelent but the sound of the piano is bad you are the best lola

[EcCutie13]

WOW I am so amaze!! I play piano too but i am not so good....

[rachmaninovpc3dminor]

I like the emphasis you put with this - this is why I like Ashkenazy over Cliburn (except for pc2) - the passion that comes out with emphasis. You definitely have it. I love this movement - it characterizes Rachmaninov to a ' T '. Thank you ! ! !

[jpmservice]

Amazing! Thanks for re-posting it, Lola!!!