Maksim Mrvica - Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

[whenmyguitar]

Thank you very much !

[MKClassical]

Very beautiful...

[tranceparentcycle]

What happened???? This was a masterpiece based around a notational reverse of Paganini's piece. It was already a phenomenal piece of music, It did not require alteration. You want to ruin a wonderfull piece of music? well done ou succeeded.

[clementia101]

People. It wasn't his idea to mix this pop stuff in with his music. Wanna blame someone, blame his manager. Just saying.

[shortyblue1000]

it´s so perfect.....we miss him in GER !!!! :-(

[B1ack4ng3L]

@Hannahbaby86 even at the time of the great pianist ludweg van beethoven, wolfgang amadeus mozart, they use a dancers when they perform on stage "thats one of their way to show the real meaning of their piece"

To the people who knows nothing when it cames to music just get lost

[TheNerfNoob99]

dis is the song when my recess over they will play dis song =D

[mcard1d]

Some of these comments are so amusing... firstly if you loathe Maksim's work, then why make his videos popular by watching them? I think he is a very talented pianist, and he simply chooses to convey this talent in a way that clearly demonstrates thinking well outside of the box. Fair enough, 'the box' is where all the greatest works are, but I for one applaud Maksim for having the courage to pursue his own vision and interpretation. Having that mentality is truly inspirational.

[hannahbaby86]

This guy is sooooo wierd!! What's up with the dancers???????

[RokujyuuyonShou]

Decent technique, but horrible music

[rabisrabis]

the problem is we stick to the style of the original composers, there is no audio record personally played by the them. this is superb rather.

[jsphotos]

It just came to me! Mrvica wants to be the Yanni of classical music. Follow the money!

[jsphotos]

He doesn't vulgarize them, he lowers their quality, and gives "first time" listeners a poor idea of what the music was intended to be. It's like taking hip-hop and putting it in front of a philharmonic orchestra to get classical music lovers to like hip-hip. Dig? Frankly, this is watered-down and although he's a talented pianist, he might think about how HE came to love the classics. I'll bet it wasn't THIS way. It's all about money, I'm afraid. Sad.

[NimirisCold]

Great...

[darthtrinna]

No mames.. Que guapo, que talentoso.. Pero un verdadero pianista, no necesita vestirse asi, ni "actuar" asi para que todos los miren...

Que falta de respeto a Rachmaninoff, a Paganini.. Disculpen, pero es mi opinion.

Esta es una obra maestra.. y pongan ustedes que es un "Tributo a.."

pero ptm.. por lo que mas quieran.. MUJERES BAILANDO AL REDEDOR NO! POR FAVOR! D: Por piedad y por respeto! D:

[gibsmun1854]

Why criticize him for modernizing a great Paganini caprice? He is helping to keep the original song alive. If you want to listen to it the original version then go find it. If you prefer to hear it modernized in a different way then learn music and compose a version your damn self.

[kikazadar]

@gibsmun1854

i am supporting your words!!!!

[josiahpianoman]

What a joke...

[DimitarRM]

Man it can't get worse !!!!

[alex081219]

eso si es musica

[Feadrahchan]

Those who are too close-minded to at least have a neutral approach to new takes on old things seriously need a reality check instead of spending their time attacking everyone else.

[star24884]

This music is so awesome, I would like to go to one of his concerts!! When he plays in munic?

[nonius99]

a great pianist who is wasting his talent on something like this... he is destroying the pieces of great masters from the last centuries... what for? money? glory? they are not worth of it...

[Aivaaa16]

HE IS AMAZING

[Amazonic99]

maksim is great. the dancers are worthless...

[lindberg555]

Dear fans and admirers of Maxim!

With all the due respect: the way to make classical music popular for an average listener is educating their taste, making them more sensitive and trying to encourage them to go to great concerts and enjoy the real taste of great pieces, but NOT DESTROYING THE MASTERPIECES AND VULGARIZING THEM, FOR HEAVEN´S SAKE!!!!!

[homelessmarimbist]

@lindberg555 clearly you don't see the irony in your comment. What Rachmaninoff did when he wrote Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini is exactly the same as what Maksim is doing in this rendition. As a matter of fact its what composers have been doing since the 1400s.

Source: 5 years of music history in university.

[lindberg55555]

@homelessmarimbist Great!!! Go ahead: compare Rachmaninov with mr. Mrvica... I wonder whether this "rendition" will survive 67 years like Rachmaninov-Paganini variations. Source: 20 years of playing and teaching classical music and COMMON SENSE

[IVlr3vil]

@homelessmarimbist You're wrong, what composers have done in the 1400's included adding more notes or an entirely new section or development of a different style with their own counterpoint. What Maksim has done was literally steal the score, rip parts up and added a harmony that is based on simple chord progressions.

For example, compare Paganini's Original 24, then Liszt 24, then Rachmaninoff Rhapsody. Then compare Rachmaninoff Chopin Variations and Chopin Prelude in C minor (Op. 28, No. 20).

[IVlr3vil]

@homelessmarimbist Then compare Rachmaninoff Variation on Corelli theme and the original Corelli La Folia. What Maksim has done, is a reduction to the score, not an expansion. An expansion, would be something like transcribing Tocatta and Fugue in D minor into a symphony in Fantasia, which is hardly anything genius considering all he did was copy and paste parts.

An example of great composing and using piece structure = Schumann Piano Concerto A minor > Edward Grieg Concerto A minor > Rach F#.

[IVlr3vil]

@homelessmarimbist Anyway, what he did with Bohemian Rhapsody was far more impressive. With this piece, it's hardly anything to be considered genius. I don't believe Maksim Mrvica has found his true style of composition yet.

Source: 3 years of music composition and theory

[99Agga]

@lindberg555

Dears

Nothing will be destroyed! Just think this is a sort of joke... Maksim has his own way and let it be ...don't be so serious about - the water is always calm when a stone has drowned

[TheGreatEddy]

@lindberg555 Why not just let people listen to what they appreciate? Any form of music is good for somebody, if you don't like it you can at least let the ones who do listen to it =)

[DarkNinjaStudent]

@lindberg555 I would have to agree... But Maxim does not destroy or vulgarize them, instead he justs has his own interpretation of them. I have to agree some pieces really do sound weird with the beats (like this one.....) but some he plays without the beats (Dance of the Baroness :D It's good). I'm not saying that people should not listen to classical music or that Maxim is classical music, just saying that Maxim isn't classical music, its pop-classical, if you know what I mean :D

[ArtyMarty81]

@lindberg555 Rachmaninov covered the originals in his time and modernised them. Maksim is doing the same thing and in one hundred years time, our successors will view his work the same.

[COCOONFABULA]

@lindberg555 Couldn't have said it in a better way

[baaboy83]

i want to have sex with him ?

how .. ?

[eldarshus351]

@lindberg555 great comment. Absolutely agree!!

[pearl14090]

not only talented the guy...he was soooooooooooooooooo cute either!mwahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[radagastthe3rd]

what type of violins are they using? I'm interested in buying a violin and I like the way that these sound.

[Fonzieloko]

I like his Ego, every good artist should have one this size.

[aerinya]

我的嗎呀!他結婚啦???????

[supergsx]

He missed a key. 0:48 and almost 49.

[llsaurb44]

@supergsx you wish you played like that HA!!

[pinkfloyddwc]

@supergsx RUN FOR THE HILLS!

[ldtdv]

I wonder if Rachmaninov had dancers in leather suits when he played it the first time

[jovenalexis]

@ldtdv they were actually naked

[eneoana2000]

@};-

[lxt88keith]

best version of rhapsody hungarian?you must be kidding.the way he interprate was sux.compare with Marc Andre version,he just look like a kiddo

[HeartXXBlack]

I like to listen him playing, but I don't like his narcissistic look when he looks up. It seems to me like he is trying to say: "Hey, I am a genius, am I ?"

[marylinks]

omg! he can play like he is playing paganini on piano

[thefazioli]

roker :) bravo majster :)

[viviani301teo]

nossa ele toca muitooooooooo

[PavelAMamoushkin]

зачем выкладывать это дерьмо? Единственный вопрос.

[RandomGamePlayer1]

you know paganini was like the Mjagger, everyone hated him because he was to modern for his time and when this kid modernized it everyone wants to hear it, know all of you whos saying that chopin and paganini are rolling in there graves.....they would be proud. keep your nasty comments to yourself and listen to the original if you like it you old farts

[zoriazoria]

WOW!!! This is AMAZING! Never heard anything soooo great! It has a melody of Paganini mixed with Pop style! His best-est performance I have ever heard! Thank-you for sharing!

[whatthecaro]

and who said anyone has to play all 24 variations? your grade 4 piano teacher? no one has to prove anything when they play their version of the music, let people interpret the music as they want and feel.

[whatthecaro]

people who play for the pure enjoyment ...for themselves and for others to enjoy...who play to bring the music to others who may not otherwise have experienced it......that is all talent.

[Balgig]

but he must make a lot of cash :)

[florduende]

24 variations Maksim... not some of them, and why he doesn´t play the variationes who are diifciult? :P

[erken]

maybe they would sound bad if he played it, since he tries (or the one who arranged this) to be liked by anyone since this nearly is pop music. well, a cross of classical and pop music.

[florduende]

"If you can't take this opinion then go out from you tubev" hey

24o9racky and you can take what i think? hehehehe :D you´re weird

[24o9racky]

weird??? look who's talking???? hahahaha

[florduende]

why? jajaja you are the angry man XD jajaja i´m just laughing of people like you "get out of youtube!!!" hahahah you are so funny :D write me more ;)

[24o9racky]

u see that florduende!!! you don't even know how to determine one answer who's angry??? check it out your self.... poor guy.... tsk. tsk.tsk. hahahha

[hardgreenhorn]

you are a brave piano player!!

this is the way of saying how you so adore the original composers...

this is a very beautiful piano performance and it is just great!!

[pakodonto]

Kill that bastard!

[drosophila82]

Jesus fuckin christ, Paganini is roiling in his grave

[24o9racky]

his outfit and the way he presents himself... that's awesome!!! kind of unique with respect that all pianists who wear always the tuxedo.less formality but with a very brilliant performancejust love him that way.

[florduende]

so what!!!!! he´shis a bad baaad musician and a poser . I prefer an old pianist whit his tuxedo but that can play this well

[24o9racky]

nobody gives a damn shit of what you say. anyone can post and say their opinion. mine is simply admiring a real pianist wearing an outfit like that... if you can't take this opinion then go out from you tube.go where you can have your contenment.

[florduende]

¬¬ "nobody gives a damn shit of what you say. anyone can post and say their opinion" .. yes and i posted MY opinion asshole

[24o9racky]

just get out of you tube if you are pissed off. duwendeng itim ka siguro... tanga!

scema!!!

[florduende]

? :P you are freaky.. i just say what i think... just like the normal people. I don´t like this version like other people, you are not God or something to say me "get out" jajajaja :D . See the other comments. And yeep!!! youtube is to post comments... not only the good ones ¬¬

[gabrielfernandez92]

ok, we can understand that you don't like the "paganini remix" XD but, bad musician???? he's got recorded the best version actually of the liszt hungarian rhapsody!!! maybe you must to post your own video playing it, or go and wash your mouth with soap.. you can't say that he's a bad musician because he plays crossover..

[Rheostatik]

No, sorry, he doesn't have the "best version actually" of the 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody.

Care to share with us the other versions you listened to? You've obviously listened to them all, to make such a bold statement.

[gabrielfernandez92]

I don't know if I listened to all of them, but the 7 or 8 versions that I heard, all of them have the same problem.. the pianists makes the lassan very quick or rubato, but they don't have noticed that in the score says "andante mesto" (mesto = sad) and the bass "pesante" (heavy) maybe they play better the friska by the way.. but the maksim's version Is one of the best versions actually of that song.. maybe you must to close your eyes and listen the song, and don't look at his clothes..

[Rheostatik]

I could care less about what he looks like, it's not what concerns me. It's the playing that bothers me.

I found the entirety of his HR2 rather generic, nothing outstanding. I've heard it so many times, on CD, on TV, and in concert, his performance didn't stand out at all. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.

I just don't understand what all the hype is about. Then again, I don't normally judge a pianist based on how they play the HR2...it's an encore piece, nothing more.

[starskaiana13]

thank you, Mattyb. For introducing me to this man. He's just astounding.

[valeerioo45]

great.

[femalevampie2008]

some people are so narrow minded, great music, great talent just listen and enjoy

[kyzser]

I may like, but dont know yet

[GBG63]

HEY>>>>why r people so bothered the way maksim plays the piano...that is his STYLE and many people loved it....just mind ur own style of music...God gave him talent and everyone,its up to us how to develop and use it..Thanked God for his talent.I really appreciate the way he plays his music.thank u guys...God bless!!!!

[As14magic]

very2 genius!

[mariatheresabl]

hmmm..I like eutuve's comment! let's look on the brighter side.

Peace!

[eutuve]

maria,

thanks for your comment.

when you think of all the hard work this young artist has to do , you cannot but praise him..

no need to catalog him

or compare to anybody else, composer or player

I am sure that thousands have heard this piece for the first time thanks to the modern approach of Maksim to classic music

ciao,

eu

[shatros]

People keep criticising him for his arangements. I say so what? If he is introducing classical music to a wider audience more power to him. for the record, I was introduced to classical music by Buggs Bunny, Tom & Jerry et al. While my tastes have refined a bit since those days, I would never fault them for their liberties as I would never have known good music otherwise.

[Jasoconth]

The graves of Rachmaninoff and Paganini is not enough to cover the sound of ignorant music that Maksim plays

[Arakoth2562]

its certainly an interesting twist to this peice of music.. at first i was hesitant.. but i actually like it :) v nice espescially at 1:48 onwards i think..

[noaruto]

That's one way to inspire appreciation for your art--add drama. Heh. From a technical perspective I can't comment, but he sounds like he knows what he's doing. Though I bet he could learn a few things from Lang Lang about varying his intensity.

[ragtimejohn]

you're right, no insults needed,

Your performance was great! 8)

[4ubi]

o i think that he is real innovator of classical music - the new age of this millenium music

[anonomous999]

While you are all highlighting the negatives of his performance, this man is probably enjoying 1:Wealth 2:Fame 3:Global Travel 4:His Childhood Dream and lastly 5:Happiness for the fact he is actually a talented pianist and making classical music more ACCESSIBLE not dumbed down. Well done to him! People who say he's murdering the tradition are cranky conservatives who need to broaden their culture and step into the 21st century!!

[Truus1949]

Amen to this :-)

[quickdisco]

the dancing girls were in bad taste - they distract too much from the pianist and the music

[erken]

weee! they are. But the music is so James Bond-ish so those girls are just appropriate. :D

[princenosiatajansen]

please the the " PLEASE READ BEFORE LEAVING A COMMENT... on the side in the window...

but we can talk about this "music" in the short messages.

[naffnuff]

This guy is such an asshole!

[sodsof]

and u an idiot

[naffnuff]

I don't think considering this unbelievably poor taste makes me much of an idiot. This guy takes some of the finest pieces of art ever conceived, and turn them into something fit for the Eurovision Song Contest, just in order to appeal to Pigs with Money. That would make him a clown and a whore. Or in other words, an asshole. If you like this, you are in fact one of the pigs, so I would not go about calling people idiots if I were you.

[RnadineWolf]

ur crazy...or maybe an alien.

[eutuve]

would you just for a second consider that this " guy " opens the door to million of youngsters to classical music ?

[Machike57]

it is questionable... it's just another easy chew that does not open doors anywhere... there may be just not enough "metal" to "attract your youngsters"...

I am not saying though that this music is not enjoyable, but forget about classical

[louiseduvee]

Turn up the volume for this one. Bravo et Braviste! (And thnks, Mr. Mrvica, for rocking the boat.

[Will170392]

this is rubbish.

Maksim can be described by one word - mediocre.

Also, this breaks the golden rule that music can only be arranged twice. Its Pagg + Rach + Some stupid idiot.

WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE ORIGINAL VERSION THAT THEY HAD TO SPOIL IT LIKE THIS! There are so many students out there who can play BETTER than him

He's a greedy parasite on the public's ignorance of true classical music.

[sodsof]

נbe quiet

[Will170392]

no. i know what I'm on about.

[pamuska]

Is there a video with this Paganini theme and with Rimsky Korsakov ''bumble bee' theme.... and some other pieces. I'm tryng to find it, but no luck so far... I'd love to see it.... please...

[FiDeLo90]

hate him as person, but love as pianist

10/10 from me

[sodsof]

he is not the best but one of the best

[kkkbigk]

OMG... soo good

but were i cant get all the show on the internet!?

[dragons454]

he's soooo good! wow! i wish i could play that!

BTW why is the link NOT WORKING?! HELP!!

[michaela187]

i think hes brilliant. absolutely brilliant.

[azalie89]

kyaaaa

I love Maksim Mrvica x33333

[vancaramicky]

Excellent! to hear Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in a different way...

The beauty of music is it's interpretation.

Thank you : )

[EuphoricDan]

You don't need to be able to make weather to be able to tell when its a cold, crappy, rainy day.

This is a level 7 piece. I'm not that good yet. I'm late 5th level early 6th.

My point is though... Sergei could have thrown drums/beat in had he wanted to.

Point being - if your going to propose that Maksim Mrvika is a better composer than Rachmaninov... well lol... Not my fault ur a wanker "mate".

[EuphoricDan]

This music makes me sick. This wont help break the prejudaces against classical music it will only help to reinforce the idea that it isn't good enough on its own without "electronic drums" and...

I don't even know what to say... It makes me sick all around.

BTW hes not that good of a pianist. Any serious 3rd year piano student could play everything I've seen him play on youtube. Hes only playing SMP level 6 and 7 pieces.

[Dladjaa]

not his fault ur a wanker mate....if your so goddamn perfect post your version of the song and get the whole fucking planet aggreeing that its better..otherwise shut the fuck up and go suck some more cock

[haileyfuqua]

Rachmaninoff just rolled over in his grave. Jesus. Maybe he should talk to Charlotte Church, she's an "opera singer", you know? Damn.

[InfernalSatan]

The dancers...........I don't know what to say about them

[Denedy]

Oh wow this is a really beautiful song!

But there's one thing that just disturbs me.

The Dancers! So freaky. If I was Maksim I wouldn't be able to concentrate with those dancers. Haha

[bigbadblondebrat]

so i pretty much love this one by him...YAY!! :)

[vlaknall]

Not my favorite piece by him.

[JaniFace]

This guy's revolutionary.

[naffnuff]

In poor taste, yes.

[APS113Ram]

He's awesome.

But his slouching really annoys me.

haha he has horrible posture!!

[madlynny]

Must there be a standard posture for all pianists? I don't see a problem here.

[APS113Ram]

There's nothing really wrong with his posture, it just seems like it'd be difficult to play while he's slouching like that. I guess it's not, considering how amazing he is.

[mookielovesgod]

hmm? classical grunge?

the last 1/3 of the song is the better part

I'd start there and expand it into a better song. leave out the dancers.

[bluematrix109]

this man's creative and musical mind has no bounderies...who else would dare to perform classical music with such creatively and able to add a beat to it? how wonderful!! it brings the old to a blending of the new!! GENIOUS IDEA!!! what'll he think of next!??! i hope he does sumthing with beethoven..like his symphony no 5 or sumthin...MAN!!

[elhijo234]

the great sergei rachmaninov turning in is grave but is interesting for make money

[urssulas]

hehe :)

[volodja99]

Moreover Maksim Mrvica is great piano player indeed although he started playing at the age of 8 and lived three years in a basement due to that fact that his village was heavily bombed during croatian war for independence and thus has huge difficulties with practice.

[volodja99]

I think this is a great how to promote and popularize classical music among young people and among people how are prejudiced toward classical music.

So, I mean Sergei Rachmaninov is definetely not turning in his grave but is happy that is music catches wide range of listeners and that people still enjoy his music.

[KearneyPiano]

i would genuinly like to kill myself after hearing this uterly disasterous crock of shit! uggh im gonna throw up :O:O:O:O:O aaaaaaaaaaaaargrghhhh

[lacrymosa85]

utterly disgusting

[Deotyma7]

Very ,very good video and music -5/5

[benyatata]

Such an easy piece to ruin and you did just that. I hate you.

[allalone211]

u suck

[Darklord12356]

LOL @ the dancing girls...

[naffnuff]

They were in fact the only part I liked ;).

[xvnzcbm2]

this sounds like it should be in a James Bond movie or something--> SWEET

[skatefan9495]

The power of the music transcends whatever Maksim or anyone else tries to do with it. Love the Paganini. Love this.

[IroPat]

I'd played the Paganini- Rhaps by Rachmaninov many times (the original version). But, as we know, Rachmaninov was a revolutionary composer. I love Rachmaninov, and I think, he would like what Maksim's doin.

[naffnuff]

xD looooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­l!

[wishfulanthony]

People, this is just a revival of an original classic by Rachimanov, and it is perfectly fine to have such modifications like what Maksim did, especially to the people who have a difficult time looking for the original pieces of music such as Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini because it is such a tough search on the music stores. Maksim has actually not murdered the music of Rachimanov -- it is just an essential revival in itself that continues to grow.

[SergeiNickolai]

unfortunately, this is the most popular work performed by Rachmaninoff, or atleast one of them. People are in demand of it. There's always a place to find it. Not to mention Rachmaninoff wrote this work as a continuous movement of motific revolution. Its hard to get the big picture when he's butchering it. Not to mention, the piano is too closely miked.

[ivoseixas]

Dude,

Maksim SUCKS, he's soooo irresponsable! It's the worst thing someone could do with this master-piece...

Certainly if i was a member or have ties with Rachmaninoff's family, i would put this shit on trial!!!

[littlepianistgirl]

Okay...I LOVE the song...but those "dancing" girls have got to go!!

[fatcatrocky]

i am with you

[galz777]

i like it when it sounds really minor as to the original...i think it's modified a little too much..i don't have the feel of paganini anymore..

[tvn19]

I must say thanks to YouTube that I brought me high qualty concert without ticket price

[tenyokyle]

Paganini Caprice No. 24 isnt Good feel

[LUXO2]

Hey this is the Capricci no.24 by Paganini,great!!!!

[RobertJV24]

They shouldve left the drum out, makes it sound like cheap Hollywood music.

[bluebeardit]

I perfectly agree!

[soojinl10]

nah, it's just that you guys don't comprehend maksim's music

[RobertJV24]

Its just my view on it.

[etude12]

I comprehend it and don't like what I see! This isn't deep, its trashy!

[wishfulanthony]

Very true indeed. Maksim just wants to bring back classical music in today's modern time that many performers have tried and tried before. He is such a wonderful genius in all respects.

[fre3d0m]

though i don't normally like fusion, the 2nd half is pretty decent. Reminds of S.E.N.S's music.

[Aensgard]

Didn't like it. I thing this piece is great as it is. I didn't like the mix with rock/pop or whatever it is...

[maresto]

I love this music

[waranghira]

i really like his version

...even though its poppish compared to the original, it worrks for me.

18th (or is it 21st?) variation FTW!

[ChibiRaikou]

I prefer it when he doesn't try this whole mainstream thing :(

but it's still pretty cool.

[sagalat]

Dunno...it's like i OD'd on some really whack ice. But couldn't wake up. But, hey, whatever, brings classics to the masses...I'm all in

[odhaven]

I LOVE THIS PIECE...actually, ih can play it a little bit :)