Sofya Gulyak Liszt Mephisto Valse

[noelsafont]

I'm sorry, but this lady can play. All these notions that other's have about her not having emotion or passion is uncalled for. It probably took her a considerable amount of time to be able to play this piece and it shows her passion and her virtuosity. I hope that my kid can one day play as good as she does. Those that dont like this really don't understand what it takes to play a piece of this magnitude.

[classicalalways]

Mostly a very gutsy performance and just like many reports of Liszt himself playing, she plays with all kinds of seemingly reckless abandon and one should not help but be dazzled. So few pianists perform with this energy or spirit. It's too bad the video is such poor resolution - but even so, this video in many ways is quite remarkable.

[666KINKY999]

SATANIC!!!!!!

[normthedoorman]

Fast and not especially clean and clear opening, but great flair. Middle section is too self-indulgent for my taste, but musical too. Obviously a big artist with some important ideas and things to say.

[hotbebimauz]

i dont like this interpretation.. this piece is so full of passion, and shes sitting there so charmless, without any passion. sorry but i dont like it

[joggbrahms]

Die schnellen Passagen seelenlos und ohne jegliche Empfindung runtergehackt. Poesie kommt nur bei den lyrischen Episoden zum Vorschein. Das ist nicht der facettenreiche Mephisto. Dies ist Allerweltsgedonner! Schwache Leistung!

[Eorzean]

I love the way she handled this piece. Even if she played it fast, the bravura being there, it still appeared lyrical and showed her wonderful interpretation! I now love the mephisto waltz because of her.

[0591fff]

What a pianist! I wish italian fans of Allevi (and worst) can see this video.

[Giords111]

@0591fff We don't just have Allevi, we have Pollini, Campanella, Roma, Pace and many others...

[PIanoReview]

Without a doubt a daring performance and very much in the spirit of Liszt. Instead of trying to turn the work into a profound and deep experience, she moves forward in ways Liszt himself was known for. It's great that this fine pianist chose to approach Mephisto without fear or ice.

[olgadmy]

Most sincere and warmest congrats to Sofya for winning the 16th Leeds International Pianoforte Competition!!!

[op83bdur]

what a monster

[Eorzean]

OMG!!! we have the same response!!!!!! she's incredible.

[WianaotBrriarNod]

I agree with everyone else who says this was a bit fast than necessary. And her body movements felt a bit stiff too.

But I still get that tingly feeling in my face whenever I here something good.

[Pischnaholic]

I love the way she just throws herself into it from the very beginning. She's obviously deeply INVOLVED with the music.

The beautiful (lyrical) parts were truly beautiful. Unfortunately, I think she overshot the mark by taking such a wicked tempo. Her facility is great, and she carries it off, but the performance would have more the emotional impact she intended, if she'd hold back the tempo 3 or 4 notches on the metronome.

The sound quality IS awful, but the playing comes through very well.

[somedudeplayingpiano]

I love the interpetation, only bad sound quality :(, I would love to hear this at a consert

[ottoeunquarto]

ma che schifo! velocissimo, picchiato, sporco, suono insulso nelle parti cantabili, senza nulla di quella fantasia esecutiva quasi improvvisativa che e' fondamentale in liszt (e dire che e' uno dei suoi pezzi piu' belli!)...e le hanno dato il 2 premio??? vabbe'....

[lisztbest]

i don't like very much the sound!a good esecution.

[kjw163]

Quite impressive, but a bit too quick of a tempo. You lose some of the value and beauty of music when it's played too fast. Argerich can be guilty of this too, at times. Her Schumann concero? Terrible.

[Polskapan]

Bravo. Very good, solid to the end...though a tad too fast at times. And yet, in spite of these beautiful efforts, Horowitz quite comfortably remains the nonpareil master of this piece.

On a separate note, her posture is reminiscent of Tim Burton's version of The Penguin played by Danny Devito in Batman Returns; she is much too tense! I believe if she were to relax and allow herself to fall into the piece, she would not play in such a bloody hurry, and thus give the piece greater pause.

[trschaefer]

Great performance!

[FDCRX]

Very good!!! ;)

[cdpiano27]

My former teacher had some of the lauretes of Busoni including Hea-Jung Cho, Katherine Chi, Min-Soo Sohn. They all told me that virtuoso playing is how to score high in this competition.

[cdpiano27]

Great!! A bit too fast and loses some musical ideas. But the Busoni Competition favors, quick virtuoso playing. So I think that you need to play it this way to win Busoni Competition.

[blym77]

heared you at the Kapell. you're phenomenal! Both I and my colleage (both are pro pianist) were swept away!

[abbjorko]

buy the cd by Andaloro.. then you say something

[Isadoralotus]

She's good but has quite an awkward position. It looks like she's all contracted

[Music2Die4]

A unique interpretation. The articulation is phenomenal for the speed. But not much there in dynamics, and seems too monotone and "nonchalant". I do think going slower might remedy this. The potential is definitely there.

[GeorgeOfZala]

Beautiful, mesmerising, playful, emotional, brilliant playing. Liszt would approve.

[op83bdur]

This is so terribly unmusical that my hair stands on end! A hammering machine

[Pirlaimbecille]

Cazzo menomale che non le hanno dato il primo! Fa lo stesso suono che fa il mio sedere!

[abbjorko]

sei un grande guarda... non so ki tu sia, ma io sono uno grosso.. ciao! ;)

[caesargeirog]

Ciao Giuseppe, sono d'accordissimo ma mi spieghi come mai costei vince ovunque???Visto che sei veramente uno grosso sarai tale anche nella tua risposta,spero...tanti auguri.....

[taintedside]

Non ovunque, a Seregno nel 2003 è arrivata terza.

Sofya è molto brava, con gli anni poi ha imparato a dosare la forza. Nel 2003 perse proprio per questo, osò suonare Chopin picchiando letteralmente il pianoforte... fu una bestemmia all'orecchio di tutti anche se l'esecuzione fu praticamente perfetta.

[egrosz]

Very Good!

[iutiubfede]

she made a wonderful execution of rachmaninoff third concerto and won the second prize (ex aequo). Nobody won the first prize this time.

[datruzepp]

ahahahaha da 2nd prize zhared wiz da DIARRHEA tiz tru

[opus10no7]

Batman Returns - the Penguin

[3NUNS]

Oh poor Master Liszt, what on earth inspired you to wite such a piece. This is beautiful writing.

[3NUNS]

Good

[iutiubfede]

tra i tag metteteci anche "bolzano"

"bolzano" has to be one of the tags

[3NUNS]

Could you please explain this to me ?

[iutiubfede]

cazzo! me lo sono perso!!

[datruzepp]

HAHAHAHAHAHAH A BIT RANDOM!!!!

but wiz wikid partz