https://www.youtube.com/@tch-2023

I watched Marcel Tadokoro who I liked a lot. Makes a change - I'm usually pretty lukewarm about competition contestants. Not so keen on the other three in the 2nd round here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEgdtGNgUGQ

Good pianos, well recorded in a good acoustic.

On Monday, June 26, 2023 at 9:16:13 AM UTC-4, Andy Evans wrote:
> I watched Marcel Tadokoro who I liked a lot. Makes a change - I'm usually pretty lukewarm about competition contestants. Not so keen on the other three in the 2nd round here.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEgdtGNgUGQ
>
> Good pianos, well recorded in a good acoustic.

That hall is indeed an acoustic paradise. I hope the rumor I heard recently is not true….that there were renovations done on the hall which have diminished the luster of the acoustic to a degree. Has anyone heard about this? I was a lucky enough bastard to play (the piano) there with a couple of violinists in the 1990 Tchaikovsky competition. I can’t claim to have played the world’s great halls to compare acoustics (I wish!) but playing there was an unforgettable experience, to say the least!! Absolute perfection both as a performer on stage AND as a listener in the hall.

On Tuesday, 27 June 2023 at 04:29:59 UTC+1, vhorowitz wrote:
> That hall is indeed an acoustic paradise. I hope the rumor I heard recently is not true….that there were renovations done on the hall which have diminished the luster of the acoustic to a degree. Has anyone heard about this? I was a lucky enough bastard to play (the piano) there with a couple of violinists in the 1990 Tchaikovsky competition. I can’t claim to have played the world’s great halls to compare acoustics (I wish!) but playing there was an unforgettable experience, to say the least!! Absolute perfection both as a performer on stage AND as a listener in the hall.>.

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing. The 1990 Tchaikovsky must have been wonderful for you. I can just imagine it.

Are you following this year's Tchaikovsky? They seem to have attracted an international field. Mind, from what I know about talking to competition contestants (and a fair few of those) they'd do most things except sell their mothers to get a good place in any competition. It's one of the very few ways to get a foot on the ladder in a music career.

Op maandag 26 juni 2023 om 15:16:13 UTC+2 schreef Andy Evans:
> I watched Marcel Tadokoro who I liked a lot. Makes a change - I'm usually pretty lukewarm about competition contestants. Not so keen on the other three in the 2nd round here.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEgdtGNgUGQ
>
> Good pianos, well recorded in a good acoustic.

The competition doesn't seem to expect a great international public this year. The information is meagre and chaotic. There are one or two, both Russians, I find easy to listen to. This one, for example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP_MWZlRn3o

Great Russian talents seem to await better times. I missed them.

Henk

Round 3 piano live on YT. Tuned in now to see a bearded lumberjack look-a-like playing a pretty good Tchaikovsky Concerto. This was followed directly by the same guy playing Prokofiev #2. Hmmm.... a bit like 4 rounds of golf......
Again, he sounded fine. This was followed by Brahms 2 and Tchaik.1 by a slim Chinese pianist who I was less impressed by - not enough weight in the playing for Brahms. This was followed by a solid looking young Russian who as I write is ploughing through the Tchaik, not as well as the bearded guy.

More to come....

Op dinsdag 27 juni 2023 om 21:16:51 UTC+2 schreef Andy Evans:
> Round 3 piano live on YT. Tuned in now to see a bearded lumberjack look-a-like playing a pretty good Tchaikovsky Concerto. This was followed directly by the same guy playing Prokofiev #2. Hmmm.... a bit like 4 rounds of golf.....
> Again, he sounded fine. This was followed by Brahms 2 and Tchaik.1 by a slim Chinese pianist who I was less impressed by - not enough weight in the playing for Brahms. This was followed by a solid looking young Russian who as I write is ploughing through the Tchaik, not as well as the bearded guy.
>
> More to come....

The bearded lumberjack was one of those I liked. I don't think I like him enough to listen to his PIT #1 and Prok 2nd.

Henk

Pianists in Round 3.....
Stanislav Korchagin (Russia)
Xuanyi Mao (China)
Sergei Davydchenko (Russia)
Ilya Papoyan (Russia)
George Harliono (United Kingdom)
Angel Stanislav Wang (USA)
Suah Ye (South Korea)
Valentin Malinin (Russia)

They eliminated Marcel Tadokoro who I liked a lot. Nothing new or surprising there. He was in the semi-final of the Cliburn 2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pehjqMfUeM

Stanislav Korchagin, the lumberjack, is still there and he's a good pianist. I like Angel Wang as well, and Suah Ye. That's about it for now.

I suppose we can expect some tactical political voting.......

On Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at 4:04:15 AM UTC-7, Andy Evans wrote:
>
> They eliminated Marcel Tadokoro who I liked a lot.
> Nothing new or surprising there. He was in the semi-
> final of the Cliburn 2022

The reason is obvious. NO PERSONALITY.

Marcel Tadokoro is a very gentle, refined,
French sewing machine.

dk

On Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at 4:12:36 PM UTC-7, Dan Koren wrote:
> On Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at 4:04:15 AM UTC-7, Andy Evans wrote:
> >
> > They eliminated Marcel Tadokoro who I liked a lot.
> > Nothing new or surprising there. He was in the semi-
> > final of the Cliburn 2022
> The reason is obvious. NO PERSONALITY.
>
> Marcel Tadokoro is a very gentle,
> refined, French sewing machine.

His Brahms Paganini Variations
are completely lifeless. No bite.
Clean. Metronomic. Colorless.

Pax

On Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at 4:16:17 PM UTC-7, Dan Koren wrote:
> On Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at 4:12:36 PM UTC-7, Dan Koren wrote:
> > On Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at 4:04:15 AM UTC-7, Andy Evans wrote:
> > >
> > > They eliminated Marcel Tadokoro who I liked a lot.
> > > Nothing new or surprising there. He was in the semi-
> > > final of the Cliburn 2022
> > The reason is obvious. NO PERSONALITY.
> >
> > Marcel Tadokoro is a very gentle,
> > refined, French sewing machine.
>
> His Brahms Paganini Variations
> are completely lifeless. No bite.
> Clean. Metronomic. Colorless.

Blandissimo.

dk

Listening to Angel Wang today. Quite an interesting Tchaik #1 in the sense that there was very little grandstanding and a much more lyrical approach more in tune with his ballet music. The conductor was in tune with this and toned down the usual drama. Made a nice change. He played the Britten PC which won't get him any political favours. I'd like to see this guy in the finals with the lumberjack and Suah Ye.

On Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 4:18:19 AM UTC-7, Andy Evans wrote:
>
> Listening to Angel Wang today. Quite an interesting Tchaik #1 in
> the sense that there was very little grandstanding and a much
> more lyrical approach more in tune with his ballet music.

Too tentative and restrained. The opening was discouraging.

Sorry, no pax or regards this time.

dk

Op donderdag 29 juni 2023 om 13:18:19 UTC+2 schreef Andy Evans:
> Listening to Angel Wang today. Quite an interesting Tchaik #1 in the sense that there was very little grandstanding and a much more lyrical approach more in tune with his ballet music. The conductor was in tune with this and toned down the usual drama. Made a nice change. He played the Britten PC which won't get him any political favours. I'd like to see this guy in the finals with the lumberjack and Suah Ye.

Agreed. He's clearly no pupil of the Russian Piano School and a very sympathetic musician. Also, he had the good taste to program something not-Russian.

I expected more from Papoyan. Heard him in Brussels. In those days he still had a personality. That is all gone now. He has become one of the many. I wonder who is responsible for these turns to mediocrity.

I'll see if I can find Suah Ye somewhere.

Thanks!

Henk

On Thursday, 29 June 2023 at 12:46:03 UTC+1, Dan Koren wrote:
> On Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 4:18:19 AM UTC-7, Andy Evans wrote:
> >
> > Listening to Angel Wang today. Quite an interesting Tchaik #1 in
> > the sense that there was very little grandstanding and a much
> > more lyrical approach more in tune with his ballet music.
> Too tentative and restrained. The opening was discouraging.
> dk

Yes, tentative and restrained. That's true. Not a great performance, just a change from the grandstanding you get at competitions. Something different at least.

> I'll see if I can find Suah Ye somewhere.

> Henk

She's good. Her Schumann is crystal clear.

Henk

On Thursday, June 29, 2023 at 5:16:47 AM UTC-7, HT wrote:
> >
> > I'll see if I can find Suah Ye somewhere.
> > Henk
>
> She's good. Her Schumann is crystal clear.

"Crystal clear" is great for washing machines.

Not so good for music, especially not music
of the Romantic and post Romantic eras.

Is this what you have in mind?

https://youtu.be/VEWhIJup44Q

Quite good. I do not hear "crystal".

dk

Op vrijdag 30 juni 2023 om 03:25:09 UTC+2 schreef Dan Koren:

> > She's good. Her Schumann is crystal clear.
> "Crystal clear" is great for washing machines.

> Not so good for music, especially not music
> of the Romantic and post Romantic eras.

Suah Ye's Schumann SE are excellent. She uses 'crystal clear' as a means to shed a new light on the SE. I can understand why Andy sees her in the finals.
I'm not interested in musical styles. Performers should try to make a score come to life, not life as it was in the 19th or early 20th century.

> Is this what you have in mind?
>
> https://youtu.be/VEWhIJup44Q
>
> Quite good. I do not hear "crystal".

It is not what I had in mind, but as you say: "quite good".

There seems to be no end to the number of excellent young pianists from KCJ. Ex oriente lux, one is inclined to say.

Henk

On Friday, June 30, 2023 at 12:54:45 AM UTC-7, HT wrote:
>
> Suah Ye's Schumann SE are excellent.
> She uses 'crystal clear' as a means to
> shed a new light on the SE. I can
> understand why Andy sees her in
> the finals.

Is it this one?

https://youtu.be/dG3bpXS8Dzk

Sounds OK. And she does not
play a Steinway! Where did she
study?

dk

On Friday, June 30, 2023 at 2:01:49 AM UTC-7, Dan Koren wrote:
> On Friday, June 30, 2023 at 12:54:45 AM UTC-7, HT wrote:
> >
> > Suah Ye's Schumann SE are excellent.
> > She uses 'crystal clear' as a means to
> > shed a new light on the SE. I can
> > understand why Andy sees her in
> > the finals.
>
> Is it this one?
>
> https://youtu.be/dG3bpXS8Dzk
>
> Sounds OK. And she does not
> play a Steinway! Where did she
> study?

She appears to be Arie Vardi's
student. This explains quite a
few things.

https://queenelisabethcompetition.be/en/laureates/suah-ye/4885/

dk

On Friday, June 30, 2023 at 2:04:36 AM UTC-7, Dan Koren wrote:
> On Friday, June 30, 2023 at 2:01:49 AM UTC-7, Dan Koren wrote:
> > On Friday, June 30, 2023 at 12:54:45 AM UTC-7, HT wrote:
> > >
> > > Suah Ye's Schumann SE are excellent.
> > > She uses 'crystal clear' as a means to
> > > shed a new light on the SE. I can
> > > understand why Andy sees her in
> > > the finals.
> >
> > Is it this one?
> >
> > https://youtu.be/dG3bpXS8Dzk
> >
> > Sounds OK. And she does not
> > play a Steinway! Where did she
> > study?

I heard the whole thing. It is a clean,
textbook reading. Nothing exciting.
Nothing offensive either. I have not
listened to the other candidates,
however she does not deserve a
gold medal IMHO. I would not
be entirely surprised if she
does not make the finals.

dk

On Friday, June 30, 2023 at 2:17:12 AM UTC-7, Dan Koren wrote:
> On Friday, June 30, 2023 at 2:04:36 AM UTC-7, Dan Koren wrote:
> > On Friday, June 30, 2023 at 2:01:49 AM UTC-7, Dan Koren wrote:
> > > On Friday, June 30, 2023 at 12:54:45 AM UTC-7, HT wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Suah Ye's Schumann SE are excellent.
> > > > She uses 'crystal clear' as a means to
> > > > shed a new light on the SE. I can
> > > > understand why Andy sees her in
> > > > the finals.
> > >
> > > Is it this one?
> > >
> > > https://youtu.be/dG3bpXS8Dzk
> > >
> > > Sounds OK. And she does not
> > > play a Steinway! Where did she
> > > study?
>
> I heard the whole thing. It is a clean,
> textbook reading. Nothing exciting.
> Nothing offensive either. I have not
> listened to the other candidates,
> however she does not deserve a
> gold medal IMHO. I would not
> be entirely surprised if she
> does not make the finals.

I just checked -- she tied for a 4th
prize with Xuanyi Mao. The awards
ceremony starts in half an hour.

dk

Op vrijdag 30 juni 2023 om 11:04:36 UTC+2 schreef Dan Koren:
> On Friday, June 30, 2023 at 2:01:49 AM UTC-7, Dan Koren wrote:
> > On Friday, June 30, 2023 at 12:54:45 AM UTC-7, HT wrote:
> > >
> > > Suah Ye's Schumann SE are excellent.
> > > She uses 'crystal clear' as a means to
> > > shed a new light on the SE. I can
> > > understand why Andy sees her in
> > > the finals.
> >
> > Is it this one?
> >
> > https://youtu.be/dG3bpXS8Dzk
> >
> > Sounds OK. And she does not
> > play a Steinway! Where did she
> > study?
> She appears to be Arie Vardi's
> student. This explains quite a
> few things.
>
> https://queenelisabethcompetition.be/en/laureates/suah-ye/4885/
>
> dk

Didn't know she was a pupil of Vardi. What does being one explain?

Henk

On Friday, June 30, 2023 at 2:52:08 AM UTC-7, HT wrote:
>
> > She appears to be Arie Vardi's
> > student. This explains quite a
> > few things.
> >
> > https://queenelisabethcompetition.be/en/laureates/suah-ye/4885/
>
> Didn't know she was a pupil of Vardi.

Check the link above. She studied
with Aviram Reichert from 2014 to
2017, then with Arie Vardi. Aviram
is one of Arie's assistants. By now
she probably speak Hebrew fluently.

> What does being one explain?

Touch, style, overall approach.
Classical, traditional, polished.
Never rock the boat. "Respect"
the music and the composer.

Check YES for an example. She
is arguably Arik's best student.

dk

Just watched the piano awards. Completely uninteresting placings. Yet another boring let-down but that's what you come to expect from such competitions.