Piano master video discussion group

Stephen Hough has some really powerful hands. His arch and grasping motion are functioning very well and all his movements reflect musical gestures. I am not sure if his hands is are refined as they could be but they s...

Here is another player that I think has a really potent physical approach to the piano. His spine really seems to soar. Sometimes he flattens his arch but i dont think thats a problem for him.

Here is another great British pianist. He handles the awkward octave legato passages with real finesse. His arch is really impressive. Also he characterizes the fate motif and shapes the descent into the abyss at...

Another now forgotten great masterSamson Francois was one of my idols as a kid many thought his Chopin was unequaled.specialist in Ravel&Debussy he toured the world. They say he developped his very own technique inspire...

Continuing on great British pianists ... There aren't a whole lot of videos of him but this Schubert sonata is very informative. His hands are huge and beautifully shaped. He has a wide dynamic range and his pianissim...

In , I came across some rather interesting, albeit potentially contentious, views about Horowitz's technique. Here is what Charles Rosen said: "Horowitz's technique never had the solidity of Backhaus's, or the evenn...

I posted a video from one of his masterclasses some time back. Here are some new clips. The first clip is from a later masterclass, interspersed with interviews. What he tells the violinist about her impeccable playin...

David Fray is one of the most impressive young pianists I have heard. His physical approach to the keyboard looks much more potent and capable than that of most young pianists. The Mozart piano concerto video give...

I am curious to hear what people think of Serkin's technique. It seems to me like another very good example of skeletality. His passage work is excellent and also shows how the arm and fingers coordinate their movement...

could I have some comments on Valentina Lisitsa's technique? Take a look/listen here: For example, beginning around 6:30 and into the tremelo 6:45: It looks like she is using just about perfect alignment....

Have any of you heard of Vladimir Bakk? What do you think of him? In my modest opinion he had an incredible musicality and super-b technique Scriabin Sonata No. 9: Chopin Ballade No. 3 (just audio):...

The best Etincelles I´ve heard -- from the master of easy listening piano! What do you think?

I am curious to hear your thoughts on this pianist. In this clip from Kinderszenen I think he achieves a wonderful state of quietness. By way of comparison to older masters here is Horowitz in Vienna: And Cu...

I knew he was one of Rachmaninoff's favorite pianists but this is the first time I have checked out his work. Here is a complete video of him playing one of the most difficult transcriptions in the repertoire, the Liszt...

Here is another excellent pianist. Amazing energy and musicianship. Handel Chaccone: The left hand octaves are so majestic and vigorous. Mozart 21: Liszt 1: Any thoughts?

There are two of his Beethoven 4ths on youtube. I am posting the one with Knappertsbusch conducting. Backhaus has a wonderful, totally integrated technique. You can see how every movement is precisely coordinate...

What I'm specifically interested in with these two videos is comparing and contrasting the sitting positions of these two great pianists, Alfred Brendel and Vladimir Horowitz. Clearly, both approaches work. Are there adv...

Another phenomenal pianist. This seems to me another example of arm-weight properly understood. Annie Fischer, Rubinstein, Godowsky and Arrau would be the others that come to mind Great pianists make things look sim...

Alan helped me with the opening of Debussy's Reflets dans l'Eau. My fingers were too "set." He coached me in "mashing" the chords. It sounded contradictory to good structure, but for me the likelihood of "setting" my han...

Hey, Alan! What do you think of Natan Brand? I think his Scherzo in Bminor (Chopin) is awesome! Would you agree with me if I say that he has a very nice tone and orchestrates well? All the best!

I consider Horowitz's recording of Chopin's Scherzo #3 in c# minor to the best recording ever made of that piece. No one has the demonic intensity that Horowitz has in this piece. Surprisingly enough, I encountered...

This is how a piano should sound! In my opinion the timing and sound is absolutely fantastic and highly dramatic. And maybe even more important: it is honest! You can feel she is 'in sync' with the piano. What do...

International Elisabeth Competition in 1987: (start of the "big" cadenza) P.S.: I was present that evening, maybe that's why this footage of the concert during the finales is so special to me. I still hope...

Check out the tremolos at about 24 minutes in. I've never seen such a staggering example of simple finger movement from a well balanced arm.

A recently (June 10th of this year) posted clip of Artur Rubinstein playing Beethoven's Concerto 4. To my mind, this is how you play the piano. I surely hope this clip will stay on YouTube: Paul