The Better Performance
Posted: 2007-03-30 02:20am
Searching for videos of pianists performing Liszt , I came across these performances of his Norma Fantasy:
Sgouros Part 1
Sgouros Part 2
Hamelin Part 1
Hamelin Part 2
I thought it'd be fun to make a thread to critique the different performances and see which one most people here prefer. I think I prefer Sgouros' performance simply because he can handle the runs on the keyboard at a much faster tempo, creating the illusion of playing opera on a piano. Meanwhile, Hamelin's slower approach destroys the illusion.
Oddly, Hamelin plays all of the runs slower and some of the powerful themes faster, sapping any emotion from them. For instance, contrast the passage Hamelin plays at 3:08 in Part 1 with the same passage Sgouros plays at 2:40 in Part 1. To me, Sgouros' slower approach builds up a climactic orgasm of emotion while Hamelin just hurriedly goes through it, totally missing the point. The same situation arises again in Sgouros' performance at 7:27 in Part 1 and in Hamelin's performance at 7:33 in Part 1. Hamelin just speeds through it thoughtlessly. It's almost as if he speeds through the "slower, easy" passages just because he can. Just listen to the difference between Sgouros 8:44 Part 1 and Hamelin 8:30 Part 1. Sgouros is pouring agonizing emotion into his music while Hamelin just runs roughshod over the passage, completely devoid of any semblance of meaningful playing or interpretation.
Another point where Hamelin's tempo was too slow and his dynamics too soft was at 3:55 in Part 1. Sgouros' tempo and forte fortissimo (or whatever that volume is) at 4:19 in Part 1 completely blew it away, charging the passage with energy, filling my ears with grand, jovial music.
In Part 2, Hamelin redeems himself. Sgouros still blows him away since basically all of his runs are crappy, but there are many parts where the slower tempo adds a certain amount of clarity to the rolling chords that give them nice sounds. But then there are many times where he needlessly pauses, ending up as distractions, as if to make up for the speedy passages he played in Part 1. However, Sgouros plays with a ferocity I canot ignore, blasting out forte fortissimo chords with runs and those powerful melodies thrown in the mix.
As mentioned in another thread, I also like to watch Sgouros jump up in his seat, with his hair flying around and getting all excited. It's just cool to watch.
Sgouros Part 1
Sgouros Part 2
Hamelin Part 1
Hamelin Part 2
I thought it'd be fun to make a thread to critique the different performances and see which one most people here prefer. I think I prefer Sgouros' performance simply because he can handle the runs on the keyboard at a much faster tempo, creating the illusion of playing opera on a piano. Meanwhile, Hamelin's slower approach destroys the illusion.
Oddly, Hamelin plays all of the runs slower and some of the powerful themes faster, sapping any emotion from them. For instance, contrast the passage Hamelin plays at 3:08 in Part 1 with the same passage Sgouros plays at 2:40 in Part 1. To me, Sgouros' slower approach builds up a climactic orgasm of emotion while Hamelin just hurriedly goes through it, totally missing the point. The same situation arises again in Sgouros' performance at 7:27 in Part 1 and in Hamelin's performance at 7:33 in Part 1. Hamelin just speeds through it thoughtlessly. It's almost as if he speeds through the "slower, easy" passages just because he can. Just listen to the difference between Sgouros 8:44 Part 1 and Hamelin 8:30 Part 1. Sgouros is pouring agonizing emotion into his music while Hamelin just runs roughshod over the passage, completely devoid of any semblance of meaningful playing or interpretation.
Another point where Hamelin's tempo was too slow and his dynamics too soft was at 3:55 in Part 1. Sgouros' tempo and forte fortissimo (or whatever that volume is) at 4:19 in Part 1 completely blew it away, charging the passage with energy, filling my ears with grand, jovial music.
In Part 2, Hamelin redeems himself. Sgouros still blows him away since basically all of his runs are crappy, but there are many parts where the slower tempo adds a certain amount of clarity to the rolling chords that give them nice sounds. But then there are many times where he needlessly pauses, ending up as distractions, as if to make up for the speedy passages he played in Part 1. However, Sgouros plays with a ferocity I canot ignore, blasting out forte fortissimo chords with runs and those powerful melodies thrown in the mix.
As mentioned in another thread, I also like to watch Sgouros jump up in his seat, with his hair flying around and getting all excited. It's just cool to watch.
Not a single post or vote aside from mine. 