Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner 2009 Van Cliburn Competitor performs live on TV

This young musician is competing in spite of the fact that she has no piano at home. She has a wonderful story.

Ang Li performs live on "The 10 Show"

I did not notice until the actual performance that there was a hanging damper (watch the video - and color me embarrassed). I was surprised because it was a C, a note needed in the piece she performed. When I brought it up to her, she simply said,"It happens. I worked with it."

Rich thanks so much for the post. I missed the segment when it was on TV. I'm hoping to get up for the May 2 recital.

DAMN THOSE DAMPERS!

I wonder if a professional ever had a real hung damper during a performance and got up mid performance to get the technician.

What is the etiquette in this stiff anal business when a hung damper appears in a program?

"Some think it's a player piano, no one could possibly be playing that beautifully!"

Oh dear...

Great story! Wonderful, too, to see what Cunningham Piano Co has done to help this talented artist along.

Regards,

Which Rach piece was it? The announcer just called it an etude. I don't think I've heard it before and I'd like to play it.

It's the Etude-Tableaux in G minor, Op.33, No. 7 (or 8 depending on the edition). Beautiful, isn't it?

It's gorgeous. I'm going to buy the music right now. Thank you DameMyra!

Rich -

I asked this question earlier - but I think my post got lost in cyberspace.

What was the "make" of the piano she was playing?? It certainly is a nice instrument !!

Carey

Whoops !! Rich - It appears you answered my question on another thread. THANKS !!!

There was just alot about the things that were being said that made me cringe...

A news segment celebrating someone going to the VC competition - something rarely covered on mainstream news. I think that is great. Why do you look for things to "cringe" over?

That is kind of assuming alot.. All I said was when I watched it there was a lot being said I was cringing over. Does not mean I was looking to...or wanting to.

Ok, then sorry about the snarky response. What were you cringing over?

Oh it was not really her, she is just kind of average so they were making a huge fuss over a lot of things. Her marketing people were working in overtime. The comments about one year old....Thought that was funny.. I have never ran into a one year old who could do more then hit their hand down on the piano... Does not mean much....I have seen some amazing three year olds though. Just a lot of the exageration......I am just never a fan of. There are a lot of things that surround these competitions that I just don't like.

Though on the good side does look like she has a recording contract of some sort.....So does not look like she is doing to bad for herself. Which is good.

That's interesting. I liked the music so much, I decided to give it a try. I was beginning to question my own interpretation because I really make the melody sing out. Her's seemed much flatter and I was beginning to question myself. Now I feel better!

Check out Alexander Kobrin playing it. He was the 2005 gold medal winner of the van cliburn. He opened up either the second or third round with that piece. Should still be able to stream it from the Cliburn website.

Should be able to get to it from here. http://www.cliburn.org/index.php?page=broadcasts

While I did like Ang Li's performance, Kobrin's is just extraordinary. (If you go to the Cliburn site above, this particular etude is about an hour and 40 minutes in.) Thanks for the reminder, JD, I forgot how remarkable his performance was in that competition.

It's funny, I followed it on line and I remember people talking about how aloof and almost cold Kobrin was in his playing. Wow, not when you watch this performance.

Thanks for remembering in he played it. I had forgotten. I knew it was towards the beginning of one of the rounds. I loved how his first concerto was a mozart concerto in the competition. Which was kind of a breath of fresh air for me. The Rach 2 or 3 is sometimes so overused for these competitions I tire of hearing it.

What I loved about his playing of the etude was how tender and gentle he was with it. He was not trying to use it to show off technical prowness. He let it just flow. The melody was always always clear, even during the faster section.