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Lifts has some lovely slow moments with Liszt, but anything else seems falling apart. I thought it was overly slow, and still he bungled harmonies on several occasions. It seems that the audience was more appreciative.
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Bozhanov's Schubert Bflat was incredible!
"Beauty is unbearable, drives us to despair, offering us for a minute the glimpse of an eternity that we should like to stretch out over the whole of time."
-Albert Camus, Jim
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I think that Bozhanov, Wu, and Zhang are in definitely. For the other spots, I'm not so sure. I am unsure about Tsujii. I was moved by his Hammerklavier, but I don't know how much his blindness is coloring my reaction. Both Lifits an Lam seemed to struggle a bit more in their performances compared others. I didn't like either of Kunz semifinal rounds, I don't think he'll make it through.
Last edited by Theowne; 05/31/09 07:09 PM.
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I can't wait to hear Deljavan's Scriabin 5
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Tsujii's Hammerklavier was really good with clarity and almost note perfect or everything, but i didn't feel that moved by his playing, just not deep enough for me. don't know what jury would think about him, with 2 good semi performances. i suspect he'd be in final, but not sure.
i know many people don't care about Kunz's semi performance which certainly was not perfect, but i really like him and his style and some musical ideas, and hope i could hear him in final again.
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Such mixed reactions with Tsujii. All of the posters at the official blog were gushing over the Hammierklavier, while some other bloggers had a pretty much opposite reaction.
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does anyone else find Deljavan boring?
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My guess for the finalists: Bozhanov Tsujii Zhang Wu Son Vacatello
Private Piano Teacher MTNA/NJMTA/SJMTA
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And that has to be a difficult problem for the judges. Even the best pianists have "off" days, and Kunz seemed to have one. But, he does seem to have something interesting to say. So who do you pick? The consistent performer whose voice isn't perhaps as original or who doesn't take as many risks, or the inconsistent performer who may, or may not, bring profound revelation in the finals? i know many people don't care about Kunz's semi performance which certainly was not perfect, but i really like him and his style and some musical ideas, and hope i could hear him in final again.
"If we continually try to force a child to do what he is afraid to do, he will become more timid, and will use his brains and energy, not to explore the unknown, but to find ways to avoid the pressures we put on him." (John Holt) www.pianoped.comwww.youtube.com/user/UIPianoPed
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Tsujii's Hammerklavier was really good with clarity and almost note perfect or everything, but i didn't feel that moved by his playing, just not deep enough for me. don't know what jury would think about him, with 2 good semi performances. i suspect he'd be in final, but not sure. Personally, I loved his Beethoven and felt that he played to all of its aspects as a composition very well. The first movement had plenty of grandeur without being overplayed. I liked how he focused on the soft end of the dynamic spectrum whenever possible (second themes, etc.), and by doing so he put the majestic character of the opening material in perspective (making loud dynamics seem louder by greater contrast - a very Alicia de Larrocha thing to do). The third movement nearly had me in tears, and I was being a total geek and following along with the score. I heard Peter Serkin play this sonata live a few years ago and Tsujii's performance was equally captivating, and sometimes more so. I honestly wasn't expecting a lot in terms of depth, but he totally delivered, IMO. Sure, the fugue was occasionally messy, but in spite of some wrong notes I never got the sense that his concentration waned. i know many people don't care about Kunz's semi performance which certainly was not perfect, but i really like him and his style and some musical ideas, and hope i could hear him in final again. /agree I like his personality, and despite his inconsistencies he gets a sound out of the instrument that no one else has been able to yet. It's just too bad that he had to fake so much of the Dvorak and the Rachmaninoff. He'll likely be out. ..and as I type this, Son is boring me to tears with her incredibly thin Brahms quintet.
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Oh, I forgot to look into my Magic 8-Ball and reveal the names of the finalists:
Bozhanov Dank Son Tsujii Wu Zhang
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So ... Brendan seems to have a soft spot for boring players ... (I am all for people having soft spots!)
Last edited by newport; 05/31/09 11:28 PM.
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I guess I'll play along and make my guesses
Bozhanov Zhang Son Tsujii Wu Vacatello
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So ... Brendan seems to have a soft spot for boring players ... (I am all for people having soft spots!) They were solid, but still boring. Unfortunately, that's what wins competitions. Zhang was painfully redundant, but he didn't miss anything. Terrible!
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So ... Brendan seems to have a soft spot for boring players ... (I am all for people having soft spots!) They were solid, but still boring. Unfortunately, that's what wins competitions. Zhang was painfully redundant, but he didn't miss anything. Terrible! Would it be a dis-service if you convince people what they like wasn't worth liking? (Like if you convince people virgin-birth wasn't worth believing?)
Last edited by newport; 05/31/09 11:40 PM.
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I'll take a guess. Kunz Tsujii Zhang Son Dank and Lang L... oops, I mean Bozhanv.
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Would it be a dis-service if you convince people what they like wasn't worth liking?
(Like if you convince people virgin-birth wasn't worth believing?)
What's your problem? For my tastes, they're boring players. Sadly, they'll probably advance since they were more consistent than some others.
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Would it be a dis-service if you convince people what they like wasn't worth liking?
(Like if you convince people virgin-birth wasn't worth believing?)
What's your problem? That was just joking ... I respect your expert opinion.
Last edited by newport; 05/31/09 11:52 PM.
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I think Tsujii's Beethoven was great.
I'm surprised no one has said anything about Dank's semi-final performance. That was some fantastic Bach in my opinion. The Prokofiev was great as well.
I'm hoping Dank, Son, and Lam make it to the finals. I think Bozhanov has secured his spot.
Daniel
Currently working on: -Poulenc Trois pièces -Liszt Harmonies du Soir -Bach/Brahms Chaconne for Left Hand
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i would pick Kunz over Zhang any day. the difference between the 2 are: one is an artist and the other is still a student (though a prodigy perhaps).
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Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:34 PM
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Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:23 PM
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