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Hi! I don´t know it there has been any similar topic before, but I would like to know, what do you think about it? Do you think nice, pretty girl with worse piano skills will have more succes than ,ugly,? My friend who studies piano at university told me, that one of her teachers prefers prettier girls! (And he is one of the most accomplished pianist in our country!) She is really pretty and all her classmates I know are too! There isn´t any fat pianist on whole school, she told me it, because she suffers from anorexia... I know the audience doesn´t matter how pianist looks, but I wanted to study piano at university and now I have to think if I am pretty and thin enough :-(
Frozenicicles
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In the ideal world, it would not matter what the pianist looked like. But piano performance is a visual art as well as an aural one, and I've seen enough remarks even on this forum about the appearance of female pianists to know that it does matter. Society is also still more tolerant of ugly but talented men than women, I'm sorry to say.
That said, in no way make it a limiting factor to your decision to continue piano. I don't believe that you have to be ravishing and stick thin to have a successful performance career. It's not like the acting/modeling world (and hopefully won't progress towards that direction). And hey, look at Susan Boyle!
Apple: I think my friend is diseased, but it´s not just her opinion and I think they´re right, unfortunately :-( Frozenicicles: I share your opinions about men and female appearance... and thanks for kind words Sometimes I doubt if it´s worth to practise hard, when I don´t look like a model :-/
Studio Joe
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Veronika, Some of the most talented female artists I have heard do not look like models or Miss America contestants, but I have been thrilled by their talent.
All I can say is "break a leg". Or in other words give it your all and don't worry about appearance.
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stores
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Is there no other teacher in your country worth studying with? Unfortunately, for as ridiculous a topic as this seems to be there IS something to it. Grimaud, looks good sure, but I can't for the life of me figure out any other attraction to her, because it's certainly not her playing. Lisitsa, looks good (I suppose), but I don't hear much from her that goes beyond technique. There's a few others I could name, but I'm sure I'll have already touched a nerve a two with those names already.
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veronika: You're from Czech Republic right? Last time I checked, 99.9% of Czech girls are very beautiful. (hehe hope my gf doesn't catch me saying this)
apple*
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think of Martha Argerich. .. attractive, but no beauty queen (please don't throw any tomatoes). i think the beauty of a person can shine in their music.. not so much in their features, which sag anyway as they age.
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RonaldSteinway
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Originally Posted By: apple*
think of Martha Argerich. .. attractive, but no beauty queen (please don't throw any tomatoes). i think the beauty of a person can shine in their music.. not so much in their features, which sag anyway as they age.
Martha used to be beautiful!!! She is just old now....when she was young, she was beautiful and pleasant to look...
stores
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Originally Posted By: apple*
think of Martha Argerich. .. attractive, but no beauty queen
Are you serious? She was smokin' in her heyday! (sometimes literally haha)
Edited by stores (10/01/1005:46 PM)
_________________________
"And if we look at the works of J.S. Bach — a benevolent god to which all musicians should offer a prayer to defend themselves against mediocrity... -Debussy
"It's ok if you disagree with me. I can't force you to be right."
Frozenicicles
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Originally Posted By: RonaldSteinway
Originally Posted By: Frozenicicles
performance career. It's not like the acting/modeling world (and hopefully won't progress towards that direction). And hey, look at Susan Boyle!
If you had a choice, do you want to look like Susan Boyle with beautiful voice, or like Heidi Klump (not sure with the spelling) but cannot sing...
Why am I being singled out? If I had a choice, honestly I would want to be very attractive. But then again, I am a 20 something year old so you'll want to view my choice with a grain of salt.
In any profession, it helps to be good-looking. The public thinks that good-looking people are smarter and better at their job. But thin? Not the same thing. Very thin women make me feel sick. So do extremely extremely fat women who are more than a hundred pounds overweight. I don't know any men thin enough to make me sick, but lots of men are fat enough to do so.
Sadly, society is not exactly the same for men and for women. Very fat men are more easily accepted than are very fat women.
Anyone who is extremely thin or extremely fat should change their habits and try to improve their health.
Anyway, the real point is, whether you are in music, or law, or plumbing, or digging ditches, people will think you are better and smarter if you are good-looking. This is no reason to change your mind about music, because everywhere else is the same thing too.
Pogorelich.
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Well, unfortunately there is some truth to it.. I can think of one (very well known) pianist in particular who likes small Asian girls, and guess what most of his studio is composed of?
But then again, just because someone looks okay or good doesn't mean they are automatically crappy musicians..
_________________________ 'I want to invest my emotions only in music; it will never disappoint me or hurt me - it is a safe place to be.'
argerichfan
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Originally Posted By: Little_Blue_Engine
If we had to depend on just the "beautiful people" to entertain us I for one would be dying of boredom!!!
Dunno. In pop music all bets are off. One of the most electrifying jazz concerts I ever saw was Flora Purim... she was outstanding. Alas, not terribly 'eye candy' territory. Google if you wish.
OTH, I've seen this one in concert a few times and was not remotely disappointed: And I WISH I could have seen this powerhouse in concert. Long before I was born, but her singing must have been a force to reckon with. My mother introduced me to her albums:
argerichfan
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Originally Posted By: Pogorelich.
But then again, just because someone looks okay or good doesn't mean they are automatically crappy musicians..
I'm thinking of Richard Goode. Nothing fabulous to look at, but what a musician! His Bach, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms... need I say more?
Andras Schiff never matched Zac Efron in his prime, but he certainly has his admirers, and many on this board gain much that is positive from his videos. His snobbish attitude about Liszt and Rachmaninov is a total turnoff to me, and sour memories of a concert where he played the Brahms D minor still haunt me. I never saw a pianist walk on stage with such a condescending look on his face, nose in the air. It was awful. I suppose he played well, but I don't remember.
argerichfan
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Originally Posted By: eweiss
Ah ... Grace Slick. A beautiful girl with a powerhouse of a voice. Surrealistic Pillow actually wore down on my turntable.
Pillow was a great album -folkish-pop-psychedelic- but IMO Jefferson Airplane's greatest album was After Bathing at Baxters. Grace was at the height of her powers, but alas, the music making was just too sophisticated (it was called 'atonal pop'), and they left many of their listeners completely baffled. The subsequent album to that, Crown of Creation was a concession.
But of course I wasn't there at the time, though I've studied these albums, and when I look at a lot of pop music today, do people realize what was going back then?
Pogorelich.
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Originally Posted By: argerichfan
Originally Posted By: Pogorelich.
But then again, just because someone looks okay or good doesn't mean they are automatically crappy musicians..
I'm thinking of Richard Goode. Nothing fabulous to look at, but what a musician! His Bach, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms... need I say more?
Andras Schiff never matched Zac Efron in his prime, but he certainly has his admirers, and many on this board gain much that is positive from his videos. His snobbish attitude about Liszt and Rachmaninov is a total turnoff to me, and sour memories of a concert where he played the Brahms D minor still haunt me. I never saw a pianist walk on stage with such a condescending look on his face, nose in the air. It was awful. I suppose he played well, but I don't remember.
Hmm, I don't know who that is. Should I bother checking him out?
I remember I was really enchanted by Ivo when I first discovered him. I guess looks don't play SUCH a bad part.. =)
_________________________ 'I want to invest my emotions only in music; it will never disappoint me or hurt me - it is a safe place to be.'
Richard Goode, while nothing fabulous to look at, is not ugly either, just average looking I guess; and a genuinely nice man. I would love to meet him.
Courtney Love is (to me) positively ugly, and I wouldn't jump at the chance to meet her, but she makes big bucks as an entertainer.
I'm not sure what Jane Eaglen looks like; the camera seems to have a tough time getting close enough to get her face in focus. But sometimes she sounds like the most beautiful woman in the world.
argerichfan
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Originally Posted By: david_a
I'm not sure what Jane Eaglen looks like; the camera seems to have a tough time getting close enough to get her face in focus. But sometimes she sounds like the most beautiful woman in the world.
Jane is enormous... I have heard her live at Covent Garden... glorious singing, but we got that from Jessye Norman and Rita Hunter too, LARGE women! Birgit Nilsson proved that one didn't need to be built like Israel Kamakawiwoʻole to sing the great dramatic soprano roles.
I would love to meet Richard Goode. For some annoying reason I have yet to hear him live in concert. But I will be back stage when that happens...
Dara
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Originally Posted By: argerichfan
Originally Posted By: Pogorelich.
I remember I was really enchanted by Ivo when I first discovered him. I guess looks don't play SUCH a bad part.. =)
Ivo's picture on his recording of the Tchaikovsky concerto was... well a knock out.
Not to bad looking on this album either! I bought this record the year it came out -1982, when I first heard about Ivo. I was so sad a few months later , when the record warped, no longer playable, when I left it sitting on a sunny spot in my place. I saved the record cover , just the same.
WinsomeAllegretto
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One time I was at a competition. When I read my comment sheet, after some helpful comments, the judge had written "And you look good too." But I didn't win. So apparently looks isn't everything, lol.
Palindrome
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It's a factor. Work with it. Dress well but not so well that your clothes are a distraction. Keep your hair under control (Argerich, in her present state serves as an example of what not to do), but again, not distracting - that is have your hair done so that it looks as if little or nothing was done to it. Perhaps a minimal amount of subtle makeup. AFTER THAT, PUT YOUR APPEARANCE OUT OF YOUR MIND, KNOWING YOU'VE DONE THE BEST YOU CAN WITH IT, AND PLAY WELL.
I don't think I've ever given any advice like this before. A good thing, too.
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apple*
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i remember wearing a red sweater for a Christmas performance. The quartet was surprised and 'nicely' said something to the effect of 'what an interesting idea.. to wear red'.
ha ha.
i actually got some positive comments afterwards 'I am so tired of pianists who wear black'. I never wore red again tho.
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Pogorelich.
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Originally Posted By: Palindrome
It's a factor. Work with it. Dress well but not so well that your clothes are a distraction. Keep your hair under control (Argerich, in her present state serves as an example of what not to do), but again, not distracting - that is have your hair done so that it looks as if little or nothing was done to it. Perhaps a minimal amount of subtle makeup. AFTER THAT, PUT YOUR APPEARANCE OUT OF YOUR MIND, KNOWING YOU'VE DONE THE BEST YOU CAN WITH IT, AND PLAY WELL.
I don't think I've ever given any advice like this before. A good thing, too.
Subtle make up? Why? What if we like make up? =)
Haha this reminds me of the time when I played in a gala concert/competition, and was later told that at the angle the jury was sitting, they could see straight up my skirt.. I think I almost died of mortification!!! Well, good day to wear underwear I guess.. Bad day to wear a short dress when the stage is above the audience seats..
Also, if you look good you'll feel good. It's one of the most basic appearance laws =P
_________________________ 'I want to invest my emotions only in music; it will never disappoint me or hurt me - it is a safe place to be.'
It's a factor. Work with it. Dress well but not so well that your clothes are a distraction. Keep your hair under control (Argerich, in her present state serves as an example of what not to do), but again, not distracting - that is have your hair done so that it looks as if little or nothing was done to it. Perhaps a minimal amount of subtle makeup. AFTER THAT, PUT YOUR APPEARANCE OUT OF YOUR MIND, KNOWING YOU'VE DONE THE BEST YOU CAN WITH IT, AND PLAY WELL.
I don't think I've ever given any advice like this before. A good thing, too.
Subtle make up? Why? What if we like make up? =)
Haha this reminds me of the time when I played in a gala concert/competition, and was later told that at the angle the jury was sitting, they could see straight up my skirt.. I think I almost died of mortification!!! Well, good day to wear underwear I guess.. Bad day to wear a short dress when the stage is above the audience seats..
Also, if you look good you'll feel good. It's one of the most basic appearance laws =P
haha, nice to know that underwear is optional.
Edit: Appearance is a bonus, just the way life is...
Damon
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Originally Posted By: Palindrome
It's a factor. Work with it. Dress well but not so well that your clothes are a distraction. Keep your hair under control (Argerich, in her present state serves as an example of what not to do)
LOL, she looks like she should be pushing a shopping cart around town, far from a grocery store.
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argerichfan
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Originally Posted By: MikeN
I imagine after three husbands and a big career it's hard to care about looks.
How many wives has Dutoit had?
Let's no go there, okay? As Andromaque posted several months ago, women of high accomplishment are always suspect, because... well it doesn't set well in a man's world.
But in the 'pop' world it's so much easier. Therefore we get the questionable talent of Britney, Mariah, Madonna, etc... but they have more money than I do. Hmmm... nice.
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Appearance is always extremely important in the performance arts! Remember: classical music is just another branch of show business as far as the general public is concerned. Good looks will always work tremendously in favor of the performer.
The two most successful concert pianists in history were Franz Liszt, and Igance Jan Paderewski. You cannot find too more extravagantly handsome and exotic looking men among all the great pianists. This is no coincidence.
I am certain that with his stupendous pianistic gifts, Liszt would have been famous no matter what he looked like, but he would not have been a matinee idol had he looked hum-drum. And with all due respect to Paderewski, I do not think he would ever have become famous had he not looked as gorgeous as he did in his youth.
There is no shortage of amazing pianists today, but if you look at the CD covers of relatively successful young pianists and violinists, few of them are homely. We live in a lookist era, and managers, concert hall promoters, and publicists, most of whom might as well be deaf, respond to the visual attractiveness of performers as their first tool of promotion.
maybe to you, or some retarded specimens in the aidience it would mean a great deal, looks/hairdo/grimasses/histrionics/sexual charisma, but there are others, me included, who don't give a defecation about how a certain musician looks, as long as s-he is a master of the instrument and of the music involved and knows to transport the audience to, well, heaven/nirwana/outerspace/olympus, what-have-you only by playing, not by being a dish...
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Dolce,
The "general content" varies.
It is a tiresome fact that too many people in all walks of life, and every imaginable circumstance, are quite shallow with regard to physical appearances. People are attracted to those possessed of classically symmetrical features, strong and graceful figures, smooth skin, lustrous hair, and so forth. For a bikini contest these may be necessary attributes, but for a musical artist they should be irrelevant.
But musical artists are often romantic surrogates (again, I refer to Liszt and Paderewski to name but two). Audience members may fantasize a performer as an imaginary lover, or idealize the artist as someone they would want themselves to be.
You and I may not feel that way, but countless other do, and they buy tickets, and managers take note. It would be an exercise in denial to pretend that the music industry is not overwhelmingly preoccupied with promoting the more sexy looking pianists, violinists, singers, and conductors. Just take a look through the CD covers and arrive at your own conclusions about this.
This is on my mind lately, because a young pianist I know and very greatly admire as an artist is not likely to have the career I believe he is worthy of. He is very short and without distinction in outward appearance and not handsome in the least by conventional standards. He is getting no attention regardless of the astonishing beauty revealed through his hands. It really does make me angry, but there is little I can do to turn around the surface values of an entire society.
#1527597 - 10/03/1006:47 PMRe: Pianists appearance?
[Re: Jonathan Baker]
stores
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Originally Posted By: Jonathan Baker
Dolce,
The "general content" varies.
It is a tiresome fact that too many people in all walks of life, and every imaginable circumstance, are quite shallow with regard to physical appearances. People are attracted to those possessed of classically symmetrical features, strong and graceful figures, smooth skin, lustrous hair, and so forth. For a bikini contest these may be necessary attributes, but for a musical artist they should be irrelevant.
But musical artists are often romantic surrogates (again, I refer to Liszt and Paderewski to name but two). Audience members may fantasize a performer as an imaginary lover, or idealize the artist as someone they would want themselves to be.
You and I may not feel that way, but countless other do, and they buy tickets, and managers take note. It would be an exercise in denial to pretend that the music industry is not overwhelmingly preoccupied with promoting the more sexy looking pianists, violinists, singers, and conductors. Just take a look through the CD covers and arrive at your own conclusions about this.
This is on my mind lately, because a young pianist I know and very greatly admire as an artist is not likely to have the career I believe he is worthy of. He is very short and without distinction in outward appearance and not handsome in the least by conventional standards. He is getting no attention regardless of the astonishing beauty revealed through his hands. It really does make me angry, but there is little I can do to turn around the surface values of an entire society.
I wouldn't base your friends lack of success on physical appearances alone. Happens all the time everywhere. Many of the most famous pianists working today have waited a LONG time to get noticed. The key is to keep working and working and working and working...ALWAYS striving for perfection and giving the absolute best of yourself with each and every performance (even if 3 make up your audience)... choosing your words carefully (because you never know just who you may be talking to)...NEVER turning down a gig (no matter how crappy the circumstances)...relentlessly chasing after your goal in every way, shape and form and devouring any/everything that you feel might help you understand music better. It's HARD work! No one is going to hand it to you whether your face is worthy of a magazine cover or not (before anyone says anything there ARE exceptions to this last depending on who you know and how well you fare with extra-curricular activities...some in the industry are living proof).
You're right, however, that looks DO have an impact on what people listen to (many of our own members have shown proof of that), but I agree with dolce. Looks don't matter to me...in fact I could care less. The ONLY thing that DOES matter is what comes out of the piano...is it good or not? I realise that's just one opinion and what SHOULD be isn't always the case.
_________________________
"And if we look at the works of J.S. Bach — a benevolent god to which all musicians should offer a prayer to defend themselves against mediocrity... -Debussy
"It's ok if you disagree with me. I can't force you to be right."
Victor25
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Well, in the extremes I will be happy with either. Andras Schiff can play some Beethoven sonata's for me anytime, and as a straight guy, I really don't care for his looks haha, on the other hand, Jessica Alba can bang the keys on my piano whenever she feels like it.
@Argerichfan as a fan of Andras Schiff, I am very curious what he has said about Rachmaninov and Liszt that tickt you off.
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Currently working on: Perfecting the Op 2/1, studying the 27/2 last movement. Chopin Nocturne 32/2 and Posth. C#m, 'Raindrop' prelude and Etude 10/9 Repetoire: Beethoven op 2/1, 10/1(1st, 2nd), 13, 14/1, 27/1(1st, 2nd), 27/2, 28(1st, 2nd), 31/2(1st, 3rd), 49/1, 49/2, 78(1st), 79, 90, 101(1st)
argerichfan
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Originally Posted By: Victor25
@Argerichfan as a fan of Andras Schiff, I am very curious what he has said about Rachmaninov and Liszt that ticked you off.
Gladly. Some years ago, Schiff made an asinine comment in an interview (I paraphrase what I read): 'One could leave out most of the notes in Liszt and Rachmaninov without it making much difference'.
Well okay, Andras, if you feel that way, fair enough. But don't make an arse of yourself in public with such a monumentally silly statement. Axes to grind, indeed.
And after the rotten experience of seeing Schiff play the Brahms D minor in concert -he was holier than thou- well I look elsewhere. King Andras may fancy his 'Divine Right' but he is no greater than Charles 1. Over and out, thank-you.
stores
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Originally Posted By: argerichfan
Originally Posted By: Victor25
@Argerichfan as a fan of Andras Schiff, I am very curious what he has said about Rachmaninov and Liszt that ticked you off.
Gladly. Some years ago, Schiff made an asinine comment in an interview (I paraphrase what I read): 'One could leave out most of the notes in Liszt and Rachmaninov without it making much difference'.
Well okay, Andras, if you feel that way, fair enough. But don't make an arse of yourself in public with such a monumentally silly statement. Axes to grind, indeed.
And after the rotten experience of seeing Schiff play the Brahms D minor in concert -he was holier than thou- well I look elsewhere. King Andras may fancy his 'Divine Right' but he is no greater than Charles 1. Over and out, thank-you.
To be honest, I have to agree with him. There ARE far too many notes in Liszt and Rach!
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"And if we look at the works of J.S. Bach — a benevolent god to which all musicians should offer a prayer to defend themselves against mediocrity... -Debussy
"It's ok if you disagree with me. I can't force you to be right."
Pogorelich.
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Originally Posted By: stores
Originally Posted By: argerichfan
Originally Posted By: Victor25
@Argerichfan as a fan of Andras Schiff, I am very curious what he has said about Rachmaninov and Liszt that ticked you off.
Gladly. Some years ago, Schiff made an asinine comment in an interview (I paraphrase what I read): 'One could leave out most of the notes in Liszt and Rachmaninov without it making much difference'.
Well okay, Andras, if you feel that way, fair enough. But don't make an arse of yourself in public with such a monumentally silly statement. Axes to grind, indeed.
And after the rotten experience of seeing Schiff play the Brahms D minor in concert -he was holier than thou- well I look elsewhere. King Andras may fancy his 'Divine Right' but he is no greater than Charles 1. Over and out, thank-you.
To be honest, I have to agree with him. There ARE far too many notes in Liszt and Rach!
What??? No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
_________________________ 'I want to invest my emotions only in music; it will never disappoint me or hurt me - it is a safe place to be.'
Pogorelich.
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P.S. Are we going to settle the whole looks/career thing? Because if looks really matter that much I should book an appointment to, you know, fix my face a little bit haha. Or other parts. Maybe I'd get a contract then?
_________________________ 'I want to invest my emotions only in music; it will never disappoint me or hurt me - it is a safe place to be.'
BruceD
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Originally Posted By: Pogorelich.
P.S. Are we going to settle the whole looks/career thing? Because if looks really matter that much I should book an appointment to, you know, fix my face a little bit haha. Or other parts. Maybe I'd get a contract then?
I say : Work with what you've got. Uchida seems to be doing all right.
Regards,
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stores
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Originally Posted By: Pogorelich.
P.S. Are we going to settle the whole looks/career thing? Because if looks really matter that much I should book an appointment to, you know, fix my face a little bit haha. Or other parts. Maybe I'd get a contract then?
Oh please!!! If contracts were awarded on looks alone then you will have NO problem!!!
_________________________
"And if we look at the works of J.S. Bach — a benevolent god to which all musicians should offer a prayer to defend themselves against mediocrity... -Debussy
"It's ok if you disagree with me. I can't force you to be right."
Victor25
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Originally Posted By: stores
Originally Posted By: argerichfan
Originally Posted By: Victor25
@Argerichfan as a fan of Andras Schiff, I am very curious what he has said about Rachmaninov and Liszt that ticked you off.
Gladly. Some years ago, Schiff made an asinine comment in an interview (I paraphrase what I read): 'One could leave out most of the notes in Liszt and Rachmaninov without it making much difference'.
Well okay, Andras, if you feel that way, fair enough. But don't make an arse of yourself in public with such a monumentally silly statement. Axes to grind, indeed.
And after the rotten experience of seeing Schiff play the Brahms D minor in concert -he was holier than thou- well I look elsewhere. King Andras may fancy his 'Divine Right' but he is no greater than Charles 1. Over and out, thank-you.
To be honest, I have to agree with him. There ARE far too many notes in Liszt and Rach!
Hmmm, well just to be safe I will put up at front that I am a fan of Rachmaninov, and love listening to his Piano Concerto's (his Symphonies will probably require more time from me to really like).
However, I do know a little what he was saying. But it has more to do with the Classical -> Romanticism era in general. If we take a Beethoven Sonata for instance (especially the earlier one's), or a Mozart Sonata (even a better example!), almost every note has a very clear purpose, and will be missed if left out. In the more romantic music a la Rachmaninov, there are so many note's (big chords), that except for a few people, you'r brain will have a hard time distinguishing them all. I have hear people with smaller hands play Rachmaninov prelude's, and I barely missed a thing. I'm not saying there are too many note's, or that it wasn't his intent or anything, don't get me wrong. It is however true, that if you were to take 4 note's from a Mozart Sonata mvt., it would be ruined. There are Rachmaninov pieces where if you would take 4 note's (which also happens in performance's, as people are not perfect), it still stands about as well as with them.
I guess thats what he was saying, ofcourse I'm not sure!
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Currently working on: Perfecting the Op 2/1, studying the 27/2 last movement. Chopin Nocturne 32/2 and Posth. C#m, 'Raindrop' prelude and Etude 10/9 Repetoire: Beethoven op 2/1, 10/1(1st, 2nd), 13, 14/1, 27/1(1st, 2nd), 27/2, 28(1st, 2nd), 31/2(1st, 3rd), 49/1, 49/2, 78(1st), 79, 90, 101(1st)
Yet AV got the first prize and Mangova came second. I wonder what the outcome would have benn had Plamena looked like Grimaud or Vinnitskaya herself.
As far as I'm concerned - they're BOTH beautiful - and its difficult to tell whether one is really better than the other simply by a watching a couple of excerpts from the competition.
Victor25
1000 Post Club Member
Registered: 05/30/09
Posts: 1676
Loc: The Netherlands
In that case you can have Plamena, then I'l go for Anna :P
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Currently working on: Perfecting the Op 2/1, studying the 27/2 last movement. Chopin Nocturne 32/2 and Posth. C#m, 'Raindrop' prelude and Etude 10/9 Repetoire: Beethoven op 2/1, 10/1(1st, 2nd), 13, 14/1, 27/1(1st, 2nd), 27/2, 28(1st, 2nd), 31/2(1st, 3rd), 49/1, 49/2, 78(1st), 79, 90, 101(1st)
Victor25
1000 Post Club Member
Registered: 05/30/09
Posts: 1676
Loc: The Netherlands
Ow wow I didn't see it, let me get back to you on that!
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Currently working on: Perfecting the Op 2/1, studying the 27/2 last movement. Chopin Nocturne 32/2 and Posth. C#m, 'Raindrop' prelude and Etude 10/9 Repetoire: Beethoven op 2/1, 10/1(1st, 2nd), 13, 14/1, 27/1(1st, 2nd), 27/2, 28(1st, 2nd), 31/2(1st, 3rd), 49/1, 49/2, 78(1st), 79, 90, 101(1st)
carey
4000 Post Club Member
Registered: 05/13/05
Posts: 4881
Loc: Phoenix, Arizona
Originally Posted By: Andromaque
Hey guys, I think of you as a classy bunch. This is starting to get a bit.. disrespectful?
Whoops - Sorry !! No disrespect was intended. Guess we were getting a bit out in right field.
Nevertheless - I find it unfortunate that some folks can't resist the temptation to speculate that the final ranking of the two women in the competition was related to anything other than the way they played. The reality is that both Plamena and Anna are AMAZINGLY gifted and talented human beings - and I hope they have long and successful careers.
Victor25
1000 Post Club Member
Registered: 05/30/09
Posts: 1676
Loc: The Netherlands
X2 to that entire post
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Currently working on: Perfecting the Op 2/1, studying the 27/2 last movement. Chopin Nocturne 32/2 and Posth. C#m, 'Raindrop' prelude and Etude 10/9 Repetoire: Beethoven op 2/1, 10/1(1st, 2nd), 13, 14/1, 27/1(1st, 2nd), 27/2, 28(1st, 2nd), 31/2(1st, 3rd), 49/1, 49/2, 78(1st), 79, 90, 101(1st)
MaryBee
1000 Post Club Member
Registered: 08/21/09
Posts: 1015
Loc: Cleveland, OH
Originally Posted By: eweiss
Originally Posted By: RonaldSteinway
If you had a choice, do you want to look like Susan Boyle with beautiful voice, or like Heidi Klump (not sure with the spelling) but cannot sing...
Hmmm. Look like Heidi Klum without a good singing voice...
or like Susan Boyle - who can sing well...
I'm thinking Heidi Klum. Hey ... you can always get a vocal coach.
And if you were Susan, you could always get 1) a personal trainer 2) a dietitian and personal chef 3) a good hair (and eyebrow) stylist 4) a make-up artist 5) a clothing consultant 6) a Photoshop expert
All it takes is $$$, and we could all look beautiful (or at least presentable)!
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Mary Bee Current mantra: Play outside the box. XVI-XXX
al-mahed
500 Post Club Member
Registered: 12/09/09
Posts: 769
Loc: Rio de Janeiro
Originally Posted By: apple*
think of Martha Argerich. .. attractive, but no beauty queen (please don't throw any tomatoes). i think the beauty of a person can shine in their music.. not so much in their features, which sag anyway as they age.
Argerich in her youth was gorgeous, beauty queen, yes!
Please don't throw any apples on my face...
_________________________ Yamaha P155 Digital Piano Learning since ~ JUN/JUL-2009
eweiss
2000 Post Club Member
Registered: 02/28/09
Posts: 2393
Loc: Beautiful San Diego, CA
Originally Posted By: MaryBee
Originally Posted By: eweiss
Originally Posted By: RonaldSteinway
If you had a choice, do you want to look like Susan Boyle with beautiful voice, or like Heidi Klump (not sure with the spelling) but cannot sing...
Hmmm. Look like Heidi Klum without a good singing voice...
or like Susan Boyle - who can sing well...
I'm thinking Heidi Klum. Hey ... you can always get a vocal coach.
And if you were Susan, you could always get 1) a personal trainer 2) a dietitian and personal chef 3) a good hair (and eyebrow) stylist 4) a make-up artist 5) a clothing consultant 6) a Photoshop expert
All it takes is $$$, and we could all look beautiful (or at least presentable)!
Andromaque
3000 Post Club Member
Registered: 08/29/08
Posts: 3836
Loc: New York
Apple I never tire of watching her play K141..Isn't she grand? She might as well be playing this on the guitar.. She seems to bypass the percussive component of the piano.
signa
8000 Post Club Member
Registered: 06/06/04
Posts: 8474
Loc: Ohio, USA
of course, maybe everyone likes the pianist on the stage either good looking/pretty or really fit or in good shape. fat pianists would make my mind wandering a little from the music they play, because i would be thinking how to get him/her in shape, talking about distraction! but if the pianist plays badly, then nothing matters, not even the look.
"And if we look at the works of J.S. Bach — a benevolent god to which all musicians should offer a prayer to defend themselves against mediocrity... -Debussy
"It's ok if you disagree with me. I can't force you to be right."
Yes, that is better. It used to be in my 'favourites', but somehow it has gone missing. A quick -and admittedly casual search didn't find it- but glad you did, and I have re-added it.
apple*
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Registered: 01/01/03
Posts: 19862
Loc: Kansas
i don't think so.. it's certainly easy to 'read'.
i suppose coordinating the pedal at high speeds may pose some difficulty but compared to Prokofief or Rach, ... well, it's my type of piece.
it's interesting to me to play Scarlatti... aside from Bach, if any one composer represents his place in time and history through his music, it's Scarlatti ( not well said, it's early).
one can hear the SPanish and Meditteranean influences of centuries past, feel whirling dancers, wonder about the action of the instrument that Scarlatti performed upon.. have the opportunity to play and interpret it on a modern piano.
his fingering is unusual but apparently Martha has no problem. I have always liked to cross my hands.. ever since i was a kid.
It is at times like these when I miss my piano teacher.
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accompanist/organist.. a non-MTNA teacher to a few
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Sometimes I doubt if it´s worth to practise hard, when I don´t look like a model :-/
If I had a choice, honestly I would want to be very attractive. But then again, I am a 20 something year old so you'll want to view my choice with a grain of salt.
XVI-XXX
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