Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Lola Astanova

Thats a good point stores. Why would anyone be jealous of someone they believe to suck? Doesn't really make sense.

Pogorelich, by the tone of your comments I presume you are a woman? Well, your reaction is very clear to me and I am not going to aggravate you any further. Allow me to say, however, that in my view Gergiev is the most self-centered, egotistical human being to ever live, who makes vanity itself look humble. I have friends who played in his orchestra and trust me, you don't want to know what they think of him. One look is enough to see it, but I wouldn't expect you to decipher it because as it is (correctly) pointed out in your profile, you are after all, in the state of denial. The good news for you is you are not alone. Ironically, your idol Gergiev clearly thought quite highly of Lola's playing. Guess he needs a new set of ears as well.

I cannot believe all the criticism I read here.

BELIEVE IT.

It is very judgmental to downplay her tremendous abilities and talent because of her physical beauty.....

I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS DOING THAT HERE.

But lets face it there hasn't ever been a female performer who was so unapologetically striking, whose look was so uncomfortably sexy that it was hard to concentrate on the music.

OR WHO DISPLAYS SO MUCH OF HER ANATOMY IN HER VIDEOS - THUS MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR SOME FOLKS TO TAKE HER SERIOUSLY.

Her playing is intellectual and coherent and she is a natural, instinctive interpreter who happens to have great technique on top of that.

APPARENTLY THE VERDICT IS STILL OUT ON THAT. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW WELL-KNOWN AND RESPECTED MS. ASTANOVA IS TEN YEARS FROM NOW.

This incredible array of unhealthy and very hostile messages only supports my point. I'd suggest you look inside and find the reason why a person who simply plays the piano, and does it rather well triggers such a reaction. I can only draw parallel with Paderewsky, Liszt, Paganini etc. History my friends, they were all called what you are calling Lola today. I think students, which most of you are, feel somewhat threatened by her combination of qualities, that's all. Also, it is very much a student mentality to laugh at anybody who dares to compare Argerich to a young person. I bet Stores, you did not listen to the two versions of the sonata I was referring to. I bet you did not listen to both (in professional headphones) several times, the way I did, before forming an opinion and shooting back at me with disdain. In your stagnant mind the answer will never change because you grew up perceiving Argerich as an established legend who can do no wrong. (Very safe and risk free position.) Therefore your opinion is very superficial and based purely on the "name" behind the playing and not the playing itself.
Pogorelich, by the tone of your comments I presume you are a woman? Well, your reaction is very clear to me and I am not going to aggravate you any further. Allow me to say, however, that in my view Gergiev is the most self-centered, egotistical human being to ever live, who makes vanity itself look humble. I have friends who played in his orchestra and trust me, you don't want to know what they think of him. One look is enough to see it, but I wouldn't expect you to decipher it because as it is (correctly) pointed out in your profile, you are after all, in the state of denial. The good news for you is you are not alone. Ironically, your idol Gergiev clearly thought quite highly of Lola's playing. Guess he needs a new set of ears as well.

It also has nothing to do with "beauty" - I'm certainly not threatened =) and I'm not saying she's bad - she has the execution to be really good (hey, so does LL), but when someone puts themselves before the music, then that's it for me.. And why should I feel bad about having that opinion?

That's an interesting comment, considering that many consider Ivo Pogorelich to be someone who puts himself before the music (or rather, the intentions of the composer). It was apparently the reason why he was eliminated from the Chopin competition.

From the videos I've seen, she wears jeans and simple shirts....

Yeah that's what a lot of people think.. but if you've ever read any interviews with him or books on him, it's not true. I mean, I never got that through the music anyway, but you can get it confirmed in writing =) Come on, how can you even compare him to Ms Lola? Pogorelich is an artist.

From the videos I've seen, she wears jeans and simple shirts, (perhaps I've missed the topless ones, if you find any, do share). While somehow majority of female pianists these days are wearing cleavage baring red hot numbers and showing much more skin than Lola ever did, yet nobody seems to complain. Go figure! I suppose it is acceptable for flat chested and/or not so attractive ladies.
In any case, Lola still has a lot of playing to do, and cover a lot more repertoire and I myself would be curious to see where she is going to be in 10 years. I am impressed so far.
I have to say it is very difficult to have a sensible discussion here because A) most people here are kids who are yet to hit puberty, who seem to have all the answers ( oh, good ol' teenage years) B)cannot support their argument with anything other than "oh this sucks AHAHAHAHA you are an idiot, I said so, therefore it's a fact". For people like Stores, a piece of advice: It is not always good to be a student. One must transition from being a student to being an artist. Students follow what artists do, not the other way around. With your boxed mentality you will always follow others and nobody will follow you. Then again, why would they? aAHAHAHAHA.