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Understanding how music is written is hugely beneficial to one's ability to interpret music. Composing helps us to understand how music is written. So, it helps us learn how to interpret.

Case in point: The critic Harold Schonberg wrote that what made Rachmaninov's interpretations so wonderful and unique was that they always "made sense", and he attributed this to Rachmaninov's experience/skill as a composer.

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A method like this usually results in less attention to the details of the score. The notes are started at the right time and general dynamic flow and expression are probably all there, but if he's playing Beethoven for example he might be playing only 2/3 of the actual music if you know what I mean.

The final result is quite impressive, but I wonder if he actually understands what he's memorizing.

He's japanese btw^^ and is totally fantastic! His name is Nobuyuki Tsujii.

This seems like quite a leap to me. This pianist can obviously read a score. Why assume that he can't see what's there just because he doesn't read at first sight fluently?

It depends how much those details matter to you I guess. From the OP's descriptions it sounds like the player is not friends with the score, that he doesn't look at it at all after the first memorising of that one bar. Not refering back to the score as later bars are memorised does seem musically limiting to me (but maybe he uses recordings to help develop the piece). The OP is hinting that the player finds sight reading a real pain and a turn off, that is quite different from "not very fluent" in my experience.

I know some some rote-learner note-learners - I'm assuming that this player is like them. But as you say, this player could be working seriously with a teacher to get around a reading disability to include details and musicality like the blind pianist described above. I'm absolutely not saying that it's impossible, just reporting what I hear.

If you were around when the "Clair de Lune, one bar at a time, memorise, then add the next bar" craze was on, you would understand exactly what I'm talking about. I thought it was a fascinating project, and unlike some people (who were embarrassed on Debussy's behalf perhaps) I had no problem with people who did it. The recordings were often Bizarre, I mean really quite strange! You could hear right from the start that the player couldn't read and understand the score - absolutely fascinating! But still a really fun thing for a person with little experience to be able to play their "Clair de Lune" for friends, and I bet those friends would enjoy it.

I find this sort of thing very interesting!

it's always so hard to know... There was a boy at my high-school that played a grade2 arrangement of the first part of The Entertainer. I can still remember all the girls clustering around the piano saying "Oh Jamie! that was great! I love that song! play it again!"

The bass line in half-notes went: C - E - F - F# - G - lowG - CGC -
There were NO left hand chords, no RH octaves, IT WAS SO LAME. I remember wishing that the fan club could understand how better music could be, but I couldn't do better myself then, so I just watched. Oh, if only they could hear my next door neighbour... but he was not as good looking so would not impress in the same way.

see, I still haven't got over it

This is an extreme version of the same feelings, I do not mean to suggest that the player in this thread is a beginner.

it's always so hard to know... There was a boy at my high-school that played a grade2 arrangement of the first part of The Entertainer. I can still remember all the girls clustering around the piano saying "Oh Jamie! that was great! I love that song! play it again!"

"Is he considered a talented pianist?"

By some, yes.

By others, no.

Obviously, he enjoys it and is able to entertain others, but he'll never work professionally as a classical pianist, nor will he be able to perform with others who use written music.

35 years ago, I was that boy What better reason can there be for a young man to learn music than to impress girls? I was never a particular attractive or athletic fellow -- as a kid I looked like I was built out of elbows and teeth. And I lacked, and still lack, the friendly nature and easy conversation than most people develop as teenagers. But I could play a few songs on the guitar and the piano and, boy, did I work them.

The irksome thing is that those few pop songs and simplified arrangements of classical pieces that I learned when I was a kid -- I can still remember them. And my half-arsed arrangement of The Entertainer is still more likely to impress than the Chopin or Bach that I've sweated blood over.

35 years ago, I was that boy What better reason can there be for a young man to learn music than to impress girls? I was never a particular attractive or athletic fellow -- as a kid I looked like I was built out of elbows and teeth. And I lacked, and still lack, the friendly nature and easy conversation than most people develop as teenagers. But I could play a few songs on the guitar and the piano and, boy, did I work them.

The irksome thing is that those few pop songs and simplified arrangements of classical pieces that I learned when I was a kid -- I can still remember them. And my half-arsed arrangement of The Entertainer is still more likely to impress than the Chopin or Bach that I've sweated blood over.

So, I just want your opinion. Is he considered a talented pianist?...

...He does this all very quicky, as his memory is very good... The final result is quite impressive, but I wonder if he actually understands what he's memorizing...

A question for you. If he played exactly the same, but was a decent sight reader, would he automatically be a "better" pianist in your opinion?

-Daniel