Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Members Recordings - Pianist Corner Brahms op. 118/2, 118/3, 118/4, Rachmaninoff 23/10 videos

I love him, but I have to admit I feel the same.

It's sad that some of you are sick of him, but he does get a very disproportionate share of the posts here. As far as I'm concerned, that's not a problem though

It may be a lack of musical maturity (it probably is), but I would trade a lot of other music (I don't want to mention names) for another ballade by Chopin. BLASPHEMY, right?

Very big of you to be so open-minded.

But have no fear!


(signed, fellow immature lover of Chopin

As long as it's played well, I almost don't mind which composer performers play. I would have no problem going to an all-Chopin recital, although I would get kind of annoyed if it included lots of etudes.

2nd sonata? 3rd sonata? 4 Ballades? Those are undeniable masterpieces (yes, I really like the 3rd Ballade and think it's fantastic), and my favorite of all of those is the 2nd sonata.

I really like Op.10-3 too, but my favorite Ballade is Op.10-4. Also, I'm kind of partial to the 3rd sonata (op. 5), but there's some good stuff in the second one.

(Damon uses his own opus numbering.)

I'm pretty sure those are correct. (as long as we're talking about Brahms)

OHHHHH!!!!


(Somebody didn't get that.

I watched all three. Great! Thanks for posting these.

I got it before I even got to the punchline, and I don't know a single Brahms piece

Outstanding! Also, not to be a pedestrian low life (though, no apologies either) but I also *really* like the Zep material at the tail end of your site. 'C'mon Everybody' + Peanuts in particular. I know a guy who saw LZ play at the Filmore East in San Francisco in 1970. He's now a kind of bagged out chemist in his 60s but that just goes to show that you should never underestimate anyone.

I enjoyed these very much... such texture with such voice! Love everything about it. I am thrilled for you and your future!! You inspire me to improve and practice!! haha! Congratulations!

thanks =)

funny, jnod posted at the exact same time I was giving another recital at the same venue as the posted videos..... haha!

Wow, these are truly excellent!! I really didn't expect such wonderful performances. This is what I would expect from a professional concert pianist, and even then, I think these performances are better than most that I've heard even by professionals (or am I mistaken in thinking that you are an amateur or student?). And that's saying a lot, since my gold standards for the Brahms Op. 118 are Katchen and Richter (although he didn't record them all). My only criticism: you didn't play my favorite ones, No. 5 and 6. From what I heard, I think you would do an excellent job with No. 5.

Do you play any of the Brahms sonatas? I think you would do a very good job with them as well. Brahms is my favorite composer, and it's rare that a student or amateur plays him as well as you do (or plays him at all).

This is off topic, but your signature makes me think of Joseph Joachim's motto "Frei Aber Einsam" (free but lonely).

Oh wow, thank you... I am a student =)

No, no Brahms sonatas yet.. I'm playing the 1st trio at the moment, and the d minor violin sonata soon. I did play 5 and 6 (and 1), but wasn't happy with how I did 5, and the recording of 6 screwed up (half of it was buzzing).

Thank you so much for listening. And yes, "Frei Aber Einsam" is another one of my mottos =)

Ohhh, the D minor violin sonata is fantastic!!

Yes, the D-minor violin sonata is fantastic, as are all his chamber works.

I wish you the best of luck in your future. Based on these recordings, I can say that you're a very sensitive and intelligent pianist.

Just don't take Joachim's motto seriously for too long Being alone is perfectly enjoyable when you're 25, but not so much when you're 35 or 45.

Superb playing; thank you for sharing.

I see... not 25 yet though... I guess I have a few years to enjoy hahaha =)

118/2 is my favorite piece of music in any form, and yours is now one of my favorite interpretations. I listened to the videos of Kissin and Lugansky playing the same piece, and I liked yours better than both of theirs. Especially in comparison to Kissin, whose dirge-like tempo and self-indulgent lingering at many of the most beautiful moments obscure the basic rhythmic pulse of the piece. (One can almost hear the little voice in his head saying "Wait for it, wait for it" . . . ugh.) Your tempi, phrasing, dynamics and the wonderful singing melodic line, on the other hand, seemed nearly perfect to me. The only way in which Kissin does it better is his skillful emphasis on the subtle, gorgeous inner voices.

I think a fine career in music lies ahead for you. The world needs to hear more from you. Keep posting to YouTube -- please.