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What I thought of Lindsay: after this recital I don't see how she advances. Not that it was horrible, just that the competition is too good.

A few bobbles in the Mozart, which overall I thought was well done. Majorly smudged passagework at the end of the Ballade.

Her tone in the jeux d'eaux à la Villa d'Este was too hard-edged and antiseptic; there was no warmth. This is a religious piece of music, based on John 4:14. "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." I didn't get any of that from her performance.

When I watch her I feel like I'm at a swim meet rather than a concert. I'm all for women wearing beautiful dresses, but I don't think that much back should be on display. I did like the skirt of the dress, though. If I've said something offensive here by critiquing her appearance, please feel free to say so. You won't offend me. If I were a newspaper critic, I wouldn't write those things in a newspaper. Those are my semiprivate thoughts only.

Again, I'd have to agree. The whole recital seemed to go steadily downhill from that slight LH slip in the first movement of the Mozart. It looks like she was the first victim of the "endurance test" portion of the competition, i.e. having to prepare different programs with just a few days' notice. I'll swap her out and Greco in.

Yes -- I'm sure you're right. That's what I figured out too, on a second look later on.

And by the way, assuming I'm understanding it right (which I might not!), it means that unless the juror is pissed off or something against his/her own student, he/she BETTER vote for the student, because that way, the contestant is at least credited with a fractional vote from the teacher. If the teacher doesn't list that student and just lists 12 + 3 other candidates, then this contestant gets ZERO from this ballot.

Does this amount to something unfair, one way or the other? (I mean in addition to having teachers of contestants on the jury at all.) I don't know. It might take me longer to process all that's involved, like maybe never.

Oh yeah, I forgot about Wilde Jagd. Again it certainly wasn't wretched, but it gave off a vibe of "trying to get through this." It wasn't a particularly special performance.

Okay, Kholodenko's just started his Bach.

Damn! Another signal loss. And right near the beginning of the Bach-Siloti Prelude! So frustrating.

Nothing wrong on my end. Perhaps your Internet?

Okay, this is one of my favorite Beethoven sonatas. Let's see if he gets it.

Lovely Bach-Siloti. I do enjoy it when a contestant sticks in such a short piece.

This is the Hamburg piano, right?

yes, good Bach-Siloti, but i still prefer Kunz's from the last Cliburn.

I think he's missing the "dolce" aspect of the Beethoven. A great performance of this piece brings me to tears, and his isn't doing that.

Try a different browser.

ARGH! He missed the first note of the Prestissimo! Must be kicking himself.

It brings you to tears this early?

His tempo is dragging a little. It doesn't really have the driving energy it needs.

...Meaning what? The first and third movements both do. It's such wonderful music.

He's rushing now. It doesn't do anything for me.

don't take me seriously then... i am not that serious playing piano anyway.

but i corrected my typo for you here... there.

I'm a big fan of his demeanor. Calm, humble, the worst thing that ever happens with his face is that he bites his lip.

Hang on, I may have spoken too soon. He has his stomach pressed into the keyboard now.