Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner First PW duel: virtuoso_735 vs. Bassio

Sorry sam, i promised you we'll make that duel of the bach P&F but virtuoso and i here have reached an agreement

Guys, i am proud to present you the first PW piano duel: virtuoso_735 vs. Bassio

Performance: Chopin nocturne no.19 op.72 no.1

So what is a PW forum piano duel?

Simply two members agree to post their recordings of a certain piece of repertoire .. then other members vote for the performance they liked best.

For the rules see the other topic: PW duel rules

Looking forward to hearing it! I play that one too and love it when it's played just a certain way

Cool! Nothing like some healthy competition to spice up the board a bit.

can't wait. i LOVE playing and hearing that nocturne

I'll start by posting my performance ..
I don't know where is virtuoso and why he still didn't post his .. anyway

Chopin: Nocturne No.19
Performer: Bassio

http://www.savefile.com/files.php?fid=1082270


Request: Please do not comment until virtuoso posts his recording in the thread

So Bassio, were you thinking of making it a 3-way duel, or replacing him with me if he doesn't do it? either way, i'm up for it!

virtuoso has something posted in the members recordings forum, is that it?

Chopin: Nocutnre no.19 in E minor
Performer: virtuoso_735

http://savefile.com/files/4956441

And the Battle is on!

*Street Fighter voice*

Round 1, FIGHT!


Let's just hope there's no fatalities in this one

*commentator voice* Hey, Bill...you've gotta give that first round to Bassio for posting his recording so early in the round. That's a hard opening combination, but you know, I've got to admit, virtuoso responded equally well in the latter part of the round, coming on strong at the end when it counts. This could be anyone's round...let's go to the scorecards. :p

I cannot decide...Both interpretatinos are very different; I think I shade towards liking Bassio's better, but the piano sounds more like a harpsichord it is so out of tune.....and it has possibly a little too much interpretation at times...overall, really enjoyed it, and thats what counts.

Virtuoso's also was excellent; it was played extremley clean. If we were going to judge as how the nocturne was played by the book, virtuoso would win IMHO.

Overall I will not vote because they are such different interpretations to my ears.

Good job both of you, some great playing.

Bassio,

Your recording would have sounded much better if you had your piano tuned (unless that is the sound you want). I would seriously recommend you buy a cheap tuning kit and instruction book and learn to tune, or pay for tunings.

... But your playing was good.

Bassio, i loved ur intepretation. It really felt like u surrendered ot ur emotions, which is very important
In this duel though my say migh not mean anything, i have ot say urs was better by far.

looking forward to listening to them!

Virtuso's had a very good 2 against 3
Bassio's was also very nicely interpreted..Hard choice.

These two interpretation are really very different (almost the exact opposite)!

Both have very beautiful moments. While listening to Bassio I kept hoping he would let go (slow down) a little more in places. (I think the mid section was perfect.) Listening to Virtuoso gave me the opposite feeling.

On balance, Bassio's interpretation seemed a bit more consistent (and piano less out of tune :-))

I listened to both recordings, and I would can't decide who would win, and I shouldn't vote anyways!

I agree that they are entirely different.

Bassio, your piano is out of tune! It's hard to judge. But otherwise, your inter. was extremely original, though somtimes unwieldy to the original.

I just can't decide...

Bassio's interpretation is a bit "too much interpreted" for me, and virtuoso's one is a bit too strictly "play the text".

I really enjoyed both though.

Firstly, I think you are both very brave to subject yourself to criticism from other forum members and go 'head to head' against each other in competition! You both play this nocturne extremely well and should be congratulated for fine performances.

Bassio - I like your tempo here and the way you handle the changes in character between sections (eg. measure 13-14 was particularly nice). Sometimes I felt the rubato was a bit excessive, especially the first measure and elsewhere when the left hand was alone. If you think of an accompanist to a singer you get the idea. The melody line can be pushed and pulled expressively but the accompaniment should feel less wayward in general. However I did feel that your playing was more directional in the right places (measures 16-22 were beautifully controlled). Your tone control and voicing of the top line were hampered by the piano you use. I know that not everyone can gain access to good instruments but I feel you owe it to yourself to upgrade at some point. Your playing deserves a quality piano. Try to soften the ends of phrases more (eg. measure 26 should be strong - weak as it resolves). Very accurate playing but check the RH notes at the end of measure 24 where you missed the C#. I thought this was just a slip but you do the same thing later in measure 48 (F#, not F natural). Your ending was perfect.

Virtuoso - This for me was more of a true 'andante' and had good movement overall. In contrast to Bassio I felt you could use more rubato. Listen to your recording again. At measure 30 you play a wonderfully expressive ritardando before the theme returns. I wanted to here a little more of this elsewhere. Your voicing was very sensitive and the top melodic line sang out beautifully. Don't be afraid to play louder when marked 'forte'. Your crescendo from measure 16 onwards didn't get strong enough for me. Your accuracy is also a strong point but check carefully the 4th beat of measures 25 and 49 where the accidentals apply from earlier in the measure (RH thumb notes).

For me the winner has to be........Bassio. This performance felt the more emotional of the two although as already mentioned the rubato was a bit over the top. I think that given an instrument of equal quality on which to play the decision would have been easier. This isn't to say that Virtuoso's playing was not good because it was, but Bassio seems to have a better grasp of this particular style.

All of this is of course just my opinion.

Thank you for your comparative and thorough analysis here chris plus you also commented on both recordings so thanks

I really encourage other members to feel free and comment (and as for me, i won't be offended i swear, read my other thread about why i made the duels)

Where are the moderators? Shy to comment on our recordings? Both our moderators are top concert pianists and musicians as i know.