Valentina

[George K]

Link to video

To my ear, seemed rushed, and not musical.

Thoughts?

[jon-nyc]

I agree it's rushed. Still parts of it were nice.

Here's the antidote:

Link to video

Listen to the whole first movement. But for those who don't have time fast forward to 3:00 and get a taste. Or 12:30. Almost sounds like slow practice.

[George K]

@jon-nyc said in Valentina:

I agree it's rushed. Still parts of it were nice.

Here's the antidote:

LOL.

[George K]

I saw her perform this in 2007, and it was nothing like what the video had.

Here's what I said:

Part 2: Beethoven
Sonata #23 in f minor, Op. 57 ("Appasionata")

OMFG! This is music that everyone knows. This is music that is overplayed. This was Beethoven played like I've not heard before. She has a talent for bringing out the hidden voices, the "connections" between the sections, the startling suddenness of Beethoven. Sforzandi (sp?) going to pp passages and vice versa. Shocking, new.

I was surprised at the amount of pedal she used in the 2nd movement. She would play the chord, lift her hand, and let the pedal hold the notes, taking advantage of the piano, rather than holding the notes for the entire time. Interesting.

Totally accurate and played with aplomb.

[kluurs]

I almost had Valentina at my house a few years back as she was looking for a place to practice. She wanted to work on the Hammerklavier Sonata - fell through but would have been fun.

[George K]

@kluurs said in Valentina:

a few years back

More like a dozen years back, LOL.

[Aqua Letifer]

@george-k said in Valentina:

Link to video

To my ear, seemed rushed, and not musical.

Thoughts?

Rushed is kind of her MO in my opinion.

[Loki]

I’ve always loved the third movement.

[Klaus]

@george-k said in Valentina:

To my ear, seemed rushed, and not musical.

I disagree. It's a terrific interpretation. Maybe different than the "mainstream" interpretation. But that's what makes it interesting. Who needs yet another recording that sounds like 20 other recordings out there?

I think the slightly "machine-like" sound in some places is not an accident. It reminded me a lot of Prokofiev's Toccata. For instance, compare the part that starts around 3:30 with the beginning of Prokofiev's piece.

Link to video

I wouldn't be surprised if Prokofiev was inspired by that sonata. In any case, I found it an interesting new angle on that staple of piano sonatas.