WARNING Evgeny Kissin WARNING

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Posted by Brian Cheney on April 29, 2000 at 12:19:56

While browsing Gergiev online, came across a free sampler--"Evgeny Kissin a Pianist Like No Other" and ordered it (hey--I said it was FREE).
Blurb on the back quotes the New York times:"An undisputably superb pianist...astonishing virtuosity, a deeply feeling and communicative musician...a phenomenal talent".

Makes you wonder what the critic REALLY thought about Kissin. I remembered rave reviews of his work elsewhere. Never had heard a note of him, so I give the sampler (featuring excerpts from 8 different albums) a spin.

First item, Chopin prelude #16, which goes by in ONE MINUTE FLAT. Never heard anyone with seven fingers on each hand. Never uses the pedal so must lack feet. Tone is really big and really hard. Photo shows a kid of about 13. And to think I studied the preludes.

Next up: Beethoven Moonlight, first five minutes. Artist runs the emotional gamut from A (fast and loud) to B (soft and slow). Very glad when the fadeout arrives.

Track 3: Rach 2nd concerto, 3rd movement. Kissin must hate the piece, the melody is manhandled and the rest is for show. Increasingly uncomfortable to hear, glad when the fadeout hits...

Item 4: Schumann symphonic etudes finale. Incredibly loud and foursquare, pounded to death. Very glad when piece is over.

Track 5: Liszt etude trancendante f minor: better faring here, since the music has no content. Still by end I realize the pianist is too shallow even for Liszt

Track 6: Chopin concerto 2, movement 3 excerpt. And to think Rubinstein plays this with elegance, even poetry. Kissin dashes up and down with tail on fire. Pointless and ugly.

Track 7; Schuman Kreisleriana "Auesserst bewegt". Liner note misspells "auesserst" as "Ausherst". Schumann's most virtuosic piece, reducing to treacly display. Very glad when it's over.

Finale: Schumann-Liszt Widmung: Schumann's most heartfelt melody wrapped in Lisztian embellishment. Kissin cannot play the melody, gets lost in filigree. Pointless and ugly (did I say that already?)

AVOID THIS GUY LIKE THE PLAGUE!!

Big B

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Topic - WARNING Evgeny Kissin WARNING - Brian Cheney 12:19:56 04/29/00 (23)

Re: WARNING Brian Cheney Kissin WARNING - Dr. T 07:46:43 05/01/00 (15)

Re: WARNING Brian Cheney Kissin WARNING - Ears 12:07:32 05/01/00 (0)

Excellent post - Rob 10:16:31 05/01/00 (0)

Re: WARNING Brian Cheney Kissin WARNING - Brian Cheney 08:38:25 05/01/00 (12)

Re: WARNING Brian Cheney Kissin WARNING - Ears 14:50:10 05/01/00 (3)

Re: WARNING Brian Cheney Kissin WARNING - Rob 15:00:05 05/01/00 (2)

Yes! Mindblowing, huh?(nt) - Ears 15:02:54 05/01/00 (1)

Yep. 12 years old...... OOOOOhhhhhh <nt> - Rob 15:08:32 05/01/00 (0)

Re: WARNING Brian Cheney Kissin WARNING - Dr. T 09:22:55 05/01/00 (7)

Re: WARNING Brian Cheney Kissin WARNING - Brian Cheney 09:51:40 05/01/00 (6)

Who said anything about popularity contests? - Dr. T 11:57:32 05/01/00 (0)

Ooooh! More...MORE - The Real Dave 10:16:44 05/01/00 (4)

Re: Ooooh! More...MORE - Jorge F 14:06:19 05/01/00 (0)

Re: Ooooh! More...MORE - Brian Cheney 10:27:49 05/01/00 (2)

Re: Ooooh! More...MORE - Dr. T 11:33:09 05/01/00 (0)

ROTFL - Rob 10:35:29 05/01/00 (0)

Let's get him Rob! - Ears 03:07:40 04/30/00 (1)

I'm coming Ears! - Rob 03:16:42 04/30/00 (0)

Re: WARNING Evgeny Kissin WARNING - Rob 03:00:40 04/30/00 (4)

ROB....you've got to be kidding........More Russian than Richter... - Tom B. 08:47:09 04/30/00 (2)

Re: ROB....you've got to be kidding........More Russian than Richter... - Rob 10:38:13 05/01/00 (1)

Re: ROB....you've got to be kidding........More Russian than Richter... - Dr. T 11:34:47 05/01/00 (0)

Re: WARNING Evgeny Kissin WARNING - Ears 03:10:22 04/30/00 (0)

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