jihadhamwi (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

perfect performer or the best ...can we find Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody no 2 by Andre Watts? i hop so

PeacfulJoh (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Sure he's expressing something, but every major pianist like him could be much more "Chopinesque" about playing these pieces. It's always frustrating for me to hear, for example, Kissin's recording of Chopin's Bbm Sonata and notice that the first movement is a race to the finish. Such beautiful and noble music, and they pound and race through it (I love Kissin, though)! I have always tried to play Chopin as sophisticated, noble, reserved, and above virtuosity as possible. No pompousness here.

ChrisWatch (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Expressive? Could you give me a theme into what would be a suitable manner in playing it with an expressive view point? I find watts live performance of this, at this paticular moment, rather dazzling, stormy, the aggresive colors, showing more than any slow-mannered or an over emphasis on the right hand melody like other virtuosos playing for the sake of virtuosity. Obviously he is expressing something here... .

Cleroth (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Chopin's score is Chopin's interpretation.

nyc11104 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I don't understand all this discussion about "interpretation"... The instructions for the performer are right on the score, in plain black and white, and the phrase structure is clear in Chopin. The pianist's job is to play the piece with clarity and with some sense of nuance and tone color, rather than as a "virtuosic" trainwreck that shows off how fast one can play.

Cleroth (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Everyone should interpret Chopin however they like.

PeacfulJoh (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Why in the world is he spasming towards the second-to-last page? This isn't necessary. I don't understand why big pianists just bang these "easy" pieces out when they can be so beautiful. Loud and rhythmic doesn't mean expressive, let's remember that.

Malaka57 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Watts is just "tossing it off" here, that is obvious. I would'nt consider this at the "recording" level. I first heard him doing the Brahms 2nd at Avery Fisher Hall in NYC and spent the next two days in a daze... It was a mega-watt performance.

jeremy71991 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Excuse me sir, very few people have the credentials to criticize Andre Watts. When someone rises to the pinnacle that Watts has achieved, I think they should be able to interpret Chopin however they'd like.

j0shkicksass (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

OME WHAT A BEAST. If you guys want some interesting modern compositions, search Cohen's Scherzo 7. It's from the video game Bioshock