i'm just baffled how this awe-inspiring performance hasn't received more deserved attention. Lauren plays this piece better than many concert pianists who still stumble over half the notes in the cadenza... incredible would be an understatement to describe just how amazing this performance is. anyone who has played or studied this concerto should know just how insanely difficult and demanding it is.
I recently became obsessed with this work, especially the first movement, and have been listening to every pianist's rendition of it that I can get my hands on here on RU-vid and elsewhere. Much of my fascination is with how open to a variety of interpretations the different parts of the cadenza are. I actually think I prefer Lauren Zhang's interpretation of the cadenza (particularly its final sequence) to almost everyone else's among the dozen or so professional pianists I've heard play it.
The day after the final I posted the following on Facebook: Facebook has been awash with comments about who should or should not have won the Eurovision song contest with remarks about personal appearance, politically motivated voting and so on but I have seen no mention of the fact that on Sunday a 16 year old piano student won BBC Young Musician of the Year with a performance of breathtaking eloquence. This was not about technique (she had it in spades) or virtuosity (though no problems there) but about her ability to "speak music". She was able within a microsecond to move from high drama to sweet lyricism, from searing emotion to the lightest humour and I am quite convinced that she has no idea that she does anything particularly special; she just does what she does, which is read effortlessly the story of what she plays and communicate that story to us. She appeared to be astonished that she had won. I had to go back and listen again to make sure that I was not deluding myself but no, this was a performance that held our complete attention from first to last perfectly weighted note. She was asked why she chose that rarely played and horrendously difficult concerto. She said she chose it because she loved it and it was the right length for the competition.
Martin, you're so right. This is a truly astonishing performance ... for anyone. For a 16-year-old, it's simply mind-boggling. If I hadn't seen it, I don't think I'd have believed it! I really can't think of anything else to say ...
This is a wonderful performance for a young piqnist but she has a long ways to even in this, one of the most difficult concertos. The secret is to NOT sound like every other pianist capable of playing this amazing work. Young players can get away with this but not older more mature artists. Example, she could have brought out more of the wonderful LH lines in the 1st mvt. Also, the pacing of phrases were a bit rushed which young players tend to do. They are unsure of where to push phrases and which to hold back on. In this concerto which is so incredibly think textured it is essential to allow the textures and phrases to BREATHE and NOT let your technique rule. Also, her dotted rhythms in the RH Theme were a bit inconsistent and did not really correlate to any musical effect she was attempting. Don't judges listen for these kinds of things?
don't forget the media is dumbed down to the lowest intellect to sell rubbish to the uneducated. If she played showing her boobs, her performance would have been a world wide sensation, and then with no mention of her brilliantly astonishing playing. A sad world with homo sapien at the so called pinnacle of achievement.
A 16 year old who plays Prokofiev's 2nd piano concerto... I can't believe this. What an astonishing performance! This is one of my favorite concerts which has a large range of emotions, one of them of course the cadenza in the first movement. Bravo Lauren!
Can't listen to this and not be shaken to the core by the mystery of what it is to be alive as a human being, and by the miracle of music as a channel for what is within. What an extraordinary place the world is, that it can give birth to a genius like Prokofiev, and then to this inscrutable young girl who already has the humility and focus and subtlety to let this music come through her to the rest of us. Oh God thank you.
It is simply not possible to play this piece "better" than this! (It is possible for the orchestra to play it better!) A totally unbelievable performance ... for anyone of any age. For a 16-year-old ... She must be from another planet! I'm speechless ...
Instant fan of Lauren!!! Her pallet of colour is so tasteful, I really love her in Baroque and classical repertoire. It’s so free and refreshing. The personal connection with the instrument really comes through and I’m waiting for more performances from her 😊 what an angelic heart of gold ❤️❤️❤️
The peak of human expression that only one so young can provide. Untrammeled with the burdens of day to day living, she is free and focussed and completely absorbed in the art. She has not been spoiled by the vagaries of adult life nor experienced the unnecessary ravages of a world which seeks to destroy real creativity and human endeavour. What an astonishing thing to witness. She sees every note, every subtle tone is heard and every nuance is addressed. She never misses a beat and throws up every micro rhythm to perfection. What her future brings is anyone's guess. Keep her away from alcohol and false chemicals. She needs none of these things. Wonderful.
Stunningly good soloist, shame about the poor show from the orchestra. I can only imagine her playing this with Berlin Phil with Seiji Ozawa or Parvo Jarvi - hopefully she will in 10 years and will be even more brilliant than she is now!
It reminded me of Beatrice Rana's performance at the Van Cliburn Competition 2013, although Beatrice Rana was much better, clearer and more precise and the orchestra was more professional. Unfortunately on youtube the video is no longer. Lauren Zhang certainly good performance for her age ... but I still find her a bit immature and in the faster parts the notes are sometimes not very clear. The risk is the same as for all young modern pianists, they study and play these pieces too early, and end up being superficial and going into little depth in the passages and sounds and then eventually they'll become mediocre pianists. In order to play some pieces it's need the right study and the right time. Everyone is capable of playing fast.
Um... WHAT? Good for her age? Can you find even ONE performance of this monster concerto by ANYONE her age? I’ve heard dozens of performances of this, and few live ones come close. She is absolutely phenomenal.
@@fredfeinberg3995 I don't think the age is so important, it's not a youtube competition where the younger wins. I just listen the performance and anyway I wrote other considerations as well.
