Let us take a moment to be grateful for this great pianist. His music has touched the hearts of all of us. There will never be one quite like Lupu ever again.
Remembering Radu Lupu I am listening to your last encore. The door has opened and once more you step across the stage, the piano waiting like a beast uncaged and primed for your beguilement. Your slowly sit and close your eyes your fingers moving gently as you rest your arms and then we hear it, Brahms - a lifetime passing in a hundred breaths; the boy, the man, the youthful love and aged reflection an image opening in your hands on that vast stage. No rage, just a thousand ways to love and touch the sun and then it's over, and you've gone. (Stephen Estall, Dunedin, New Zealand. 27 April 2022)
@Stephen Estall Beautifully said. It is now 1:20am where I am right now, and I need to go to bed, but I found this performance so mesmerizing, and I always considered Radu Lupu one of the best, if not the best, of Brahms' interpreters, and this is one of my favorite pieces of music. An absolutely beautiful performance of an absolutely beautiful intermezzo.
A pianist playing his last public piece, saying goodbye, choosing a piece by a composer who also was starting to say goodbye. Lupu really nailed this moment.
@@IEEMAZ_Convoluted_14.2.8.5 LOL. I keep on making phonetic spelling mistakes. It's a strange habit that I picked up recently. I don't know why it keeps happening to me.
I’m so grateful to have the internet, where I can hear truly legendary pianists (mostly now gone or no longer performing), who understood that technical facility is nothing without an individual sound filled with musical soul and sensibility, which is instantly recognizable and beloved. I keep an open mind about new careers beginning around 2000, but every single one has bored me with their lightning speed, zero mistakes, and soulless pyrotechnics. Thank you, Maestro Lupu, for all you gave us.
you know you are getting old when the greats you knew were ferocious young men when first you met them....God Bless this man who introduced in a deeper way to Brahms in my 20s.
I was there for this concert... the Beethoven G major concerto was a sad affair, underpowered, wistful and definitely valedictory in approach. But then he summoned up all he had for this simple goodbye to London. Thank goodness I was there for this encore - and I remember leaving at the interval, knowing I wanted to leave it there to let it all sink it. End of an era.
@@alfonsobertazzi5867 Hi Alfonso! I went to a concert in Chicago around 2017 where Maestro Lupu played Beethoven's Fifth concerto with Riccardo Muti. During that time I sadly felt the lack of power in Movement I & III. However, the second movement was unearthly sublime, especially considering the fact that Maestro Lupu's heart could not follow his strength. That moment reminded me the fact that Beethoven himself must feel the same way as he realized that he could not even play his own concerto because of his physical inability (Emperor Concerto is the only one Beethoven did not play). At that moment, the tone color produced, evenness of fingers, even the music itself did not matter that much. I saw an artist, carrying all the pain, devoted himself to the music, and to the ideal listeners. I've listened to Emperor Concerto through splendid recordings and live performance many times. But it was in that concert I feel the power of music from a new dimension. So would it be possible if you may consider to share Beethoven's Fourth concerto for educational purpose, too? I really hope everyone remember Radu Lupu not just as a competition winner, one of best Schubert player, inspiration of other great pianist, but also as a person with highest spirit. A man with Beethovenian spirit of struggle and conquer till his last concert. If you are not feeling comfortable with sharing it on RU-vid, it would be much appreciate if you may share it with me privately.
Beautiful. I heard him in Vienna and too was struck by the lack of power and verve and was rather disappointed. I didn't know he was ill. However his encore of Schubert's G flat impromptu was sublime and brought me to tears.
@@philippeyared2050 Well said. This recording is amazing in its depth and sensitivity -- and in the control of volume & tone, even the balance among notes in a chord. His sensitivity & control would be wonderful in a person half his age.
A magnificent Brahms encore with the right tempo and a very touching play, especially since it is Lupu last piece played in public. It is with a rare freedom of expression that this intermezzi becomes literally the pianist's appropriation little by little, touch by touch, like a painter who develops his composition in full spectrum. Lupu creates an atmosphere that enters into all the sensory human networks. Thanks to Alfonso Bertazzi for this remarkable video !
One of the great musical artists of all times has gone. He played his own ephitaph here. Very moving. The world is full of amazing pianists -past and present. His is a name which comes up in the top 5 for me. Always. While remaining faithful to the composer, he always managed to co-create. Not re-compose, like others. Rather findingin music in the piece where I did not see, here before. Truly amazing.
Lupu was one of the people who knew Brahms' music better than anyone else. His music touches the soul and always inspires. Lupu is still a great musician and will always be.
L 'ho conosciuto tardi solo grazie a mia moglie. Devo ammettere che quando l'ho sentito a Bologna mi ha lasciato lasciato a bocca aperta. Un gigante!! grazie per questo ricordo toccante
Thank you so much for bringing us Radu Lupu's last playing in public ... and it couldn't have been a better choice for his farewell encore __ and this is very moving to me ... Rest in peace, Radu 💙 ... I am so grateful for your awesome talent, for your wonderful music! 🎼🎶🎹💯
Thank you for posting this! I remember him in 1975… Amazing to hear his farewell o m g … his sound was so radiant and devoid of any pianistic ego. R.i.P.
So sad, that this friend of culture has passed away. He really was a great artist of his discipline and at no moment a member of the entertainment industry. We never will forget his contributions.
Many years ago, perhaps the late 80s or very early 90s, I heard him play all 5 Beethoven concertos in a series of 3 concerts. No 3 was particularly unforgettable.
Tonight Yuja Wang in the very same venue played Brahms 117/3 as one of her 9 encores. I think it was a hommage, she was clearly moved after that and fled hastily the stage.
My greatest respect for this ultimate poetic and mystical grand master. I have learned how to "read" and feel many pieces with him. Schubert' she last sonatas, Brahms's crepuscular pieces... I also remember his Beethoven's 1st concert. I always thought it was a relatively minor concert, but listening his playing I considered it one of the most beautiful Beethoven concerts. RL often see beyond what others see. One of the persons I have loved the most in the classical music of this last century. RIP.
Just listened to this video, and assumed farewell meant that he had decided to stop performing. I thought it was a beautifully touching performance. Then I found another video dedicated to Radu Lupu and I realised that he had passed.. I had no idea. The musical world will miss him.
It always seems this photo of him almost moves. I feel he has put his hands on the arms of a chair ready to push himself up….and he’s just started doing so!
I was a volunteer usher for several concerts of his in Bristol in the 90s. I heard Beethoven Op111 - the last piano sonata - for the first time. It was unforgettable. I asked the event organiser at his next concert if, while she was next speaking to him, she might plead with him to record it. "Speaking to him?" she said..."Radu Lupu doesn't DO conversation".
My CD collection is a bit jumbled at the moment, but I recall I have a Decca CD (early 1970's analogue recording transferred to digital) that included Radu Lupu playing the A Major D 959 of Schubert's - I think there may be a later recording of Lupu playing this sonata but I urge those who haven't had the pleasure of hearing the early 1970's performance to look up this recording (I do not have the precise details beyond that it is on Decca) - an immensely rewarding experience awaits the listener - from an immensely talented pianist who, sadly, is now no longer with us.
I haven’t heard it, but will try to find a copy. Incidentally, I never could understand why Richter (a Schubert expert, himself) never played D.959 nor recorded it). It is one of Schubert’s loveliest pieces.
I heard him at the QEH a number of times back in the 90s and was mesmerised. More recently searching for a definitive recording of Brahms Intermezzo Op118 - there was simply no other. I felt he had become Brahms himself - it has to be one of the most touching renditions ever and will remain with me in my heart till the day I join him. A wonderful, wonderful pianist and musician and shame on those who speak ill of him in when he was clearly unwell.
Kids play today with giant techniques and nothing to say at the piano. He was part of the last great generation.. today we have gimmicks like young women in cocktail dresses with slinky low cut attire. What a shame ! God rest his soul !
Hmm, I wonder who you could be talking about (/s). Question to you: does a "cocktail dress with slinky low cut attire" affect one's ability to play well? Would Mr Lupu play any worse if he changed his style of clothing? Or is there maybe an undertone of misogynism in your comment? I'm not disagreeing with your complimentation of Mr Lupu, but maybe criticize artists based on things that actually matter instead of their appearance
Also The beautiful piano sound is missing todays pianists!! The Great piano Teacher Anastasia Virsaladze teach told Dimitri Bashkirov in 1930s in Tbilisi=YOU MUST LOVE THE BEAUTIFUL COLORFUL PIANO SOUND!!! All The Greatest piano sound players Are Gone=Emil Gilels Wilhelm Kempff Artur Rubinstein Radu Lupu!! Vladimir Ashkenazy=The most colorful volcanic piano sound!! .
@@RaineriHakkarainen Just as Leschetizky admonished HIS students 50 yrs before (e.g. Paderewski, Horszowski, Friedman, Schnabel et. al.). Fundamental to the depth and breadth of the piano art.
