I don't comment much, but after hearing Ben's performance here I just had to. I see others have also put young Ben to the test, comparing his Saint Saens 2 with the finest pianists of the past 75 years; even Richter was included in my research. Decca Records and Mister Grosvenor have elevated the bar in everyway with this recording. Ben's mastery of the monstrous technical demands of this piece provide for an astonishing reveal of what Ben calls ... "The poetry of the music". What is most impressive is the clarity of each note and phrase of this performance. You must see Ben in concert. Look forward to the legion of children who adore him. He may be still greeting them and signing his latest CD, if you hurry. Thanks Ben !
Most fascinating to compare these contemporary performances to the historic "great pianist" performances of Gilels, Rubenstein, Watts and for me, the "definitive" performance by Philippe Entremont/Eugene Ormandy/Philadelphia Orchestra (1966).
This is now the definitive performance for me. The final two movements alone go down in history as the most brilliant, ferociously virtuosic and stunningly musical. Give it up for Grosvenor.
Why aren't the Saint-Saens piano concertos played more often? Instead of the same old "war horses" being trotted out time after time it would make such a refreshing change! Having said that I think that they are getting more exposure now than say 20 or more years ago!
I'd call the Saent-Saens G minor a war horse. It, along with the Grieg and Schumann concerto, are often among the first Romantic Era concerti a pianist will learn.
People choose not to play this one because of its immense difficulty. You either have this type of virtuosity or you don't. Many concert pianists simply don't have the ability to play extremely fast and brilliant for long periods.
The tempo is perfect. He can handle it and still make it expressive and incredibly exciting and consistently clear in regards to his phrasing and choices. The 3rd movement is beyond all expectation and imagination.
rissenbeck you're out of your mind. Nothing could be more exciting. I almost fainted the first time I heard this. You missed everything. You think the 3rd movement is dull? He purposely played fast WITH energy and musicianship to ward off absurd comments like yours. Are you listening on your phone? At least listen in a quiet car on bluetooth. You can NOT judge crap listening to a RU-vid video on your phone or laptop, unless you have great headphones.
