Kim and the Takács play Brahms
Boy, that was fast. The end of the round is almost upon us, with one more opportunity for three competitors–Kyu Yeon Kim, Alessandro Deljavan and Yeol Eum Son–to take the floor and state their case. What do you have to say for yourself, Ms. Kim?
Huh. I’m still not sure I know exactly, and I know I’m not alone. A key question is, was she in the driver’s seat even if often it seemed she wasn’t? Especially in the first movement, I figured that the dreamy, low-key read was her idea. Honestly, I think what we heard had little to with the state of the quartet at this point. I’ve followed these players for years, and they normally have a punishing schedule; I doubt they’re so fatigued they’d tamp down a performance, but we’ll see when Son takes the stage. I need to think on this a bit more.
James McQuillen
May 31st, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Is it my imagination or does the quarter sound burnt out.. at least in parts.
May 31st, 2009 at 6:48 pm
quartet, of course, correction
May 31st, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Kim is tentative.. and not altogether with it, tonight
May 31st, 2009 at 6:49 pm
I don’t hear much of a conversation between piano and quartet
May 31st, 2009 at 6:50 pm
LOL scarlatti! Well we ARE in the end of the 4th quarter, I wouldn’t blame them if they were. But it sounded ok to me so far.
May 31st, 2009 at 6:52 pm
They didn’t sound unified in the beginning, but it does seem to be improving. But I agree, they must all be worn out! And they still have one more day to go!
May 31st, 2009 at 6:52 pm
I saw the rehearsal today with Y. Son. They were having loads of fun with it and it sounded great. Kim’s performance tonight I would say is the exact opposite. I don’t sense the spirit here. Does anyone agree with me?
Scarliatti lover: perhaps the quartet is rather tired of this piece, or maybe Kim is just not inspiring?
May 31st, 2009 at 6:53 pm
of all the chamber performances to date, this is so far the most lackluster
May 31st, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Well, I was more than intimating that the pianist was not igniting any energy.
May 31st, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Lackluster is the word I was looking for. Thanks. Let’s see how Son does later tonight.
May 31st, 2009 at 6:54 pm
She is totally in the background.
May 31st, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Many commented on the difficulty Kyu Yeon had finding connections in her recital (Beethoven op101, Hagen & Moussorgsky “Pictures”).
I enjoy what she’s aiming at in the Brahms, the clarity and phrasing, but it sounds a bit too easy; a bit perfunctory, kinda tired — and it’s missing some of the real dramatic “bite” it needs. Maybe more important, though, the Takács quartet is on the last leg of their own exhausting marathon — and they’re going to have to play this piece once more to end the evening. They must just about be on autopilot by now. Don’t you wonder why they use the music at all at this point?
And that’s the hardest part. The pianist needs to charm and inspire the quartet to *really* play on edge. Considering how pooped they must be, romancing the Takács at this point seems like an awfully tall order.
It will be interesting for the audience to compare the different ways that each pianist — Kyu Yeon and Yeol Eum — try to stir up the last embers from these hardworking string players.
We’re finishing the slow movement now. It’s been graceful, but I am feeling wistful that these savory phrases aren’t being milked with the sort of depth and intensity we’re accustomed. Somewhat stagnant, alas…
— MH
May 31st, 2009 at 6:55 pm
I am not even looking at the screen and I am getting fatigued..
May 31st, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Now that they are in the 2nd mvt, the lack of energy and intensity is showing itself more. Kim appears to be playing very careful and her face shows her very into the tenderness of the music at times, but its just coming across as a bit tired.
May 31st, 2009 at 6:57 pm
I think the Taks. are saving their energy for Yeol son.
May 31st, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Well now, the Scherzo is going better. But, that music would be enough to make anyone tap their toes.
May 31st, 2009 at 7:00 pm
AGAIN- This is a great quartet, but they are older musicians and I think its a bit ridculous to expect ONE quartet to play the same piece over and over and over along with all the rehearsals in such a short space of time. Is it not time to have TWO quartets for this stage as has been discussed in another thread???
May 31st, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Unfortunately, @Roger, the Scherzo seems awfully pedestrian. That golden tune is just not moving. The triplets are tapped out like morse code. The bass (in the piano) isn’t coming out when it needs to really support the rest. And it’s all a bit slow.
Mike
May 31st, 2009 at 7:03 pm
I’ll update afterwards, but I don’t recall fatigue being a problem with the quartet in the past, and I don’t think it dragged things out so far tonight. There’s more energy in this movement. Oops, except it seems to be flagging.
May 31st, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Dave, Excellent idea. Especially when you consider that the Taks will be meeting with Son 30 minutes before they go on stage in a practice room to warm up. If you look at a clock, that only gives them less than a hour to rest up before going at it again.
May 31st, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Dave, that idea makes sense.. two quartets alternating appearances.
I certainly hope Tak. is getting adequately compensated.
Oy, a couple of uncoordinated spots.
May 31st, 2009 at 7:05 pm
@Dave - Great suggestion. The only problem, then those who didn’t do as well as expected could feel they didn’t have their “preferred quartet”.
May 31st, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Knowing that we’re all tired from having our ears at 100%, I’m having a hard time being drawn into this performance. @Dave: yes, the quartet should give an inspired performance every single time they sit down–no matter how many times they’ve played it. @ Mike: Maybe they’re using music to note different interpretations from each of the pianists.
John McInerney
May 31st, 2009 at 7:11 pm
About the quartet, good ideas, but it really is a case of limiting dependent variables… Although, if the performers are allowed to chose their own piano why not have a few quartets to chose from as well?
May 31st, 2009 at 7:14 pm
It’s a pity that this group has written off Kim. Nobody seems to be listening.
May 31st, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Unfortunately this performance is making it easier to keep Kim on my initial elimination list of Kunz, Dank and her. Now who to add? Probably Liftits based on the Liszt sonata, and Lam based on her running out of gas in her recital. A lot is riding on Deljavan’s upcoming recital for me now. And I really don’t need to hear Son in the Brahms to send her to the finals. But I am much looking forward to it.
May 31st, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Well,…. It’s over. A good performance, but not a great one. She need a great one to advance, IMHO.
Why are there so many empty seats in the hall?
May 31st, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Kudos to the Takacs String Quartet! They have recorded the definitive Beethoven quartets, and here they are providing outstanding support to VC.
May 31st, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Empty seats may be because the audience is exhausted, lingering over one more glass of beer, and senses that Ms. Kim might not deliver the sort of voltage in the Brahms that Ms. Son will later tonight.
Mike
May 31st, 2009 at 7:22 pm
The hall never seems to be packed. Is it always this way in competition semifinals or is this another bone for “decline of classical music” alarmism?
May 31st, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Clela- Yes, when I discussed this in another thread this was a concern of mine. I do believe it would be very important to have as close as possible quartets of near-equal accomplishment and renown. And would love to see the Cliburn make the financial committment to achieve that. Also of course there would have to be a blind draw me thinks with the Trophy filled with 12 pieces of paper of which 6 are the name of one quartet and 6 the name of the other. Or something like that.
May 31st, 2009 at 7:27 pm
I hope the Taks are charging double their usual fee (at least!). They’re being worked like rented mules! Instead of a second quartet, why not bring in the string 2/3 of a distinguished piano trio, and add 4 key pieces from that literature to the choices available to the contestants. That would spread the workload and make for more variety in the chamber portion.
May 31st, 2009 at 7:37 pm
@ArtS: I think that is a great idea!! I would love to hear a Mendelssohn Piano Trio in this competition.
May 31st, 2009 at 7:51 pm
OK ArtS- now you have hit upon my #1 BEEF [along with the same Concertos being played over and over] since attending my last Intl Piano competition. PULLLLLLEEEEESE- can we alternate these competitions to have the Piano Trio and Piano Quartet literature with the quintets. There are many fine pieces that could display nearly just as much [or MORE] ensemble playing ability as the Piano quintets. What I wouldn’t give to hear the Faure and Brahms Piano quartets etc…. in this piano competition next time.
http://www.cmnc.org/recommended/paQ4.htm
I do like the idea of a contestant being able to choose from a short list of Piano Trio/quartet/quinets, but feel for a competition it would be important for the jury to judge all pianists by just one format for each competition.
So what does everyone think? Piano quartets next time??
May 31st, 2009 at 7:59 pm
@Takahata: It could also be ticket prices…despite the discounts given, it is still a pretty penny for many people.
@Everyone: Am I the only one seeing that links to archival footage/offstage material is just all over the place/nonexistant? Or do I need to restart (eurgh) my computer?
May 31st, 2009 at 7:59 pm
@Dave: By all means throw piano quartets into the mix as well. I rather expected the objection that the judges would have to cope with judging performances in different formats: trio-quintet/apples-oranges. But they’re already having to judge pianists playing Chopin vs pianists playing Prokofiev!
June 1st, 2009 at 1:54 am
I just found out that Son and Tackas would be performing together in June. Maybe that explains the different vibe between Tackas and Son, which hadn’t happened with Kim.