Vacatello performs Beethoven Concerto No.4
Here, Mariangela Vacatello will perform Beethoven Concerto No.4 in G major.
Just a quick note. Vacatello redeemed herself with her regal performance of the concerto. The tone was pure, with a level of restrained exuberance that suited the repertoire. Brava.
Ken Iisaka
June 5th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
i have waited Vacatello for a long time!!
June 5th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
I really like her. I heard most of her rehearsal and thought it was rather rough. Hope she got that out of her system. She has chosen a terrific concerto for the finals. The fourth requires special insight.
June 5th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
It is my favorite piano concerto! I really want her to do well.
June 5th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Where is the Son commentary? I want to brag on her! And that WONDERFUL Chopin F Minor pc.
June 5th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
@Gerrie - scroll up to the top of this page and you’ll see where you can go over to the page you want!! Good luck!!
June 5th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Hahaha, there are about 10 MILLION ways to play that opening and she chose the worst one.
June 5th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Why are you people so mean?
June 5th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
I also like Beethoven’s 4th Piano Concerto. I’m sure she will do a good job.
June 5th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
wiggins - !!! well put! But I hope that was just nerves… Now she has like 30 min before she comes in to come down
June 5th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Why is this so fast? Isn’t the movement marked Allegro Moderato? I feel that it loses its chamber music qualities (in terms of clarity of sound) at this tempo.
June 5th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
The tempo is correct.
June 5th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Wow, the piano is piercingly out of tune up top. I’m not usually picky about tuning, but that was like a shot of caffeine.
June 5th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Yes- I LOVE this concerto, clearly the SUPERIOR Beethoven concerto imo. The upper register is getting a little twangy or harsh on my headphones compared to what I have heard so far this evening.
June 5th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
@Wiggins. Are you sure it was the worst? Maybe it was the third worst and there was only 9,999,997 better ways to play it.
June 5th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Can they stop the concerto right now and revoice the upper register?? Just kidding, but it is REALLY bothering me.
June 5th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
I believe the temp is currently being played at allegro moderato. I actually prefer the fifth piano concerto, but so far she has captivated me with her accurate finger work.
June 5th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Hmmm. I like this a lot. Nice tempo, good sound, and fine finger-work (as expected from her by now)
June 5th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
I meant tempo, sorry.
June 5th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Is it me, or she is tired??? Energy is not quite there…. Seems like autopilot…
June 5th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
DONT RUSH, oh please dont rush!!!
June 5th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
Yes, Anton, I feel the tempo is just right. And the finger work is excellent.
June 5th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
I don’t know about fine finger works. it sounded muddy to me just now in the fast passages.
June 5th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
I wonder which cadenza she’ll play?
June 5th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
The 1st mvt is beginning to rush in places and the piano sound in the upper register is completely unacceptable. I have NEVER heard this piano sound so bad in the entire competition. That is just NOT right.
June 5th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Yes yes, a few little booboos… This is a hard piece too
June 5th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
…sounds good so far. this is my favorite concerto as well. temp is fine. i noticed the upper register issue as well. it does not seem to impact her performance though.
June 5th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Well, in my brand new Bose head phones, the articulation is spot on.
June 5th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
I’m waiting for the cadenza. I love the cadenza in this movement.
June 5th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Roger, you must be LOVING those head phones!!! Lucky guy!!!
June 5th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Good grief, I’ve turned the volume down to a whisper. The piano sounds atrocious. It’s almost unbelievable, and actually painful through my Yamaha YST’s. Looking forward to commentary about this from bloggers in the hall.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
The long cadenza. YAY!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
I wish she would smile… it helps us understand the music in parts. She looks so concentrated maybe even too much. I would just rather her look a little happier and excited. Her face looks like she’s upset or completely expressionless, even though her playing sounds incredible.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Follow the pulse. The most important thing in Beethoven is the pulse of the music right through to the end. Loose the pulse, and you lose the power. This means than any interpretive comments by way of rubato must take place without interrupting the underlying pulse. A number of well-known performers don’t get this simple fact. So far, she is following the pulse.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
BRAVA, Mariangela !! If she were a man, I’d call her the “Patriarch of the Piano” …but she’s not, so I’ll call the “Petrarch of the Piano” !! Her playing is SO poetic !!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Here comes the coda of the first movement — one of the most beautiful things in ALL MUSIC!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
I’m guessing this is the von Bulow cadenza, but can’t prove it.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
EB ruined that piano. He pounded it without mercy.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
What a beautiful cadenza.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Wow!!! That was really lovely!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
von bulow is so great
June 5th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
FANTASTIC!!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
LOL. It’s Beethoven’s own cadenza — the second one of two that he left.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
What was that noise? Like a TB ward!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Edward: Without mercy to the piano or the audience?
June 5th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
I can’t help but wonder how the piano is faring at the host home of EB???
June 5th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Thanks for clarifying that cadenza issue, Anton.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
great job!!!huge dynamic,
June 5th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
@ Anton: ROTFLOL!! It does sound like a TB ward. I think the same person loused up the Larghetto in the Chopin.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Man, what is going on with the orchestra tonight in the second movement?!?!?!?
June 5th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Clela: I understand they have piano tuners available 24/7 for the host families. I think EB’s host will definitely need it.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Very nice. Although I don’t know if it’s the webcast or my end, but I can’t always hear the notes played with very soft dynamics. Hmm.
And yes, it’s Beethoven’s cadenza. I really really enjoy it and I was happy to hear her choose it. It seems like fairly few performers do.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
yey for the fingering of trills - 13-23!!! Perfect!!!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
I’m sorry I’m not hearing this in the hall. In the right circumstance this movement can be magical. But between the TB ward and the string intonation…
June 5th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Yes that was very enchanting but, I don’t think I ‘ve ever heard an audience emote so many different noises in my life. Is it just me or are you hearing the same disupting rude intrusions? How much more can Steve admonish this audience to suppress the cough or snort or throat clearing utterance into their arm sleeves or neighbors shoulder. SHEESH!!!!!!!!!!!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
This is much better than the rehearsal (thank goodness).
Really very beautiful.
Just an observation, all these competitors’ hands are enormous, even though they don’t look it. I’m envious.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
She plays the 3rd movement theme great!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Oh, my, that Andante was absolutely sublime! Way to go Mariangela, in spite of the piano issues.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
yea, yea, stratosphere, like op.111….
June 5th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
That first movement was a little shaky. Brittle sound. Nerves?? But she found her groove in the cadenza, and the second movement was beautiful! Third movt. terrific. Go Vacatello!!!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Yes, her playing has depth and understanding.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Was it just me or has this third movement sped up a ton from just the beginning?
June 5th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
And fire.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
She’s very good. She seems to have a good grasp of the entire architecture of the piece. Everything is well-connected and well-related to everything else. Not just a series of phrases stitched together.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
She DID do a glissando. How amazing — that I never saw nor heard before. Eric are you there???
June 5th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Clela,
There was an interview/article published today in the Ft. Worth Star Telegram with/about EB (each day a different performer is featured) and it reported that EB didn’t like the Steinway in his host family’s home—-so they bought him an electric keyboard to practice on.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
I don’t think that there is a very clear tempo in this last movement. She wants to play it faster than the orchestra is willing to go.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
This is SO much better than her rehearsal. I’m really glad. I was very concerned for her. She’s really doing a great job! You go, Girl!!!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
I would freeze in the stratosphere section, and don’t move…this would telegraph much better…Hold on girl, almost done!!! Just don’t rush!!!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
There are so many subtle, magical things one can do with this concerto, if the orchestra/conductor is agreeing, and everyone is on the same page, like a true chamber music piece, listening and responding.
I think they’re doing very well, especially considering the tension and tight schedules. But then again, that’s real life too–2 orchestra rehearsals.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Perfect. Too perfect ?
June 5th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
What?!?!?!! An ELECTRIC keyboard??????
June 5th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
To me the 2nd movement was the best one. A good performance but ….
June 5th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
You heard me right. I couldn’t believe it either. Still can’t.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
@Anton - I saw her do that glissando in the one-on-one rehearsal with Conlon as an option to playing it as a scale (tried it both ways). IMO the glissando is not good, and it’s just as even played as a scale. So I’d deepsix that option from now on..
Excellent 3rd movt.!!!!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Lovely Mariangela. Withouth the doubt up to now Mariangela’s Beethoven 4th and Haochen’s Mozart d minor…best concerti by far
I am so glad for her.
Sorry about the tuning both the piano and the strings. She is doing it thought. BRAVA
June 5th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Clela: Yes, she recovered well from the rehearsal.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
She did very well! This concerto is a bottomless pit for growth and insight, Like Op. 111, so we’ll see how it develops.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
She definitely deserves a medal!! Great job!!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
The glissando is in some editions in parentheses. I don’t know the source for it. Iwas surprised too. But I loved the performance — except for the pesante octaves in the 3rd mvt cadenza. Why after so much wonderful playing would she do that?
June 5th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
It was by no means “perfect”, but in my opinion, warm and human. There were snafus, but moments of wonderful heartfelt expression.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
I wish she looked happier.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
She’s a rather subdued person. Perhaps that’s as happy as she gets….
June 5th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
I agree, Skimmie, a little expression on the face wouldn’t hurt her. Incredible performance, though.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
I loved this performance, but the tempo in the third movement was constantly changing and it was a constant struggle between the orchestra and her, especially before she finished her second-to-last section. At the beginning of the movement I was shocked at the slow tempo the conductor was taking it, however by the end it was the fastest I had ever heard it.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Wow, that was quite an article:
http://www.star-telegram.com/144/story/1415993.html
June 5th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
LOL. Hardly. I know her fairly well. She’s a very spirited person; probably just being super critical of herself….
June 5th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
If the competition ended now, who do you think would medal (just for fun)?
June 5th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
I think she would have looked happier if she had not been required to perform on a destroyed piano.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Good point! I wasn’t watching during the break…didn’t the tuner to come out and check the piano in between?
June 5th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
@Brad, I was startled by those octaves too — surrounded by such marvelous legato playing, they really did stick out. I think she must have just lost her line for a moment.
But really, what an enchanting performance. I think she’s got the Beethoven sound, full of impetus (too many pianists neglect to think of the hammery sound of the fortepiano) but also some stunning cantabile. Her filigree skipped ahead sometimes in the first movement, and I occasionally wanted more shape from them, but overall I don’t think I could have hoped for a better performance. The third movement was spot on.
How I wish she had offered us some late Beethoven in her solo recitals…
June 5th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Lot of fuss about EB’s “banging” (not in my opinion), Tsujii’s sensationality, Son’s wardrobe :-)……..
Meanwhile, this girl is bullying through to the top…….. if she does Prok3 right and little beyond, she’s gonna come the second - Silver, gold or whatever precious metal VC assigns to the 2nd place. Just a hunch……………
June 5th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Vacatello: All the “right” moves. But nothing new to say, and why so extroverted? This work kept her from pulling away from the field.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
still think it might have been von bulow. impossible to know for sure
June 5th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
The tuner was certainly out there after Bozhanov, not sure about after Son. But, really, you can’t expect a piano to be revoiced in a 10-15 minute pause….
June 5th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Anyone else getting the feeling we might see a tie again like before. Either for Gold or Silver?
June 5th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
The performance was definitely better than the rehearsal!!!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Ira, you’re absolutely right. She’s no slouch! I predict a medal for her, but not so sure about the color.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Revoicing wasn’t needed, but some tuning definitely was. It doesn’t take a tuner long to check and correct any out of tune unisons, which make the worst sounds.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
This whole thing is getting very hard to call. It may all come down to the final concerti.
The Russians are coming, the Russians are coming!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
That’s exactly right, you can NOT expect a piano to be properly revoiced in that short a period, and if the tuning block has been pounded into the ICU, then a complete 30 min period at least is required to reset the entire tuning and voicing. just individual notes will not do.
Note to all future contestants in the same competition as Bozhanov- Whatever piano Evgeni decides to play on, avoid that piano at all costs.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Through spectacular bad timing, I’m going to miss the remaining live concerts and awards ceremony because of an out-of-state wedding. You can bet that I’ll come home Sunday night and run directly to my computer for the archives. I hope there will be lingering discussion here into next week.
Nothing beats watching the Cliburn and hanging out in the blog. This is a fabulous community of passionate, deeply informed music lovers. I’ve loved every minute, all agreements and disagreements included.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Well, again I’d say that this was a wonderful performance, and if I happened to be in a city where I could catch it, or happened to hear it on the BBC or something, I’d be a more than happy punter.
But would I go and seek Vacatello specifically out? Not on the strength of this (though I’ve so enjoyed this Cliburn that she will be on my “try to see list” out of loyalty….). She’s a virtuoso - but not a startling one. She’s a warm and generous musician - but not a startling one. She makes very, very few errors of technique or taste - but she neither nails the score nor goes out to the edge.
So, for me, no-one has stuck out yet; but no-one has hit a homer either.
There’s more to go - and several more opportunities for all these great young musicians to just go that extra mile that separates the magnificent from the exceptional. And that “extra mile” can be in a number of different directions: more passion; more warmth; more depth; more exquisite skill; more discipline. But I do think, for all of them (and may they sleep deep and happy tonight) that they should recall Pressler’s advice: don’t try to be better than you already are.
AGB
June 5th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
@Sharon: hahaha - yep, even though we were thrown out of the competition, our fathers (Sergei and Sergei) are still there - cant get rid of us so easily
June 5th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
@Brad Hill- Your comments for the rest of the finals will be GREATLY missed. I have enjoyed what you had to say immensely and hope you have a great time at the wedding. No laptop you can borrow and take with you and connect to some hotspot or person’s internet service while you are gone?
June 5th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
I’m in the same boat as Brad Hill on Sunday afternoon. We’re having a party at my house and I’ll miss the final day, as he will. I too hope to catch up starting on Monday, and the blog too. As for tomorrow, I’ll try to be around. G’nite everybody.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
This concerto is as difficult to accompany well as it is to play. The rushing in movements I and III seemed to be from the inconsistent tempi in the orchestra… often cascading forward while accompanying passage work….nudging the soloist ever so slightly forward…..possibly due to conductor/orchestra thinking beats as opposed to listening carefully to the inner rhythm of the soloist.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Gosh, it looks as though several of us will be missing on Sunday. I, too, have to be elsewhere in the afternoon but will be rushing home to try to catch the awards.
Nite, all!!!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Roger- your comments on Sunday will also be greatly missed. Have a great party.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
L. Peterson, you’re a public menace.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
@Brad. I’ll miss your comments and exchanges and hope the wedding you attend is spectacular.
June 5th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
@A: lol! “appl”
June 5th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
any chance the last movement cadenza was by t. kullak?
June 5th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Markina
where are the russian pianists, really? They don’t make them at Gnessin and the Tchikovsky conservatory or St Petersburg anymore? Did all the good teachers leave the country? or has capitalism lured young russians away from hard work into easy street? It is a mystery to me. I am sure you must have some insight..
June 5th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Anne: What do you mean - where?
We are all here 
Most of the best teachers are out of course, try to leave on that salary… Remember that 29 or so Russians played screening audition for Cliburn, and many Russian-born represented different countries, but we are still here…
Its hard for me to freely answer this question because of the blog guidelines…so may be we can chat by email…
June 5th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
From inside the hall - the piano wasn’t that noticeably out of tune. The Beethoven did have its share of moments though:
- a somewhat comedic moment on the first note of the Andante where some poor viola player jumped the entrance, thus giving us the origin of viola jokes everywhere
- an absolutely aggravating moment in the second movement pseudo-cadenza when the default Sony Ericsson ringtone (you know, the one with the IV - V - I arpeggiated cadence) went off in orchestra left. No idea if this was audible over the webcast - if it wasn’t, consider yourselves lucky, because that would have won the “worst moment to have a cell phone go off” award hands down.
- an “is she seriously going this fast?” moment in the rondo, especially towards the end.
Final note on Vacatello: she played the Prok III at the finals of the Queen Elisabeth two years ago. If that’s any indication of what’s to come on Saturday, it’ll be full of energy and at almost breakneck speed.
June 5th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Brad, I will sure miss your funny bone and colorful insights here. Maybe you can sneak over to an Internet machine during the reception and tune it to the cliburn video or at least to this blog-forum
And if you had the Kindle with its 24-7 free 3G wireless and web browser, it does well on text-based pages like this one, even allowing posting.
Have a good, safe trip and a really fun time. And I imagine that Roger, who at least gets to stay home, will enjoy his own party
June 5th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
too cold. not enough colours
June 6th, 2009 at 1:10 am
Can’t find these performances archived…help!
June 6th, 2009 at 3:22 am
can’t find either…only from June 4th
June 6th, 2009 at 9:07 am
Brilliant! She has been my favourite from day 1.
June 6th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Clela and Roger: Evgeni actually refused to play his host family’s piano, and they bought him a Yamaha Clavinova electric piano instead. Crazy. I read it in an article about him in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
June 6th, 2009 at 10:37 am
First, thank you and your fellow bloggers for creating the excitement of “being there” for the many of us who will never get to “be there”.
I want to buy some of the offered dvds and would love some comments on on where to best spend my money.
Will cd’s be offered for the two days of piano marathons?