Zhang: the final recital
Prok-Rach Weekend begins! But first a prelude, as Haochen Zhang traverses Brahms’s Handel Variations and Fugue, and delivers one more Gaspard.
The Brahms seems well chosen. Unlike Bozhanov, say, Zhang is very good at drawing within the lines, and that’s a virtue in this piece; Brahms turned Handel’s little tune into a large-scale set of variations, setting it on a trajectory defined by Bach’s Goldbergs and Beethoven’s Diabellis. But while it has typically Brahmsian rhythmic and harmonic touches, it never leaves Handel behind. Zhang was restrained, with a relatively narrow dynamic range, little rubato and modest variation in the repeats, but his transitions were well marked and his touch crisp, clear and unforced. Sharp staccatos, delicate ornaments, smooth double octaves, secure leaps–all satisfying within a generally formal context. (By the way, was he singing along with the ninth variation?) Then his fugue, which was expansive and magnificent by contrast. I’d love to see Zhang and Bozhanov go mano a mano, one doing the Haydn Variations and the other doing the Davidsbündlertänze, and then switching. That would be wildly illuminating.
His Ravel was, was, was…well, terrific. But. He came shortly after a commanding performance by Vacatello, who got closer to the sinister, fantastic sense of the piece. And it’s not as though he was tame–he was technically dazzling, drew big dynamic contours and made big, hard sounds out of all proportion to his slender frame. But I kept thinking, Threaten me, kid!
James McQuillen
June 6th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Go Haochen!
June 6th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
This is a great piece. Let’s see how he does.
June 6th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
A pure and perfect start! My housework can wait–
June 6th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
These finalists all play great. It will come down to personality, charisma, and other intangibles.
June 6th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Is that him thumping on the pedal???
June 6th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
I am enjoying his playing very much.
June 6th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Not familiar with the piece, but so far so good.
June 6th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Pretty humdrum Brahms so far…where’s the cloudiness, the mystery?
June 6th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
I am just not a big fan of this piece…Can’t just objectively… May be its him, or may be its me not liking the music so much…
June 6th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Well I guess he could make it a little more interesting but doing something different in the repeats…
June 6th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
What an amazing set of variations.
June 6th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
I really love this piece…
June 6th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
I’m with Maestra so far. He has lots of variety in his dynamics and the notes are all there, but there’s so little variation in tempo I can almost hear the metronome ticking. A piece like this needs a strong rhythmic foundation, but he seems to have poured the concrete, stepped in it and waited for it to dry. Let’s see how the fugue goes.
June 6th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
it sounds pretty dry to me so far.
June 6th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Not ENOUGH variation in the dynamics!
June 6th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
I think out of all the finalists, Haochen is the most well-balanced as far as absolute technical command, and a high musical IQ. I sometimes wish he would take a few more musical risks…but that’s about all I would be able to say.
June 6th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
He really lets the music speak for itself, without feeling the need to “do” anything to it. In an age so influenced by LangLang’s eccentric phrases and seasick musicality, it’s refreshing for me to hear someone who doesn’t fit that mould.
June 6th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Variation 20, my favorite, is marked “piano” and “legatissimo”. Where was it???
June 6th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I’m hearing all the notes but craving a broader tonal palette and emotional range. There…. we get some in the g minor variation, but that’s a long time to wait. He is incredibly secure though–but that’s a starting point.
June 6th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Can’t we please leave Lang Lang out of this discussion - we’re listening to a much higher level of musicmaking, my little gripes notwithstanding
June 6th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
This music is so uplifting.
June 6th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Ah, this is what I’ve been waiting to see how he does. . the fugue.
June 6th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Thank you, Maestra M., re: LL
June 6th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Maestra,
Little gripes? Your acidic words can burn through concrete Phil talked about. Keep them coming.
June 6th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
He’s getting better and better as the competition goes, and is certainly staying solid as well. I wasn’t a fan of his first and second round recitals, but so far his concerto and this recital have been great.
June 6th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
@Eric: It’s comforting that Lang Lang Syndrome has not infected the Asian pianists, at least the semifinalists and finalists (haven’t heard most of the prelim recitals). Boz, however, seems to have picked up a strain of it.
June 6th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Emotionally, architecturally, it seems like a different pianist is playing the fugue.
June 6th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
@Eric—another question for you, hope it’s OK! Since you obviously know HZ from school, and mention his “high musical IQ”, I am just wondering, is he really an educated and curious musician? (I’m not suggesting that he sounds like he’s not, but it’s hard to tell sometimes—everyone is always so prepared in a competition.)
I only know him as someone who’s always opening the door into your practice room to look… LOL…
Sounds incredible!
June 6th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
BTW, that fugue was very impressive, lest I be misunderstood
June 6th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Great Brahms, but I’m not sure I like this Ondine much…
June 6th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
and someone will mention the edition of Ravel in 5,4,3….
June 6th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
That was a very good beginning to Ondine
June 6th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Bravo on the fugue. The last two pages blew me away. He’s so skinny he’d blow away in a strong breeze — where does that big sound come from? I find Bozhanov more interesting musically, but this young man is charging down the backstretch, metronome and all.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
@John M. . .LOL
June 6th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
@A– haha.. Yes he is. He is an extremely bright (and kind) guy with a deep and profound love for music. I had the privilege to play Brahms 2 with him when he was barely 16 if that. But to hear how he’s grown in the last few years as a musician is really incredible.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Which piano is he playing? (Did they bury the one last night with the proper rites?)
June 6th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
May be because i love the climax of ondine so much, that seemed seductive to me…
very nice….
June 6th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
he is playing new york
June 6th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
@Absolutely, Maestra. All the notes, shimmering and clear to start. And it’s relaxed and flowing.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
For me his Oundine is too clear concerning to the sound….the mystery in the sound quality lacks and the impressionism is somehow gone. What do you think???
June 6th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
@Eric… thanks. Takes out the reservation out of rooting for him ,’ya know…
June 6th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
I’m loving his Gaspard!!! (Dripping with envy here!!)
June 6th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
That Ondine was damned good!!
June 6th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Where were those emotions in Mozart i wonder?
June 6th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
@Cliburn admin — When are you going to publish the schedule for the rest of the day?
June 6th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I think Gaspard de La Nuit is lifetime piece…and to really understand the piece you need to live the life and be mature enough…
June 6th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Very impressive Ondine for sure.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Loved Ondine — the last page was close to perfect. And he’s doing even better with Le Gibet — all mystery and nuance, and the tolling bells are gorgeous.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
This Ravel is the best pianism I’ve heard from him so far.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
It’s a nit: the B-flats are too similar in voicing and presence to the melody in Le Gibet. Otherwise it’s an admirable performance.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
@A– root away! I really think he will win second, and I’m starting to think that first prize will not awarded. I don’t think he’s quite old enough or quite on a high enough level musically (yet) for them to give him gold. The one and only thing he lacks for me is the musical freedom to be absolutely creative and take my breath away (and that’s very important). But that’s a very very small thing in comparison to all of the wonderful wonderful things he can do at the piano. And on top of that, he’s been damningly consistent throughout this whole competition. I really don’t see how they put anyone on top of him.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Mesmerizing!
June 6th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
very nice scarbo!!! i am scared…
June 6th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
WOW — the Scarbo is FABULOUS! Eric, I have been thinking silver medal for him for the first round. I really like this kid, and his playing. What a gift!
Hi, there, A
June 6th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
@Eric. Cliburn rules state that a first must be awarded
June 6th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
I meant SINCE the first round.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
@Marcus Cato: The schedule is at
http://www.cliburn.org/index.php?page=13th_tickets
1:30 p.m. - Mr. Haochen Zhang (Recital)
2:45 p.m. - Ms. Yeol Eum Son (Prokofiev, Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 16)
3:45 p.m. - Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii (Rachmaninoff, Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18)
7:30 p.m. - Ms. Di Wu (Recital)
8:45 p.m. - Mr. Evgeni Bozhanov (Rachmaninoff, Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18)
9:45 p.m. - Ms. Mariangela Vacatello (Prokofiev, Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26)
June 6th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
@John Mc– Wow, I didn’t know that. Well, that changes everything!
June 6th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
SO CLEAN!!!
June 6th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
@Erik, I conjectured the same about not awarding a first prize in one of my prior posts. Zhang is certainly has come the farthest from semis..
I can see silver for him as well.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
i like the same finger(s) repeated notes…could never quite decide what fingering to use for them!
June 6th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
His consistency, of all the players, is the most amazing, I think.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Well– I have to go, unfortunately– I have a lesson of my own! I have E- Competition, Cleveland, and Leeds this summer so I’m killing myself sitting here and listening to everyone instead of practicing haha. Its so fascinating though!!.. Enjoy Yeoleum’s Prokoviev. Anton- let me know how it is
June 6th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Hopefully, Tsujii will not be awarded a medal because of his physical disability, not Zhang denied one bevause of his age disability. The Judges are hopefully above that kind of influence.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Later, Eric!!!
June 6th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
That was spectacular !
June 6th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
BRAVO, young man!!!
June 6th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
WOW!!!!! His musical maturity for his age, or any age, is absolutely astounding. That Ravel was riveting!!!!
June 6th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
This recital is a game changer for me. Wow!
June 6th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Boy, that was one good Scarbo!!
June 6th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Wasn’t this recital wonderful!
I agree totally with @Eric about positioning him above everyone else.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
They are all great. Wait till Son comes up with her concerto. Everyone will be raving about her.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
the hankerchiefs are always so conspicuous
June 6th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
where is the piano going?
June 6th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
@ Ken: I agree about Son. I was really excited when I heard her rehearsal
June 6th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Eric,
Love so much of your many insights.
May I remind everybody what Nikta said about Cliburn? “Is he the best? Then give him the prize!”
To me, Haochen is THE golden boy
June 6th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Absolultely marvelous, marvelous! This “young” man has an old soul.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
… and Zhang will be playing the same concerto as Son, tomorrow at 2:45. This will be exciting, up until the very end. But with this performance by Zhang, I’m ready to vote now!
June 6th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
He played SO well!!!
June 6th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Clevelander here. It will be so interesting to experience the performance(s) of someone contributing to this wonderful blog. All the best!
June 6th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
@Eric… enjoy your lesson. I agree with your assessment completely. What strikes me about HZ is the seeming absence of ego in his music-making. Pure, yet earnest, stylish, yet sincere… And nary a wrong note, dammit. Perhaps the “imagination” caveat you talk about comes from the injection of a liiiiittle bit of a personal pianistic ego… the helpful kind. (And I mean it in a different way from “confidence”, of which HZ seems to have plenty!) Anyway, it’ll probably come with age…
June 6th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
He just seems to get better and better each recital! Ravel was absolutely fantastic. He definitely deserves something (All of them do though really haha).
His programming is excellent, showing us his Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Schumann, Brahms/Handel, Stravinsky and now Ravel! Ending with Prokofiev just completes the journey and I can’t wait to hear it!
June 6th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Question for Eric Zuber and Anton Nel:
Is it normal in the classical music industry to discover a young unknown such as Haochen Zhang or Nobu Tsujii at top competitions such as this ?
June 6th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Best Scarbo I’ve heard in 15 years. If he nails the Prokofieff concerto, he’ll be hard to beat.
I also want to echo Erik’s point about Zhang’s no-nonsense approach to his craft. Whether you think it’s staged or involuntary, most of us seem to agree that strange faces and hand ballets like Bozhanov has shown us are at least a distraction from an ideal musical experience. None of that with this young man. If the more “expressive” approach gets under the skin of enough jurors. Zhang may be giving them another way to go.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
@A. YES!!!!
June 6th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
We need another thread for the next gossipping
June 6th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
I am happy to see that China does have real musicians and artists like Zhang to offer to the world instead of mere superficial showmanship and PR like LL.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Who is PR?
June 6th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Looking back at the whole recital: it’s hard to believe that the Haochen who could fill out the phrases of Gaspard with such drama, clarity and precision would find it even constitutionally possible to play such a flat set of Brahms variations (the fugue was grand).
It’s a mystery to me, but it seems to hint that pieces like the Brahms and K.466 (even the op 110) are just less accessible to his substantial gift.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
no no what is PR?
June 6th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
James: I’ve heard humming, and other sounds from Zhang in previous recitals also.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
No doubt this fellow is an extraordinary talent - really, he makes it all sound so easy, and so painless. And he brings exquisite taste to what he’s doing. You have to think he has a wonderful, long, long career ahead of him. And he’s surely not in a bad place now. I just don’t know that I’m going to remember exactly what he did today, tomorrow.
I’m not - honestly! - trying to damn with faint praise. It’s a joy and a privilege to hear this young man, and I sense that in years to come I will boast of having heard him, extensively, when he was a mere slip of a lad…..
But for me it just not, right now, startling, exceptional, world-class memorable.
AGB
June 6th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
To Anton Nel - Love your comments. Keep them coming. I still remember you and Jon Kimura Parker in Seattle playing Rite of Spring on one piano. I was SCARED the entire time. It was great.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
@Floatingbridge — THANK YOU!
June 6th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
One aspect I like Zhang very much is he does not appear to care whether he is playing in a competition or not. Every time he is on the stage, it appears he plays because he loves to play the piano. He does not need any facial and bodily mannerism to tell the audience how much in his heart that he enjoys his music.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
I have felt from very beginning, there is greatness in Haochen.
If you don’t pay close enough attention, however, you’d dismiss him easily as another over-practiced Chinese pianist who is too mechanical without any understanding of music.
Maybe Haochen couldn’t move you at first speaks more about you than about him.
Because he is simply on another level.
By the way, LL is the product of US PR and marketing machine. It has very little to do with China
June 6th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
PR means public relations.
June 6th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Just be curious, if any of you had the feeling of suddenly hearing the sound of organ during his playing of Brahms. Fabulous!
June 6th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Zhang should win first place: hands down. I believe that the second place should be to Tsujii. Unfortunately, Tsujii’s Rachminov Second was quite weak. I heard the recording of Sultanov playing it in 1989 in this very competition. He was THE STANDARD for the piece. Sultanov was the CLEAR winner in 1989; no one could even touch him I think!! I would vote Bozhanov third for his unique ideas, even if people do not agree with him. But he may not be in the top three by the jury; I think he is too eccentric to be placed in the top three. Maybe the third place would go to Vacatello or Son or even Wu. I think third place is really a toss-up.
What is interesting is that there were two other Japanese pianists that were 4th place in Warsaw Chopin that did not even get through the screening recitals; Takashi Yamamoto and Shohei Sekimoto. I don’t care for yamamaoto too much, but like Sekimoto a lot. I am disappointed he was not chosen as one of the 30. Also, Colleen Lee did not pass her screening recitals, and she plays Chopin and Schumann REALLY exquisitely. she was the 6th in Warsaw Chopin 2005. I was really surprised these names were not among the 30 chosen!!
June 6th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Yes, HZ does hum sometimes while he plays. I’ve caught it quite often during other performances. A little Gould thing going on.
June 6th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
In my opinion, it’s difficult for a jury in this kind of competition to award a high medal for someone like Tsujii because his program did not include a single piece by Mozart, Haydn or Bach. I attended a concert some years ago by an Italian pianist also sightless. He also had some difficulty playing a concerto. Yes, I was very surprised that Sekimoto wasn’t chosen. I heard him in Suntory Hall and he was great. Also, Colleen Lee. I heard her perform in Hong Kong. She is very gifted and very musical. I guess they probably just had a bad day at their audition.
June 6th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Yes, I think the pianist is Luca Rascia (the Italian that was sightless)? Also, there was another blind japanese pianist (I think name is Takahashi) that was 2nd place at the Concours Long-Thibaud a while back (I think 1999-2001) and he moved the audience in the same way back then.
Anyway, I studied for a few years with the teacher that had taught Ning An (semifinalist 2005), Christopher Taylor (3rd place 1993), Christopher O’riley (5th place 1981), Tian Ying (5th place 1989), and former contestants Jong-Hwa and Jong-Gyung Park. I remember that Minsoo Sohn (who was in my studio at the time) kept trying (I think he played the screening auditions at least twice) and NEVER got into the main competition, even though he had success as finalist in Queen Elisabeth, third in Busoni, 2nd in Cleveland, and 1st in Esther Honens, and 5th in Rubinstein. so despite having good sucess in the other major competitions, he never had success at the Cliburn!! So I think there is very specific unique criteria they look for at the screening auditions. It is a HUGE cut from 150 to 30, without having the benefit of an intermediary round (and only 40 minues of playing) like most other competitions (Chopin competition has two cuts to reduce the field this much). I think maybe two rounds of playing at each screening location (with a cut inbetween) could help with such an enormous task. At this stage and very high level (which is expected), a lot of the decision comes down to personal taste (and even somtimes, unfortunately, connections), even though I think the jury has been very fair in the live round, which is good. I think the Cliburn live jury has been pretty equitable unlike the jury of other major competitions sometimes.