Alexander Kobrin
A few more words on Kobrin, with particular thanks to Andrys for her detailed comments –
Just so all readers will know, Andrys Basten and I have chatted many times over the years in various classical music discussion groups and by e-mail. Our tastes are often similar, so I think we’re mutually surprised by our reactions to Kobrin.
To clarify what may have been obscured by my visceral reaction: I consider Kobrin almost as finished an artist as Plano. He has a large and effortless technique, well-developed tone production, and an ability to project his musical ideas with precision and reliability. The problem for me is that he’s a canonical example of the “Let the music speak for itself” school (a categorization with which many listeners will disagree). For me, his meticulously plotted readings have all the musical interest of a roadmap.
I didn’t find Kobrin either understated *or* overstated, but simply affectless. The emotion, such as it was, felt calculated to the Nth degree. I don’t think my relative lack of sleep was a significant factor in reacting to his playing. I’d found his Brahms Quintet two nights earlier equally computer-like. Also, I enjoyed the performance following Kobrin’s quite a bit (Chu-Fang Huang’s Schumann Quintet).
This afternoon, I’m going to listen to the preliminary-round recitals of all six finalists. I’ll finally get to hear Sa Chen’s near-legendary Gaspard, and I’ll have another chance to see if my opinion of Kobrin changes.
Give me a nice funeral if I don’t survive.
- Carl Tait
12:18 PM, 31 May 2005
May 31st, 2005 at 10:48 am
You are hilarious, Carl. You’re a survivor.
At any rate, to be clear, I run an Argerich page, so am definitely more drawn
normally to pianists who escape the borders, and I am violently against the
concept of “Let the music speak for itself” which is likeliest the emptiest
musical concept ever sprung. I want an interpreter with very human emotions
and warmth. However, our only difference (though it’s a big one) is that
I hear the emotions from his playing. I am not a Pollini fan (except when he
was playing in Romantic style in the 60s). Nor even Michelangeli inclined.
So, that’s where I’m coming from. Thanks again for your excellent detail.
This will be a very interesting week!
May 31st, 2005 at 11:07 am
Carl — useful points all. I will be intrigued to see if your view doesn’t “grudgingly moderate” (wink!) after you hear Kobrin’s prelim and then see his semi in that context. I’m with Andrys — I hear the emotions, too. It would be nice if you did, not because it’s so important that you agree, but simply because you could then have the pleasure of enjoying what he offers!
What strikes me about Kobrin is his staying power. I had him ranked sixth coming out of the prelims, with Moutouzkine (and Yang and An) ranked ahead. I noticed something as I was reviewing the names of the semifinalists the day that level of the competition began: I could not recall a thing about Moutouzkine other than his physical presence on stage, but I could remember significant passages of what Kobrin did in detail; I remembered how he played, specific aspects of how his performance made me feel, etc.
I figure if someone is having that kind of staying power with me, I need to stick with him.
May 31st, 2005 at 11:39 am
I was not overly impressed with Kobrin’s performance when I watched him via the Webcast but, today, I heard him featured on NPR’s Performance Today and what a difference a good sound makes — for all I know, it probably helped as well that this was only audio, no video. PT featured a few of the movements from the Haydn sonata as well as the Chopin nocturne which he played during the prelims and the Nocturne was quite moving, the Haydn, crisp yet elegant.
For those interested in checking, go to http://www.npr.org/programs/pt and somewhere in there is a list of radio stations nationwide which broadcast the 2 hours of PT. Some stations subscribe only to the first hour and the VC performances are usually part of the 2nd hour. I believe the PT staff makes the choices as to whom to feature. Last week, they featured Soyeon Lee’s performance of a Haydn Sonata before the semifinalists were announced. After the semifinalists were announced and before the finalists were known, they featured more prelim performances from Yang (the last 3 movements of Bach’s Fr. Ov) and Sa Chen (Feux Follets), then Cabassi and Plano (Debussy and Scarlatti, respectively).
June 1st, 2005 at 5:32 am
I agree with your opinions about Kobrin and other finalists.
best regards,
Sandro.
June 1st, 2005 at 6:38 am
Kobrin is a great artist, and it is very easy to forget he is just a 25-year old kid. I found his Brahms-Paganini infuriating, but his message is one that we cannot ignore, and he is most very definitevely not “cold.” His performances reek with emotion and passion and exhuberance, it is just that it is not in the cheap places.
He reminds me of Ioudenitch last time around, except that Kobrin is much less quirky, and has a much more generous sound and much much much more technique.
All that said, I like Cabassi’s simple, joyous and lush performances much better. I think the winner is between those two, but now they have to play two concerti and a recital, much music still to go!
June 2nd, 2005 at 8:33 pm
I’m sorry…but, I disagree with you Carl. I absolutely enjoyed Kobrin’s performance, and I found it just the opposite of “cold”. He has a beautiful sound/tone and an amazing technique, combined with a passion for the music.
Another favorite of mine is Sa Chen. However, I would probably choose Kobrin over Chen because of consistency. Kobrin seems to be more consistent in all his performances, while Chen is sometimes phenomenal and at other times, playing far from her best.
June 4th, 2005 at 9:10 am
yeah… a real staying power: Kobrin is amazing. I met him two years ago, and still remember how he played he first note of his concerto. It was the best musical experience of my life…and much more.
July 1st, 2005 at 9:18 am
I have listened to Mr. Kobrin. His style,interpretation leads me to believe that he may be the next big…really big star on the horizion. Bravo Mr. Kobrin.. Bravo…Barvo !!!