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WARNING Evgeny Kissin WARNING

205.188.197.57
Posted on April 29, 2000 at 12:19:56
Brian Cheney


 
While browsing Gergiev online, came across a free sampler--"Evgeny Kissin a Pianist Like No Other" and ordered it (hey--I said it was FREE).
Blurb on the back quotes the New York times:"An undisputably superb pianist...astonishing virtuosity, a deeply feeling and communicative musician...a phenomenal talent".

Makes you wonder what the critic REALLY thought about Kissin. I remembered rave reviews of his work elsewhere. Never had heard a note of him, so I give the sampler (featuring excerpts from 8 different albums) a spin.

First item, Chopin prelude #16, which goes by in ONE MINUTE FLAT. Never heard anyone with seven fingers on each hand. Never uses the pedal so must lack feet. Tone is really big and really hard. Photo shows a kid of about 13. And to think I studied the preludes.

Next up: Beethoven Moonlight, first five minutes. Artist runs the emotional gamut from A (fast and loud) to B (soft and slow). Very glad when the fadeout arrives.

Track 3: Rach 2nd concerto, 3rd movement. Kissin must hate the piece, the melody is manhandled and the rest is for show. Increasingly uncomfortable to hear, glad when the fadeout hits...

Item 4: Schumann symphonic etudes finale. Incredibly loud and foursquare, pounded to death. Very glad when piece is over.

Track 5: Liszt etude trancendante f minor: better faring here, since the music has no content. Still by end I realize the pianist is too shallow even for Liszt

Track 6: Chopin concerto 2, movement 3 excerpt. And to think Rubinstein plays this with elegance, even poetry. Kissin dashes up and down with tail on fire. Pointless and ugly.

Track 7; Schuman Kreisleriana "Auesserst bewegt". Liner note misspells "auesserst" as "Ausherst". Schumann's most virtuosic piece, reducing to treacly display. Very glad when it's over.

Finale: Schumann-Liszt Widmung: Schumann's most heartfelt melody wrapped in Lisztian embellishment. Kissin cannot play the melody, gets lost in filigree. Pointless and ugly (did I say that already?)

AVOID THIS GUY LIKE THE PLAGUE!!

Big B


 

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Re: WARNING Evgeny Kissin WARNING, posted on April 30, 2000 at 03:00:40
Rob


 
OHmygawd..... I love Kissin, because he makes music interesting, makes me think about preconceived ideas I'm cherishing and if it's right to have those ideas. Yes, he sometimes is like Argerich, but he can get that tone only the really great ones could get and yes, he's thoroughly Russian, more Russian than Richter.

What about Gergiev?

Rob



 

Let's get him Rob!, posted on April 30, 2000 at 03:07:40
Ears


 
Kissin seems to be a pianist that people either love or hate. His set of Chopin Preludes are my current favorite. He takes #16 at just about the same speed as Argerich but because of his tight rhythmic control, it's not the screaming terror that Argerich turns it into. His touch is often hard, in that he reminds me of Brendel and that's my main complaint about Kissin's playing. I'm puzzled by your remark about the Moonlight because the entire first movement of the sonata is slow. Kissin's performance of that sonata has been an unusual listening experience for me. I strongly disliked it when I first got it, but on repeated listenings I've grown to like it a lot. I like Kissin's Kreisleriana too, probably for the same reason you don't. My take on Schumann's piano music is that it *is* rather treacly. Schumann's music lacks the tension building restraint of Chopin's music. I see Schumann as more of a gut-spiller, much more of a Romantic than Chopin. Probably sounds like I don't much care for Schumann's piano music, but he's one of my 5 or 6 favorite composers of it. I wouldn't say avoid Kissin like the plague, but I wouldn't advise anyone to buy the "Complete Kissin Box Set" if there were such a thing. People's reactions to him just vary too much for that.

 

Re: WARNING Evgeny Kissin WARNING, posted on April 30, 2000 at 03:10:22
Ears


 
***he makes music interesting, makes me think about preconceived ideas I'm cherishing and if it's right to have those ideas.***

Me, too.

 

I'm coming Ears!, posted on April 30, 2000 at 03:16:42
Rob


 
I've got nothing to add to your statements, but he's one of those pianists which left me flabbergaster and completely amazed after leaving the hall. His tone was the most richest I ever heard, like Oistrakh can have the sound of three or four violins, Kissin sounds like four pianos while being capable of sounding as no piano either. I like that.

Rob

 

ROB....you've got to be kidding........More Russian than Richter..., posted on April 30, 2000 at 08:47:09
Tom B.


 
....Kissin can't be mentioned in the same conversation, let alone compared to the great Sciatoslav........you've been drinking too much Beer!

Warmest Regard's, Tom B.

 

Re: WARNING Brian Cheney Kissin WARNING, posted on May 1, 2000 at 07:46:43
Dr. T


 
My computer crashed last night when I first saw this. It is probably a good thing--without sufficient time to settle down, I might have said something rash. Kissin is an incredible talent. Already he has a techinique that is the class of Richter, Horowitz, and Gilels. And his musicality and intellectual depth is astonishing for a man as young as he is. I heard him in a recital in Chicago a few years ago that was nothing less than astonishing. I have never heard a recital in which the audience was even close to as overwhelmed as that one. It seemed that the audience was not going to let him go home. He must have played a half dozen encores. He filled the hall like no other pianist I have ever heard--and in Orchestra Hall Chicago, I have heard Horowitz, both Serkins, Arrau, Brendel, Schiff. Kissin started with the Busoni arrangement of the Bach Chaccone from the 2nd Violin Partita. It was unbelievable. A Mount Everest of sound, color, structure, grace, sublimity and spirituality. On my top 5 list of the greatest things I have ever heard in a concert hall. The technical feats Kissin is capable of are breathtaking. But more than that, he has an amazing natural musicality that makes every phrase convincing. It is not just fireworks, although when fire is called for, he provides it in provides it in abundance. But he also plays with delicacy and sublety when the music calls for it. He certainly does play in a rather old-fashioned, Russian school manner. But hey, thank God someone is keeping that tradition alive.

My advice to all: If you ever have a chance to hear Kissin live, do whatever it takes to be there. And snatch up every recording you can get your hands on. In a half century you will be telling your grandchildren about it. When critics are discussing the early phase of the career of the greatest pianist of the 21st century, you can say that your heard him in the first decade of the century.

Forgive me for holding back, but sometimes I think understatement is the most effective rhetorical device.

 

Re: WARNING Brian Cheney Kissin WARNING, posted on May 1, 2000 at 08:38:25
Brian Cheney


 
Dear Doctor,

I'm glad Kissin sounded good to you in recital. My impressions are based on the sampler disc his record company is distributing, one cut from each of his eight RCA albums.

Classical music is a hard enough sell without performers like Kissin making a complete hash of the standard repetoire, and being praised for it. As a former piano student I am familiar with the works he plays on this disc and I have never heard such amusical, egotiscal, display oriented, insightless trash in my entire life. Yes his technique is first rate, maybe the best. It doesn't matter. There are much better versions of what he plays available from great masters. Newbies recommended to Kissin might think this is how such works should be played. Nothing is further from the truth. The man is a speed-obsessed, empty-headed poseur. No wonder RCA wants to cancel his contract.

Don't ask me what I REALLY think of him.

One of the cuts on the sampler is from a live performance, so there is little reason to assume he's any better in person.

Big B

 

Re: WARNING Brian Cheney Kissin WARNING, posted on May 1, 2000 at 09:22:55
Dr. T


 
My wife is a current piano teacher with a consevatory degree in piano performance, and while she is not given to hyperbole as much as I, her assessment of Kissen (based on a number of recitals and several recordings) is much closer to mine than to yours. So also is that of most of the critics I have seen address the subject of Kissin's playing.

 

Re: WARNING Brian Cheney Kissin WARNING, posted on May 1, 2000 at 09:51:40
Brian Cheney


 
I will be happy to discuss the detestable Mr. Kissin with your wife--have her email me.

In the 1940's and 50's, despite the presence and activities of masters such as Horowitz and Schnabel, Serkin and Kempff, do you know which classical pianist sold more records than anyone else (until 1958 and Van Cliburn that is), was lionized by fans, praised by critics, and maintained a superstar aura whenever he appeared in recital or with orchestra? You'll never guess.

It was Jose Iturbi.

So much for popularity contests.

Big B

 

Excellent post, posted on May 1, 2000 at 10:16:31
Rob


 
Kissin rules and he's great in every respect and the moment most hailed pianist in pianistic Holland and completely justifiedly taken into the creme de la creme of 'Great Pianists of the Century', something I can't say about Van Cliburn, because his 'Russianism' isn't Russianism.

Rob

 

Ooooh! More...MORE, posted on May 1, 2000 at 10:16:44
The Real Dave


 
Am I the only one who's enjoying this discussion? :-)

 

Re: Ooooh! More...MORE, posted on May 1, 2000 at 10:27:49
Brian Cheney


 
Thank you, Real Dave, for your support.

It's time we Right-Thinking, True-Blue classical lovers marshalled forces against the Kissin-kissin' Forces of Evil. My 4", four color "EVGENY SUCKS PUPPIES" lapel button is $1.00 postpaid. Fake plastic boaters with "Save Our Kids--DEPORT KISSIN" hatbands are $3.00 plus shipping. Shards of smashed E.K. CD's, suitable for framing, are free of charge with every $50 donation to my "Kill Kissin The Red Manace" Foundation. You can also join the "MITTENS FOR KISSINS" PAC for $10, make out checks to me personally.

Big B

 

ROTFL, posted on May 1, 2000 at 10:35:29
Rob


 
This is hilarious, but so in contrast to reality.....

Sorry Brian,

Rob

 

Re: ROB....you've got to be kidding........More Russian than Richter..., posted on May 1, 2000 at 10:38:13
Rob


 
I always drink too much beer, but the guy is really very Russian.

Rob

 

Re: Ooooh! More...MORE, posted on May 1, 2000 at 11:33:09
Dr. T


 
This morning in the office I was greeted by an e-mail message announcing an up-coming presentation on the use of humor to relieve stress. I guess you are proving that it works.

 

Re: ROB....you've got to be kidding........More Russian than Richter..., posted on May 1, 2000 at 11:34:47
Dr. T


 
The guy is from Russia, after all

 

Who said anything about popularity contests?, posted on May 1, 2000 at 11:57:32
Dr. T


 
Not I! I am talking about what I heard and what a number of other thoughtful, critical listeners have heard.

 

Re: WARNING Brian Cheney Kissin WARNING, posted on May 1, 2000 at 12:07:32
Ears


 
***It seemed that the audience was not going to let him go home. He must have played a half dozen encores.***

I read something(can't remember what it was in) that said at one of his concerts he performed so many encores that the hall management finally turned out the lights on him.

***Kissin started with the Busoni arrangement of the Bach Chaccone from the 2nd Violin Partita. It was unbelievable. ***

The recording of it is wonderful, too. I'm waiting for the day that Kissin seriously begins taking on the Bach repertoire. Kissin says Bach is his favorite composer.

***The technical feats Kissin is capable of are breathtaking. ***

Yep.

***But more than that, he has an amazing natural musicality that makes every phrase convincing. ***

Yep, again.

***When critics are discussing the early phase of the career of the greatest pianist of the 21st century, you can say that your heard him in the first decade of the century.***

Eventhough Kissin has been recording for around 15 years, he's just getting started. As of now, Kissin "owns" the 21st Century.



 

Re: Ooooh! More...MORE, posted on May 1, 2000 at 14:06:19
Jorge F


 
I can only answer that after consulting my attorney :-)
To be or not to be... pc, that's the question :-)






Regards,

Jorge





 

Re: WARNING Brian Cheney Kissin WARNING, posted on May 1, 2000 at 14:50:10
Ears


 
***One of the cuts on the sampler is from a live performance, so there is little reason to assume he's any better in person.***

Is that the Chopin Concerto track? That *was* a 12-year-old playing it.


 

Re: WARNING Brian Cheney Kissin WARNING, posted on May 1, 2000 at 15:00:05
Rob


 
Ohmygawd, that one with the Moscow Philharmonic? Christ......

Rob

 

Yes! Mindblowing, huh?(nt), posted on May 1, 2000 at 15:02:54
Ears


 

 

Yep. 12 years old...... OOOOOhhhhhh <nt>, posted on May 1, 2000 at 15:08:32
Rob


 
.

 

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