She has a most beautiful touch and her improvisatory approach to this Rhapsody is ideal. Liszt allowed a certain amount of freedom in the performance of his works. Maybe not so much in the Sonata in B minor as Hough suggested, but here it works brilliantly.
She plays it very well in her own style at around 2:00 and it's far from difficult to listen to. But what Hough does from 2:20 onwards makes you question how on earth you could feel it any other way.
The student is Wu Qian, born in 1984 in Shanghai, and evidently a rising luminary on the classical piano scene. Has a 2009 CD of Schumann, Prior, and Liszt on the Dal Segno label. I don't think I've ever seen such beautiful hands!
If only every teacher could be this kind and clear. Other teachers give advice with such vague words and expect you to understand what they mean. Instead of telling her it's wrong he praises her playing while offering other suggestions. I hope when I start taking formal lessons that my teacher is similar to him.
The piano encompasses the range, dynamic and can suggest the texture of an orchestra.Stephen shares his understanding of this. The melody shines through with the clarity and emotion of a lead orchestral instument - but! Let's give the accompaniment a 'one time' chance to shine through, with LH staccato - why not, s'wonderful! No matter how technically difficult a piece may be - Stephen conveys his emotion through whatever music he's playing. Nowadys, folk like to hear a good tune played well!
It's so fascinating to hear how two pianists can make such completely different sounds. It's particularly extraordinary when you hear two pianists play the same piece on the same piano.
+LisztyLiszt Well - for one thing she is on a Steinway and he is on a Yamaha. Just saying. But having said that...yes, you make a good point. Artist versus student.
+thomasg321 I can clearly see that which is why I said; "It's particularly extraordinary when you hear two pianists play the same piece on the same piano." She is an artist too. It would be fairer to say master and student.
What a beautiful video of a masterful artist/teacher, and an amazingly responsive student with incredible talent. The only thing that ruined it was the moronic posts below from idiots that try to compare and contrast Asians with others, none of whom have a fraction of the talent of this young lady, and who's comments read like they suffer from chronic anal problems.
Most of these piano masterclasses, the teacher makes a suggestion, and then the student doesn't do it. But she takes direction very well. However I do feel with a piece like this, you have to have a lot more fun with it, exaggerate more than she's doing.
They don't do it because most times they don't understand what exactly it is that they should do. There are phenomenal pianists out there who aren't equally amazing as teachers. Yuja Wang is one such example. Being a good teacher is another kind of gift.
@AlexPxr8 Hi, Stephen Hough is enormously famous and in the classical music world! Check him out on his webiste, Twitter and by reading his Telegraph blogs.
@thepianovirtuoso: Yes, of course - I apologize for my mistake! I was tired and didn't pay attention... And even if one doesn't recognize the piece, Hough actually mentions that it is the Hungarian Rhapsody they are playing at 1:42. I guess the Spanish Rhapsody is covered in the full DVD. ;p
@predoje At one time, a few months ago, there were about 6 of these Stephen Hough masterclass videos on here, featuring 2 different students. I didn't realise all the others had been deleted!
@laqin007 Hey, don't be too picky! She is a good pianist, and at that time, a student. Maybe she learnt a lot of other things from him. She hardly sucks!
thought about elaborating on the "cause he's the man" comment.. since where I come from (amsterdam) "yamaha ladies" provide a certain type of massage and sometimes have a rather low voice ;-) (asking you to come over to them when you pass the window.. but when you don't listen .."HEY!" like they're shouting for a taxi or something hahaha..oh my.. I'm drunk and I'm writing awful things :)
When Mr. Hough plays it, the full beauty of the melody comes out. Even though the student plays it technically correct and shows great skill, there is no emotion and that's the easiest way to butcher Liszt's music. :( I wish more people could FEEL the music
it was all well and good until he became sentimental (he even says so himself), and that is what ruined it. it wore its heart on his sleave, and it took all the juice out of it. but maybe thats just my taste, i prefer a more aristocratic approach...
Yeah.... I suppose its true..... mind you, I didn't use it to give the impression of an american teenager..... infact, to the contrary.... I find that kind of culture endearingly superficial and without substance.
When he plays the same phrase that she's just played, you immediately hear the piece come alive and really say something. But then she just continues to play it the same as before -- technically accomplished, sensitive, but dull. How do you get students to understand they have to really "sell" a piece like this? You have to exaggerate the tempo, the dynamics, the accents -- not to a grotesque extreme but in a stylistically appropriate way. Maybe he's being too nice...
ivelosthewilltolive Have you considered that Hough has her entire lifetime more of experience on the piano and she can't be expected to play at his level just because he showed her once? People always seem to believe that these students "have perfect technique but lack emotions" when there's no such distinction. Playing this phrase as musically and expressively as Hough does is the culmination of a myriad of microsecond decisions, playing each note with the exact right pressure, pulling the phrase just slightly at exactly the right moments and subtly altering the displacement between concurrent notes more or less depending on the part of the phrase. These are real skills that, just like playing precise octaves or fast scales, are too many and too fast to be forced with conscious thought. You have to have a great deal of experience,muscle memory and internalized, intuitive responses to all kinds of phrasing situations on the piano to be able to properly express "what you're feeling" on the piano, lest you bluntly exaggerate dynamics or impose artificial and clumsy rubato which in the end only sounds bad and disingenuous.
when asians try to portray emotions, its like theyre trying to exaggerate the emotion of someone else. just the way lang lang and this chick almost mindlessly percuss forward into the next finger movement. i dont find it too musical...
Evan O'Leary i think its the culture. they just dont think the same as we do here, being a different political and social system and all... thanks for your counterexample, however i still think her performance seems quite lucid and fails to command the ear of the listener.
I apologize, but your comment is quite offensive, insensitive, and destructively reductive. I think the sentiment "They play with no emotions" is one of the most confounding biases that I have a hard time digesting. I would much rather find the 'emotions' from the music, rather than from the physicality of the music.
Ma Mere L'oye world class skill or not, im trying to experience the music through the performer. kissin has almost the same problem, except its seems he cant handle his emotions...
Hough is not only a great pianist but a great teacher too. This student is excellent.
She has a most beautiful touch and her improvisatory approach to this Rhapsody is ideal. Liszt allowed a certain amount of freedom in the performance of his works. Maybe not so much in the Sonata in B minor as Hough suggested, but here it works brilliantly.
She plays it very well in her own style at around 2:00 and it's far from difficult to listen to. But what Hough does from 2:20 onwards makes you question how on earth you could feel it any other way.
One of the moments you really feel the difference between master and talented student
She certainly does! The way her fingers move is so elegant yet athletic... Also musically pleasing.
The student is Wu Qian, born in 1984 in Shanghai, and evidently a rising luminary on the classical piano scene. Has a 2009 CD of Schumann, Prior, and Liszt on the Dal Segno label. I don't think I've ever seen such beautiful hands!
If only every teacher could be this kind and clear. Other teachers give advice with such vague words and expect you to understand what they mean. Instead of telling her it's wrong he praises her playing while offering other suggestions. I hope when I start taking formal lessons that my teacher is similar to him.
Very well said!
The piano encompasses the range, dynamic and can suggest the texture of an orchestra.Stephen shares his understanding of this. The melody shines through with the clarity and emotion of a lead orchestral instument - but! Let's give the accompaniment a 'one time' chance to shine through, with LH staccato - why not, s'wonderful! No matter how technically difficult a piece may be - Stephen conveys his emotion through whatever music he's playing. Nowadys, folk like to hear a good tune played well!
Is there a recording of Hough playing this piece in full? It's beautiful!
He seems like such a nice person. I'd love to attend a masterclass of his.
this man truly understands what it means to play liszt!
It's so fascinating to hear how two pianists can make such completely different sounds. It's particularly extraordinary when you hear two pianists play the same piece on the same piano.
+LisztyLiszt Well - for one thing she is on a Steinway and he is on a Yamaha. Just saying. But having said that...yes, you make a good point. Artist versus student.
+thomasg321 I can clearly see that which is why I said; "It's particularly extraordinary when you hear two pianists play the same piece on the same piano."
She is an artist too. It would be fairer to say master and student.
+thomasg321 And what's Liszt?
I just got back from his performance of the Paganini Rhapsody in Dallas. =) He was amazing. First time I've seen him in person.
fabulous on both ends!!!! he teaches well and she understands well.
She is bloody good!
Fantastic teacher! And she really takes it in.
Wow she is an amazing player.
YES!!! She's... wonderful... so relaxed... and refined...
these classes are incredible
What a beautiful video of a masterful artist/teacher, and an amazingly responsive student with incredible talent. The only thing that ruined it was the moronic posts below from idiots that try to compare and contrast Asians with others, none of whom have a fraction of the talent of this young lady, and who's comments read like they suffer from chronic anal problems.
Most of these piano masterclasses, the teacher makes a suggestion, and then the student doesn't do it. But she takes direction very well. However I do feel with a piece like this, you have to have a lot more fun with it, exaggerate more than she's doing.
They don't do it because most times they don't understand what exactly it is that they should do. There are phenomenal pianists out there who aren't equally amazing as teachers. Yuja Wang is one such example. Being a good teacher is another kind of gift.
Very Musical, and a true Lisztian.
2:24 - 2:26 what a difference !!! what a great sound !!! fantastic !!!!!!!
Where has the full version of this masterclass gone? I had it under favorites but now it says it's private :\ such a shame!
Hi XtrAMassivE. Unfortunately, we've had to temporarily take it down. We'll let you know if we can put it up again.
Her name is Qian Wu and she is studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London
Where can I get those curtains from lol
That was beautiful. I must buy this dvd ! ;)
That girl's going places...
Most interesting!
Who's the female pianist in this video? She seems excellent in my opinion.
I saw him play the tchaikovsky concerto at the schermerhorn.. in nashville.
@AlexPxr8
Hi, Stephen Hough is enormously famous and in the classical music world! Check him out on his webiste, Twitter and by reading his Telegraph blogs.
@TheMazurka: In the beginning they play the Spanish Rhapsody, as it says in the infobox... ;)
I love her hands
@thepianovirtuoso: Yes, of course - I apologize for my mistake! I was tired and didn't pay attention... And even if one doesn't recognize the piece, Hough actually mentions that it is the Hungarian Rhapsody they are playing at 1:42. I guess the Spanish Rhapsody is covered in the full DVD. ;p
@predoje
At one time, a few months ago, there were about 6 of these Stephen Hough masterclass videos on here, featuring 2 different students. I didn't realise all the others had been deleted!
@laqin007
Hey, don't be too picky! She is a good pianist, and at that time, a student. Maybe she learnt a lot of other things from him.
She hardly sucks!
That's his JOB, snowflake!
Do someone have this full DVD?
beautiful hands..
It's Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No 12
楽しそうに練習していますがこの練習曲はリストのどこの音楽なのか知りたいです！。音楽が良いです！。気に入りました！。
your comment made me smile, good sense of humor :)
What is the name of the piece she is playing?
C'est Top !!
I agree and not get stuck on trying to maintain a polite sound.
2:20 Inspector Clouseau speaks
reminds me of my classical guitar teacher :D
Awesome curtains
It would be nice to have a masterclass with "mr. Bean" I'm a big fan of his. I always cry in his recitals... Because too touched
@satchito something like that, yes
stephen hough is absolutly gorgeous .....
❤❤❤❤❤
Going to learn this after rachmaninoffs op 3 no 2.. its like the opposite. Play this when I find peace and rachmaninoffs when Im in a bad mood
@thomj
he even sounds a little like mr bean!
where's the spanish rhapsody that you promised? :(
IMHO the best interpretation of the Hungarian Rhapsody #12 is from Jorge Bolet... Give it a try you wont regret it
@parazsdavid LOL Sthephen is such a great pianist...and since i heard him talk Mr.Bran came to mi mind lol lol lol
Listen to Julius Katchen play thisvon you tube - untouchable .
Who is this girl?
@satchito If you have a good teacher and practice 6 hrs a day then maybe
mind elabourating? not sure what ye mean
He plays a Yamaha piano, and she looks like she´s from the Yamaha- country :) She´s good, and he´s great - cause he´s the man
@laqin007
Why? I thought she was excellent.
It gets me every time!!! Bahahaha...
ahhh! her hands are like two little spiders moving, so pretty!
thought about elaborating on the "cause he's the man" comment.. since where I come from (amsterdam) "yamaha ladies" provide a certain type of massage and sometimes have a rather low voice ;-) (asking you to come over to them when you pass the window.. but when you don't listen .."HEY!" like they're shouting for a taxi or something hahaha..oh my.. I'm drunk and I'm writing awful things :)
3:12 = Mr Bean
She has a very clean technique but she doesn't get Liszt's playful feeling for this piece.
She gets owned by Hough :)
@thomj LOL!!!!!!LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL OMG A CANNOT STOP LAUGHING LOL LOL
I hope I haven't started something with this Mr. Bean thing.. hah.
When Mr. Hough plays it, the full beauty of the melody comes out. Even though the student plays it technically correct and shows great skill, there is no emotion and that's the easiest way to butcher Liszt's music. :( I wish more people could FEEL the music
oh, stop whining
it was all well and good until he became sentimental (he even says so himself), and that is what ruined it. it wore its heart on his sleave, and it took all the juice out of it. but maybe thats just my taste, i prefer a more aristocratic approach...
Yeah.... I suppose its true..... mind you, I didn't use it to give the impression of an american teenager..... infact, to the contrary.... I find that kind of culture endearingly superficial and without substance.
When he plays the same phrase that she's just played, you immediately hear the piece come alive and really say something. But then she just continues to play it the same as before -- technically accomplished, sensitive, but dull. How do you get students to understand they have to really "sell" a piece like this? You have to exaggerate the tempo, the dynamics, the accents -- not to a grotesque extreme but in a stylistically appropriate way. Maybe he's being too nice...
ivelosthewilltolive Have you considered that Hough has her entire lifetime more of experience on the piano and she can't be expected to play at his level just because he showed her once? People always seem to believe that these students "have perfect technique but lack emotions" when there's no such distinction. Playing this phrase as musically and expressively as Hough does is the culmination of a myriad of microsecond decisions, playing each note with the exact right pressure, pulling the phrase just slightly at exactly the right moments and subtly altering the displacement between concurrent notes more or less depending on the part of the phrase. These are real skills that, just like playing precise octaves or fast scales, are too many and too fast to be forced with conscious thought. You have to have a great deal of experience,muscle memory and internalized, intuitive responses to all kinds of phrasing situations on the piano to be able to properly express "what you're feeling" on the piano, lest you bluntly exaggerate dynamics or impose artificial and clumsy rubato which in the end only sounds bad and disingenuous.
when asians try to portray emotions, its like theyre trying to exaggerate the emotion of someone else. just the way lang lang and this chick almost mindlessly percuss forward into the next finger movement. i dont find it too musical...
Evan O'Leary i think its the culture. they just dont think the same as we do here, being a different political and social system and all... thanks for your counterexample, however i still think her performance seems quite lucid and fails to command the ear of the listener.
I apologize, but your comment is quite offensive, insensitive, and destructively reductive. I think the sentiment "They play with no emotions" is one of the most confounding biases that I have a hard time digesting. I would much rather find the 'emotions' from the music, rather than from the physicality of the music.
you are so offensive and racist shame on you :(
Ma Mere L'oye i mean on the piano
Ma Mere L'oye world class skill or not, im trying to experience the music through the performer. kissin has almost the same problem, except its seems he cant handle his emotions...