Eric Lu Watches His Teacher (Dang Thai Son) Play Chopin

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  • Опубліковано 17 січ 2025
  • Video recordings from the Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition courtesy of the Fryderyk Chopin Institute: / @chopininstitute
    Chopin Foundation: chopin.org
    The Chopin Podcast: chopinpodcast.com
    0:10 The oral tradition of classical piano
    1:08 Dang Thai Son's Barcarolle from 1980
    4:00 How Dang Thai Son "speaks" at the piano
    8:12 Comparing Barcarolle codas: Dang Thai Son & Eric Lu
    12:11 Eric's coming of age at the piano
    Created and hosted by Ben Laude. Special thanks to Ethan Chilton and Abby Tilton for their assistance in the production of this video.
    This video is part of my partnership with the Chopin Foundation of the United States, which presents the National Chopin Competition every 5 years. The partnership was forged on the eve of the 11th National Chopin Competition, to be held in Miami in January 2025.
    Reserve your seats for earlier rounds and purchase your tickets to the final round of the National Chopin Competition: www.chopin.org...
    The Chopin Foundation is a national non-profit organization founded by its President, Blanka A. Rosenstiel in 1977, and inspired by the first US Chopin Competition she presented in Miami in 1975.
    Support the Chopin Foundation: chopin.org/donate
    Steinway & Sons is the National Chopin Piano Competition's Preferred Piano Partner.
    Access uncut interviews with Garrick Ohlsson and other guests:
    / benlaude
    / chopinpodcast
    / benlawdy

КОМЕНТАРІ • 114

  • @poplife123
    @poplife123 17 днів тому +69

    This podcast is becoming invaluable....essential if you want to play and understand Chopin ❤

    • @andrewc9643
      @andrewc9643 16 днів тому

      Agreed!

    • @victorarias8726
      @victorarias8726 15 днів тому +1

      I knew we would be seeing a lot of Ben Laude when I first saw him commentating on Yunchan Lim's Rach3 in Cliburn, that he will be a significant presence in UA-cam for classical music. He can also be very funny which makes his vids very reachable.

  • @Opus0x7C1
    @Opus0x7C1 17 днів тому +29

    My dad and I have attended the Chopin National Competition since 2010, and the 2015 competition holds a special place in my heart-my dad and I witnessed Eric Lu’s incredible performances of Chopin’s nocturnes, which remain some of the best we’ve ever heard. My dad passed away last year, making this even more meaningful. I'm stationed in NC, but I hope to make a trip back to Miami for at least the prelims on Saturday

  • @joshwrightpiano
    @joshwrightpiano 16 днів тому +10

    This is an amazing video, Eric and Ben! Thank you both so much.

    • @MrCinemuso
      @MrCinemuso 6 днів тому

      Hi Josh, did I recognise you next to Eric on the podium in 2015? Must be good memories for you too.

  • @kwgm8578
    @kwgm8578 17 днів тому +10

    Wow! I love the cuts from teacher to student. Eric Lu is a fantastic pianist. The brief excerpt of him playing the ending was so expressive, and of course, beautiful. He is a young master, and indeed, they seem to get younger every year. It's both amazing and humbling. Of course, when I was 10, I didn't practice the piano enough. I wanted to pitch for the Yankees. That all changed a couple of years later, in 1964 -- I wanted to be a Beatle. Still do. 🇺🇸🧙🏽‍♂️💙

  • @nickwilson7697
    @nickwilson7697 17 днів тому +26

    What a beautiful concept for this portion - watching yourself AND your teacher…in the same competition, 35 years apart. Ingenious! These conversations have become the highlight of 2024 for me. And a perfect springboard for the upcoming competitions!

  • @gatesurfer
    @gatesurfer 17 днів тому +8

    Dang Thai Son’s trills in parallel thirds are crazy good. That touch is golden.

  • @qazsedcft2162
    @qazsedcft2162 17 днів тому +8

    Thanks for making this series!

  • @joeguthriePIANO
    @joeguthriePIANO 17 днів тому +4

    Ben your channel is essential. Great postings. Great interviews with such important piano minds, including Eric here. He’s such a peaceful smart soul. Thank you!

  • @jeffjames15
    @jeffjames15 17 днів тому +19

    Went to Eric’s concert in Arizona in 2016. Very humble guy, he played the barcorolle at the beginning, and the Chopin complete preludes in the concert was so elegant and effortless.🎉

    • @jpeyton88
      @jpeyton88 17 днів тому +3

      Heard him play the 24 a few years back-simply astounding!

  • @Jantsenpr777
    @Jantsenpr777 17 днів тому +17

    What an impressively beautiful singing tone Dang Thai Song has!

  • @johnnyp6202
    @johnnyp6202 17 днів тому +9

    You should do a Schubert series. He is so under-appreciated.

  • @hippophile
    @hippophile 17 днів тому +2

    Superb interview. Inspiring, educational...

  • @inkykim5862
    @inkykim5862 17 днів тому +7

    Happy New Year everyone!!!🎉

  • @pianoman1857
    @pianoman1857 17 днів тому +43

    Could you do an interview of Cyprien Katsaris before he’s too old 🙏

    • @pyrokinetikrlz
      @pyrokinetikrlz 17 днів тому +12

      THIS! it is very sad that there is almost no good interview to Katsaris... His interpretation of Chopin is different but genius specially with those inner melodies... His rendition of the ballades is breath-taking. And his Waltzes....

    • @1fattyfatman
      @1fattyfatman 17 днів тому

      Very fine idea!

    • @justadude641
      @justadude641 16 днів тому +1

      ​​@@pyrokinetikrlzSorry but those inner voices are ridiculous. Composers wrote what they wanted and they don't need corrections 200 years later. Anyhow he's still an incredible pianist and I really admire him.

    • @luigisassone
      @luigisassone 16 днів тому

      guys, but what about his octaves in erlkonig? do we want to talk about it?? 😅

    • @pianoman1857
      @pianoman1857 16 днів тому +6

      @@justadude641 this is actually just lack of knowledge from you :) back in the time, composers and interprets were all good improvisers. If you listen to old recordings, you’ll see how free the old masters were. Btw Chopin himself was used to change his own scores during piano lessons for his students. And we know that he never played his pieces twice the same way

  • @kpunkt.klaviermusik
    @kpunkt.klaviermusik 17 днів тому +2

    He's so modest. And he plays so wonderful.

  • @BarackObamaJedi
    @BarackObamaJedi 17 днів тому +4

    "Dang Thai Son"
    - Impressed Thai Dad

    • @SuperKripke
      @SuperKripke 7 днів тому

      Only this time it's the son watching the dad.

  • @쇼팽-z6x
    @쇼팽-z6x 17 днів тому +2

    my absolute favorite pianist to play Chopin Etude 10-8. Love him!

  • @thomasdequincey5811
    @thomasdequincey5811 6 днів тому

    My first thought on that Dang Thai Son Barcarolle was that he was speaking to me. That he had something to say with the music. Beautiful.

  • @brozors
    @brozors 17 днів тому +4

    Dang Thai Son taught Eric Lu and Bruce Liu!

    • @musician3824
      @musician3824 17 днів тому

      @@brozors and many other- exclusively Asian- students

  • @Emmanuel-p4p4l
    @Emmanuel-p4p4l 16 днів тому +1

    18:07 the piano(2015) sounded like an orchestra!!!

  • @Fortepiano9467
    @Fortepiano9467 17 днів тому +1

    Thank you very much for the interview with Eric Lu. We learned a lot from this interview. The next interview could be with Ilia Papoian, the 2023 Tchaikovsky Laureate pianist. He also has a deep knowledge about music and is a simple person.

  • @KRGruner
    @KRGruner 17 днів тому +13

    Son's interpretation of the Barcarolle is simply awesome. I can see why he won the competition back then.

    • @DelsinM
      @DelsinM 17 днів тому

      Argerich couldn't

    • @benlawdy
      @benlawdy  17 днів тому +24

      @@DelsinM Argerich supported Dang Thai Son and wrote a letter to him after the competition congratulating him. She only withdrew from the jury because Pogorelich didn’t advance, not because she thought Pogo was the only pianist who deserved praise/a prize.

    • @DelsinM
      @DelsinM 17 днів тому

      @@benlawdy Sure, but don't you think when she called Pogorelich a "genius" that she meant he was the most important pianist in the competition in her eyes? Of course her judgement is not infallible, but there's a subtle distinction between artist and pianist that I think she perceived.

    • @benlawdy
      @benlawdy  17 днів тому +17

      @ I don’t think it’s productive to speculative in this case. It’s normal for individual jury members to have a favorite pianist who doesn’t end up getting 1st prize. I’m not sure what that says about who is or isn’t a genius. If you go listen to DTS’s performance it becomes clear that he was no fluke/consolation winner.

    • @KRGruner
      @KRGruner 17 днів тому +1

      @@benlawdy Well said.

  • @RolandHuettmann
    @RolandHuettmann 16 днів тому +1

    Great, enjoable ❤

  • @clem4705315
    @clem4705315 16 днів тому

    Ivan Moravec's also is one of my favorite barcarolle recordings

  • @CatholicChristian593
    @CatholicChristian593 17 днів тому

    My teacher recorded it on the reference recording label back in the ‘70’s. Steven R Gordon (himself having been a pupil of Sergei Tarnowsky).

  • @Alexander-kh2rc
    @Alexander-kh2rc 15 днів тому +4

    Whats crazy is that Dang Thai Son is also the teacher of Bruce Liu! The current gold medalist of the Chopin competition!

    • @JjongJjongE
      @JjongJjongE 13 днів тому

      yes what a politician he is

    • @haochide6500
      @haochide6500 8 днів тому +2

      @@JjongJjongE Be more positive, don't be the rumor maker nor believer, your life would be much more better.

    • @JjongJjongE
      @JjongJjongE 3 дні тому

      @@haochide6500holy shit, dang on the jury and
      keep his students prize winners is already scandal.
      i cannot understand what you are saying

  • @JohnGavin-hz9bc
    @JohnGavin-hz9bc 17 днів тому

    Wonderful episode. I think I believe more and more that they were many many ways to approach a piece and the piano. What I really appreciate visually in a pianist is absolute economy of motion - pianists like Michelangeli and Alicia de Larrocha were able to express the music they played keeping their hands very “quiet”. But that doesn’t make different approaches wrong. It’s just my preferred way of playing.

  • @norwalltino
    @norwalltino 17 днів тому

    Fantastic music, good channel

  • @militaryandemergencyservic3286
    @militaryandemergencyservic3286 15 днів тому

    Ben, your podcast is fast becoming the gold standard of piano educative crystallin. Without it, we would all be deprived of one of the dearest experiences available on You Tube. If I may say - I prefer Eric Lu's fine performance of Schubert's incredibly imaginative and perfect x4 impromptus d 899. Nevertheless, I found the cheek way he played the middle section of the A min mazurka op 17 no. 4 refreshing, as it broke the mould of conservatoire rigidity that characterizes do much competition playing. Can't say that I am a great fan of his facial grimaces.... however, who cares, if it helps produce a great tone etc...
    when are you going to do a Schubert podcast? Never forget Schiff's words 'My favourite is Schubert' or Horowitz's 'Maybe Schubert was the greatest of them all'.

  • @leohcheung
    @leohcheung 17 днів тому +1

    Check out the fingers on Dang Thai Son’s hands…Edwards Scissorhands!

  • @UnknownPascal-sc2nk
    @UnknownPascal-sc2nk 17 днів тому +4

    Has any composer in the past 65 years produced a work that has entered regular recital literature? It seems that we are fine tuning performances of classics to individual molecules instead of making music for today that captures an audience.

    • @yuberalberto
      @yuberalberto 17 днів тому

      I also ask the same question

    • @benlawdy
      @benlawdy  17 днів тому +7

      Yes there are many ‘contemporary’ works (last 50 years) in the regular recital literature, Ligeti Etudes probably being the most famous among them - but there are others. Certainly not the same kind of core repertoire as was produced in the 19th century, for sure. I agree there’s lots to address in the museum culture of classical music, but I would object to the idea that playing the classics can’t also be music played “for today that captures an audience.”

    • @UnknownPascal-sc2nk
      @UnknownPascal-sc2nk 17 днів тому +3

      @benlawdy Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I only know Ligeti from 2001 movie use but will look for those works. I'm also grumpy from seeing Wicked and listening to clichés for 2 hours.

    • @Zympans
      @Zympans 17 днів тому +2

      @@UnknownPascal-sc2nk there is a hell lot going on, one of the most famous Ligeti Etudes - "Automne à Varsovie" - is even called after the Polish biggest festival of the contemporary music... just try reading the reviews of the best albums from the given year and you will always find lots of things for you.
      But even reading on the jury members of the 2025 international Chopin: Momo Kodama recorded Hosokawa "Lotus Under the Moonlight for Piano and Orchestra" with Ozawa for ECM. It's absolutely marvelous music. So fresh and captivating. She in general champions him. His compositions are really dope. He is also an old friend of Warsaw Autumn.
      ua-cam.com/video/8Q4Xmb7jY5w/v-deo.htmlsi=u13N3OVZ4oSXyeXi

    • @UnknownPascal-sc2nk
      @UnknownPascal-sc2nk 17 днів тому

      @Zympans will check those. Thank you and Happy New Year!

  • @WeirTheMusic
    @WeirTheMusic 17 днів тому +4

    I have to ask the desert island question.. Barcarolle, Fourth Ballade, or Third Sonata?

    • @gatesurfer
      @gatesurfer 17 днів тому +4

      Not really a fair comparison. The Sonata is much longer and is divided into different movements, each with different moods. But I think I’d still choose the Fourth Ballade. You’re stuck on an island, and that piece takes you everywhere emotionally, especially that ending.

    • @WeirTheMusic
      @WeirTheMusic 17 днів тому

      @gatesurfer I see your point. Yet despite the disparity you still choose the Ballade.. Perhaps the comparison keeps its integrity? I debated over the third piece, or even just offering the two initial choices of the Barcarolle and Ballade, but instead of settling on a similar comparison, I thought putting in a bit of a curve ball would heighten the intrigue!

  • @mcbuuiop
    @mcbuuiop 17 днів тому +2

    I’m on time for once 🔥🔥

  • @marvinwolfthal6402
    @marvinwolfthal6402 17 днів тому

    It’s amazing that only one pianist - Claudio Arrau - plays the embellishments in the Barcarolle correctly.

    • @retrogamerdave362
      @retrogamerdave362 5 днів тому

      Let's be honest it's just music. Embellish it how you want

  • @republiccooper
    @republiccooper 17 днів тому

    I really like the more direct and aggressive approach to the Barcarolle, like Argerich, Lugansky and Horowitz. Too many people play it like a sort of nocturne. You want to see the shimmering golden water, reflecting sunlight, the brief shower in the middle section and the oars splashing in the iridescent water.

    • @andre.vaz.pereira
      @andre.vaz.pereira 15 днів тому +1

      In Chopin's first performance at Merchant's hall in Paris (1948) the Barcarolle the concert program had sub-title "Barcaroula: La notte é bella". That can explain a lot about general interpretation as a nocturne like piece...

    • @republiccooper
      @republiccooper 15 днів тому +2

      @andre.vaz.pereira interesting. I always imagine it as a daylight piece. There's such a brightness to F sharp major. You've taught me something new. Thank you.

    • @andre.vaz.pereira
      @andre.vaz.pereira 15 днів тому

      @@republiccooper Yes, but there is also a Nocturne in F Sharp major too that is op. 15 n° 2. Chopin didnt't wtite that much in this Key... For years i even thought the barcarole was refering to parisien barcarolles since Chopin refers them in a letter in his final years in Paris when he did his walkings, but this concert program just threw that possibility away. The Barcarolle is a gender by itself and Chopin just wrote his own.

    • @republiccooper
      @republiccooper 15 днів тому +1

      @andre.vaz.pereira but isn't the F share major nocturne not a bright and joyful nocturne, if ever there was one. The night is full of stars and streetlights, and the moon 🌙 🌚 . At least, that's how it strikes me.

  • @JeffKwak221
    @JeffKwak221 8 днів тому

    Eric looks like someone's (young) uncle

  • @ericsabourin7661
    @ericsabourin7661 12 днів тому

    Eric Lu got 4th Prize because of Argerich's grade on him and Kate (4 and 5 out of ten at the final round) in 2015, and both were dtudents de Dang who did not vote but had won the 1980 prize she had wanted Ivo P. to obtain and everyone knows she went on a frenzy for having been ignored. No one played as well as Dang in 1980, like no one superseeded Seong Jin Cho or Kate and Eric even if Charles Richard-Hamelin played very beautifully too at a constant level. It was a talented field.

  • @KingoftheJiangl
    @KingoftheJiangl 17 днів тому +2

    Let's hear Glen Gould play this barcarolle and then seymour's reaction

  • @kleinbogen
    @kleinbogen 17 днів тому

    Din Tai Fung's son?

  • @Charlie-xx2wj
    @Charlie-xx2wj 17 днів тому +1

    There's a video of Dong Thai Son playing Chopin Concerto 2 on December 12, 2024 (see link below). It is incredible, among the most impressive interpretations I've ever heard of that work. He is an architectural master.
    ua-cam.com/video/ITJG8KY8rCE/v-deo.html&ab_channel=NguyenQuanHo

  • @Olympeaaaaaa
    @Olympeaaaaaa 17 днів тому +5

    Has DTS ever had a nonasian student? I’m sure he has, I just can’t find it and it seems…… odd

  • @BloodSh1ne
    @BloodSh1ne 16 днів тому +1

    seriously, who listens dang tahi son for Chopin ? nobody.
    So overrated pianist , 1st prize on Chopin competition 1980 cause of politics , since many years now.
    Everybody knows Pogorelich won this Chopin Competition after that.
    Eric Lu talking about music ? please .. only bullshit, fucking shame that these guys plays music like robot.

    • @benlawdy
      @benlawdy  16 днів тому +5

      @@BloodSh1ne I haven’t found evidence of jury politics corrupting the final decision, only jury conservatism preventing Pogorelich from advancing (but that’s not surprising). But I have found evidence in DTS’s remarkable performances that he was a deserving winner. Maybe people should listen more.

    • @BloodSh1ne
      @BloodSh1ne 16 днів тому +1

      ​@@benlawdy you foud DTS's remarkable performance ? he's just an instrumentist , not a musician.
      You don't found evidence of jury politics corrupting ? please just check piano competitions since 20 years and tell me which one he's a musical reference

    • @magicflute1510
      @magicflute1510 16 днів тому +5

      DTS is a favorite pianist of the Polish people for the last 4 decades. His Chopin recitals in Warsaw, Paris, Boston, Seoul, Hong Kong and Tokyo this year got sold out completely. He has a long list of students wants to study with him in the Oberlin Conservatory (Ohio) and NEC (Boston).. Remember, before getting to the official Chopin competition in Poland that year, DTS and Pogorelich had to attend the internal competition at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory and DTS was ranked no 1. Pogorelich himself moved on from his own scandal decades ago and never complained it again. Not sure why you brought up his scandal in an interview talking about the Chopin’s Barcarole. It is also very wrong to curse someone else on a classical music channel.

    • @BloodSh1ne
      @BloodSh1ne 16 днів тому +1

      @@magicflute1510 "DTS is a favorite pianist of the Polish people for the last 4 decades" => stop create your own life. You tried to convice me and people that a watch manufacter who plays piano , people like that ? Sorry no.
      No one listens to him and if he wasn't there, no one would regret it

    • @magicflute1510
      @magicflute1510 15 днів тому +2

      @ That is the fact. Why? Because you or anyone can just fact check it by google. Just type his name, Dang Thai Son and Golden Medal for Merit to Culture of Poland 2018. And read the press release of the award issued by the Poland Government.
      If you want to claim something, you need to have the evidence. Otherwise, you are just talking from your own perspective and it is usually very off from the reality.