Beautiful belcanto playing on a percussion instrument (cfr. Peter Feuchtwanger), dear colleague! Finally an artist who really sings at the piano. I have nothing but praise! 👏👏👏
How to fuck the system (Paul Wee edition): 1) Become a lawyer 2) Do cool big things as a lawyer 3) Release a critically acclaimed album of (possibly) the hardest piano music ever written
This is absolutely stunning. I can't imagine how anyone can make it through the first movement, let alone the two remaining movements. Such a test of endurance. Somewhere I read a reference to Mr. Wee as an "amateur pianist", but there's absolutely nothing amateur-ish about his playing. At the end of the 1st movement I was half expecting him to need at least a drink of water (if not a whole bottle of sports drink). I couldn't suppress a laugh when he did pull out a handkerchief to wipe his face. Nice to know that he's human!
Wee blows my previous favourite recording, Hamelin's, right out of the water. And I sincerely did not imagine that to be possible. This may be the best performance I've ever heard on a piano.
hum, I think Hamelin is technically superior (he's not a human being lol ^^) and more controlled... but Paul Wee is more passionate and human. I would say he is at the crossroads between Hamelin (technique) and Gibbons (passion). I am talking about his studio recording, because here, there are some approximations. This being said, it's splendide.
Wonderful playing of Alkan's demanding masterpiece. Mastery of such a pixillated form of composition expressing such transcendental beauty in this work. I had not enjoyed this work so much before. The creative Mind is greatly enriched by multiple levels of serious intellectual engagement in disparate disciplines, surely Paul's legal expertise must inform music interpretation and in unraveling complexity. Thank you.
Most enjoyable! The brilliant writing brilliantly successful and the lyrical moments lovingly lingered over...(would Alkan have approved..? In principle, no, he preferred strict tempi, ongoing flow, but i think he'd have been convinced here!). Above all, this very "live" performance gives a marvellous impression of the work with all its qualities in evidence; structure, architecture, drama, dark poetry, long lyrical lines, brilliance, turbulence and... the sheer pleasure of witnessing an intrepid adventurer do battle with the near-impossible and emerge victorious, almost unscarred(!). Bravo and thank you.
This is amazing! You make sense of a genuis composer who can come off as a bit maniac and you make this complex impossible to play music beautiful, exciting, delicate and all together a masterpiece that calls for repeating listening. Thank you and congratulations.
Very remarkable performance! I was looking for something comparable by technique excellence to Hamelin but different interpretation. This performance is the one.The flaws are barely noticeable due to I guess the individuality of the play. A very valuable addition to my Like library. Thank you for sharing.
Bravissimamente :-) A supremely majesterial performance, a virtuoso variety of tone colour and dynamics, more than any other version of Alkan's great concerto I've heard ... we are so aware that the composer is representing both the soloist and the orchestra... this performance is a simply astounding achievement by only 2 hands and one great mind. I never expected to hear Alkan played with such imagination and clarity ... making due allowance for a recording scarcely able to cope with the tremendous task.
As a person prone to abulia I wonder how mr. Wee manages to find balance between his brilliant legal practice and his equally impressing artistic endeavor. Does he sleep? Does he suffer from distractions, daydreaming at least five minutes per day, boredom? Can he levitate if he even tries to focus?
A great performance! It's a pity I wasn't there to see it this time. I was especially impressed by the middle and final movements, which had tenderness, foreboding and thrills in abundance. It must be pretty challenging playing the concerto, especially the first movement, 'cold'? Obviously you would know through practice how the overall structure works, but in performance is it easy to lose track of it, or is it all in the mind and under the fingers every time you start the piece? Just out of curiosity?
Thanks for your kind words! On a physical/pianistic level, it is quite difficult to jump into the Concerto cold: the writing is pretty unforgiving from the outset. On a structural/analytical/mental level, however, the music fits very clearly together; it is not generally the sort of work in which one worries about losing one's place!
despite the technical facility which I do envy, this sounds as a reminiscence of Hamelin's performances, which I find very unmusical, brusque, disproportionate and even non sense for such a monumental piece that demands a very structured performance. that's a pitty. I hope the studio version to be a little better. the greatest difficulties in Alkan's works are musical, not technical at all.
I agree with Luis about Hamelin's performances which are robotic and hard tone and machine-like, very unmusical. However I was very surprised at this performance by Wee. I found it quite musical even though there still room for even better performances. So far Wee is best combination of musicality, and bravura playing with no hardness. The tone colors are ravishing in many places. Remember Alkan was a very devoted Chopinist. He and Chopin shared the same living quarters at one time. He adored the music of Chopin and was a friend of him.
Beautiful belcanto playing on a percussion instrument (cfr. Peter Feuchtwanger), dear colleague! Finally an artist who really sings at the piano. I have nothing but praise! 👏👏👏
Well, Paul Wee lives in London, is there any chance he studied with Peter Feuchtwanger?
How to fuck the system (Paul Wee edition):
1) Become a lawyer
2) Do cool big things as a lawyer
3) Release a critically acclaimed album of (possibly) the hardest piano music ever written
This is absolutely stunning. I can't imagine how anyone can make it through the first movement, let alone the two remaining movements. Such a test of endurance. Somewhere I read a reference to Mr. Wee as an "amateur pianist", but there's absolutely nothing amateur-ish about his playing. At the end of the 1st movement I was half expecting him to need at least a drink of water (if not a whole bottle of sports drink). I couldn't suppress a laugh when he did pull out a handkerchief to wipe his face. Nice to know that he's human!
Mr. Wee is a barrister in London by profession. He is a pianist in his spare time.
I always celebrate new, quality Alkan on UA-cam. Thank you for posting. I thoroughly enjoyed the performance.
Wee blows my previous favourite recording, Hamelin's, right out of the water. And I sincerely did not imagine that to be possible. This may be the best performance I've ever heard on a piano.
hum, I think Hamelin is technically superior (he's not a human being lol ^^) and more controlled... but Paul Wee is more passionate and human. I would say he is at the crossroads between Hamelin (technique) and Gibbons (passion). I am talking about his studio recording, because here, there are some approximations. This being said, it's splendide.
I've just bought your CD - coming tomorrow. Can't wait to have these sounds in my space!!! Thank you!!!!!
Brilliant ! Wee's technique permits him to emphasize the musical qualities.
Just finished watching the whole thing beginning to end... Unbelievable, thank you for sharing. You are incredible!
That one kid your parents told you to not worry about (he is a practicing lawyer too). Damn I just found the god of piano
Wonderful playing of Alkan's demanding masterpiece. Mastery of such a pixillated form of composition expressing such transcendental beauty in this work. I had not enjoyed this work so much before. The creative Mind is greatly enriched by multiple levels of serious intellectual engagement in disparate disciplines, surely Paul's legal expertise must inform music interpretation and in unraveling complexity. Thank you.
It's wonderful to hear another great performance of the concerto. Bravo!
Most enjoyable! The brilliant writing brilliantly successful and the lyrical moments lovingly lingered over...(would Alkan have approved..? In principle, no, he preferred strict tempi, ongoing flow, but i think he'd have been convinced here!). Above all, this very "live" performance gives a marvellous impression of the work with all its qualities in evidence; structure, architecture, drama, dark poetry, long lyrical lines, brilliance, turbulence and... the sheer pleasure of witnessing an intrepid adventurer do battle with the near-impossible and emerge victorious, almost unscarred(!).
Bravo and thank you.
This is amazing! You make sense of a genuis composer who can come off as a bit maniac and you make this complex impossible to play music beautiful, exciting, delicate and all together a
masterpiece that calls for repeating listening. Thank you and congratulations.
Very remarkable performance! I was looking for something comparable by technique excellence to Hamelin but different interpretation. This performance is the one.The flaws are barely noticeable due to I guess the individuality of the play. A very valuable addition to my Like library. Thank you for sharing.
unbelievable - brilliant in every way
And this is just your side gig? Man, I want you to be my lawyer.
Fantastic performance!
Brilliant!
Stunning.
Sir, your disc is amazing. This is a splendid performance too.
Bravo!!
Un grand bravo !
Bravo!!! Norman Lebrecht just gave a rave review of your new disc on BIS. Can't wait to hear it.
Fantastic! 👏👏👏
Osasco, São Paulo, Brasil. 👏👏👏
Bravissimamente :-)
A supremely majesterial performance, a virtuoso variety of tone colour and dynamics, more than any other version of Alkan's great concerto I've heard ... we are so aware that the composer is representing both the soloist and the orchestra... this performance is a simply astounding achievement by only 2 hands and one great mind.
I never expected to hear Alkan played with such imagination and clarity
... making due allowance for a recording scarcely able to cope with the tremendous task.
Thank you for your kind words! I am very glad you enjoyed the performance.
As a person prone to abulia I wonder how mr. Wee manages to find balance between his brilliant legal practice and his equally impressing artistic endeavor. Does he sleep? Does he suffer from distractions, daydreaming at least five minutes per day, boredom? Can he levitate if he even tries to focus?
Beautiful playing of this almost unplayable music
every people: flight of the bumblebee is hardest piece ever
and Alkan:
A great performance! It's a pity I wasn't there to see it this time. I was especially impressed by the middle and final movements, which had tenderness, foreboding and thrills in abundance.
It must be pretty challenging playing the concerto, especially the first movement, 'cold'? Obviously you would know through practice how the overall structure works, but in performance is it easy to lose track of it, or is it all in the mind and under the fingers every time you start the piece? Just out of curiosity?
Thanks for your kind words! On a physical/pianistic level, it is quite difficult to jump into the Concerto cold: the writing is pretty unforgiving from the outset. On a structural/analytical/mental level, however, the music fits very clearly together; it is not generally the sort of work in which one worries about losing one's place!
That's incredible!!!!
I want to know who is playing.
Would you tell me the name of this pianist?
Thanks so much for your kind words! The pianist is me - Paul Wee. I'm a barrister by day: www.3vb.com/our-people/jc/paul-choon-kiat-wee
Great performance! You should be proud!
May I ask what piano was this?
Thanks for your kind words! This was a (fairly new) Hamburg Steinway Model C.
Based
HAHAHAHA DAIIIIIM!!! da zepp proclaim diz interp, BETTAH den da DOC'z. REZPEC da extra cg n contrazt in da phrazin 8-)
despite the technical facility which I do envy, this sounds as a reminiscence of Hamelin's performances, which I find very unmusical, brusque, disproportionate and even non sense for such a monumental piece that demands a very structured performance. that's a pitty. I hope the studio version to be a little better. the greatest difficulties in Alkan's works are musical, not technical at all.
I agree with Luis about Hamelin's performances which are robotic and hard tone and machine-like, very unmusical. However I was very surprised at this performance by Wee. I found it quite musical even though there still room for even better performances. So far Wee is best combination of musicality, and bravura playing with no hardness. The tone colors are ravishing in many places. Remember Alkan was a very devoted Chopinist. He and Chopin shared the same living quarters at one time. He adored the music of Chopin and was a friend of him.
Many many lots of misstouch