Aimi Kobayashi - Ballade in G minor, Op. 23 (second stage)

Narodowy Instytut Fryderyka Chopina/ The Fryderyk Chopin Institute
All rights reserved 2015
The Fryderyk Chopin Institute, Polish Television TVP
Zapraszamy do śledzenia transmisji z Konkursu na kanale/ Broadcasts from the Competition can be followed on the Chopin Institute's KZbin channel: / chopin2015
Oficjalna strona Konkursu/ The official Competition website: chopincompetition2015.com
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Oficjalna aplikacja Android/ The official Android app: goo.gl/u93t9T
Subscribe: / @chopininstitute

[@urmom-fl2cw]

i don’t like how everyone is talking about her mistakes. let’s talk about her interpretation. i love it

[@GarySchmidtPianist]

The reason she might hit the rare wrong note is because she is playing with passion and cares more about the heart of the music than just trying to impress us with perfection which of course turns out to be perfection after all.

[@sethirving]

why is it so hard to admit that she hit a couple wrong notes?

[@Cecilia-uf4xl]

it's probably because nobody seems to care about how beautifully she plays the piece, on a lot of her performance videos, I've seen a lot of comments on how she hit 2 wrong notes or something obscure like that.

[@lefinlay]

Cecilia Carlsson, people have done that on Horowitz and Rubinstein videos. There's no pleasing some people

[@taylorb9484]

Aaaaand this is why people fill videos like this with references to Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso, because of people like you who view music and its performance as a cold, heartless science.

[@vonwaq]

Albus Nix stop trying to be pc, i hear tons of performances who are much better than hers who make lesser/no mistakes. she didn't practice enough/probably nervous on stage. you know why people make kimi uso comments? Because of pc people like you who make excuses for mistakes.

[@uscjd2004]

I don’t get why people often demonstrate contempt for this young lady. She is clearly a gifted person who is supremely committed to practicing her art.

[@CatsAndClassicalMusic]

She has the most emotional performance, just like what my teacher said: it’s not about playing all the right notes, it’s about how you play them.

[@allanwong318]

Despite the errors Aimi's 2nd stage program was one of the most musically interesting in the competition. It's hard to find fresh interpretations for such overplayed pieces as the Heroic Polonaise and Ballade #1 but somehow she managed to do it and I think the judges appreciated it. I noticed some of the other competitors who gave cleaner but more conventional interpretations were cut.

[@Mek369]

+Allan Wong Interpretations are not even that most of the time imho. Clean playing , yeah its something, but il take inspired always.. That is the frontier .. Seems to me like that's her home. I have utter artistic confidence in her skills.. Its not even a conversation. I dont know how often she succeeds, off to the finals i guess to see what happened.

[@generalbugis5700]

Haha overplayed might be a bit of an overstatement. This piece is insanely hard to pull off. Just my 2 cents.

[@timpark02]

@@generalbugis5700 obviously its insanely hard, but we're talking about only at these competitions. At competitions its not quite uncommon to see this piece

[@gyjoo3748]

There are some mistouches, but her expression is outstanding.

[@martinstahle2006]

Who cares her mistakes? I ve heared Yuja Wang playing this piece, and she made also mistakes but performance was outstanding.

[@Jyoonsang]

@@martinstahle2006 you have literally restated what he said..

[@huazeng6114]

joshua cho lmao

[@RolfLunheim]

Aimi is communicating with Chopin's soul. Those minor aberrations have been approved by the composer, who adores Aimi and her magic performances.

[@user-zz1bq3sv4p]

Her performance is very wonderful. Indeed her performance has Chopin's sensitivity.

[@amystruble4730]

湯口壽夫

[@thesillypanda6639]

@@amystruble4730 What was your point in copying and pasting his name?

[@maachtms]

@@thesillypanda6639 chill fam

[@thesillypanda6639]

Matthew Kwan ??? I show no anger.

[@killua-cg9je]

@@maachtms I laughed so hard

[@thihoang2379]

as a non-specialist I only care about the expression and the emotion. she played it gently and pasionately at the same time (idk how lol). one of my favorite interpretation thus far for this incredible piece

[@funneverends1991]

I agree with you... Although for arguments sake, if you or everyone in the comments section were blindfolded. Do you think you or all the others would perceive this "emotion" just by sound? I feel emotion gets too subjective and then biased based on facial expressions. When it's those subtle things in the piano that only those at the top of the classical piano field would perceive. (my opinion)

[@2muchz]

@@funneverends1991 yes I would percieve this soley by sound, I don't know about everybody though, I think maybe the non classical music listeners will most likely feel more emotion actually watching. I dont know if it's just me but sound matters more than anything, I'd rather no expressions if expressions will get in the way of a good performance.

[@Thiago-px9ev]

@@2muchz Well, Im a pianist and I love watching people play, specially the hands. There's much more expression and feeling through hands than any other part of the body.

[@2muchz]

Thiago nothing wrong with that, I probably shouldn’t have said that only non classical music listeners feel the emotion from watching but what you said kind of implys that it’s not exactly the music that makes you feel the way you do when you listen to this. If you close your eyes and you can’t enjoy classical music then what’s the point ? You can’t just plug in some headphones and listen to some music ? You do you, nothing against you but it just doesn’t make sense to me, as long as it makes you happy that’s really all that matters.

[@user-yg6ki7ou2y]

@@funneverends1991 is just the interpretation.....

[@aomeaome473]

Who cares about the wrong note! Every time Chopin played his own music, he played also differently. There is no wrong note from her play, but full of passion and brilliant interpolation of this polish legend.

[@user-rs3kz4cw4g]

コーダに入る前の表情が むっちゃ好きです

[@user-bp1gr1wl5k]

ホントに美しいバラード一番。 皆様書かれているようにミスは有ります。でも今KZbinで聴けるこの曲の中で一番好きです。 心地よいルバート、間のとり方、説得力、素晴らしいです！！ありがとうございます

[@acidcitrus5143]

Every piano can play the right notes, but not every pianist can *feel* the right notes.

[@oolongoboingo2149]

That's so beautiful

[@will-dd7ou]

-Will Ferrell

[@samuellam1560]

Lol not every pianist can play the right notes

[@v3le]

can u?

[@jugemujugemugokonosurikire4735]

@@v3le No I can't

[@wyattcannon3556]

The transition at 3:00 is the best I’ve interpretation I’ve seen. So light and tranquil

[@7pianoforte]

Aimi has a unique sound. The harmonics that make up her sound are deeper and richer than that of the ordinary pianist. However, she exploits it to very musical ends. Compare the sonority of her playing with good equipment to that of other players and you will see what I am talking about.

[@patricklarochelle9881]

+Francis Fawkes Hmm... I'd be curious to conduct a blind testing about this...

[@SteveMLloyd]

+Francis Fawkes hmm, good equipment? Like...a piano? What do you mean equipment? I would say she's educated on the piano but doesn't have real talent. What ever flaw your hearing with the "good equipment" comment could be attached to the fact she need's to learn how to play better.

[@7pianoforte]

+ADENS SKY I mean a very good speaker that can bring out the true quality of her sound. Aimi has real talent and genius because she played in Carnegie Hall three times. Kobayashi's awards include three Yamaguchi Prefecture "Glory Culture Prize" and the special Frédéric Chopin passport from the Polish government. She has performed in France, Brazil, Poland, Russia, South Korea, the United States, and Japan in venues such as the Salle Cortot (Paris), Svetlanov Hall (Moscow), Suntory Hall (Japan), and all three halls of the Carnegie Hall Complex (New York City). AADGT (the American Association for Development of the Gifted and Talented), a New York based non-profit organization, has supported Kobayashi for many years. From Wikipedia.

[@7pianoforte]

+Francis Fawkes Aimi should have won if she played up to her true potential. However, she did well enough to make the finals.

[@Mek369]

+ADENS SKY worthy of reply since she has a universe of talent. SO happy to know that Her talent exists and is contemporary. LOL She is so badass its not even funny.

[@richarddeschenes739]

I'm on my 7th review listening of this performance and I can truly state that you have captured this ballade's epic psalm brilliantly! as in depth as to convey the fragrance of a passing breeze, a sudden turn of heart or even the subtlety of a permeating thought, it's all here... palpable, palatable and colorful. A song of the wind telling a tale from the deep. You have given this piece a wonderful sound, in harmonious grace. So well done Aimi, brilliantly performed!

[@lorihan1923]

+Richard Deschenes Avec tout mon respect pour votre opinion - qui est subjective, comme la mienne et celles de tous les autres - je trouve cette interprétation trop (….cherchant le mot juste…) sucré (“honeyed” en anglais). C’est jolie, c’est mignonne, mais avec un teint legerement superficielle et artificielle (comme un bibelot scintillant au lieu de l’or authentique). Sensibilité? oui, beaucoup; et subtleté evocatrice aussi, à plusieurs endroits. Mais “psaume épique”? Non, non, pas du tout. (Comme j’avais dit, chacun son goût.)

[@devchampeaux1864]

She tends to have alot more freedom with her tempo than you would expect in a competition

[@mmbmbmbmb]

Not only virtuously performed ~ but also played with utmost sensitivity to the composer! BRAVO!

[@user-tn7sb5hh2r]

私もいつかこのコンクールでこの曲を弾きたいです

[@camilloflaim575]

I love the hands of Aimi when she it's playing

[@chikagreen3229]

これは歴史に残る名演だと思います。誰にも真似出来ないショパンらしさ。お見事です❣️👏👏👏👏👏

[@takke_snb]

素晴らしい！！ 名盤と言われる演奏となんの遜色もない至極の演奏

[@helas1057]

Even though she hit some wrong notes, she never stopped her performance, she was still continuing. And I find that way more impressive than anything else ,because you know that most of the people heard your mistakes, but you have the strenght to continue. And that's what she did. She was feeling the music, and only that mattered for her. She did an amazing performance there.

[@user-cf7vt6zd9b]

なんというピアノ… ミスタッチは何度かあるけど、この大舞台で本当になんというピアノを弾くんだ すごく感動した！！結果はどうあれ、忘れられない演奏です

[@buckingham1948]

Can't get enough of this young Pianist playing. Just reaches deep into my soul.

[@user-zp9dz2hd3b]

ピティナの時とは大違い❗大人の演奏になって、解釈が変わっているのが良くわかる‼️素敵です🎵

[@hannastaszak1684]

Chopin to cudowne dzieło Boga. Mój ulubiony kompozytor.

[@OneCent1981]

She is playing with heart and soul. Imperfectly perfect. You can tell by her express alone that each touch of every key is flowing through her.

[@user-ow5yy7pb6r]

なんと美しいバラード❗ 空間的な広がり、拡張の高さ、如何にも女性らしさの溢れたソフトで細やかな語り口、最高です❗

[@myumyu1999]

「格調」の高さ？

[@unioisikunai44]

この人ほんとすごい

[@user-tl6hl2wy5h]

いつ見ても素晴らしい演奏💖

[@hkginger]

Always enjoy watching Aimi's performances.

[@alexandertollman9575]

this is beautiful. i lean into the parts when the intensity is brilliantly built by her, and i feel the chords. magnificent job.

[@gybwhk2]

subarashi

[@andresfajardo5080]

+kh yang XDDDD

[@user-lw3kf9hi6l]

すばらしい！

[@shinjiikarii3532]

+ピアノ練習 toda la razón

[@randykern1842]

I love how everyone feels the need to pint out that she hit wrong notes. SHES A HUMAN BEING of course she hit a few wrong notes, it happens to EVERY pianist

[@jamestsindos946]

But it’s ironic that u are too....

[@kennethresurreccion4269]

@@jamestsindos946 LMAO😂😂

[@villanfn1935]

bro there just saying to help her, and everyone who said that she played a few notes wrong said a good thing that she did too

[@villanfn1935]

I know for a fact that you can never take constructive criticism

[@villanfn1935]

Also not every pianist plays a wrong note during a performance. Most performances have 0 mistakes.

[@davidhertzberg]

This performance is magnificent.

[@francoaragosta4285]

A colossal pianistic talent who also plays with a great deal of insight, human warmth and fervor. I hope Aimee enjoys a HUGELY successful career n the concert stage. I believe she was BORN to it.

[@jancowell]

So beautiful and with such emotion she was telling a story and we were all there with her

[@andygalligan4184]

Her patience is admirable, she really makes you feel the soft parts

[@aikun-kun9278]

she made mistakes but theres something special that made her preformance good

[@angelarasmussen3884]

It was heart

[@danicastaneda6991]

Exactamente, ella lo hace del corazón :)

[@apersonwholives738]

Aikun- kun The emotion and passion is what you are feeling

[@drippingout6154]

Minutes?

[@Cookiemxms]

This feels like, I DONT KNOW FEELS LIKE U ARE FALLING SLOWLY and fall into a garden with a beautiful moon

[@aomeaome473]

Her performance made me feel this ballade better than any version I heard before. Wrong notes don’t bother her outstanding performance.

[@jrye5]

For me this is the single most beautiful piece of music I have ever heard.

[@wobster109]

It was lovely to listen to! I like that she slowed down some dramatic moments and drew them out.

[@aleksandar-tv7259]

Despite all the mistakes, this is the best version of the Ballade ... so many wonderful emotions ..... I have never enjoyed this Ballade like this before ...

[@SandroRocchi]

This was absolutely amazing. Incredible playing with such a clear enjoyment of the piece. Impossibly better than that is all this perspective we get from the piano. Looking at the screen more closely completely fools me into perceiving it as full 3d. Those keys are right here within my reach, and to see them played so well is very humbling.

[@manakatomoda3704]

It is hard to try to get touch with the great soul of Chopin but she and her music have already done that!!!!!! Thank you Aimi , for you and your beautiful, amazing, indescribable talent and a lot of efforts you have made👏 Also I always remember Yuzuru Hanyu when I hear this piece.

[@asrirmu7327]

me too, Hanyu has skated this masterpiece with magic and made it into the best record holder till now

[@wildesfilho172]

omG that's amazing! we can feel the music through her interpretation. beautiful to see her touching and emotional face. the mistakes are almost meaningless because of this.

[@chrisedmunds9272]

It is heartening to read so many comments about musicianship over note accuracy. Restores somewhat my faith in classical music and. It’s future audiences.

[@cherrytime22]

Aimi is a heavenly pianist who along with Tiffany Poon, will be major classical stars stars in a few years times, when a lot of the others in this competition have largely gone into obscurity. The reason why they WILL succeed is that they like Yuja Wang have so much more than the average, also bags of charisma, that extra star quality that makes you want to go and pay to see them perform.

[@ugoselvini200]

Extraordinary! Aimi does not limit herself to performing this Chopin Ballata in an exemplary manner, but she feels it intensely, she intensely feels all the joys, all the pains, all the sensations that this passage evokes; not only hearing she playing is a real pleasure, but this video and all the videos of her interpretations give us something more. Thanks Aimi

[@gregoryann7764]

Beautiful performance :)

[@lucianasser]

This was probably my favorite interpretation of this song! I loved it!

[@tigerlilja8]

Such an original interpretation. It was fresh to hear something new!

[@torikaipacino]

何百回見ても飽きない。すばらしいバラード。

[@NoahJohnson1810]

Everything about this video is 100% beautiful.

[@richarddeschenes739]

+Noah Johnson Yes, Absolutely.... I can't stop listening to it. The overwhelming expression of Love she is delivering to the heart is just so enrapturing it is addictive and almost inebriating. There is just so much expression in her delivery of this masterpiece that I am totally intoxicated with sentiment in such a wide pallet of pastel colors, crimson moods and sparks of brashness. This is what I was telling you in my comment about bringing out the heart and soul of Chopin! Notice the great Love Chopin had buried within him through Aimi's interpretation.... This is true Chopin my friend! This is fusion of hearts and living breathing pure emotional bliss! You must capture it in your renditions and bring it out strong in this very way! I believe Chopin can only be felt and not really explained...

[@NoahJohnson1810]

Richard Deschenes Exactly! Very well said. Haha we are becoming youtube pals lol :)

[@richarddeschenes739]

+Noah Johnson Loll.... Yeah! I guess we are! ... we never have too many good friends...

[@user-lx8fl2ll1h]

but mistake 8:04~8:20

[@NoahJohnson1810]

Yes there are quite a few mistakes in that difficult section. However, a performance should not be characterized by how many mistakes are made, but by how much music is made.

[@markrymanowski719]

Heard this piece many times down the decades. This performance brings a tear to the eye.

[@lovemetu]

No matter what the ''Judges'' of this competition thought, Aimi Kobayashi and Tiffany Poon are the pianists to watch out for in the future . My guess is that that both of them will become world famous mega stars of the classical piano world.

[@sirrd3286]

I love this piece so much like so so much and the Aimi played it makes me want to break down it’s so beautiful

[@camitful]

These it's the passion of the big Aimi Kobayashi !!!!!!! these it's the perfection of interpretation at the piano. WOWWWWWWWW

[@tecnik3253]

Beautifull performance Aimi! God bless you!

[@ignomarie]

Stunning dress and amazing performance!!!

[@knoxbrown2550]

Bravo for sharing your soul, Aimi!

[@richarddeschenes739]

So beautifully interpreted and again the magic in those hands and heart she reveals is just breathtaking. A perfection of movement and a reminder once more that I shall never tire or grow weary of listening to her as she channels through her a piece of heaven each time she places her delicate hands on that Steinway! No doubt a gift to us from the Universe for which I bow in absolute gratitude.

[@zamfully]

There is not a pianist on the planet that can express so much heart in every not she plays. No one compares to aimi. No one. I wish she would record more. Much more.

[@yaliyumegami2033]

Wow, amazing interpretation! Just perfect, I wish one day to be just like you! Classical music motivated me to play music and most of them were pieces from Chopin, Kreisler and Rachmaninoff. I already played Guitar but now Im going to learn how to play piano and play all the pieces I like !

[@glasslockholmes3246]

Don't waver, piano is monumentally more difficult than guitar. The more you train, the better you get. For starters, try to play as how the composers deign it to be played, as your techniques get honed you will be able to proceed with your own interpretation.

[@marshall5465]

Saying piano is monumentally more difficult than guitar is quite a statement, I play piano but many people I know play guitar. And I have to say, classical guitar, not the basic and repeated chord progressions in classic rock or metal/pop(etc...), is comparably as difficult as piano.

[@yaliyumegami2033]

Guitar its a lot easier than Piano, its what Im seeing but I got confortable with it pretty fast.

[@glasslockholmes3246]

exz In my experience, i do find guitar to be less challenging than mastering piano. The necessity to have full control over 10 fingers that moves incessantly and powerfully over the course of 30 minutes at some times. Rach 3, for example. It's like a marathon championship for fingers. Or La Campanella that demands trills from your middle, 3rd and 4th fingers throughout the entire song.

[@yaliyumegami2033]

+Putr Kosh yeah, I was quite amazed when i got to know de dificulty of that pieces, guitar is not that dificult... piano its a lot more exigent no room for mistakes

[@gordonmudkippzz502]

This is the best version for me. I also liked how she plays it using with her feelings, it's hard to hear some rare mistakes too (Except for the hard one)

[@zamfully]

Aimi owns this one. There are great pianists, great musicians, but Aimi owns this one.

[@estheranse]

Wow. Amazing. Really amazing... Thank you for this moment.

[@user-gl6mq5xc9x]

素晴らしい演奏です！！

[@luke12346789]

im curently opening every artist playing this piece and covering the violin part for them , and the feeling is undescribable ...

[@crade9126]

When i hear her play this piece i got goosebumps, absolutely goregous performance

[@fiona8937]

I've seen a lot of versions of this piece on youtube but there's just something about Aimi's playing and her emotions that touches me in a different way...

[@yoshihikosaito5052]

The great performance.It's very passionate.

[@GerardoIsaac10]

Maravilhosa interpretação de uma obra difícil cheia de sentimentos. Parabéns Srta. Aimi , penso que está entre as melhores pianista da atualidade.

[@user-wf7hb6on2h]

これいつか弾けるようになりたい

[@heartparry]

This is beautiful!

[@user-lv3yf6my9x]

Nice interpretation. Top level pianism (posture, wrist, tone...), musical insight...and beauty)

[@rodrigocapchacarrion565]

impresionante como siendo la misma canción, cada músico le pone su sentimiento y hace suya las notas...y la convierte en una interpretación particular...

[@CrabyReality]

The reason why Steinway and Sons’ piano are the best piano in the world is because we can hear the richness of each note Chopin wrote. Especially during the 4:53 section when she hits all these chords, damn, each one feel so profound, meaningful…

[@joaogabriell6683]

I really like Yamaha, it has a very strong and brilliant sound. both are wonderful

[@jamestsindos946]

@@joaogabriell6683 yes Yamaha is so underrated but Steinway is better

[@tenshot777]

彼女の情熱が伝わる素晴らしい演奏でした。

[@MrVincent537]

There is no better than this piano playing. Musically and technically there is no better than this. It's speacking through music. Just ideal!!!

[@grzegorzmatusiak4667]

She plays like an angel....

[@frank1931]

A beautiful talented young lady ,One of the best. frank kent

[@arghavana3506]

It’s alive. That’s the thing, you must live it not just play it. She feels it we can see it well well.

[@deanneb6925]

Watching her play is absolutely captivating

[@solbriller1]

Other great performances on the competition, but u are in a league of your own. Eksperimenting with your expression, going right to the borders and ALWAYS interesting listening to. This is also a great performance.For your age you are extreme. Still teenager but Chopin was too when writing some of his greates pieces^^

[@123789cesar]

This piece is a miracle

[@krzysztofgraczykowski8312]

Artyści japońscy są wspaniałymi wykonawcami muzyki Chopina mają w sobie tą pasję tą ikre moim zdaniem to wielcy wirtuozi fortepianu od lat obserwuję koncerty chopinowskie wielkie brawa i szacunek dla aimi kobayasi nie ujmując tym samym wszystkim wykonawcom tej wspaniałej muzyki

[@hendrikderooij9958]

Daar ben ik het volledig me eens (hihi) (=:''

[@dott.franco8261]

Excellent feeling, great pianist 🌟

[@max-hl9sf]

the way she plays it with her feelings--

[@hoanganhnguyen995]

Really beautyful!❤️

[@worstpianist3985]

7:49 Yes! This is the intensity I’ve searched for in a rendition of this piece! I aspire to play this like her one day.

[@jgamez5023]

Amazing !

[@mitienokibaragoulart]

Maravilhoso, Subarashi, Beautiful! Que alma retornou em Aimi?!!

[@alzanari1274]

i usually don't have much of indept analysis in order to spot mistakes in piano pieces since i mostly don't know the scores but i can tell this is vastly different for Zimerman's play of this ballade. hope she keeps improving this world need more people who can actually taste this art

[@JohanBesterphotos]

Wonderful interpretation!

[@itzelbarrerashernandez4781]

Simply beautiful....

[@user-ft3bd9fe6s]

Best peformance of Ballade No.1 !!!

[@ilovemycatrussell9298]

Nope

[@curtiskerns6913]

It sounds to me as if she needed another month or two of preparation on this piece. That being said...it is an extremely challenging piece and for the most part she pulled it off well. Some parts I really liked her interpretation and other parts not so much. Her tone is wonderful though. Can't wait to hear where her pioneering interpretations take her in the future.

[@carlj9162]

Unable to describe how Amazing is this . thank you so much

[@arisiikavuopio7935]

So many bullcrap comments about wrong notes, this and that. I guess I'm a "low-level hilbilly" since I can't hear the difference. But what I can, as a listener, is feel a whole lot of emotion. Aimi plays like a Godess, and none of these wannabe classical music connoiseur-people commenting such bullcrap, can play anywhere near this level of mastery.