Interview of Evgeny Kissin

At 14th Arthur Rubinstein Piano Competition

[@gianniintesta]

After watching him talk, certainly confirms that this man is not of this world.

[@crystalcolors6742]

I've listened to Kissin's interviews in Russian and Yiddish. In both languages, he was a very slow talker, and took forever to answer. I think it's his personality. In one of the programs, the narrator said that his mother had once said that it takes him long time before he emotionally reacted, like after days of the event, he's finally feeling it. But when he did, it was deep. So, he doesn't react. It takes him to digest whatever it is, and once he digests it, he owns it, and he actively expresses it. I can tell he's a very intelligent man. Part of the reason he's such a great artist.

[@MarcusHK1]

I've heard him in an interview in Russian where he was speaking much faster.

[@diabolusinmusica6479]

Firstly, Russian is his first language, so of course he'd speak more fluently/faster. Secondly, Russian is a faster sounding language anyway. Thirdly, as it's a faster language, a non-native speaker would automatically think he's speaking faster in Russian.

[@LS-qg5fc]

Diabolus in Musica I'm a native speaker, and I agree that Kissin speaks much faster and more agilely in Russian. He looks like he's enjoying it too, though that may be because in his Russian interviews, he's asked questions about his life, art, contemporary politics, rather than about what he thinks about competitions. It seems to me that the reason he's slow here is that he's taking the time to think of an answer to these somewhat boring questions, and then having to translate that answer from Russian into English.

[@ruthstith6950]

crystalcolors Before I read any of these comments, I thought that he is just like my son who in speech therapy for fluency problems. Kissin doesn't appear to be struggling to find the words, because sometimes his mouth has already formed the next word, it just takes longer to come out. If he didn't pause like he does, he would stutter. He's actually doing very well not repeating words or sounds, and I'll be happy if my son gets to that point. I'm sure trying to talk in a non-native tongue doesn't help, but this looks like a pretty classic fluency problem to me. Has absolutely nothing to do with intelligence - clearly Kissin is a genius!

[@MarcusHK1]

Ruth Stith I don't think he has a fluency disorder. I'm familiar with stuttering because I have had that problem myself. I heard Kissin in an interview in Russian (on YT) where he speaks much more fluently.

[@Rondomino47]

". Every human being is a treasure, every nation is a treasure, and every national culture is a a treasure." Evgeny Kissin. God bless you.

[@finnlucas9765]

instablaster...

[@emilyhutjes]

I fully agree.

[@user-gn9vu7wn7t]

Bullfighting is a national culture and I find it abhorrent.

[@gblessbacon]

Evgeny Kissin knows so much about everything! I love listening to him talk.

[@mrpankau]

God bless you, Evgeny!

[@Dh4m13l]

He interrupted Kissin so many times... wow, even when Kissin was actually speaking not thinking. If I were in front of Kissin I would just listen, even if Kissin stopped to think for hours...

[@quaver1239]

Daniel Tkach : Ariek Vardi interrupts everyone he interviews. I think he genuinely can’t help it! He seems to become over-eager and quite aggressive, but he means well. Even though he drives audiences almost crazy with frustration.

[@DanielMartinez-nw1pn]

@@quaver1239 I agree, he's actually a nice interviewer, genuinely funny 😁

[@EmdrGreg]

I don't care for the interviewer's style. For the first several minutes he made Kissin focus on competitions when he knew full well Kissin had never taken part. Cringe. How was that helpful?

[@blackbird4062]

His native language is the piano

[@smileybrotherslawncare9599]

Lt Kill Joy haha

[@user-ho2hv1hn6m]

so ture lol

[@quaver1239]

Kramo : And Russian, and Hebrew, and Yiddish, and English, and German.

[@00range]

No no, his native piano is language

[@chpnlzt]

WHATEVER INHIBITS HIS SPEECH, THAT LURKS IN THE MIND OF THIS TOTAL GENIUS, (I SUSPECT IT IS A TOUCH OF AUTISM) LET US BE THANKFUL HE IS HOOKED UP THAT WAY, GOD HAS GIVEN US THE GREATEST MEGA-MONSTER GENIUS OF PIANO IN OUR GENERATION, PROBABLY BETTER THAN MOST OF THE GREAT COMPOSERS THEMSELVES - CERTAINLY THE BEST, BY FAR, IN THE RECORDING AGE !!!

[@JVYSXN]

***** amen

[@mrnarason]

+chpnlzt When he speaks yiddish or russia, it seems like Kissin doesn't stop as much.

[@saundrawells2603]

Thankyou from my heart for this' ..most special "gift" ..God protect him and the Jewish nation..

[@1fattyfatman]

I sense nothing wrong with his speech. He is clearly thinking in his native language and mentally translating into English.

[@Dh4m13l]

Right. I want to see all those guys criticizing him here speak and translate across 6 languages, how they would speak lol

[@johnharrington5688]

He speaks Russian the same way, though, so your intuition is wrong.

[@metteholm4833]

He does have a lisp.

[@IceAintNice]

WTF are you talking about? Is ignorance bliss?

[@elliotrocha8758]

jip laan It does, varying from case to case. I have aspergers, and even though I prefer writing, I have no speech deficiency. However, my friend (also aspergers) stutters a decent amount of the time.

[@miscellanyman263]

I've only "heard" Kissin "speak" while listening to his audio recordings and live-in-concert performances (saw him years ago at Carnegie Hall in New York City, and he was stupendous!). Suffice it to say, for someone whose native language is not English, he does speak English very articulately, and I can only assume that his pauses-for-thought is only due to the fact that he is translating from Russian-to-English in his mind in order to find the correct colloquialisms and idiomatic expressions to use. Bravo, Evgeny, and I still hope some day that you will perform the Saint-Saëns 2nd Piano Concerto, live-in-concert.

[@musiclover148]

I'm delighted to hear that Mr. Kissin not only embraces his heritage as a Russian Jew, but embraces Israel, as well. Todah. He is an amazing creation of the Lord AND a lovely gentleman.

[@LoGStein]

He became a good pianist by hard work not because of the lord haha

[@giulias.5104]

Indeed!

[@debussychopin2766]

I always see kissin as a kid pianist even to today. Until I just found out he's a year older than I am !

[@MichaelAlexander1967]

Evgeny Kissin is a brilliant genius! Oh, just to be in his presence & have him speak the language that I understand, my only language, English, & hear him express himself more vividly & colorfully than many English speaking people is absolutely miraculous! Gosh dang! Now I want to talk to him in person! Maybe some blessed day. His communication skills are as magnificent as his musicality! Wow! He could do voiceovers with that voice. I wonder if he sings? I believe be blinks, due to the complexity of his nueral connections. I presume it requires a substantial electrical charge/surge for his neural network to overcome the heavily weighted musical & artistic connections in his brain. It doesn't surprise me at all. I'm actually mesmerized by his communication skills. . . just brilliant!

[@mrnarason]

1.25 speed and Kissin sounds normal.

[@ivandanko6496]

+Victor P. Do you mean, when he play? :-D :-D

[@Yadeehoo]

Oh yeah thx, it works !

[@catherineyu3778]

During the interview, Mr. Kissin’s words came out slowly & hesitantly in the beginning of the interview. I think it was because he’s a very sincere & honest person, often thinks deeply & carefully about the questions before he attempts to answer them. His answers often comes from his heart. His manner of response to questions in the other interview I watched when he was much younger(he was wearing a bright blue stripped shirt) came out the same way. It also could be due to the fact that English is his second language, Russian is his native language. That usually happens when an non-native English speaker converses that way. I actually find him pretty fluent in English, with a good command of vocabulary. As a matter of fact, his responses were more immediate as the interview progressed.

[@DanielMartinez-nw1pn]

He's the pianist I most respect and admire. He has passion and soul, and understands music like very few artists do nowadays.

[@mickdunn8423]

He thinks carefully about every word he utters!...A lot like his piano playing! Listen to what he says,. Don't worry about him not being a Motor mouth!

[@tamhaien]

EXACTLY. HE is too careful about how he plays these days. I miss the much younger kissin.

[@smileybrotherslawncare9599]

He seemed relieved when that lady came up to say something at 34:40. His voice was soo loud at 35:04 very KIND of you.

[@mikern2001]

He has total and complete control. So deliberate.

[@phillach5181]

can't say the same about his speech.

[@phillach5181]

just kidding, i respect him

[@gardenerkatecarter5911]

Beautiful story , beautiful story teller and lovely man and musician .....I do not like competition it is better to relate but not compare.....the musicians responsiblity is to keep playing....

[@kawai1]

Such a nice man.

[@NoahJohnson1810]

At 5:56 *WHO'S LISTENING TO THE ORCHESTRA?!?!* he gave me a heart attack!

[@jimzheng4912]

lol it was a joke

[@jbrobele]

+Jim Zheng are you obsessed with Kissin? lol

[@quaver1239]

Noah Johnson : Hope you have recovered by now! I cannot bear Arie Vardi’s interviewing “skills” either.

[@NoahJohnson1810]

Oudtshoornify thanks I have 😂😂

[@IPlayPianoALot]

He talks like Christopher Walken. Do I need more reasons to like this guy?

[@chiaramalek1529]

Love him he is Really Special Not from earth.

[@omega551992]

the greatest pianist

[@charlottehuang1207]

Evgeny Kissin is the best💜

[@juniorvicepresidentofzimba4946]

It makes me chuckle that Mr Kissin, who is no doubt a hero and a genius, has been around microphones all his life but has no idea how to operate a cardioid dynamic microphone. It goes to show just how absorbed he must be in the music, always. I envy that.

[@parislovesrachmaninoff]

I love listening to Kissin speak. He has something so interesting to say all the time.

[@mariainesrodrigues8712]

Kissin esteja onde estiver serei sempre reconhecedora do seu talento!!!!

[@jonescrusher1]

Shambles of an interview but always enjoy hearing from the big man.

[@JJTownley_Classical-Composer]

Kissin takes these very long extravagant pauses in between clauses. I don't know if he's trying to formulate his next part of the answer in his mind before speaking it or if he's doing it for effect or if speaking in English is difficult for him. Certainly given his pianistic gifts his intelligence is not an issue. It's just a curiosity for me, maybe some others.

[@markpinkerton2219]

Some of you need to just relax. Obviously he was attempting to be humorous. The arts are to be appreciated, not judged and rigidly controlled by elitist snobs. I really doubt Mr Kissin was offended by the interviewer.

[@ghoshneh]

The interviewer has a very manipulative imposing style, as if he's trying hard to put words into Kissin's mouth, and Kissin trying hard not to allow the interviewer mould his thoughts, and this is probably one of the reason the answers from Kissin take longer than his normal reply time; Kissin in general is a very polished and articulate talker; people who are well articulated normally speak slower to get their messages across clearly.

[@Pau9pau]

What a revelation! I love him more!!!

[@Dh4m13l]

"But to play I'm not prepared, and I don't know the piano" lol Interesting comment!

[@kanekokazuko7034]

キーシン、真面目で、優しそう。語学力不足で、内容が理解できないのが残念ですが、やっぱり大好きです。

[@simberou]

c est quelqu un de gentil doux avec sourire timide tres attentif parfois gene par une certaine lenteur d expression une raideur d une education russe rigoriste diciplinaire d exigences d une grande simplicite abordable et un extraordinaire pianiste...... extra terrestre incomprehensible hors du commun un mozart du piano....un mystere un don du ciel qu il ne mesure peut etre pas lui meme c est en lui cette sincerite sensibilite ces constrastes expressions il est hors norme G E N I A L unique un don du ciel

[@KeepiitReaI]

Does anyone know what poem he quoted was?

[@larisazvezdnaya2305]

Спасибо за выложенное интервью с этим глубоким и очаровательным человеком ❤

[@victorskovorodnikov1150]

Вспомнилось: "Молчи, скрывайся, и таи. И чувства и мечты свои. Пускай в душевной глубине и всходят и зайдут оне как звезды ясные в ночи - любуйся ими, и молчи. Как сердцу высказать себя? Другому, как понять тебя? Поймет ли он чем ты живешь? Мысль изреченная есть ложь ... " - Тютчев.

[@anduowang8008]

Rofl ... The comment section is also killing me ... LOL... Btw, it is great pleasure to observe how kissin delivered the very intelligent answers in such a dominant magnificent manner ... WOW WOW

[@victorskovorodnikov1150]

"И гений, парадоксов друг..." Спасибо!

[@meixingmichael2480]

his voice sounds like Robin Atkinson

[@belialah]

at 1.25 speed hahhah

[@adrianwright8685]

Robin Atkinson ? who?

[@a.stephen9407]

"8:31" "that was only bach" awkward moment... what does that even mean? Kissin and I are both confused.

[@ABCDEFuckyou112]

that interviewer sure is weird

[@JoelRossPiano]

I know right!? I don't get that... haha

[@marykeiks2602]

it's because the interviewer was a stupid

[@user-jn9is6rj2c]

Because in one of other his interviews, he said he likes to play Bach's pieces when he's not practicing and said his favourite classical composer is Bach :)

[@chaseriveramusic7987]

It could mean that Bach’s technicality on the keyboard is mediocre compared to Chopin or Beethoven or Liszt. Just look Bach’s concerto in d minor compared to Chopin’s piano concertos. There’s an noticeable difference in difficulty. Not to say that Bach wasn’t a genius composer, his work is probably just easy playing for someone like Kissin.

[@user-qq4wr8jh7d]

want hearing some violin concerto....

[@KoltSupaTV]

08:31 Interviewer: "And as we say, "That was only Bach..." Kissin: "As opposed to???" LOL! Savage, Kissin...savage. *a toast*

[@ironpirites]

Has David Dubal ever interviewed Kissin? I'd rather hear Kissin's answers to the sort of questions Dubal would put to him. That would be more interesting to a music fan, I think, but that kind of interview would require a lot of preparation. It would be a different sort of thing. It's nice to hear Kissin, though, just for a sense of his personality.

[@mariocomeq1961]

I had a Dubal book, his interviews were really great. I lend the book, never got back. It was a book with interviews to great pianist. A book to read it one, two, three times....

[@debfowler8043]

Rarer than rocking horse shit.

[@gijswolfs8915]

It's funny to see how he blinks everytime he hits a note on the piano and every time he says a word with his mouth. Funny coincidence

[@user-qq4wr8jh7d]

ㅇwant to hear anything musics or

[@smileybrotherslawncare9599]

Every kissin and this guy clobbered over each other soo much. Didn't go very smooth I think. I love his playing a lot though.

[@beatlessteve1010]

He speaks similar to Henry Kissinger and their last names are similar ..I just notice things like that ..like Rasputin and Putin.

[@vikasuploader]

Does anyone know who the "interviewer" is ?

[@benkvulothong4034]

Arei Vardi he taught pianist like Yundi li, Yefim Bronfman, Yeol Eum Som.etc but I don't like the way he is interviewing kissin

[@quaver1239]

Benkvulo Thong : Arie Vardi. He always interrupts his guests. NOT Arei Vardi.

[@LucyBlue45]

I love him. He is a beautiful soul :) God Bless Israel!

[@coolcat1813]

+Paula Carreon why israel? he is russian, a jewish russian

[@pranavjulakanti7027]

+cool cat he's an Israeli citizen.

[@loveispatient0808]

Is his wife a pianist too?🤔

[@smileybrotherslawncare9599]

20:37 hi martin

[@mruberduck]

Unfortunately, the language barrier is simply too large, evgeny often doesn't fully understand the questions, and the interviewer doesn't really know how to rephrase them to better suit evgeny :(

[@happypotter23]

What is wrong with the interviewer?

[@mariocomeq1961]

He was very bad. Not prepare for the interview.

[@quaver1239]

Happy Potter : Mr Vardi is always like that. Causes one to cringe when he interviews. Cannot understand why they let him loose to question guests.

[@stefanbernhard2710]

He's so condescending and passive agressive. One of those "types"

[@itsjustnopinionok]

I think i've only came across one or two videos in my yrs of KZbin that i've ever seen zero thumbs down. Theres always a hater.

[@mariocomeq1961]

Kissin is Kissin, but I have to say that this was a bad interview. If I don't send a thumbs down is for respect to Kissin.

[@otonanoC]

Why in the world does Kissin not perform Moscheles more often? Ignaz Moscheles was the most publicly Jewish of the composers of the romantic period, and a virtuoso pianist to boot. Similarly, why doesn't he perform more Mendelssohn?

[@LS-qg5fc]

otonanoC You certainly can't claim that Mendelssohn was vocally Jewish. He was pretty aggressively secular.

[@quaver1239]

otonanoC : How do you know he doesn’t perform more Mendelssohn? Have you been to all his thousands of concerts, listened to his thousands of recordings?

[@quaver1239]

L S : First of all, his dad turned the entire family into Lutherans. Felix was reared as a Lutheran. He wrote an enormous amount of music based on Christian teachings. He was far from “aggressively secular.” Where do you get such nonsense? Look it up. There are Christian motets; there is the “Paulus” oratorio; many other works. Sad thing is that Mendelssohn’s entire heritage was Jewish, but his dad ruined everything by converting, thinking that this would get him further in the business world. It did not. And poor Felix was tormented by the anti-Semites who surrounded him. All, of course, were German. Surprise. Schumann pretended to be his friend, but I have read the anti-Semitic letters he wrote to Clara about Felix. Then, of course, you know about Wagner’s disgusting document against Mendelssohn’s Jewishness and Jews in general. And of course Mendelssohn was not “vocally Jewish”; his dad told him he was a Lutheran! You really should do some reading.

[@maxbui276]

He sounds like Christopher Walken

[@coreymccurry2063]

It puts the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again...

[@Manx123]

Some terrible fucking questions.

[@hermanparisius2828]

Kissin looks like Elon Musk. Same geniuses on the spectrum. It’s almost a curse to be so called ‘normal’.

[@pooliansshots6731]

Awkwardness galore.

[@satiethetutor3337]

My god he takes forever to answer questions!

[@monicad7597]

Well, he is foreign and clearly trying to find the best way to express himself in a language that is not native to him. Secondly, he is clearly putting a lot of thought into how he answers his questions - such diligence should be appreciated!

[@korglove]

shut the hell up, and and pay attention to positive things kissin brings. if "slow talking" is the only thing that you found in kissin, then you are first klass moron!

[@laflamezz1907]

He isnt native english speaker so he needs to translate it in his mind in russian

[@timothyst3117]

why do he sound like that?

[@ummglick]

OI VAY such a joo!

[@daffyduck4195]

Poor audio and poor video. Too low and too dark.

[@prokaznik6871]

кисин отвратен

[@NecroSexy]

"That was only Bach ..." - How vulgar.

[@Qee7en]

I think - hope - he meant to be sarcastic.

[@microfuel]

Kissin's reaction to that moronic comment was brilliant though.

[@rachelclare8795]

Yes, I think he was joking.

[@rachelclare8795]

I am referring to the questionnaire

[@ThePuTaMaDrE00]

in all the classical music people in israel they chose the worse. i dont like him and his show.. there are much better more tact people to do this job. he is weird

[@user-qq4wr8jh7d]

what kind of do you want to hear?about

[@user-qq4wr8jh7d]

want to hear now suddenly stopt

[@user-qq4wr8jh7d]

now l want to hear

[@mariocomeq1961]

A very bad interview.

[@rplayspiano]

Mr.Kissin , Jesus is the Messiah-you will find that out.

[@fiandrhi]

Oh fuck you. Seriously, just fuck off with your moronic nonsense. Go somewhere else. Leave music, this one area of beauty in the world, alone, free from your stupidity.

[@rplayspiano]

John Harrington What are you swearing about? My mom should wash your mouth out with soap AND give you a good PADDLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@rplayspiano]

***** That's what Lucifer wants you to think!!!

[@fiandrhi]

Robey Thomas You're boring, and soon there will be no more of you. You're an eyeblink away from the dustbin of history.

[@pedroaustregesilo]

interesting how people want to live their short life without any meaning

[@hohaia01]

I would like to know his opinion of Palestine and the theft of Palestinian land.

[@stefanbernhard2710]

He'll gaslight by saying "every nation is a treasure" . But you know how he (and everyone in attendance) really feels.

[@issemxfi]

Worst interviewer ever. Best pianist of modern days.

[@adrianwright8685]

9:46 His reason for refusing to be a jury member for a piano competition is - if I understand his rather laboured answer correctly - that it would take up his time when he has better things to do! Somewhat selfish and surely other jurists could have said the same.

[@sacrilegiousboi978]

He doesn’t believe in competitions, judging peoples playing like a competitive sport - simple. It’s just he obviously couldn’t say that because this interview took place at the Rubinstein competition

[@hameedkhalaf]

There is no such isreal. They stolet from plastine peope.

[@sarahjones-jf4pr]

H. K What an ignorant remark and written in diabolical English "Plastine peope" ??? awful.

[@hameedkhalaf]

@@sarahjones-jf4pr why don't you accept the truth. The land Its for palestine people. Why isreal kill innocent people and call jews from different nation to come to new land.

[@zusjew]

If you have acquired such a person to have a conversation, so kindly take care of that, he will feel comfortable and take care of the time. I can bet, he thought that he asks an interesting question, but it is not an interesting question at all! - "why do not you participate in competitions?" Cos everybody knows the answer. And then, a zionist, has no relation to the fact that he is such a bad interviewer. I agree with Raptor Jesus

[@crescenzoverdenavidacrociera]

What a weird guy Kissin.

[@joetursi9573]

A terrible interview.