Kate Liu - Nocturne in B major Op. 62 No. 1 (first stage)

[@dm.stpnchk]

She didn't come to compete, she came to play music

[@ChiKitWong426]

I can kind of understand why Cho won the competition but Kate is my winner. I'll always come back to her playing. Especially this, and the grand polonaise

[@hjchoi2063]

If Chopin heard her playing, he would be really satisfied. While she is playing the piano, it seems that she is in her own world in the heart. Her nocturne makes me fall into deep thought.

[@PieInTheSky9]

She's an angel, there's no other explanation to how beautiful this is..

[@RolandHuettmann]

She makes the piano sing, no -- melt. She became my favorite Chopin interpreter. She is in another sphere.

[@danielche2349]

Ooh melt is a good word

[@alfredoparamo3139]

Those of us who love Chopin's music are proud of Kate Liu

[@ambercai979]

wow that opening is breathtaking

[@seongtaek84]

second that!

[@gil-evens]

Totally agree. So much space

[@sm30405]

a wide and clear opening

[@Someonece]

I am stunned by this interpretation. The spacing she uses to draw out every note, every emotion, is so inspiring. She has achieved the highest potential of expressing the eternal spirit of Chopin. 2:48 to 3:30, as well as 4:26 to 5:03 is like reaching the absolute depths of the human soul. Unbelievable what Chopin wrote here, and how Kate interprets it. Hopefully she ends up recording all of the Nocturnes the same way she played this, or any of his works really.

[@Maijn2345]

Perfectly said

[@sakuradays98]

"Music is the silence between the notes" - Claude Debussy Kate Liu embraces each and every note which warms my heart whenever I listen to her. The amount of feelings and emotions that go into the piano makes it resonate which can make people sway.

[@sonholee5769]

Garrick Ohlsson was correct...

[@kituxplo5]

What about?

[@sonholee5769]

@@kituxplo5 He really loved her playing during this competition. He was on Ben Laude's channel.

[@kituxplo5]

@@sonholee5769 I watched that video recently. Now I understand.

[@nobe8652]

"I was in a dream state". Oh, truly yes.

[@pauld8156]

Some people play the piano, Some people complete themselves with the piano music. I now live in a better world. Thank you Kate Liu.

[@retrocules]

This deserves a million views.

[@klavieremily6870]

One of the most beautiful playing I have ever heard.

[@rcai7774]

There is a certain effortless and natural feeling that she imparts upon the listener, which makes this Nocturne all the more organic and pleasing to the ear.

[@xenasloan6859]

this performance reveals so much: no need to thump the life out of the keyboard; take your time in expressing the emotion...the audience seems to have lost its compulsive mania to cough throughout; seriously a lovely way to express another's thoughts. Superb

[@ghuinink]

"the audience seems to have lost its compulsive mania to cough throughout" finally someone addresses this. It's an annoying disease in most performances. together with the compulsory stiffness and posh behavior it takes away some of the fun of going to concerts

[@alfredoparamo3139]

I mean it with all sincerity: Kate Liu is the best interpreter of Chopin's music that I have met in my long life, which is now over 86 years old.

[@mattdugan2000]

It’s interesting when someone says someone is the best. Kate is wonderful but implying she is the ‘best’ simply isn’t possible, no one is the best... simply great. No art artist or interpretation can be graded by anyone except to themselves.

[@Roach32]

I would listen to a playlist of Rubenstein playing Chopin's nocturnes too!

[@JoyAndWhimsy17]

@@Roach32 Well, that is just your opinion. Alfredo’s opinion is his, not yours. He can think Kate Liu is the best, he doesn’t need your permission.

[@Roach32]

@@JoyAndWhimsy17 What? I didn’t say anything like that at all. I simply recommended it because Rubenstein’s recordings are very well done. I’m not downplaying anybody’s opinion. I have no way of knowing whether Alfredo has listened to them or not, so I suggested it.

[@zuhairbakdoud1360]

@@Roach32 l agree wholeheartedly. Rubinstein is practically a reincarnation of Chopin. Kate is most sensitive, and makes it appear that the piano is playing itself. She rare looks at the keys.

[@N1ck-Ra]

Wow this actually happened. I feel that it’s the most advanced and heart felt piano music I’ve ever heard

[@philphil2945]

Kate Liu played this piece beautifully with so much sensitivity and emotions. This is by far my favorite performance of this nocturne. Others may play with more power and speed but Kate`s playing was almost flawless in her ability to connect music with the listeners hearts.

[@joycelee2568]

Best performance of this nocturne in the competition.

[@liceous]

+Joyce Lee best performance of this nocturne EVER!

[@RollinRocker]

@@liceous Avdeeva was pretty good. Totally different sounding than Kate's version but also worth listening to.

[@elias7748]

@@liceous Listen to claudio arrau play.

[@kyoungpyohong4387]

@@liceous agreed

[@fransterbeek914]

Here also her playing is so unreally beautiful that it is impossible to catch it in words. No tone is routine, no tone is less inspired, everything is totally unrestricted and only the spirit of Chopin is speaking here. One cannot think here on technique anymore because everything is perfect and full of heavenly beauty. What a gigantic talent!

[@gregoberski5897]

Unbelievably good playing of one of Chopin's best pieces. Wow.

[@Viktorvelat95]

One of the top 3 performances of this nocturne that I have ever heard (along with Bozhanov and Moravec versions)! Kate Liu is a rare gem amongst the world of piano and I wish that she did more concerts unlike some other pianists who are a bit overrated, yet they keep performing everywhere….

[@fredfeinberg3995]

Bozhanov and Kate are the standouts for me in the last 40 years of this competition. So different, yet both utterly transcendental. [Yet neither won.] I'd travel far to hear either of them, and don't understand how they are not filling up Carnegie on a regular basis.

[@PieInTheSky9]

Rubinstein has the best recording of this ever made imo

[@p1st0ls44]

I listened to this all day yesterday. Cant get it out of my head!

[@marshallartz395]

She takes us to another world.

[@op.28no.17]

케이트 연주 듣고 이 곡에 반해버림..너무 아름다운 녹턴.

[@HappyGoLuckyPanda]

She can just play one key over and over and still sounds divine I suspect

[@yarnover]

Her trills even seem to be thought out and expressive.

[@NoahJohnson1810]

Never heard one this slow, but you know what the judges are looking for - uniqueness! They need something to remember the performer by. And because this is a very musical and unique interpretation she got great marks for it. Great job!

[@skydream4869]

Personally it feels like she let her fingers do their job freely but I can feel some deep understatement in her playing..love it! And Her playing Chopin Ballade no.4 is exceptional!!!

[@genis_piano]

7:30 end is just from an other universe ✨️

[@tomaszpopielicki8912]

Wherever Ms Liu plays a concert or a recital in Poland, she always, I repeat, always, gets a standing ovation.

[@liceous]

concert can refer to a performance with an orchestra (e.g. playing a concerto with the berlin philharmonic). a recital can refer to performing solo pieces without accompaniment.

[@keipidesu]

So beautiful.. I'm always moved whenever she plays. I hope she makes an album of Chopin Nocturnes (or any repertoire). I'll buy her works in a heartbeat.

[@gardenphoto]

I would too... but major record labels are far too busy promoting "great talents"... like the insufferable Lang-Lang! THIS is the real deal; Rubenstein reincarnated in the heart and soul of one Kate Lui... magical!

[@binglebinglebingle]

Whenever I come back to this video, I find this still amazing and absolutely beautiful. I'm learning this piece, so now I see more in Kate's interpretation. One may say, in several spots, it is different from the score, only if one understands the score in a literal sense. However, what she does here is freeing the music from the score while keeping its own style, letting it sing, dance, and fly through the air. I wouldn't claim that she is better than someone, but I've never seen what I see in Kate's performance in others' performance. Comparison is meaningless, but she is truly exceptional.

[@PianoScenesMoviesandSeries]

Where does it differ from the score?

[@jisyang8781]

@@PianoScenesMoviesandSeries 1) at the very end of the first section she arpeggiated the chord (at 3:03). Many pianists do that mainly because of smoother transition to middle section and possibly small hands. 2) in the middle section she chose to play the version with couple more notes in one bar in the middle (At 4:07) Afaik urtext is the one without these notes.

[@lagunagreg]

The playing might be as misty and vaporous as can be, but that girl is all business. Nothing is wasted, every note means something, she is completely there every instant.

[@hannastaszak1684]

Fryderyku będziemy Pana kochać aż do końca świata.

[@themoroccanpianist8953]

the last minute of this nocturne is the pinnacle of Chopin's art! no doubt he is the king of composers for piano !

[@keescanalfp5143]

True, so true! and then us hearing how someone like mr. horowitz, well, eh, literally, eh, as good as disposed of this ending - such a pity in respect of that great job he did before, in the same piece. strange impression, as if he couldn't find an access to these peace bringing motives.

[@Peter_4712]

Listening her is an unbeateable joy, one can immerse totally into Chopin's enchanting music.

[@alanjohnson5994]

My Word! I was blissfully unaware that one could reach an almighty 'HIGH' in Chopin's music until I heard this amazing performance. Kate's interpretation of this nocturne is truly inspiring, spellbinding and deeply satisfying. Excellent stuff.

[@jean-mariedethier5495]

Ce qui fait de cette jeune pianiste une "grande" musicienne, c'est son incroyable faculté d'habiter chaque détail du discours musical sans jamais perdre le sens sublime et cohérent de l'oeuvre. Magnifique !

[@Peter_4712]

Just like a beautiful dream, from what one doesn't want to awake at all.

[@alfredocastaneda1474]

Each key touch and pause, reflects Kate's passion and presence when playing Chopin's compositions!

[@jeremychoe2608]

This is one of the great Nocturne Op.62 No.1 I have ever heard. Her nocturne gives me so much impression and makes think. also very sensitive

[@angelinemapiano2543]

by far my favourite interpretation of this nocturne. so glad i stumbled across this when trying to figure out how to interpret it

[@katieliu3806]

same here my friend

[@angelinemapiano2543]

@@katieliu3806 that’s crazy bro

[@solbriller1]

This is pianoplaying at its very best

[@humanbean3]

thank you for showing me the guy scratch his head. that was marvelous

[@hurricane_hazel]

🤣 What a bizarre moment.

[@humanbean3]

@@hurricane_hazel i think they hired someone who went to film school to film. "time for one of those focus shots i learned" "oops i focused on someone scratching his head"

[@xenasloan6859]

Wish I lived in your village. My humour to a tea

[@meredith218461]

Arguably Chopins finest nocturne.

[@themoroccanpianist8953]

op 48 also and op 72

[@smikkelbeer6352]

@@themoroccanpianist8953 I would personally say this one has more depth

[@marshan1226]

His op 27 set...

[@themoroccanpianist8953]

@@smikkelbeer6352 yep

[@aliceko4695]

And op.62-2 too

[@wydiachandra4036]

Beautiful , very beautiful. Stunning !

[@jc9552]

Breathtaking. ❤

[@movielover123ish]

Absolutely stunning.❤

[@alfredoparamo3139]

I love Chopin's music. I love this Nocturne. I love this pianist.

[@alfredbooth6854]

Perfect control and an incredible talent for voicing.

[@davidchase3330]

Wonderful, sensitive heart music- so personal.

[@cmcase]

I contacted Kate after hearing this on the live broadcast, and mentioned Gould's remarks about playing from a state of ecstasy. She responded that what was important to her was being "in the zone", something she also mentions in one of the interviews. I've never heard a more poetic nocturne than this, not even from Friedman, Lipatti, Moravec or Horowitz. Had she not made a few mistakes in the concerto and elsewhere, she might well have got the gold medal she deserved.

[@jimkeller3868]

MISTAKES??? lol. Goes to show the unbearable pretense of classical performance competition. Her body is completely immersed and at one. Technique has become the means towards that end. I feel bliss when I hear her. When it comes down to a few "mistakes" it becomes laughable.

[@szekei-ct]

totally agreed

[@bgates275]

@Jim Keller That just goes to show how fierce the competition is at this level. Yeah, a few mistakes, seems like no big deal. But consider something like the 100 meter finals at the Olympics, where the difference between first and last is often only a few milliseconds. Or consider an admissions test, where only a couple of points may separate the 99th percentile from the 99.9th, but the difference actually means a rarity of 1/1000 instead of 1/100, and say, getting into Harvard or not.

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

What is this silly discussion about mistakes ? You are the mistakes , bloody people ..... thanks to Frans ter Beek , Christopher Case and Jim Keller for their answers . When someone is playing the piano like that , there are always some pigs like John Smith hearing the mistakes , and unable to listen to the music . Poor dirty world ....

[@ThePianoTester]

What it the problem of pointing mistakes? They make us humans. You people should relax a bit more. Making mistakes is ok, but it may have costed her the gold medal. But that is okay, What matters is how she makes you feel. She made me feel blessed just by hearing her playing, throughout the entire competition.

[@Schubertd960]

1:35 is simply one of Chopin's most inspired moments.

[@darcsaster]

exquisite...extraordinary. The whole piece is sublime, including 6:45 when heard in the entire context. What a revelation.

[@neilkilleen3911]

It’s the space that makes this so glorious

[@kyungho_seong]

what an astonishing interpretation!

[@bestofclassicalmusic4455]

3:53 Such great dynamics contrast

[@karolpawlowski5368]

Pan Fryderyk Chopin jest dumą Polski! Cały naród jest z niego dumny! 🇵🇱

[@TheJasmine172]

God, this is beautiful. Impeccable. I barely have the words for it.

[@matthewbaker5972]

So lovely, brought me to tears

[@isakhungnes8976]

After listening to Liu, every piece she plays become my favorite!

[@peanutbutter1530]

The first 50 secs sounds so ethereal, thinking someone dances to the sound hopelessly. Shes givin up

[@Hopkidnow]

The Chopin Podcast brought me here…!

[@mrsunshine151]

Same!

[@josejavierminguez2737]

The best performance of this nocturne i never eard. Tanks miss liu.

[@zivauri]

This is a miracle, revealed layers of delicacy ,linking time and sound and emotion ,touching something more than ears- as you listen, your mood opens and relaxes, especially near the end. It is the best performance of this piece that I have ever heard.

[@MrBobspiano]

Kate is breathing in exquisite rose petals - but the wind must blow now and then. Fear not, linger. All is well.

[@meredith218461]

Divinely beautiful playing.

[@CarlSanchious]

The lightness of her passages almost seemed as if the notes were diaphanous. The a tempo is genuine Chopin craft perbasive in many of his pieces ; the Ballads particularly.

[@joebone87]

Where are the albums? I want more, we need more .

[@WitoldBanasik]

Kate embodies music all by herself.. The Angel..

[@normanlee4322]

She played so naturally like an angel in the sky, not a manufactured pianist.

[@antoniotoscano6225]

Come può la mente umana concepire una sequenza di tale bellezza? 5:18 Mi sento un privilegiato solo per il fatto che Chopin sia esistito, che abbia composto capolavori meravigliosi e che, fortunatamente, posso ascoltarli.

[@simon_melomano]

She gave me a tear.

[@GunFriedericiSvantessonart]

Beautiful music! She knows how to convey the music's beauty!

[@TheKanakusumoto]

I almost cry when it's starting

[@wendy788]

beautiful.....breathtaking

[@cmk4821]

very sensible interpretation... wonderful...

[@danafadler]

Phrasing is intuitively communicated in the way it was heard as Chopin conceived this work. In fact the pianist is conveying Chopin's work as he intended it to be articulated.

[@peterbohdanko]

How do you know exactly how he wanted to interpret it? I don't agree, only he knows how it should exactly be played. The majority of pianists play the same piece differently.

[@benjamincuevaseninde]

-- Délicatesse, aisance & légèreté. Une merveille. --

[@evelynminnick3269]

Beautifully performed, thank you...

[@ronl7131]

KL, wonderful Artistry…..nice touch here

[@bachopinbee5991]

Very graceful playing.

[@elroehrentin7550]

Absolutely wonderfull and like a prayer. The coughing idiot guy is not disturbing this wonderfull girl playing chopin like a goddess

[@michaelj1237]

Too bad the video was cut short. I wanted to see her hands leave the keys and her eyes open and how she probably felt after that remarkable interpretation.

[@marshallartz395]

Michael Gaborni: Here is a link to the unedited video of Kate Liu’s performance from the Stage One, Oct 4, 2015, 5 pm-9 pm session of her complete program. The Nocturne starts at 2:54:59 kzbin.info/www/bejne/babYZ6yPrJd7m8k 😎🎹

[@andrewlee1336]

How did she develop her own voice (sound) at such a young age.

[@benbroverman5150]

Stunningly gorgeous interpretation

[@opticalmixing23]

Speaks of this young man's struggles and slowing down

[@lifestyleastherapyafterstr9423]

Personal timestamps: 5:04 beginning of trill section, so elegant(play on 1.25x)

[@alfredoparamo3139]

Kate Liu es uno de los mejores interpretes, hombres y mujeres, de la música de Chopin que he conocido en esta vida mía que ya se acerca al noveno decenio.

[@the_musical_zebra5354]

Yep. Definitely going to learn this one✔

[@themoroccanpianist8953]

did you learn it ?

[@hurley3000gt]

I did

[@melkithierry9289]

..... je reste sans voix.... littéralement habitée par la musique et la grâce 🙏🙏❤️

[@samuelmusic4836]

So, so beautiful !!!

[@sgut1947]

As everyone's saying, this is the very best. Anyone know if there's a recording of Kate playing the Chopin Barcarolle? It could have been written for her.

[@liceous]

I don't think there is but I agree I would've loved to hear her play the barcarolle

[@marshallartz395]

sgut1947: Your wish has been granted! Kate Liu played the Barcarolle at the 2013 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Belgium. Here is the Barcarolle link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3-3aGx_rad9qqs And you can also hear the rest of her program, which includes music of Bach, Beethoven, and Ligeti, on a separate KZbin video. Here is that link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZvEfYSgadlrers Happy listening! 😎🎹

[@marshallartz395]

@@liceous: You can now hear Kate Liu perform the Barcarolle on KZbin. She played it at the 2013 Queen Elisabeth Competition, and the audio is now uploaded to KZbin. The rest of her program features Bach, Beethoven, and Ligeti, and is available as a separate video on KZbin. Enjoy! 😎🎹

[@sgut1947]

@@marshallartz395 Thanks! I just found it, and as you say, it's beautiful. Way back in 2013 Kate already had that balance of delicacy and passion that makes her one of the greatest.

[@Magnet12]

Whoever was making banging and coughing noises during the performance needs to STOP!

[@sofiadjkw1865]

she has something special. .

[@liceous]

the best.

[@Highinsight7]

HOLY COW.... this girls got it!!! a total angel of music!

[@shivang15]

Much love. During the trills there was no background noise from the audience.

[@alfredoparamo3139]

Cuando preguntaron a Claudio Arrau qué obra de Chopin le conmovía mas, dijo "Alguno de sus Nocturnos". Me parece que estas piezas cuentan, en efecto, con el Chiopin mas profundo. Y que bien intterpreta Kate Liu, a nuestro bienamado compositor.

[@esauponce9759]

There's just too much beauty in this! ❤️

[@christinesenior5823]

Stunning a beautiful beyond words 💗

[@LucBoeren]

Beautiful. Very talented