Lang Lang plays Islamey

[@aSongScout]

For all those criticizing the performance, I'm willing to cut him some slack. He's only 18, for gosh sakes. On top of that, he plays the piece at almost top speed with maybe 1 or 2 noticeably missed notes in the entire thing. That was very impressive to me. Many of the other interpretations tend to get a little sloppy at the end due to the extreme difficulty. Lang Lang didn't have that.

[@IEEMAZ_Convoluted_14.2.8.5]

aSongScout uh, he is now 38

[@musicalmate500]

@@IEEMAZ_Convoluted_14.2.8.5 but in this video... he was eighteeeeennnnnn

[@IEEMAZ_Convoluted_14.2.8.5]

Ellis Adjei yeah

[@MrGoshka1]

18?? Он выглядит здесь на 30-35! Не иначе как булочки... He looks 30-35 here! Nothing but buns...

[@明哲甘-g8c]

@@musicalmate500 他當時18歲

[@MrYoutooblol]

Everyone should seriously consider the fact that Lang Lang was only 18 when he played this, instead of blindly comparing him with other virtuosic pianists

[@martinplaymusic9659]

Sum Yung Gai And even yet he is aiming to the moon when others are starting to jump.

[@ifmondayhadaface9490]

SIU MAN LI lol sure

[@pleasecontactme4274]

liszt made paganini etude 3 when he was 20 XD and played hamerkleiv too lol

[@IEEMAZ_Convoluted_14.2.8.5]

And now he is 38 or something he is a pro now 😁

[@musicalmate500]

@@ifmondayhadaface9490 He was eighteen what do you mean ‘lol sure’? The man in the beginning of the video said so.

[@aikiminomori2261]

I don't think he's trying to be showy. I'll bet you he plays just like this even if no one is watching. It's just the way he reacts to the music and he can't help it. If you don't like his style, stop attacking him and listen to other pianists.

[@pleasecontactme4274]

rather other pianists play much it faster lol

[@IEEMAZ_Convoluted_14.2.8.5]

Yeah he is not you are right. He is bringing classical music to the world

[@troy5094]

He would have played it in a much more showy way now lol

[@rapsodie1211]

He is musical and has the rigueur not to rush.

[@patarthenry]

As an extempore performance, Lang Lang dazzles me in this; it's lyrical, passionate, paced voluptuously. His love of the lyricism of this tour de force which he gives way to here and there, makes me like him even more, bravo Lang Lang!

[@IEEMAZ_Convoluted_14.2.8.5]

This little high school kid now becomes one of the best pianists in the world. It’s so happy to watch him play

[@barronlacy5898]

There are so many intricate musical things about this performance, love it

[@davidepetrucciani4561]

is very clean! perfect execution and right TEMPO

[@leot7]

No. It is very clean but the tempo is much too slow and it sounds very labored as opposed to light and flashy and quick.

[@elmodeadinside2760]

It's still great

[@crazyorganist1609]

@@leot7 I completely agree with you

[@ronp3952]

Too slow in many places.

[@mobymobyxxx]

Very personal interpretation!

[@JG_1998]

Not the biggest Lang Lang fan, but this performance is the best Islamey I've heard besides Horowitz and Pogorelich. Lang Lang captures the absurdity of this piece perfectly, and his over the top style of playing actually fits well here. His playing here is also very clean technically, which is remarkable in a piece like this, especially for him being so young.

[@marksmith3947]

Cziffra has an amazing version also

[@ZenandtheArtofPiano]

I love seeing how little he's changed since 18.

[@IEEMAZ_Convoluted_14.2.8.5]

Definitely changed a lot in his hair lol

[@ОльгаКопьёва-п7и]

Love his performance of very very difficult thing

[@amorettique]

Beautifully played. I'm not usually a fan of Lang Lang's playing (not related to his exaggerated expressions which I don't think are a problem), but he managed to play this rather messy piece in a clean and clear manner. I can actually HEAR the phrasing and melodic lines, which are all drowned out in too much speed and/or pedalling in the other performances on KZbin.

[@theenglishalpinist5031]

this isactually better than many of his so-called 'mature' performances, where he has already made his name and is playing up to some celebrity audience. Here he is stil establishing himself so has to play it 'straight', as the composer intended. It's actually a breath of fresh air to see him interpret something properly.

[@davisatdavis1]

It warms my heart to see people attacking critics in this comment section.

[@Lennythewinner]

Hear, hear!

[@himitsunosallychan]

one of the very few non-trivial performances of a, in my opinion, very trivial piece

[@isla9973]

I was named after this composition by Mily Balakirev.

[@MARTIN201199]

Isla 99 so your name is Islamey?

[@IEEMAZ_Convoluted_14.2.8.5]

That is so cool!

[@IEEMAZ_Convoluted_14.2.8.5]

The real name is actually the oriental fantasy op 18 nicknamed “islamey”, so you were named after the nickname of the piece, but it’s still cool!

[@pi5549]

I've listened to Pogorelich play this about 20 times. One greatness of this piece is there's no clear one-way to play it. It gives the performer a lot of freedom/opportunity to inject mojo. Most performers go too fast and fluff notes and muddy the whole thing. I appreciated that LangLang is aware of every note, but feel he's missing the deeper currents flowing thru the piece.

[@HeylalBenShahar]

The reason Lang Lang plays so beautifully and ruffles a lot of conservative feathers is because he doesn't take himself seriously

[@luthervaughn1]

I think this young man does a phenomenal job of creating some sort of "rhythm" in this song to make it flow as much as possible. I don't see how many are so strong against his performance. I thoroughly enjoy Berezovsky's way of playing this piece a thousand times more. But this isn't bad enough to critique. Plus, I love the body language...it seems quite the opposite of someone who doesn't take himself seriously.

[@HeylalBenShahar]

luthervaughn1 lol, I understand what you're saying. He takes himself seriously in the since that he allows himself to be free when he plays, which allows the music to flow and ultimately sound better. Berezovsky, I think, does not play it as well as Jason Bae or Lang Lang though. He rushes through parts that are supposes to be slow and sometimes doesn't properly accent the musical genius put into the composition. If lang lang re-recorded this song today, it would by far be the best version in the world.

[@aFrenchPianist]

Collectorp123 I don't think Lang Lang could surpass Pogorelich, or even Berezovsky and Gavrilov here. But especially Pogorelich, I must say, whose interpretation is more than incredible to my mind.

[@Lennythewinner]

+luthervaughn1 Hear, hear! I suspect the reason Lang Lang is so modest is that he has so much to be modest about. Beautiful rendition. 郎朗 bright and clear indeed! 太好了！

[@Bulbophile]

beautifully? deaf and blind?

[@IEEMAZ_Convoluted_14.2.8.5]

Wow! He is so young!

[@stevenb6253]

What they didn't show is that after he played this his fingers were found to all be dislocated. One of them caught fire halfway through.

[@karendeng6061]

What do you mean?

[@MrTaiese]

+Karen deng i assume hes talking about his speed and power throughout the ridiculous, suicidal(quoted from lang lang himself), and percussive piece that every pianists nightmare in learning but a fun piece to play once you get the hang of it lol

[@datahaki]

awesome, a real treat!

[@karendeng6061]

I want the whole interview.

[@IEEMAZ_Convoluted_14.2.8.5]

Karen deng haha me too

[@josephlaredo5272]

It’s not a question of speed - or accuracy. Lisitsa plays it as if it’s a race (and inevitably hits some wrong notes) with no apparent care for the sounds she is creating (her throw-away ending says it all). It’s supposed to an ‘oriental fantasy’. Lang Lang is just too straight; in fact, straight-laced, especially in the all-important middle section (listen to Ginzburg here), though the end is undoubtedly exciting in purely pianistic terms. Yes, Berezovsky is impressive, but for speed, accuracy, excitement and oriental fantasy, listen to Horowitz (up to 5.35 anyway; after that, he goes right off the rails). You can see the whirling dervishes ...

[@filipDim]

Young Pogorelich is also a legend at it

[@gerardbedecarter]

A wonderful performance.

[@kfirmazor1273]

is it harder then fantasie impromptu?

[@collinm.4652]

@@kfirmazor1273🗿

[@yanfengchen4351]

nobody in this world could play the last part as clear as langlang, end of the story

[@leot7]

It's clear, but it's harsh, labored and unmusical. He sometimes does a good job; this is not one of those times.

[@elmodeadinside2760]

You know what Leo shut the f*ck up and go watch somebody else biatch

[@leot7]

Thank you, ElmoAsianGamer Elmo, for your insightful and constructive feedback. I have in fact gone on to listen to other performances I do prefer. Additionally, I would like to offer a most sincere apology in your direction for having my own opinion. Regards, Leo

[@didierkoffi7408]

That was an "understandable have a nice day" moment

[@newgeorge]

excellent performance!

[@789armstrong]

Lang Lang is a great artist. Horowitz never made facial expressions because the "feeling comes out through his fingers" however Lang Lang has a much more extroverted personality.

[@JoaoCarlos-ut2ge]

Lang lang sempre langlangzando as musicas, genio, do seu jeito

[@patriot8627]

看完江老師10分鐘換朗老師10分鐘😂

[@yunwang8151]

Best ever.

[@schema45]

I actually prefer this piece at this pace. Just because it's less virtuosic doesn't make it less appealing. I like this interpretation as much as any on youtube. Berezovsky just sounds like he's in a hurry. Impressive nonetheless.

[@harbinguy1]

Thank you for the piece! I can't find Lang Lang played Liszt Fantasy on themes from Mozart's Don Giovanni. a Quote from PBS: Lang Lang and Live From Lincoln Center have an interesting history together. Some years ago we celebrated the opening of a Mostly Mozart season with a live telecast of that concert. Lang Lang, then at the beginning of his spectacular career, was scheduled to play the Mendelssohn First Piano Concerto, and a soprano was to sing some Mozart Concert and Opera Arias. Ten minutes before air time the soprano told us she was unable to sing. Crisis was averted when Lang Lang suggested that, if we wanted, he could fill the soprano's time with the Liszt Fantasy on Themes from Mozart's “Don Giovanni.” We wanted, he played, and proceeded to “bring down the house.” Afterwards my one word comment on the air was “Wow!”

[@Ilperon]

@monkeyBoner773 What made you think that? Lang lang did look a bit jolly at the part 5:20

[@Kirb-n4r]

Not that past and not that slow.... The exact tempo!

[@IEEMAZ_Convoluted_14.2.8.5]

He said that this will drive him nuts in a masterclass

[@MrElliottForrest]

Thanks for checking out this bit of history.

[@IbstisztBlogspotHkgracomtey]

@yiuwinghan17 it is not a song~ by the way, he plays it in standard way cuz he's just been well known at that time, it is too risky if he plays like berezovsky and playing faster means better playing? If someone can play it within 6minutes, then he plays it best in history among all virtoso pianists?

[@TheRealFraston]

People in the comments here are seriously rooting for stilted, frenzied, and unintentionally dissonant performances for… what? A more deliberate and listenable version is two minutes too long for your ADHD?

[@Cryseris]

Lang Lang sounds like Ling Ling..... Wait...

[@tonywang4952]

Finishes the piece. Stands up. Realises he isn't on stage. Awkwardly sits back down :)

[@IEEMAZ_Convoluted_14.2.8.5]

It can also be called “the oriental fantasy op 18”

[@antonygonzalez1672]

He really said long long😭

[@IEEMAZ_Convoluted_14.2.8.5]

Antony Gonzalez hahaha nice one

[@Marymead2]

His mother says it with an accent on the first word, come out sort of like LAWN lawn, very close together and short.

[@zinniamilburn2980]

IN MY OPINION EVGENY KISSIN IS THE BEST TO PLAY THIS PIECE .

[@elmodeadinside2760]

Thank you for stating that your comment was an opinion not a fact the internet is so messed up

[@mlr3188]

No

[@katiateixeiradacosta1503]

J’aime Kissim mais j’aime aussi LanLang! Je crois que nous pouvons aimer les deux!

[@IEEMAZ_Convoluted_14.2.8.5]

I will be sweating if I ever finished playing this lol

[@mgaaupetit1509]

Now 39 ....less nervous but unfortunatly missing the slightest colour !

[@hardybar1]

No fair! His fingers are double-jointed!

[@IEEMAZ_Convoluted_14.2.8.5]

Crazy, just crazy

[@OriginalBasaliskos]

@seaking020492 You haven't heard Lisitsa play Islamey? : 3

[@marksmith3947]

The facial expressions were a deficient compared to LL after a few years

[@matthew1722]

My thoughts exactly. I much prefer hers over Berozvsky's version.

[@uuwu8873]

Unparalleled pianist！

[@bfm740]

Sounds solid, crisp, and 'sterilized' (put in a good way). This is like... Balakirev meets Nikolai Kapustin lol. Awesome.

[@kfirmazor1273]

is it harder then fantasie impromptu?

[@alis1637]

Excellently played, much better than other versions on youtube

[@lanakim3896]

Wonderfull talanted Pianist!my student 13years old also try play Islamey Balakirev.Wellcome to our channel!Grace Lee 13years old play Islamey.

[@10231898]

Get those ads out of my face, please.

[@jessicaeskebk5945]

Mm. Yes. Long long

[@BohumirStehlik]

Lung Lung

[@sepuluhtiga7115]

only pros could play this ^^.. lang lang plays a bit slower than valentina lisitsa XD

[@ashleyhua9705]

He w as s friggen 18

[@didierkoffi7408]

Watch him play nowadays

[@Lennythewinner]

Islamey was written as a piece of *music,* not a frickin' four hundred metres sprint FFsake.

[@nicholausbisma]

hahahaha young lang lang....

[@macku15]

i just wrote the same comment...lol

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

What for a wonderful pianist and a so bad music

[@draganilicveljko]

pogorelich play that much more brilliant like no one before.

[@MKA829]

Cziffra's and Gilels' versions ARE the best.

[@MARTIN201199]

I haven’t listened those versions. I will do It immediately 😊

[@MARTIN201199]

I would recommend you, and everyone in this channel, Kristina Miller’s version

[@DavidGranda89]

Idil Biret!!!!!

[@ubermenschbilly9001]

Laun Laun sounds more precise

[@kyekim4226]

Lang Lang' s fingers flutters like beautiful and colorful butterfly!

[@icksupsilonzett6513]

Eine der besten Interpretationen, die ich jemals gehört habe! Leidenschaftlich und voller Energie gespielt 🤩👏 Btw: funny moves 🤭

[@crazyorganist1609]

Bang bang rides again

[@Ilperon]

@monkeyBoner773 Gay also means happy, remember?

[@handledav]

ey

[@AaronPetitPiano]

actually it is in China.

[@katiateixeiradacosta1503]

Aaron Petit je préfère Lang Lang! Il trouve une sonorité unique!

[@YSFmemories]

feels a bit slow...

[@avtawf]

It's because he's making sure all the phrases are properly shaped and all details written are executed and as well as giving his own interpretation... that's the difference between a professional pianist who studies music and a lousy person who plays as a hobby.

[@gtubetaiwan]

Second to your comment. Indeed, I listed to Lang Lang's master class on this piece, and he explicitly said that one needs to find the right tempo in order to properly execute and shape the expression... So that is his intention most likely.

[@OE1FEU]

Piano lid is at the wrong angle. Amateurs.

[@arsalanbeladimusicandpiano3211]

i like not this speed and mhsicalite....😕

[@AlvinSong2025]

i like not your english

[@4vr1l57]

I so like your grammar

[@Lennythewinner]

@@4vr1l57Not to mention his spelling

[@ThomasLittleComposer]

This embodies the difference between playing something accurate and something well. Lang Lang's interpretation is note-accurate, but his performance is lacking in character and style. No amount of facial expressions or body motions will change the fact that he plays the piece flat. He has great technique, but he doesn't put any of his emotion into his playing ... it's frustrating to listen to and to see.

[@mnemoncybre1250]

just look at valentina lisitsa do this..

[@Lennythewinner]

Yes look. But not listen - she may play fast and note-perfectly, but her performances, at least the few of hers I've listened to, are disappointingly lacking in lyrical quality.

[@spiridonojed894]

Лучше бы не брался........

[@mgaaupetit1509]

Indeed , unfortunately....

[@ITMSNIPER]

Long long~

[@a12196935]

郎朗手好大 彈琴剛剛好

[@graxsia]

"Long Long" is the pronunciation in Chinese

[@Danny840417]

No, It's still "Lang Lang"

[@elmodeadinside2760]

It is spelled Lang Lang but it is pronounced long long, Lang Lang says that himself in his vlogs

[@MARTIN201199]

MT Tseng nope. It’s Bang Bang. Haha I’m kidding. I love most Lang’s performances

[@valdistakada6804]

Очень хорошо!!!!!хочется играть и жить!!!!!

[@HAL-is1yd]

just don't look at him and everything become perfect.

[@jct35j]

Well I know other 18 year olds who can play this better than him.

[@silviasantos4215]

Muy mal .....................................

[@moritzsredenscheck9018]

Pure comedy

[@Ryan_gogaku]

The hand cross-overs during the end were all over the place. I'd say his was not as sloppy as most, but still not as clean as his reduced speed should have allowed. I agree that there's much more good to be seen in this performance than bad, but for me, the middle section (which is mostly slow), and especially the emotional climax at the end of it, was the most lacking. I like Lang Lang, but I'd like him to revisit this piece with a little less staccato and longer, fuller phrases.

[@pumery]

lol "long long" is not the pronunciation! :D

[@GTXTi-db5xu]

too slow

[@hwy7777]

i love Berezovsky more in this song. This piano sounds bad

[@ukdavepianoman]

This is way too slow, doesn't have any of the excitement of say Berezovsky's performance. Piano is pretty dire too.

[@seaking020492]

shit son, i played this crap faster than him. granted berezovsky is the one and true diety to this song. only Berezovsky does right to this song!

[@dernettep]

lang lang is a good pianist with a god technique...but this has been played far better by other pianists.

[@didierkoffi7408]

This was when he was only 18. I bet you if he took another shot at this (which he probably has) he would probably do it as marvelously. And personally, I like this tempo

[@macku15]

he is good but Valentina Lisitsa plays a better interpretation of this song!

[@maxxmadd8487]

worst propiano playah evah

[@maxxmadd8487]

noooob

[@elmodeadinside2760]

You probs can't play shitttttt

[@yunwang8151]

You think you could play it? I know one thing you can play. Stupid ass shit, that's what.

[@rickchen2081]

Although slow as hell (almost 9 minutes) as compared to Velentina Lisitsa's version (7 minutes) Lang Lang acted as if he is a gift from God. Shameless and ugliest piano showman ever. Of course I can't play it, not many people can play this piece. I am just saying why can't this guy realize he is nowhere near the top of the class and have some humility? It's repulsive to watch him perform.

[@avtawf]

You're comparing two performances of Islamey by the duration of the recording? Are you serious? Even someone who knows nothing about music wouldn't do that and then claim how bad of a pianist he is... like seriously man, wtf...

[@franciscopinto6394]

So his body language is all you need to critiize someone? Have it ever crossed your mind that you don't like him for purely superficial reasons? You're the pop hater, there's those who think twilight is the wrose, justiin bieber, lang lang... you're no different. You're a dumb cliche pop hater. Talk measures, don't talk tempo and emotion, talk specific. Of course you can't talk specific, all you can say is random generalizations.

[@moonpianolady]

Come on, it's okay to dislike some musicians.. I don't like Lang lang, and i can't do anything about that. His music doesn't touch my Heart at all, i guess it's because we're all different..? (i'm a pianist myself )

[@franciscopinto6394]

moonpianolady You may not like him, but you can't justify it with specifical measures, you just can't. He's a musical genious, and I don't like some of his interpretations also... yea you can dislike. But stay humble and appreciate this motherfucking genious

[@andrewdreww5199]

+Rick Chen He was 18 when he played that, how old was venetian lisitsa when she did that? she was 33 when she recorded that. I watched her play a live concert once. She is good, but technically wise is nowhere near Langlang. Also, slow as hell? How many wrong notes did lisitsa play in her recording? have you played this piece? It is slower in some section but some of the section was the right tempo. Of course, langlang exaggerates the rubato too much and doesn't do what the composer is asking for. But he has amazing techniques. He will get there one day!

[@kaikobird]

ugly sound, interpretation

[@hwy7777]

i love Berezovsky more in this song. This piano sounds bad