Andras Schiff plays Mendelssohn Fantasie in F sharp minor, Op 28 (Live 2018)

[@salimictus]

What I love about Andras is that, even if you don't agree with his interpretation, it always shows you a very new aspect of the music he's playing.

[@psycholinguist1]

Schiff gave a recital for ABC Classic in Australia about a year ago. Two of the solo pieces were by Brahms. He put this piece by Mendelssohn in the middle and explained the choice by saying that Felix Mendelssohn was the most under-appreciated genius in music alongside Haydn. Agreed. A colleague of mine once asked me who my favourite composer was. I replied, that taking Beethoven out of the equation, my favourite was Mendelssohn. Love his music. Felix's sister, Fanny, was no slouch either!!

[@suremate]

Nice to see that some big name pianists still tour Australia.

[@sophiebi5798]

I just said the same thing to a friend, that I find Mendelssohn so underrated!

[@syncopate50]

Schiff is all about serving the music. He's too subtle for those who must have a lot of fuss and theatrics. For many who want deeply considered realizations, he is the go-to pianist for a lot of repertoire. One important thing is that he has obviously taken into account the range of dynamics and colours on the pianos for which the composers wrote. In Mendelssohn in particular this gives a crystalline and elegant performance. That this may not be the to the taste of those who prefer a more Lisztian approach is no criticism of Schiff. He has done what he set out to do. Thank you. Mr. Schiff.

[@zinam5795]

Everybody 're Different ,but so important RHITHM, style, form of any pieces ...A.Shiff is GREAT, very clever Musician .

[@yuritaguchi21]

5:32 2mov 8:14 3mov

[@alger3041]

suremate, I understand exactly what you are saying, as I studied this piece in my early teens, fell right in with it, and it became almost a signature piece for me. Yes, I do feel that there is plenty of drama here, which Schiff doesn't pick up on. About the only thing I could say that I really like would be the tempo of the last movement, in which here you can follow everything - with most pianists it is ripped through at such a speed that it comes across as a virtual blur. But I wish that he would relentlessly maintain that forward drive - with every hesitation that intermittently occurs, he almost kills the effect. I also don't like the manner in which ends of phrases are frequently clipped so that you almost lose their last notes. Tempos in general should be far more consistently maintained than they are. That big climax in the development section of the first movement, while it evidently has to make its point, still has to be kept under control - it cannot run amok by any means as is the case with far too many pianists. There has to be some relationship with comes before and after. I too have a certain manner in which I like to hear this piece played.

[@alger3041]

And on your recommendation, I listened to Maria Grinberg directly after listening to the version you posted. I will say, somewhat better, although I will still say that there is more to this piece than most pianists, if any at all, seem able to draw from it. I think that the key to this is that it is basically orchestral in conception and should be so approached; something that appears foreign to most pianists' vocabulary today.

[@alger3041]

And I would like to add that I consider this one of Mendelssohn's most significant pieces for piano solo; oh yes - definitely more so than the oft performed Variations Serieuses.

[@peetnaude8483]

Andras is a true master!

[@HyunSeoCho]

Wonderful!!!

[@Karlinberlin1]

When I was in music school in the 70's Mendelssohn was frowned on - too conservative, not innovative enough. The concertos were around but that was it. Seem more fresh now. Chamber music next.

[@suremate]

Karl O Unfortunately, he still doesn’t get played enough. Most pianists are extremely unimaginative when it comes to programming.

[@psycholinguist1]

Yet his Violin Concerto was innovative for his time...no orchestral intro, straight from first to the second movement with no break. Also, without Mendelssohn, as a conductor, JS Bach would be absent from the concert halls. J.S.Bach's music was rarely performed before Felix reintroduced him to the music public. I listen to his last string quartet, composed shortly after his beloved sister, Fanny, died. Full of rage and grief. Shortly after, Felix himself died, some say of a broken heart. Such a tragedy that two such talented composers should die within six months of each other.

[@annamartens9954]

I love this interpretation xx

[@handekmessiah1112]

Some people really cannot tell introverted and subtle performances from theatrical and sentimental ones. Schiff excels at the former but it seems dull and tepid for the latter's 'taste'. What a pity.

[@theshitheads9419]

Tge best recording of this in my opinion is murray perahia

[@pianoguy1955]

A spectacular live performance from Tokyo. Mendelssohn was noted for his speedy tempi. Makes the last movement even harder--but thrilling.

[@meredith218461]

In my humble opinion Maria Grinberg with her recording gets it absolutely right tempo wise and shows a complete understanding of the Mendelssohn pianistic style. Andras Schiff sounds rather perfunctory and disengaged here.

[@suremate]

Meredith Foster Yes, hers is my favourite too. I think this would’ve been a perfect piece for Richter.

[@HyunSeoCho]

8:48

[@123meanderer]

Three advertisements in the space of five minutes. All in the middle of the piece. Never returning to this channel.

[@suremate]

Take it up with KZbin. It's not like I place the ads. I don't even make a cent from this channel.

[@HyunSeoCho]

8:14 3rd

[@andrewkennaugh1065]

Great pianist...😊...rather dull personality... I've always found it difficult to warm to him...😚 could be the main reason he was placed low in the Tchaikovsky and Leeds Finals... albeit having reached the Final! I'm not a great fan of competitions anyway and it's great he went on to establish himself as one of the world's great pianists despite those apparent 'setbacks'! But he's unlikely to ever get you on the edge of your seat...😋😎☺️

[@laputa6464]

Finally someone who feels the same!

[@staugalot]

Tepid performance, like he wasn't really interested.

[@suremate]

staugalot7306 He plays like that sometimes unfortunately, but when he’s on it usually ends up being one of the highlights of the season.

[@zinam5795]

I believe, He's not taking pieces which not interesting him!😅

[@HyunSeoCho]

9:07

[@micky8503]

8:14 3rd

[@micky8503]

8:49

[@HyunSeoCho]

9:33

[@zinam5795]

And following, in the l.h--Georg Bize, in " Carmen"❤❤❤

[@cowjiwon]

6:50

[@micky8503]

9:06

[@micky8503]

9:05