Wilhelm Kempff plays Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata 3rd Movement on Piano

[@drakenbakken]

I have watched this so many times over the years. This is absolutely my favorite rendition of this song and maybe favorite music video of all time

[@bertjesklotepino]

All movements, 1st 2nd and 3rd, played by mr Kempff are in my opinion the absolute best renditions for as far as i know. I have not yet found anyone who played it with such emotion and feeling. Especially the first movement played by mr Kempff is my favorite movement of the entire song. The 2nd i find a bit silly. I dunno why Beethoven included that bit. And the third..... superb. Wish i could play like that.

[@drakenbakken]

@@bertjesklotepino I try to avoid the 1st as it makes me depressed but dam he nails that so hard as well just checked it out

[@bertjesklotepino]

i wonder how anyone can still be really happy knowing certain things are happening in certain parts of the world that do not look like they are going to end up any time soon. And in my opinion they are also not going to create any kind of paradise after it all ends. It will end, that is for sure. But how is anyone's guess. The world will not look the same though. Might even be a waste land. Who knows? And so to prepare myself, i love to watch the warning given by mr Orwell before he died, and listening to this particular part of the Moonlight Sonata. It just mixes perfectly. And as George Carlin said: We got front row tickets to all of it. SO why not just enjoy the show. The first movement gives me hope. Because humanity was able to create the instrument that it should be played on. The Piano. And, certain people (including me) can actually play it. And give it the right kind of sensitivity so that it will make you feel something inside. You do not get that from much of the music produced these days. Anyways, it restores a bit of hope for humanity. Charles Manson, you know him i assume? Anyway, he said something funny about this music business: “The music speaks to you every day, but you are too deaf, dumb, and blind to even listen to the music. You are too deaf, dumb, and blind to stop what you are doing.” He also explained how music changed from slow to fast to just noise, basically. Kinda think he had a point there. Sorry for having written you a book in response. @@drakenbakken

[@Victoria-mn7xm]

The same here.

[@user-xr9ps9ew3r]

Same

[@chocolate_01]

I truly believe this is how Beethoven wanted this piece to be played. So many people rush through this piece but he exudes emotional depth. This is my favourite 3d movement.

[@NeoZondix]

pum pam pum pam pum pam pum pam pam. POOOOM

[@chocolate_01]

@@NeoZondix ​ @NeoZondix I think I know what you mean (which verse you are referring to in this piece)😉🎶🎹

[@AnimalLover-ei9wi]

Despite being so dramatic, it’s still part of Sonata - the keyboard cannot be chopped (or „butchered”🤭). My favourite interpretation is by Murray Perahia

[@Elsuwaidi89]

All other pianists when they play this symphony, they focus on speed. This version is the best I’ve ever heard. You can hear the difference in rhythm like a wave getting bigger and bigger not just fast knocking on the piano.

[@TON-vz3pe]

Exactly my thoughts

[@yucatron76]

What do you mean "symphony"?

[@Elsuwaidi89]

@@yucatron76 capaccino

[@yucatron76]

@@Elsuwaidi89 what do you mean by that?

[@NeoZondix]

​@@yucatron76cappuchino, eeey

[@BrandyBrandalia]

He had to be in his 70s or 80s when this was recorded. I hope people understand how amazing this is not just for his age at the time, but period.

[@marcmitchel25]

I understand anyway.

[@mattblank7728]

If they don't understand, they don't deserve to understand, and thus it is their loss.

[@strukhoff]

This looks to be taken from a longer video in 1970, so yes, he would have been 74 or 75 when this was made.

[@AALavdas]

This is absolutely amazing as a performance - but "amazing for the 70s" does not mean much. It is as if there was something...missing from the 70s in terms of great musicians, which is of course the exact opposite to the truth.

[@BrandyBrandalia]

@AALavdas I didn't say amazing "for the 70s". Rather, for him to maintain the finger dexterity to play this when he, himself, was in his 70s or 80s at the time of this performance is incredibly impressive.

[@influencerrrrrr]

"To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable." I'm sure Beethoven would have thoroughly enjoyed this performance.

[@Theblueblurrr]

Without a doubt the cleanest version of this song. Almost as if he became Bethoveen himself. Bravo good sir!

[@Outlier117]

That man lived more in those seven minutes than most people have lived in their entire lifetime.

[@ruckenwind8701]

he became the music ... is not faking it like Lang Lang and many others who are looking on note sheets ....

[@samafshar]

Legendary comment.

[@ruckenwind8701]

in 50 years nobody,.... nobody managed to play this piece like this .... noone .... this guy understood the music comes from inside , its part of you ....

[@lars9168]

I feel like a big difference is that he plays more with respect towards the piece and less towards himself. I could be wrong though...

[@delowen3578]

This man is born to do this for the rest of his of his lifetime.

[@DarthGrad3r]

To think that this was what Beethoven was hearing in his head and just needed to get out on a daily basis is incredible. I make songs that I am proud of, but the musical scope and genius of what this man was able to produce without having any source material to listen to for inspiration makes me appreciate the art of this song so much more. This is jy far my most favorite piano piece of all time, and the best performance of it I have ever heard. The emotion of each note comes through.

[@tjardkugler7130]

I don't care if it's not perfect. It doesn't has to be. The heart and emotion you feel in this performance makes it just so enjoyable. I will listen to this for years to come and will still enjoy a great piece of music, because that is just what it is.

[@tomyuen968]

totally agree! this is my favorite version of moonlight

[@gloria7415]

He played this extremely technical piece with so much heart it’s truly beautiful. What a brilliant artist, thank you sir.

[@LoseYourself001]

for sure the only one that plays this amazing composition in the perfect way. Everyone else plays this so soullessly. I guess it's a more demanding composition from the usual ones

[@ffelegal]

So much energy and clarity! Left hand is and absolute factory of rythm and texture. He accentuates different notes in unexpected times. Never a dull moment. And the phrases on right hand so melodic and clear. Incredible!

[@fragglinali4499]

This is still my favourite rendition of this movement, imperfections and all. The intensity burning through the man as he plays is something beautiful to witness

[@blackholeofnothing8940]

that closing door like sound in 1:38 like a thunder, like a storm, i like the power and its effects that he gave to his fingers..

[@TimmyTeller3115]

All pianists should aspire to this level of love of the work. Kempff personifies Beethoven. Thus, man can live in the same world as a great composer.

[@Kibouo]

6:16 he plays with such primal urgency but also loving tenderness, it’s almost like he only has a few moments left on this earth and is leaving his final mark on this world. Sublime.

[@thomasclegg4348]

My all-time favourite piece of classical music. And though there are many, many great versions on KZbin, Willhelm is the only one who plays with the emotion I believe Beethoven experienced while composing this piece. Bravo, Sir Bravo❤

[@thilankacbandaragamage9939]

In that 7 minutes he had expressed his emotions that most people keep themselves to.

[@digitalsquaretn]

You know what I love about this? He's not rushing it. More importantly he's not throwing all kinds of theatrics in. The piece of music is the focus, not someone flailing around.

[@elingroves4830]

I have watched this so many times and just never get bored

[@kj.rising]

My favorite performance. This guy just has it!

[@hardballget]

The bench mark of all pianist. There is no satisfaction listening to others once you have listened to the greatest of all time.

[@jb0433628]

Best version I ever heard.

[@Destroyreligion-42]

By far😍

[@sensudubs4421]

Nobody breathed as much life into the sonata like Wilhelm. He didnt just play it, he felt it. Bravo

[@wesluckey230]

Even the occasional mistake add to how brilliant this performance was.

[@ryankphotos]

It’s my favorite version of the song, those are unique notes that you can’t find on any other recording. It flows better than any other version too, some people race through the beginning and then slow down a crazy amount for the rest of the parts. He plays it uniformly throughout, truly legendary

[@mikesmovingimages]

Who cares about mistakes?

[@TON-vz3pe]

You see mistakes. I see gold nuggets

[@Pho7on]

The mistakes increase the tension and brings this piece to life IMO. Like the performance itself is burning away.

[@javierortizgt]

A master, Sir Wilhelm.

[@fazec0ld802]

Absolutely unreal how far ahead Kempff’s interpretation of No. 14’s 3rd movement is, even when compared to those of the other greatest pianists of all time. Barenboim, Arrau, Richter, Gould… none of theirs even coming close, despite the collective virtuosity amongst them. The rhythm is unbelievable- his interpretation is so rhythmic, and the phrasing is just so well-structured, which somehow, despite the order it brings, is able to bring the chaotic emotion and energy of the movement forward even more! The dynamic, volume, tempo, everything- all of it coming together to create what HAS to be the most optimal manifestation possible of Beethoven’s cathartic intention that lives within this piece.

[@wesluckey230]

I get weepy with emotion each time I listen to this virtuoso play this masterpiece. I even like the mistakes. Brilliant!

[@fatnlazychinc]

I used to be obsessed with this piece and this old German dude imo played it the best out of all the pros on KZbin

[@RoboticsBay]

This old German dude is one of the greatest piano players of the 20th century, thankfully he's better than anyone else lol

[@nigelthomas7960]

This is the definitive performance. Where is his mind? He’s not detached “in another world”, he’s deeply connected to the piano and the technicalities….. but …. He is definitely “somewhere else” playing this movement. I could almost manage it at 16 technically, but never progressed to perfection. But somehow this is just the “answer” to this movement. I wish i could read his mind as he plays it. ASTONISHING.

[@radiospank]

Brilliantly played, one of my fav versions

[@ВалБуткевич]

The best Beethoven's interpreter. Ever. ❤

[@tsedytaye8681]

Everyone who always wanted to play this song or just piano music in this world know how incredible this man is.

[@jimc1466]

All his emotion is inside, just perfect

[@mikesmovingimages]

Wow! Wonderful clarity, drive, confidence.

[@ИванКопылов-т2у]

Браво! На все времена! Невозможно себе представить что-то лучшее, чем это. Бетховен был бы доволен.

[@absurdesuwu]

ready the runway this man is going to fly, it's so captivating he can take his emotion and throw it into a sound you can feel into your soul. This score from Beethoven shouldn't be played any other way.

[@saiidinlineskater7132]

Amazing. Impossible to capture what Beethoven really intended because notes are only binary, but this feels like the most perfect interpretation.

[@LynTheWitch]

I sometimes wonder what Beethoven would have thought about this particular piano player playing his pieces. I like to think they would understand each other :)

[@ianhernandez4360]

Simply beautiful.

[@InbarRothschildPianist]

Simply fantastic.

[@kpmop-kpwbmb]

The sounds make me imagine that He had played this so many times in his life.

[@Pho7on]

Is there a recording of this performance anywhere? I can't even stand to listen to other renditions because this one set the standard for me.

[@Sci-Fi-Funny]

Love this piece helps my mind move, think, and be in the now!

[@magalatak]

Quel bonheur pour le corps et l'âme :-)! Merci!

[@lotunglee6459]

Excellent piano performance

[@lupash]

0:21 the sound dynamic of that lower C#

[@pranjal1800]

It's like a thundering cloud. This emotion of stormy night at this 0:20 makes me tear up

[@cioccolateriaveneziana]

I think this is something he allowed himself to do during this video recording. It's missing in the more "classical" studio recording (which is otherwise equally brilliant).

[@gerrylake]

Mastery at its best.

[@davidparker9676]

I'm surprised how few views this video has and how few comments. Amazing song and powerful execution by the pianist. Imagine what Beethoven would think of the music of today, we have definitely gone backwards into mediocrity.

[@mariazevedo4448]

Wow I've gosebumps!

[@stefantsarev4442]

Who knew that Emperor Palpatine was also a piano virtuoso?

[@forkray5797]

🤣😭

[@MisterSickGuy]

He was using the force 🤣. Hiss talents leads to ways some consider unnatural.

[@allstarmark12345]

Playing this in his 70-80s I’d say the force is with him! Most people that age can’t even type emails on a keyboard

[@cioccolateriaveneziana]

Eye roll.

[@Borodino1812god]

I am the piano.

[@konanamegakure4342]

Wilhelm is THE BEST. ♥

[@kajuaarche452]

Came back to this YEARS later. John Kramer still the 🐐. Seriously this is nice in any language.

[@Erni77]

Legendary

[@user-xr9ps9ew3r]

Wow! A grampa! Awsome❤❤❤

[@luizmauriciocoelholima540]

Amazing Beethoven...!!!

[@jebwon]

This is so cool!

[@YawnGod]

It's the lack of change in tempo. It's what makes this a unique performance.

[@cioccolateriaveneziana]

Exactly! I don't understand why so many brilliant pianists ruin this piece by "romanticizing" certain phrases by rallentando.

[@NeoZondix]

Uhhctually 😂😂. I used a metronome and tempo changes a bit, but then returns

[@Interspirituality]

@@cioccolateriavenezianasickness of our times

[@tianthf]

there're actually some slips here and there, but still, wow!

[@etmax1]

slips yeah, but no sheet music!!

[@krommer66]

But isn't that life?

[@michaelmironenko455]

It's better to play with emotions and slips than technically correct but lifeless.

[@AmyAmy-er8bp]

Ochen krasivo, spasibo! A to vsyo starayemsya...So few likes? Ochen professionalno sigral!

[@T0NYD1CK]

Many pianists seem to view this piece as a vehicle to show off. To that end, they try to play it too fast and those top repeated chords at the ends of the initial arpeggios always end up being compressed and not in time. I skipped at least half a dozen annoying renditions before I ended up here and listened to the whole thing. Great performance.

[@seethebright6238]

beautiful

[@sramos1336]

Why all pepole say this is worng performance? in my opinion one of the most completed performances

[@Pinkblobperson]

Imagine if he dresses up as palapatine and started playing this

[@cioccolateriaveneziana]

Eye roll...

[@TakeoMack]

Muscle memory is a real thing!

[@hardballget]

63k views, by my reckoning that must be 630 odd people viewed this 100 times and counting.

[@Kamelot19]

great!

[@davidrosenman1889]

A genius❗️

[@darylchambers5945]

Astonishing

[@cristianalejandrobotozis5351]

superb!

[@Interspirituality]

BEETHOVEN WOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD

[@chenjiang3031]

Insane!

[@tigrangyozalyan380]

It's is genial

[@leontak7208]

00:12

[@blackscreenvideos8]

He became the Beethoven himself for 7 minutes...

[@EpicureMammon]

Something that says pro is that he makes a little mistake (I think?!) at 2:06-7... just one weird note.. .and he just powers through. That would have derailed my brain.

[@Happy_Limpet]

BEAST

[@MilanoGuyTexas]

Where can you get this performance on CD or something? Also without taking anything away from Wilhem, this was extremely well recorded. Also the piano tuning was excellent. I wonder if the piano was "sweetened" meaning tuned to the key of this tuning and not the usual even temperament?

[@Raffpio]

Che grande

[@0420AN]

Wow!

[@lindaross783]

No words

[@Tornike2040]

His perfomance was full of mistakes but still the best one.

[@nunyabusiness8538]

3:50

[@sharmin1075]

el canciller palpatine xD

[@NeoZondix]

155 bmp

[@giannagiavelli5098]

Only three errors, good for his age

[@argovar1923]

Pelpatin play the Song of the Dark side.😅

[@cioccolateriaveneziana]

Not funny and given the other comments here, not original.

[@argovar1923]

@@cioccolateriaveneziana it is. thx.

[@codykalinin8251]

immortal.... fuck the mistakes, more. feel then fuck

[@erikajansevanrensburg3341]

Perfect!! He also had Alzheimer.

[@gomesbubbles922]

o shor ate da uns toques

[@danielfrancoise8881]

Seymouuuuuur where are youu... 😆What do you have to SAY ABOUT (Bla Bla Bla) etc etc etc etc and so on

[@mica8393]

Many mistakes 😅 - maybe Beethoven would dislike it

[@cioccolateriaveneziana]

Beethoven himself wasn't such a brilliant pianist, his playing style was criticized by his contemporaries. I think he would have appreciated Kempff.

[@AJBTemplar]

Lots of note fluffs and he was really hammering the keys. There are far better renditions on You Tube now.

[@cioccolateriaveneziana]

No, there are not.

[@influencerrrrrr]

"To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable." Guess who said that. He'd thoroughly enjoy this performance, without a doubt.

[@Kalestu]

THIS IS AGITATO

[@klarinetta]

Sloppy performance I must say.

[@klarinetta]

@@Dwgfwy372 because it's not rhythmic and clean. I also think that this movement needs to be played faster.

[@klarinetta]

@@Dwgfwy372 listen to Vladimir Ashkenazy,Emil Giles,Daniel Barenboim and András Schiff to name a few and you get what I'm talking about.

[@cioccolateriaveneziana]

@@klarinetta Wow :-))) The most rhythmical performance there is in the history of music recording... is "not rhythmic and clean" :-))

[@cioccolateriaveneziana]

@@klarinetta Daniel Barenboim is to me the epitome of "unclean" playing and András Schiff is just pedal, pedal, pedal and also what common people imagine as "lyrical" (i. e. kitschy).

[@leontak7208]

00:10

[@leontak7208]

4:10

[@leontak7208]

3:30

[@leontak7208]

3:10