Yuja Wang and Vikingur Olafsson play Schubert's Fantasy in F minor

[@michaelschefold3299]

Thank you very much for your quick synchronizing and addition of the score. I was so lucky attending this phenomenal concert of both of my favorite pianists live in Paris at October 3rd. It war really one of the greatest recitals I ever heard.

[@ianmorgan536]

👏🏻👍Bravo! You would think they had been playing together for years. This one of my favourite pieces by Schubert, and this performance does full justice to it. PITY about the add interruption at circa 5:25 - it spoiled it. The best performance I have seen, or heard, in years 👏🏻.

[@Adagio2009]

Having played this wonderful piece myself, it's wonderful that Schubert wrote this so that it can be played on one piano which makes it accessible to many pianists. However, this playing on two pianos allows for much more freedom of arm movement, pedaling and richness of sound. More difficult to synchronize but Yuja and Vikingur play it spectacularly! Sublime.

[@carlkulzer5982]

Schubert plumbs the depth of the soul in this masterpiece. Thanks for posting this marvelous performance.

[@poplife123]

I'm surprised this works so well ....they have very different styles and this seems like a really good balance....love it ❤❤❤

[@geoycs]

You’re surprised?

[@kelleyforeman]

They are so stylistically different, but I really enjoy how they play together! I hope they tour together some more. It seems like they are really enjoying themselves!

[@alden-bourne-tm5zs]

I was lucky enough to be at the London performance which is still living in my head a month later. If there's any chance their Hallelujah Junction could find its way onto KZbin I'd be eternally grateful. It was remarkable.

[@quaver1239]

Utterly beautiful. Thank you.

[@bloodgrss]

Thank you, my old KZbin friend; it is beautiful indeed!

[@ronaldonerheim4653]

I played the piano 4 hands version (the usual one) with my teacher. I remember our close physical proximity helped us to “become one”. I also remember a concert with Murray Periah and Radu Lupu, and they had 2-piano repertoire, but they went onto a single piano to play this, and it was absolutely magic. I suppose any piano duet could be played on 2 pianos, affording a bit of freedom. But something could be lost.

[@maclayyc]

The great advantage of 2 pianos is that they can speak as two characters with distinct and unique voices. But they should be physically very different (not the case in this performance) to create that contrast.

[@mcintertz5593]

I will say i was in the hall for this performance in London and it was a huge mistake playing it on two instruments, especially positioned this way rather than interlocking. The sound balance was completely off - one half giving treble and the other bass, it was very distinguishable seperate which is not how this should be, there is a unity of the parts as Ronald suggests. However the musicality in this is still admirable - it was the strongest performance they gave.

[@jakub.pianist]

it's the only version. playing this piece on two pianos doesn't make sense at all.

[@michaels7889]

An accomplished and really lovely performance enhanced by pleasing presentation and high quality video. My parents often played such duets before the war but I don't recall hearing this until my teens when late Beethoven and Schubert overwhelmed me. Nothing ever better that this performance though. So good!

[@kelleyforeman]

What a lovely memory!

[@A_Long_Musk]

Exquisite. I have recently discovered another late Schubert beauty - his Fantasy in C in four movements for violin and piano. Such a great gift.

[@nicolehourcade]

I agree

[@nicolehourcade]

Where Washington it???

[@nicolehourcade]

Where Was it?? Sorry m'y keyboard is à devil😅

[@A_Long_Musk]

@@nicolehourcade not sure. I can't find a reference to the location, surprisingly - the kind of stuff you find under the collapsed description usually.

[@bruce_c_in_nz]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/apfWnH56pp6Vndk not quite such a late work as the F minor, and imo not quite at the same level of greatness. If there is a greater composition for four hands on piano(s), I'd love to hear it (Mozart wrote a lovely work for 2 pianos NOT four hands, but this eclipses it in my opinion).

[@jungmeeyoun9512]

Can’t wait to listen to this live in Feb in Boston!

[@Sam-nb1rm]

Thank you for uploading !

[@berlinzerberus]

Very good, with great expression and musical feeling. Two marvellous artists are playing. I am surprised! BRAVO!

[@Adagio2009]

This is a wonderful pairing of two musicians on a gorgeous piece! Yuja uses a playful approach to the treble part in places which sounds great with Vikingur playing the rich bass part. Acoustics and recording quality are excellent. Terrific!

[@j.r.1210]

A good reason for using two pianos (not necessarily the only reason) in this type of performance is that it enables easier, more convenient use of the music. She is using a digital display of the score. He has conventional sheet music, wirh a page turner. With separate pianos, each player can have the music right in front of her/him in the preferred format with no fuss or distractions. They stay out of each other's way. Yuja Wang and Vikingur Olafsson are two of my very favorite pianists, so I was surprised and pleased to find this collaboration.

[@filmnoirnyc]

Simply wonderful.

[@amaurylopez5558]

I’m looking forward to seeing this concert in February. This video is beautifully done. Thank you 👍👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼🎶🎼

[@cecilgriffiths6399]

Utterly sublime! 🙏🙏❤️

[@foffagremlin278]

I am blown away by this performance of Yuja Wang and my old favorite Island's Vikingur Olafsson.

[@ivor000]

perfection ❤

[@claredelamer7940]

Glorious.

[@nicolehourcade]

Thank you😢

[@lucasbischoff144]

Wonderful ! I especially love Yuja's rubato and way of singing (it reminds me a bit of Rachmaninov's phrasings)

[@leviguedes1968]

Que maravilha!!!

[@nicolehourcade]

Amazon, perfect both are great pianist, it iPhone offre my favorite piano piece i know it well😮😮😮

[@aaronjorgefridman5662]

De una profundidad oceánica. Schubert en una de esas manifestaciones sólo de él. La ejecución IMPECABLE

[@jonstewart464]

Oh my word. Is this a new best recording of this masterpiece? I've never liked it so much on two pianos, but this is mega. Bravo!

[@Pablo-gl9dj]

Sounds terribly aimless in a cutesy way.

[@bloodgrss]

@@Pablo-gl9dj So does your silly critique of this...

[@elainesilberreis1687]

@@Pablo-gl9djwhat an odd ‘cutesy’ comment??

[@gabormezofi6667]

Lovely❤❤❤

[@amaurylopez9088]

Looking forward to seeing them in NY. Thanks for the video 👍👏🏻👏🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🎵🎶🎼

[@dominikn19]

Beautiful.

[@sambrownfurniture]

Schubert’s Fantasy in F minor, D. 940, is a remarkable and expressive work for piano four hands. Composed in 1828, the year of his death, it is often regarded as a highly emotional and dramatic piece that reflects Schubert’s inner turmoil and complex emotional state. The Fantasy is structured in four movements, though the piece doesn’t follow the typical sonata form. It blends lyricism, passion, and a sense of unresolved tension. The first movement opens with a mournful, almost operatic theme, which gives way to contrasting sections filled with heightened emotion. The second movement introduces a more lyrical theme, offering a brief respite from the intensity. The third movement is marked by a sense of drama and urgency, while the final movement brings a turbulent conclusion, almost as if the piece is struggling to find resolution. There is speculation that the work was inspired by Schubert’s experiences, including his awareness of his own mortality, as well as his deep longing for love and connection. While the Fantasy doesn’t tell a specific narrative, it can be seen as a representation of emotional depth, uncertainty, and the search for peace. Thanks A.I.

[@foxjacket]

I'm seeing them in February! 🎉

[@surkova_a]

Great performance. Schubert is very sensitive🌹

[@kch2371]

대박...레전드...환상적이다. 미쳤다

[@TitiLatulipe]

C'est une très belle version ^^

[@jhwan721]

아주 좋은 연주.

[@mariamano6733]

❤

[@孙玲玲]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍OTTIMO, GRAZIE 😮

[@marcusforss7369]

Amazing performance 🎉

[@ThePropellerkopf]

What a marvelous performance by both artists. Where was this particular recording made?

[@annaspielman9250]

❤Brilliant!

[@caroldemas8019]

That's a pairing I would not have considered. Wang is flamboyant and Olafsson is so buttoned-up. It's a great performance but my metric remains Perahia/Lupu.

[@ewm1987]

Agreed

[@DavidWeinbergGG]

Of course, they both play great, but I like the purple hair, too!

[@reinwoutschram5557]

Beautiful, but my benchmark remains the 2 Dutch brothers Jussen 🙏

[@Adagio2009]

I also love the Jussen brothers but enjoy hearing different interpretations. They're both valid and gorgeous interpretations.

[@avsystem3142]

That was great right up to the first commercial interruption about one-third of the way through. The spell was broken and I'm moving on to another channel immediately. Que lastima!

[@barryutub1]

Thank You E&F !!! By chance is the date of this performance askew? The Yuja Wang Archives site lists several October performance dates with Vikingur Olafsson but not 10/20/24. Just wondering as I'm trying to nail down the venue! Looks like the Berlin Philharmonie on 30 October? Peter Chen indicates the recital information is incomplete in the Archives, but I didn't think the dates were an issue. Thanks again for this wonderful video. Schubert wrote none better for four hands than this gem, which he composed and then premiered with his friend composer Franz Lachner in 1828!!

[@eusebiusetflorestan2532]

Thank you very much! Yes, you're right, it's a mistake I've just corrected. It must be the 30th, in Berlin.

[@PhilippSteves]

Yes, this is the Berlin concert from Oct 30 2024. Have been there, it was fantastic. The recording was done with the Digital Concert Hall equipment of @BerlinPhil

[@markus7894]

Brilliant and very sensitive performance. The use of two pianos gives a so much more subtle and flexible expression than 4-hands on one single piano!

[@RobertDaniel1926]

You can pedal separately if you play on two pianos. But in quatre-mains the communication is more direct and intense. Playing on two pianos is also less intimate/cuddly 😞

[@markus7894]

@@RobertDaniel1926 Playing 4-hands was invented for couples or couples-in-spe ;-) ... however the quite harsh piano sound under 4-hand's playing is rarely satisfying!

[@menachemblasberg4058]

Beautiful performance! Generally, this Schubert Fantasy is written for four hands on a single piano. However, during the COVID period, I watched a live stream of a single pianist who impressively played both parts on two pianos. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2Oyg2WqYr6tgqs

[@RYUKARYOTE]

As the acoustics piano duo and piano duet being very different, it does make me wonder why these two would choose to do this way. I hope this does NOT become a justification for other performers afterwards. must have been uncomfy with da pedals eh?

[@lauradefusco9583]

Due pianisti straordinari ma,in questo caso,assolutamente lontani dal mondo Schubertiano

[@JaseBach]

Those who don't know this piece can easily come up with superlatives, but the praises are really for the composer. The pianists played well technically, but it is sad that their interpretation was superficial. In the right hands, such as Perahia/Lupu mentioned, this piece is haunting. In the wrong hands, as in this case, a lot of it sounds like Carnaval of the Animals.

[@panossolo909]

Anne Queffelec and Imogen Cooper’s rendition is my preferred version of this unbelievable masterpiece! ( Yuja here misses the point I think). During 2023 I had listened to this 500 times (literally).

[@ShirleyKirsten]

Agree on the superlative Lupu/Perahia pairing. Murray was my classmate at the NYC HS of Performing Arts.

[@dougthomson9052]

@@ShirleyKirsten wow! I'm sure you have enjoyed following Murray's career since that time! I first heard him way back in winter 1977 - a free noontime concert (yes!) in a church in Chelsea, London. Really wonderful and I have followed his career ever since.

[@Barbapippo]

They couldn't stand to sit one aside to the other....

[@ericrouach]

I never understood why one needs the score for playing 4 hands or chamber music.

[@CarlosAntonioAlfonso-kg1gk]

Your is my 😇❤❤

[@sandramyer7081]

9:30

[@sandramyer7081]

I was studying this Schubert in my 18 yrs - I liked parts of this but most i didn't like it much - as t the music - The two piano seems too much- well done but overdone- the composing was enough with one piano- i played it myself was enough with one

[@dumainemarcel9112]

For my part i think it is a little too fast ... 😉

[@martinedwards9921]

I agree. It feels a little bit rushed. Nevertheless, they are both superb pianists.

[@CarlosAntonioAlfonso-kg1gk]

😂final? de donde?😂

[@lorenzoj.fuentes7431]

Dos virtusos perfectamente coordinados. Si eso pasa en el piano... ¿Qué pasaría en...? No digo más. Él es austero y formalista en el carácter y en el vestir. Ella no ❤ Veo que su anillo de casado se muestra demasiado. Será para evitar interpretaciones mal intencionadas (como la mia)

[@sbphotography3751]

Why the advert interruptions - it's not watchable!!!! 😧😧😧😠

[@ivor000]

you should talk to google, or get a subscription. why does everybody think everything in life should be free?

[@brkahn]

Use an ad blocker

[@willemboone7912]

Why on two pianos? It's written for piano four hands!

[@zamfully]

Listen to Lucas and Arthur play this

[@mosaiques23]

As already mentioned, this piece is originally for piano four hands, not two pianos. I think that these pianists should respect the composer's decision. Schubert is above them.

[@PhilippSteves]

Schubert himself might have played like that in case 2 pianos are available. Don't be too puristic.

[@mosaiques23]

@PhilippSteves I'm not a purist, I'm just interested in following the score's instructions. It's interesting that you assume that Schubert "might" have played in one way or another. How can you know? Do you happen to have Schubert's phone number? 🙄

[@bloodgrss]

@@mosaiques23 And how do you know what Schubert would have thought? You have a silly antiquated bias and pretentiousness...

[@mosaiques23]

@@bloodgrss Please, if you are not a musician or do not know anything about music, do not argue unnecessarily. Look at the score, it says "Kompositionen zu 4 Händen". Use Google translate if you do not understand. 🙄

[@VTownGregory]

I think Liszt should be condemned for transcribing Beethoven's symphonies for piano solo. Surely, that wasn't Beethoven's intent! But seriously, your argument is just tiresome. Give it a rest.

[@villafloridiana]

Utilizzare 2 piani è uno spreco di risorse che non apporta un valore aggiunto all'interpretazione! Entrambi usano una parte assai limitata del registro musicale offerto dalla tastiera. Suonando su un unico piano, side by side, i 2 musicisti possono coordinare meglio i movimenti e rispettare meglio il tempo musicale! In questo caso, l'eccezionale valore dei pianisti non pregiudica la grande qualità dell'esibizione👍👏

[@settembrini2]

Das kann ich so nicht unkommentiert stehenlassen - die 4-händige Version auf einem Instrument liefert gerade bei dieser quasi "orchestral" gedachten Fantasie enorme klangliche Nachteile im Vergleich zu dieser üppigen Version....allein die klanglichen Möglichkeiten, die in der getrennten Pedalisierung stecken, sind unschätzbar...

[@villafloridiana]

@@settembrini2 Ho l'impressione che tu non abbia colto l'essenza della celebre composizione! Parlare di sonarità "orchestrali" e "lussureggianti" per un opera che come la maggior parte dei lavori di Schubert è avulsa dalla retorica offerta da potenti sonorità, ma entra "in connessione" con il pubblico attraverso una dimensione intimistica e colloquiale, significa aver orientato i propri interessi musicali ad un compositore che è, ahimè, destinato a disattendere le tue aspettative oppure, come in questa fattispecie, a condurti sul percorso imbarazzante dell'equivoco e del fraintendimento del messaggio musicale!

[@АлександрСоголаев-у5э]

!!!

[@pierretran6567]

This is a big betrayal of the genuine atmosphere of this masterpiece composed for 4 hands for a specific musical rendition. Way too loud!

[@PhilippeColpaert]

Sublime but why on 2 pianos and for me the best is Emil and Elena Gilels but great ❤

[@avihuboneh723]

Definitely Emil Gillels and his daughter Alina's performance is unsurpassed.

[@joostroberts5951]

Another recommendable performance is of the brothers Lucas and Arthur Jussen.

[@Adagio2009]

The two pianos adds an independence in interpretation, sound and pedaling. It sounds very rich! Exquisite!

[@Amos_Oz]

Why doesn't Yuja Wang need to turn the page? How does it work digitally?

[@soozb15]

a foot pedal controls the page turns

[@michaelhaslam6089]

@@soozb15 Or there is gesture control.

[@demolicionesdemexico]

Everything beautifull but, what a misfortuned chouice for a dress....🥵 like uf she had another trade

[@victortavora8932]

Too rapid for my taste !

[@bruce_c_in_nz]

Normally I would agree. However, Yuja is playing it with such a playful and light touch that changes things for me. Isn't the lightness consistent with the notion of fantasy?

[@glebgribakin848]

Just listen to this piece played by Richter and Britten!

[@nicovlahavas4982]

Not rapid at all

[@thomasenman8539]

Why do they need two pianos?

[@hectorberlioz1449]

Nothing to compare to the Jussen brothers! Here everything sounds under rehearsed and Wang is almost sitereading. Very disappointing.....

[@annetteofarrell26]

I so agree , I think the Jussen brothers version is utterly sublime , intensely felt, and played with utmost musicality. My forever favourite.

[@ShirleyKirsten]

prefer four hands at one piano. more intimate, and color wise, should not sound like an aggrandized Carnival of the Animals. Too SYMPHONIC. in this two piano setting.

[@andrewhaigh1531]

So correct - especially when one takes into account the fact that it was composed at fortepiano times, so Schubert would not recognise the sonority and power of two concert pianofortes.

[@ivor000]

so strange that you say that: the entire time, all i could think of was saint-saens, blaspheme

[@TroelsNybo1st]

I get your point, and you may of course very well be right, but for my own part I happen to appreciate the added freedom of expression.

[@bloodgrss]

@@andrewhaigh1531 So?

[@melissaraven3164]

I prefer the original 1 piano 4 hands version. But this is lovely in its own way.

[@bartwatts1921]

Should be on one piano and very intimate. Although this is very good, this is NOT what Schubert intended…not even remotely.

[@settembrini2]

Niemand (!) weiß, was Schubert mit der Komposition dieser wunderbaren Fantasie beabsichtigt hat - es ist schon sehr vermessen zu behaupten, seine klanglichen Absichten zu kennen. ER HATTE NICHTS ANDERES ALS EIN KLAVIER ZUR VERFÜGUNG... eventuell wäre er fasziniert von dieser wundersamen Version von zwei großartigen Musikern auf zwei großen klangstarken Flügeln...

[@reinulf656]

Two pianos instead of one where the two pianists have to work together.. Sudden tempo changes to make playing easier, erotically interpreted rubato in the primo part... This is not Schubert but a marketing stunt 😢

[@ФилиппОстапенко-м4й]

Какафония истерично-затейливых провинциалов...

[@jingnie6421]

too fast I feel..

[@bodleyibolya7850]

With this yellow, everything is trash!

[@zamfully]

Sorry not very nice

[@martinjaviersalum7261]

Fue conpuesta para cuatro manos, No es igual la resultante acústica.

[@panossolo909]

People pls show some respect to these two performers! I personally think this is a different rendition to what we are used to. Perhaps they can appreciate another dimension we are unable to grasp. Food for thought in any case!

[@martinjaviersalum7261]

Quien le falta el respeto. Es una postura hacia las obras de arte. Si Schubert penso la obra para cuatro manos , es por que queria cierta sonoridad , que no se obtiene con dos instrumentos.