Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Young generation of pianists

Li Yundi
- Chopin Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2
-
Listz La Campanella
- Chopin "Fantasie" Impromptu, Op. 66
-
Mozart Rondo Alla Turca (four hands with Jay Chou)

Lang Lang
His facial expression is funny.
- Chopin Nocturne Op. 27 No. 2
- Lang Lang and his father at Carnegie Hall - "Horse". I never knew his father is good at Erhu. I like this one.
- "I play piano like a multimedia website"
- Lang Lang & Marc Yu - Schubert Four Hands Part II
- Lang Lang Gone Mad

Evgeni Kissin (Russian)
- la campanella
- The Turkish March (Rondo Alla Turca)

Mee-Hyun Ahn (Korean)
-
Tchaikovsky-The Nutcracker Suite for piano solo
Perfection with this piece. She teaches at Yale. Some say "those who can't do, teach". This is not true.

Oksana Bella (Russian)
- Chopin - Fantasie Impromptu
- Chopin - Nocturne
- La Cumparsita
She also composes.

Grigory Sokolov

So energetic and firm.. this is Grigory Sokolov! (Russian pianist, 1950.4.18 - ) Although always a low key person, he definitely is among the best pianists of his generation. Listen to these:
- Couperin - Le Tic-Tac-Choc (So fluidish and easy. This is a hard piece yet sounds so effortless.)
- Prokofiev 7th Sonata - 3. Precipitato There is a jazzy groove in this composition.
- Stravinsky - Petrouchka: chez petrouchkag (Russian Dance?)
- Beethoven - Sonata No. 15 op.28 - III Scherzo Trio.
- Rameau - La Poule

Best performers of his generation also include vladimir horowitz and Glen Gould. Glen Gould is most famous for playing the music of Bach.

François Couperin: (1668 – 1733) French Baroque composer, organist and harpsichordist. His family was gifted in music. François himself was called "Couperin le Grand" (Couperin the Great). He composed "Le Tic-Tac-Choc".

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

More singing competition

Top 10 performance

David Archuleta's "Imagine" by John Lennon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbtC8Tdj-88
The strongest performance of this round.

Michael John's "You can go your own way": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjN4GFdkvrc
It's ok. But as Simon said, "there is no Moment".

Top 8 performance:

Jason Castro "Hallelujah": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0AT_rwiogc
without guitar, actually shows his voice. Not bad.

Michael Johns "Don't You Forget About Me": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVQeJ23tleQ
Song is ok, not special though.

David Archuleta "Another Day in Paradise": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-E5y11OpAM

In summary. All performances are not bad, but just not as fresh as first time heard their voices.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Britain's got talent '07

Paul Potts - the Opera singer & cellphone saleman:
First performance - Sleepless tonight (nessun dorma): http://youtube.com/watch?v=DelJrP3P7tA
Semi-final - Time to say goodby: http://youtube.com/watch?v=rDB9zwlXrB8
Final - Sleepless tonight: http://youtube.com/watch?v=K_5W4t_CBzg
Caruso: http://youtube.com/watch?v=O16nOsG6Z3k
Although skills still can be improved (as opera works like an academic field), he simply has an amazingly touching voice.

Connie Talbot - only 6:
Final: http://youtube.com/watch?v=2cnRXmMn2Ag
She sang with her grandma.

Am's got talent '07

Bianca Ryan - the 12-year-old unusual talent:
First performance: http://youtube.com/watch?v=prXfr_0IeN4
Final: http://youtube.com/watch?v=8uL3kWFQSpY
Somehow I feel the first is better than the final.
Spotlight - extended version: http://youtube.com/watch?v=DhVBtResJic
Here there are also briefs of many other songs by her.
Simon commented in this video that Bianca was potentially one of the best singers he ever heard of in his life.
Bianca - Merry Christmas: http://youtube.com/watch?v=dV8IE_vtTq8
Bianca - You light up my life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRU7e9Qe-qI
Bianca - O Holy Night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uXncfrRUi0
Her album was out in November 2007.

Taylor Ware - the 12-year-old yodeler:
First performance: http://youtube.com/watch?v=bDDEk2AMJAI
This should be better than later performances in the show, since the impression is totally fresh and unexpected. Later it seems to be repetition and not much new, and more country-style singing instead of yodeling.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Am Idol '08

My favorite: Australian Michael John. He combines skill, style, taste, passion, strength and maturity. I hope he can win the entire competition. One judge Randy said he's like a rising legendary rock star. Whether he would depends on things other than his already-polished skill.
Bohemian Rhapsody: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le8fjhSQqIM
Light my fire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgW54_Htkvg
A shorter audition of Light my fire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_1Iv2zJQxg

David Archuleta is another natural singer. He's just 17, and much younger than Michael (who is 28). His voice is quite mature for his age. There are youtube videos of his performance at 12, those were already fantastic. Besides voice being mature, he is a typical teenager in every other aspect. He will shine when getting elder. I think his best audition is Shop around: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7jk-pP3rMA

Castro (20) is like the hot guy next door. He is pretty good with What a day for a daydream:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtHsqqE7Edg

Kristy Lee good with country music on Amazing grace:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8hxo--7ehU
But it's said she quitted twice for something like this before, and not so consistent with other songs.

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Santa online

Tracking Santa's Christmas Trek: http://www.noradsanta.org
Santa's blog: http://clauschronicles.blogspot.com/
Santa and Christmas at North Pole: http://www.northpole.com/
Send your email to Santa: http://www.emailsanta.com/
The official website of Santa: http://www.saintnick.org/