Now I didnt know he was such a pianist

I knew he was a great conductor. But such a pianist?

um, how could you not know Bernstein was a pianist??????

that is such old news, it's not even funny.

I knew he was a pianist but not in such a level.

actually, the Ravel isn't all that difficult to perform... although the cadenza is annoying.

I played it when I was 16.

Of course that is subjective, you played it when you were 16, fair enough, its still a difficult concerto, especially if you look beyond the notes.

Saulsmusic made a discovery that you may be already aware of, I don't think its justified to shoot him down in flames for it.

Of course that is subjective, you played it when you were 16, fair enough, its still a difficult concerto, especially if you look beyond the notes.

Saulsmusic made a discovery that you may be already aware of, I don't think its justified to shoot him down in flames for it.

I guess "difficult" is a very subjective thing, then. I found the Prokoviev 2nd considerably more technically, and emotionally, demanding than the Ravel. Even Ravel was considering calling the piece "Divertimento" rather than concerto, which I guess puts another perspective on its level of difficulty. Difficulty is relative to the amount of repertoire you've performed. If you are, as a pianist, not performing pieces at a certain level, then even Debussy's Le Petit N

I guess "difficult" is a very subjective thing, then. I found the Prokoviev 2nd considerably more technically, and emotionally, demanding than the Ravel. Even Ravel was considering calling the piece "Divertimento" rather than concerto, which I guess puts another perspective on its level of difficulty. Difficulty is relative to the amount of repertoire you've performed. If you are, as a pianist, not performing pieces at a certain level, then even Debussy's Le Petit N

True, but I could sense a little provocation was there, perhaps it was best to not make a big deal out of it?

I know the concerto repertoire really well and of course the ravel is not as demanding as some other works, but take the slow movement of his first concerto, that is very demanding musically.

actually, I don't find the slow movement of the Concerto en Sol to be "demanding" musically. I think it's a "what you see is what you get" sort of piece, with no hidden agenda, with very little subtlety to explore and dig your fingers into. The main gauche concerto has more meat to it, both technically and emotionally. At least, to my ears and eyes.

As for any provocation, well, I didn't see it. I was purely surprised that Saul seemed so thoroughly unaware of Bernstein's capabilities. If you felt there was provocation here, then maybe it would have been best had you not gotten involved?

I'm as surprised that you don't see the musical demands in the slow movement of the ravel 1st piano concerto as you were at sauls not knowing what a fine pianist Bernstein was. Very very strange indeed.

I'm as surprised that you don't see the musical demands in the slow movement of the ravel 1st piano concerto as you were at sauls not knowing what a fine pianist Bernstein was. Very very strange indeed.

How old are you?

Is all this one-upsmanship really necessary?

No, I don't see any musical difficulties in the slow movement of the Concerto in G. It's lovely music. That's about it. I enjoyed playing it. It was rather straightforward for me 30 years ago, it still is now. Maybe you and I understand the music differently. It doesn't mean either of us is either right or wrong. Maybe the fact that I'm French means I see it in a different light than you do.

I also think we can see that there is a difference between a matter of musical opinion (the degree of difficulty of interpretation of a work) and a matter of "fact" (the technical abilities of a well-known, and historically significant, musician).

No its not one oneupmanship.

I think most people consider the adagio to be rather difficult to pull off effectively, because of its emphasis on musical line rather than technical virtuosity.

Of course, its my opinion, although I know many that would agree.

Saul, Leonard Bernstein was a remarkable man. A true renaissance man in every way. He was not only a wonderful pianist, he was a conductor, an educator and a composer (which I presume you know).

Sadly, his duties as a conductor took up so much of his time that his composing took the back burner too often. So we have considerably less works by him than we could wish.

I've found, strangely, that his later recordings of similar works (for example he had two recordings of the W. Schuman 3rd symphony) tended to play on the "safe" side. They lacked a bit of the fire and passion of his earlier recordings. I don't know if this is attributable simply to age, or if he had a change of heart or of philosophy in regards to his musical approach to those particular works.

It's very interesting, and I'm sure some day will all come out in some biography - official or not - of his very tumultuous life.

Actually... there already IS one. I have a book called Stephen Sondheim: A Life... and on the back there are reviews for Meryle Secrest's biography of Leonard Bernstein. I am definitely going to buy it and read it... and most probably EAT it up.

Saul, Leonard Bernstein was a remarkable man. A true renaissance man in every way. He was not only a wonderful pianist, he was a conductor, an educator and a composer (which I presume you know).

Sadly, his duties as a conductor took up so much of his time that his composing took the back burner too often. So we have considerably less works by him than we could wish.

I've found, strangely, that his later recordings of similar works (for example he had two recordings of the W. Schuman 3rd symphony) tended to play on the "safe" side. They lacked a bit of the fire and passion of his earlier recordings. I don't know if this is attributable simply to age, or if he had a change of heart or of philosophy in regards to his musical approach to those particular works.

It's very interesting, and I'm sure some day will all come out in some biography - official or not - of his very tumultuous life.

I heard two recordings by him perfroming the blue raphsody. The first recording was great the second one not even close. I guess a pianist can have his 'times' where he can perform the same work differently at different occasions.