So many pianists of renown have either outstanding technique or unsurpassed insight and interpretation. Rarely does one see both in one artiste. Solomon was unique, one of the greatest - he truly had a God given gift. He has no equal today.
Solomon is convincing. Its the best technique I have ever seen. He knows exactly how to touch a piano. And he knows the structure of a work, makes the phrasing natural, breathes between phrases and much more....
Note from 3:00 thru 3:15, how Solomon seems to almost want to come to a dead stop - he so heart-breakingly captures Schubert's despondency here - it leaves one speechless and in awe of this great pianists spiritual connection to Schubert...
It's difficult to describe Solomon's musicianship...flawless structural understanding, elegant phrasing and glowing cantabile...will have to do until someone describes it much better - please. More please from StockhausenisMyCat.
May I ask where you found this film footage? It gave me a shock, for it has always been thought and often said that Solomon's performance of Beethoven's Op.57 for BBC television is the only film of his playing. A thousand thanks for uploading this.
God - what hands! The seeming effortlessness of those fingers! Maybe the word "Solomon" was the greatest gift I managed to extract from the most hermetic living pianistic genuis of today - Sokolov (whom I'll love forever!)
Yeah. But it is credible. This is minority report technique taught by the late Abby Whiteside, by Robert Henry of the Hamburg Conservatoy, by Samaroff, many others but still non intuitive and hard for some to believe. Extreme relaxation, deep concentration on the musical image in the mind which templates everything, playing up from the base of the keyboard to the home base, the float point in the action. Rubinstein said, if you see your fingers move, you are doing too much. That is a huge clue to this master's technique. He swims in the action through myriad hand positions. The instrument does a great percentage of the work. This is how I try to learn. I can guarantee that it pays off.
Well said. Solomon emphasized relaxation in an interview with Harriet Brower in the 1920s. What is singular in this video and that of the Appassionata is that one can so clearly see in action the aspects of the Solomon technique of which one may have read: the Solomon Tone, Solomon Attack, Solomon Legato...it is all there to see and, while I should not want them to make the cardinal error of trying to copy, students could learn much from it. There is something ineffable about Solomon's playing, and I think that accounts from the rather astonishing mix of his greatest admirers. They included his great friend Serkin, Curzon, Moiseiwitsch, Rosen, Weissenberg...Cherkassky, at age 49, commenced 18 months of visits to Solomon (by then paralyzed by his massive stroke of 1956) to learn from him the secret of the famous Solomon long lines. His admirers today are legion, and as Nandini mentions, one is Sokolov -- nothing could be more fitting.
Solomon was my grandfather's cousin. They learnt to play the piano together and he was incredibly proud of his cousin. What a treat to see and hear why... thank you
I think he was the most selfless pianist I ever heard - it was always about the music, never about him. Some (including Horowitz) thought him 'dull', because he always insisted on 'the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth'.
Without an "objective" (your word) framework, all is chaos. It is precisely this that reveals Solomon's genius. He knows exactly where to be dry and when to inject himself in his full subjectivity into the expressive flow of the music
I am most struck by the absolute absence of any kind of affectations or arbitrary expressive gestures in Solomon's sublime playing. Hence - when he does suddenly slow the tempo for a brief second - ones heart is inflamed. His approach is astonishingly profound. The mere 15,000 views of this remarkable performance is so disappointing.
Thank you for this rarity! I've never heard any other pianist reveal the emotional core of this piece (the the turn to D flat major in the middle section) so bravely...
When I first heard Solomon plays Tchaikovsky in my friend's basement with a good sound system, I shall never forget he is no inferior to Horowitz. However, Horowitz gave him a word - boring.
Yes, it is a pity, because both Solomon and the piano are the wrong shape. However, it remains a priceless document of his playing of this piece, and of the piano. Perhaps someone could change the aspect ratio back to 1950s television format, and upload that version?
So many pianists of renown have either outstanding technique or unsurpassed insight and interpretation. Rarely does one see both in one artiste. Solomon was unique, one of the greatest - he truly had a God given gift. He has no equal today.
pentirah5 🤐
Solomon was my hero when I was a teenager (Over 60 years ago)He was often on the BBC TV and Radio
Superb!. Flawless pianism with a true vocal perception of the central section which is beautifully shaped.
pure magic.The music, and the pianist..
Such a beautiful interpretation. As a previous commentator has said he seems to have a spiritual connection with Schubert.
straightforward, yet wonderful and brilliant. thanks!
Solomon is convincing. Its the best technique I have ever seen. He knows exactly how to touch a piano. And he knows the structure of a work, makes the phrasing natural, breathes between phrases and much more....
Note from 3:00 thru 3:15, how Solomon seems to almost want to come to a dead stop - he so heart-breakingly captures Schubert's despondency here - it leaves one speechless and in awe of this great pianists spiritual connection to Schubert...
The perfect pianist.
A TRILLION THANKS HE IS FABULOUS
It's difficult to describe Solomon's musicianship...flawless structural understanding, elegant phrasing and glowing cantabile...will have to do until someone describes it much better - please. More please from StockhausenisMyCat.
May I ask where you found this film footage? It gave me a shock, for it has always been thought and often said that Solomon's performance of Beethoven's Op.57 for BBC television is the only film of his playing. A thousand thanks for uploading this.
Quite marvelous!
God - what hands! The seeming effortlessness of those fingers! Maybe the word "Solomon" was the greatest gift I managed to extract from the most hermetic living pianistic genuis of today - Sokolov (whom I'll love forever!)
Yeah. But it is credible. This is minority report technique taught by the late Abby Whiteside, by Robert Henry of the Hamburg Conservatoy, by Samaroff, many others but still non intuitive and hard for some to believe. Extreme relaxation, deep concentration on the musical image in the mind which templates everything, playing up from the base of the keyboard to the home base, the float point in the action. Rubinstein said, if you see your fingers move, you are doing too much. That is a huge clue to this master's technique. He swims in the action through myriad hand positions. The instrument does a great percentage of the work.
This is how I try to learn. I can guarantee that it pays off.
Well said. Solomon emphasized relaxation in an interview with Harriet Brower in the 1920s. What is singular in this video and that of the Appassionata is that one can so clearly see in action the aspects of the Solomon technique of which one may have read: the Solomon Tone, Solomon Attack, Solomon Legato...it is all there to see and, while I should not want them to make the cardinal error of trying to copy, students could learn much from it. There is something ineffable about Solomon's playing, and I think that accounts from the rather astonishing mix of his greatest admirers. They included his great friend Serkin, Curzon, Moiseiwitsch, Rosen, Weissenberg...Cherkassky, at age 49, commenced 18 months of visits to Solomon (by then paralyzed by his massive stroke of 1956) to learn from him the secret of the famous Solomon long lines. His admirers today are legion, and as Nandini mentions, one is Sokolov -- nothing could be more fitting.
Solomon was my grandfather's cousin. They learnt to play the piano together and he was incredibly proud of his cousin. What a treat to see and hear why... thank you
Sheer artistic genius.
I think he was the most selfless pianist I ever heard - it was always about the music, never about him. Some (including Horowitz) thought him 'dull', because he always insisted on 'the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth'.
He played this as an encore in a telecast in which the main work was Beethoven's Appassionata sonata.
The music and performance are musical magic except there are no tricks,
A rugir de plaisir....quelle technique
For me Solomon plays it rather too fast. But this is a sublimely-beautiful piece.
After Radu Lupu, everyone sounds fast!
Interesting historical document. Beautiful and profound
C# minor section, but outer sections awfully dry and objective.
Without an "objective" (your word) framework, all is chaos. It is precisely this that reveals Solomon's genius. He knows exactly where to be dry and when to inject himself in his full subjectivity into the expressive flow of the music
I am most struck by the absolute absence of any kind of affectations or arbitrary expressive gestures in Solomon's sublime playing. Hence - when he does suddenly slow the tempo for a brief second - ones heart is inflamed. His approach is astonishingly profound. The mere 15,000 views of this remarkable performance is so disappointing.
pro trick: you can watch movies on Flixzone. I've been using it for watching lots of of movies lately.
@Bruno Louis yea, I've been using flixzone for years myself :D
@Bruno Louis Yup, have been watching on flixzone for years myself =)
@Bruno Louis Yup, I've been watching on flixzone for months myself :D
Thank you for this rarity! I've never heard any other pianist reveal the emotional core of this piece (the the turn to D flat major in the middle section) so bravely...
Thanks for this historic and beautiful uploading. The relaxed physical approach and music-making are all one.
When I first heard Solomon plays Tchaikovsky in my friend's basement with a good sound system, I shall never forget he is no inferior to Horowitz. However, Horowitz gave him a word - boring.
@shenhe6281. Do you have a reference on what Horowitz ever said about Solomon or Solomon about Horowitz?
I read this somewhere in a Horowitz interview. I read widely, so I cannot remember the source. @@temperedwell6295
I feel the rush of heartbeat and my breath getting hard/slow, how wonderful it is. Indescribable feeling..
Well, here is one of the real legends. Does he live up to it? Yes.
Brilliant! 🎯
What a pity this had to be stretched to 16.9 widescreen format. The whole thing looks grotesque !
Yes, it is a pity, because both Solomon and the piano are the wrong shape. However, it remains a priceless document of his playing of this piece, and of the piano. Perhaps someone could change the aspect ratio back to 1950s television format, and upload that version?