Absolutely amazing! What talent! I first saw Robert Levin many years ago play the Mozart Piano Concerto 22 with the Boston Symphony when he substituted for an indisposed Murray Perahia. The piano does not play for the first 70 or so bars and I almost fell out of my chair when Professor Levin started playing piano continuo from the very beginning.
Mozart would have conducted from the piano and would not have sat idly whilst waiting for the piano part to join the orchestra. He would have played right along.
@@patriciayeiser6405I really doubt anyone would dare to do that today during a Mozart concerto in a stuffy environment as a symphony hall. My bet is that, even if one were to be Mozart reincarnated, one would be instantly looking for a new profession in the least possibly related field lol
@@emfox6280 or classical music played by the composers. Sadly all the great composers are dead, but now we have Alma Deutscher!!!! The closest thing we'll get to a new Mozart, in the sense of genius and that she is a classical composer. Not that she imitates Mozart or anything like that.
@galek75 He thinks the so-called 7th violin concerto is Mozart when it is clearly a third rate unknown composer. He has no skill in composition; his attempt to embellish the 20th piano concerto is a mess. He is only useful for the academic points he makes.
I greatly encourage anybody watching this to listen to the rest of the lecture: th-cam.com/video/wkFdAigjmLA/w-d-xo.html Probably the among the greatest musical lectures on this era that I've heard, on par with Andras Schff's Beethoven lectures. He's a wonderful speaker and an even better musician!
I’m beginning to think that people do not understand what improvisation is first of all and secondly, they actually do not understand the fundamental elements of what makes Mozart music sound the way it does. Such emphatic statements about these things that do not align with that is being played is quite baffling. I am very certain that is Mozart himself resurrected and came to a piano to improvise, there will be people here saying that Mozart does not sound like himself based on what they heard from sonatas he wrote.
More broadly, I hold the view that "Such and such does not sound like [composer]" or "Do not tamper with [composer]'s music!" is a ridiculous statement.
@@FrostDirt I also agree with that. The composers of old themselves were known to have changed their compositions several times and tweaked them because they felt the pieces were not completely done or they simply got a better idea to replace it. But today, people treat these works like they are sacred texts. Change a note and burn in hell. 😂
The improvisation itself is more Beethoven than Mozart. The structure in Mozart is always apparent; he isn't as "searching" as Beethoven. Very interesting though.
Because Mozart apparently improvised "Chopin-like" cadenzas. Mozart's piano compositions like Fantasy in D minor (which could be an improvisation written down) were very influential for Chopin. Mozart was his favourite.
No, completely wrong. This improv sounds exactly like Mozart, in fact levin was playing Mozarts melodies, if you saw the video you would know. The techniques are pure classicism, all the techniques that Mozart used, in his sonatas, fantasies, preludes and fugues, variations, etc, other piano pieces. There's nothing here that is like romantic period piano music.
@@ignacioclerici5341 No, it doesn't. But as I said above, it's fine. He is playing as Mozart would "at his 67 years of age". The Romanticist piano repertoire and its vocabulary is always more admired in the pompous western countries than the Classical repertoire and the vocabulary, because the Romanticism seems to be more "virtuosic" and extravagant. It is just heavy bias that those pianist's ears have. And their deaf audiences.
@@majormackenzie834 I literally replied with a quote from the Emporer from the movie Amadeus from the same scene you were quoting. Wow. You're special aren't you?
First of all, it's an improvisation. Spending a year and trying to compose a piece like Mozart would already be incredibly difficult. He's doing it in real time while playing the right notes... Second, it was titled at the beginning of the video as a "Free Fantasy". It's not supposed to be a sonata or other fully structured work. It's something like a stand-alone cadenza.
Every composition piece in music literature has a form upon which to build on, bar none. Even in improvisation, there should be a form to follow. "Free fantasy" is an easy cop-out. How many compositions did Mozart compose as a free fantasy? None. Well, just one insignificant fantasia piece. I can tell from hearing Robert Levin that, besides his poor pianism (lack of technique), his improvisations are a hodgepodge of disconnect motifs but lacking in any Mozart logic or personality. He is not doing any long storytelling which is what Mozart is about, but just thrusting upon listeners common harmonic progressions and typical cadences, which, while important, are not the only things in a Mozart line of thought. Levin's multiple chord changes are quite abrupt, which disturbs the train of thought. A climax cannot be felt unless there is a development towards it. When one listens to a lot of Mozart, one gets acquainted with his compositional personality. Levin took a simple Mozart sonata and embellished it with incongruent sophisticated chord changes. It sounded like symphonic chord changes put into a simple sonata and it didn't make sense. Some of the chord changes didn't even sound typical Mozart. Also, his lack of piano technique didn't help.
So how do you think it would have sounded like, when Wolfgang was doing his daily warm-ups and entertainment-impros ? When a composition is constructed - the musician spends hours testing/trying all sorts of variations for the parts/sections - picking out those most suited to their vision/imagination. If Levin was asked to do a composition on the same premises (as in this video) within a week, a month or a year - he would probably create some very different - but all beautyfull pieces - Peace
@@patriciayeiser6405 / Rather complex....There's some software out there, which can do a somewhat semi-complete synthesis of how composers do/did their work. Musicians like Robert Levin and others are "simply" encouraging a dynamic-creative spirit/ revival in the classic domain. Being a complete musician, requires more than "just" reading notes. Fx. in the Indian tradition, every musician is a composer in their own right - as improvisation/imagination is encouraged from the start, when sound-production-tone/voice is being developed.
Sounds more like a fantasia -and this is the goal- wich is clearly different than mozart's compositionnal style, but yes copying mozart is such a challenge in my opinion
Levin's depth of improvisational development is more like Salieri trying to play like Mozart, not by talent as good as Mozart obviously! Those genius reaches of depth are only available for someone who is a genius, like Mozart himself! Clearly Levin is not a genius, but a good enthusiast & teacher! That's all.
Mansur Şamil Güngör Last time I remember watching that film was about 5 years ago. Like I said it has nothing to do with the film, if you’re smart enough you would’ve already known that I’m just using that as an example to prove my point of how Robert Levin improvises in The style of Mozart
this guy never once said he was as great as Mozart or even implied it. you may as well find some painters on youtube showcasing the style of Michalengeo and tell them they're not as good as Michelangelo. yes, thank you so much for pointing out something incredibly obvious, just to knock the guy. absolutely no one who read your comment could tell that was your intent, there was no transparency there at all.
I appreciate Robert Levin's abilities but it seems they are wasted on Mozart because his music is no more than emotionally ambiguous porcelain decoration. It is the embodiment of being staid and unable to understand man and the world
I couldn’t agree less. I always failed to understand why people have this depiction of Mozart as being avoid of ‘true’ emotion. Mozart encompasses the ying and yang, the grit and grind and the grief and rejoice of the human experience while maintaining perplexing beauty and musical architecture. To improvise in such a style as Mozart (and done perfectly) is something that takes years of training and dedication to even come close to. To say that ‘it is wasted’ is edging on a bit ridiculous.
Well now. Let's recall the study that compared Salieri with lesser-known Mozart themes. Most respondents preferred Salieri's music AND thought the Salieri themes were composed by Mozart! Mozart had a system, and as a consequence was more prolific. Electricians, scrap collectors, indeed every effective industrialist, all do likewise
Friend, no offense, but you have no idea of music. Classical music is not your thing, it seems. Usually people from the middle east don't understand it very well, you should stick to pop music.
Absolutely amazing! What talent! I first saw Robert Levin many years ago play the Mozart Piano Concerto 22 with the Boston Symphony when he substituted for an indisposed Murray Perahia. The piano does not play for the first 70 or so bars and I almost fell out of my chair when Professor Levin started playing piano continuo from the very beginning.
Mozart would have conducted from the piano and would not have sat idly whilst waiting for the piano part to join the orchestra. He would have played right along.
Mozart, conducting from the piano, wouldn't have just sat and waited for the orchestra's entry . This is 18th century practice.
@@patriciayeiser6405I really doubt anyone would dare to do that today during a Mozart concerto in a stuffy environment as a symphony hall. My bet is that, even if one were to be Mozart reincarnated, one would be instantly looking for a new profession in the least possibly related field lol
That is what Mozart would have done, conducting from the fortepiano.
love the sound of this instrument.
BRAVO! A pianist improvise in Classic Style, a rare jewel to the today's imprivusayion style. A second enlightenment for me
we need more Alma Deutschers
Claudia Monteiro, Ottavio Dantone, Nina Simone
Possibly the greatest musician alive.
This is so exciting. To see and hear music being made.Not just notes but ideas.
lol. jazz.
@@emfox6280 or classical music played by the composers.
Sadly all the great composers are dead, but now we have Alma Deutscher!!!! The closest thing we'll get to a new Mozart, in the sense of genius and that she is a classical composer. Not that she imitates Mozart or anything like that.
So he basically knows everything of Mozart's by memory!??!! Whaaat
Levin's brain is a library!
He is wired differently than other pianists. And is a whiz at theory and composition.
Levin might have some intellectual merit, but his musical sense is utterly nonexistent.
@@TehKaiserits okay not every inprovisation has to be a gem 😂
@galek75 He thinks the so-called 7th violin concerto is Mozart when it is clearly a third rate unknown composer. He has no skill in composition; his attempt to embellish the 20th piano concerto is a mess. He is only useful for the academic points he makes.
This was a wonderful night. Thank you, Robert and Faculty of Music!
Play Salieri
Now *that's!* a challenge
lol
LOL
No you gotta say it in a really monotone voice!
This was great and super helpful when I had to improvise some Mozart on my performance :)
Absolutely excellent!
phenomenal!
Superb
Awesome! Improvising on keyboard is exhilarating as shown here , Whether it be an electronic keyboard or a forte piano , improv is the best !
An electric keyboard is not a musical instrument.
Excellent, Robert! Bravo!
Great stuff
He is an inspiration
I greatly encourage anybody watching this to listen to the rest of the lecture: th-cam.com/video/wkFdAigjmLA/w-d-xo.html
Probably the among the greatest musical lectures on this era that I've heard, on par with Andras Schff's Beethoven lectures. He's a wonderful speaker and an even better musician!
Genius !!
Genius!!!!
Absolument convaincant ! Bravo . . .
Tres tres beau !
2:28 starts to play
The most amazing caricature of someone i know.
Who?
Wow!
So impressive with much feeling and great understanding of music! Eric Shumsky
Fucking bravo!
That Is What I wanted..!
there must be a transcription somewhere...
...beyond words
I’m beginning to think that people do not understand what improvisation is first of all and secondly, they actually do not understand the fundamental elements of what makes Mozart music sound the way it does. Such emphatic statements about these things that do not align with that is being played is quite baffling.
I am very certain that is Mozart himself resurrected and came to a piano to improvise, there will be people here saying that Mozart does not sound like himself based on what they heard from sonatas he wrote.
This is a view I hold myself.
More broadly, I hold the view that "Such and such does not sound like [composer]" or "Do not tamper with [composer]'s music!" is a ridiculous statement.
@@FrostDirt I also agree with that. The composers of old themselves were known to have changed their compositions several times and tweaked them because they felt the pieces were not completely done or they simply got a better idea to replace it. But today, people treat these works like they are sacred texts. Change a note and burn in hell. 😂
Sounds like combination of mozart and beethoven
MAPEH MUSIC BRINGS ME HERE.. GRADES 9??????
Play Freebird
The improvisation itself is more Beethoven than Mozart. The structure in Mozart is always apparent; he isn't as "searching" as Beethoven. Very interesting though.
While I’m no expert I actually agree with you - the middle section especially seemed so reminiscent of Beethoven. Thinking 3:30-4:30.
He can improvise Beethoven cadenzas as well. He is wired differently than most pianists.
Play Liszt!
This fantasie improvisation has more likeness to the piano music of Romanticism (Chopin) than of Mozart, but that's fine..
Because Mozart apparently improvised "Chopin-like" cadenzas. Mozart's piano compositions like Fantasy in D minor (which could be an improvisation written down) were very influential for Chopin. Mozart was his favourite.
No, completely wrong.
This improv sounds exactly like Mozart, in fact levin was playing Mozarts melodies, if you saw the video you would know.
The techniques are pure classicism, all the techniques that Mozart used, in his sonatas, fantasies, preludes and fugues, variations, etc, other piano pieces.
There's nothing here that is like romantic period piano music.
@@ignacioclerici5341 No, it doesn't. But as I said above, it's fine. He is playing as Mozart would "at his 67 years of age". The Romanticist piano repertoire and its vocabulary is always more admired in the pompous western countries than the Classical repertoire and the vocabulary, because the Romanticism seems to be more "virtuosic" and extravagant. It is just heavy bias that those pianist's ears have. And their deaf audiences.
@@zvonimirtosic6171Apparently you believe that you have better ears, knowledge and understanding than prof Levin.
@@audreywang3065 Yes, I do. I can tell Classical improvisations from Romanticist improvisations.
The title alone made me burst out laughing. This guy would make a great comedian!
Well . Too many notes
Cut a few and it will be perfect
BalthasarDenner “too many notes” means this is so Mozart , watch movie Amadeus
@@majormackenzie834 I literally replied with a quote from the Emporer from the movie Amadeus from the same scene you were quoting. Wow. You're special aren't you?
BalthasarDenner a, right. Hahah
@@majormackenzie834 dumbass haha
He knows a lot of chords and cadences by Mozart but, it doesn't sound like Mozart style, more like a hodgepodge of things.
First of all, it's an improvisation. Spending a year and trying to compose a piece like Mozart would already be incredibly difficult. He's doing it in real time while playing the right notes... Second, it was titled at the beginning of the video as a "Free Fantasy". It's not supposed to be a sonata or other fully structured work. It's something like a stand-alone cadenza.
How do you define the "Mozart style," then?
.
Every composition piece in music literature has a form upon which to build on, bar none. Even in improvisation, there should be a form to follow. "Free fantasy" is an easy cop-out. How many compositions did Mozart compose as a free fantasy? None. Well, just one insignificant fantasia piece. I can tell from hearing Robert Levin that, besides his poor pianism (lack of technique), his improvisations are a hodgepodge of disconnect motifs but lacking in any Mozart logic or personality. He is not doing any long storytelling which is what Mozart is about, but just thrusting upon listeners common harmonic progressions and typical cadences, which, while important, are not the only things in a Mozart line of thought. Levin's multiple chord changes are quite abrupt, which disturbs the train of thought. A climax cannot be felt unless there is a development towards it. When one listens to a lot of Mozart, one gets acquainted with his compositional personality. Levin took a simple Mozart sonata and embellished it with incongruent sophisticated chord changes. It sounded like symphonic chord changes put into a simple sonata and it didn't make sense. Some of the chord changes didn't even sound typical Mozart. Also, his lack of piano technique didn't help.
So how do you think it would have sounded like, when Wolfgang was doing his daily warm-ups and entertainment-impros ? When a composition is constructed - the musician spends hours testing/trying all sorts of variations for the parts/sections - picking out those most suited to their vision/imagination. If Levin was asked to do a composition on the same premises (as in this video) within a week, a month or a year - he would probably create some very different - but all beautyfull pieces - Peace
@@patriciayeiser6405 / Rather complex....There's some software out there, which can do a somewhat semi-complete synthesis of how composers do/did their work. Musicians like Robert Levin and others are "simply" encouraging a dynamic-creative spirit/ revival in the classic domain. Being a complete musician, requires more than "just" reading notes. Fx. in the Indian tradition, every musician is a composer in their own right - as improvisation/imagination is encouraged from the start, when sound-production-tone/voice is being developed.
Doesn't sound like Mozart at all, perhaps in some parts, but good improvisation
Sounds more like a fantasia -and this is the goal- wich is clearly different than mozart's compositionnal style, but yes copying mozart is such a challenge in my opinion
It sounds similar to his fantasias which are probably improvisations written down.
Levin's depth of improvisational development is more like Salieri trying to play like Mozart, not by talent as good as Mozart obviously! Those genius reaches of depth are only available for someone who is a genius, like Mozart himself! Clearly Levin is not a genius, but a good enthusiast & teacher! That's all.
ProdigyImprovisation Well, what do we got here? Someone watched Amadeus apparently.
Mansur Şamil Güngör Not about Amadeus, it’s just an example to prove my point!
ProdigyImprovisation Sure sure, whatever. You seen Amadeus though, right?
Mansur Şamil Güngör Last time I remember watching that film was about 5 years ago. Like I said it has nothing to do with the film, if you’re smart enough you would’ve already known that I’m just using that as an example to prove my point of how Robert Levin improvises in The style of Mozart
this guy never once said he was as great as Mozart or even implied it. you may as well find some painters on youtube showcasing the style of Michalengeo and tell them they're not as good as Michelangelo. yes, thank you so much for pointing out something incredibly obvious, just to knock the guy. absolutely no one who read your comment could tell that was your intent, there was no transparency there at all.
I appreciate Robert Levin's
abilities but it seems they are wasted on Mozart because his music is no more than emotionally ambiguous porcelain decoration. It is the embodiment of being staid and unable to understand man and the world
What are you talking about?
I couldn’t agree less. I always failed to understand why people have this depiction of Mozart as being avoid of ‘true’ emotion. Mozart encompasses the ying and yang, the grit and grind and the grief and rejoice of the human experience while maintaining perplexing beauty and musical architecture. To improvise in such a style as Mozart (and done perfectly) is something that takes years of training and dedication to even come close to. To say that ‘it is wasted’ is edging on a bit ridiculous.
Well now. Let's recall the study that compared Salieri with lesser-known Mozart themes. Most respondents preferred Salieri's music AND thought the Salieri themes were composed by Mozart!
Mozart had a system, and as a consequence was more prolific. Electricians, scrap collectors, indeed every effective industrialist, all do likewise
Friend, no offense, but you have no idea of music. Classical music is not your thing, it seems.
Usually people from the middle east don't understand it very well, you should stick to pop music.
@@ignacioclerici5341 Bruh, you're pretty weird huh...