Yundi Li, Live From 14th International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition

Rating:
Summary: Remarkably useful DVD for advanced learning
Review: Clearly aside from the inspiring Yundi Li's performance what makes this record unique is the second angle of view. This is multi angle DVD with camera constantly following the movement of the fingers in its second choice of angle. You can watch at slow motion every movement which makes this the perfect helpful tool to study how the performer deals with difficult finger combinations. Along with Mitsuko Uchida Debussy Etudes video performance played especially for learning purposes, records like this could be of irreplaceable visual help to an advancing piano player. I only wish such a multi angle record existed for all of the Chopin Etudes too, and if somewhere sometime you come across one, please let me know immediately at [e-mail]!

Rating:
Summary: A Young Poet at the Keyboard
Review: For those who have already discovered the wonderful pianism of Yundi Li, this DVD will deliver the same passionate and dynamic playing in three performances
recorded "live" in Warsaw during the Chopin International Competition in 2000. The quality of the camera work is excellent, the audio bright and "present", providing the viewer an experience in viewing and listening that is often breathtaking. The reaction of the audience members following the performance of Chopin's E Minor Concerto, as well as, that of the panel of judges adds even more interest to this excellent musical documentary of a special young artist and the youngest ever to win the Chopin competition.
If you love music and if you love the music of Chopin, buy this DVD.

Rating:
Summary: A Young Poet at the Keyboard
Review: For those who have already discovered the wonderful pianism of Yundi Li, this DVD will deliver the same passionate and dynamic playing in three performances
recorded "live" in Warsaw during the Chopin International Competition in 2000. The quality of the camera work is excellent, the audio bright and "present", providing the viewer an experience in viewing and listening that is often breathtaking. The reaction of the audience members following the performance of Chopin's E Minor Concerto, as well as, that of the panel of judges adds even more interest to this excellent musical documentary of a special young artist and the youngest ever to win the Chopin competition.
If you love music and if you love the music of Chopin, buy this DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Promising Indeed
Review: The emerging of Li is certainly thought provoking. Does he herald the coming of China as the Middle Kingdom of super pianists of this century? Or is it a bit too early?

Li automatically reminds us of Zimerman, another Chopin Gold Medalist. Is Zimerman is more incisive and more fluent? Somehow, Fou Chong is not too happy about Li's performance. Neither is the teacher of Li's teacher, the earliest Chinese piano pedegogue. Li also reminds us of Kissin, for both were so young when they became famous, and both are more crazy about racing cars than any drama. Kissin is more consistent though, if less poetic. Coming to poetry, however, both are way behind two other grossly underrated Chopin Gold Medalists: Bunin & Dang Thai Son, also from Asia and admired very much by Ashkenazy and whom Isaac Stern called a "genuine musician"-- his tone is just beautiful and to his Chopin one could go over and over again... Well, before being carried away overmuch, Li as shown in these pieces is promising indeed.

Audience may find his playing refresing also because: (i) to audience familiar with Chinese culture & music, they can readily pick up his Chinese intonations here and there, on and off; (ii) his early experience with the accordion has obviously boosted his sense of rhythm. One should perhaps also add that:

(i) the recorded sound of the Concerto is superior than the solo pieces;

(ii) the Warsaw Philharmonic that accompanied Li was very impressing, an orchestra packed with women players (and many of them are young no more). Visually, the members aren't so appealing. But after a few bars, it will strike you as one of the world's top-notched orchestras: an additional value to this DVD.



Rating:
Summary: Poetic Play
Review: This DVD contains selected Yundi Li's performance (scherzo no. 2, andante spianato et grand polonaise and piano concerto no. 1) in the 2000 Warsaw Chopin piano competition. Yundi Li, the first winner awarded in 15 years, delivers a very poetic and refreshing Chopin from his music. The live recording CD of Yundi Li (also in Maxell label) captures the rare talent of a then 18 years old Chinese pianist in the competition but this DVD provides sight and sound of all the thrill and excitement. Video quality is really good and multi angle viewing is available with this DVD.

Price of this DVD is high as it is imported from Japan but you won't be disappointed at its sense of occasion that captures well the spontaneity and excitement one has come to expect from the best of live performances. A collectible item indeed.

Rating:
Summary: Hope to See More from the Competition
Review: This DVD is excellent! The Best thing about this DVD is that it has TWO video angles (a multi-angle DVD). The first view point is a standard, edited, concert video view, and the second one, which I like the most, is from the camera putted beside the piano keyboard, unedited, and, yes, you can see Yundi Li¡¦s finger movement from the beginning to the end, even for the whole concerto. That means you have total of 142 minutes video on this DVD, if you count the two angles separately. Your family can enjoy a good Chopin piano concert with angle one, while you can study Yundi¡¦s finger movement with angle two; all on the same DVD.
The only let down is this DVD only has three songs from Chopin, but this is definitely one of the best Chopin Piano Concerto No.1 videos available on the market today. This video might not be digitally recorded, since I noticed there are a few particles and the video is not as sharp as those digitally recorded videos, but that does not affect the quality of the film as a whole. There is also a typo on the instruction sheet of this DVD; this is a double-layered DVD, not double sided.
There is nearly nothing you can complain about the music since Yundi Li is the first prize winner. At least, you can sense that the judges¡¦ taste in Chopin competition is very different from Tchaikovsky competition (BTW, you can see Martha Argerich sitting in the judge panel in this DVD). If Argerich is like a fire on the keyboard, then Li is like water. Yundi Li¡¦s music is light, like walking in the clouds. I don¡¦t know why, but Yundi Li reminds me of Milhail Pletnev.
This DVD is pretty expensive, since DVDs in Japan are at this price level, but this DVD is worth the price. I am looking forward to see Maxell publishing more DVD of other winners from the same competition.