Customer Reviews

Gift of Music [VHS]

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After watching Christopher Nupen's fairly poor documentary on Evgeny Kissin, I was left begging for more insightful information on the young Kissin. The encores at the Prom's recital was wonderful, but I must admit the entire documentary as a whole was unfortunately poorly done. Kissin only answered one important question throughout this poorly-staged interview, which was his thoughts on stage fright. I was highly disappointed when there were only still photos displayed of Kissin's youth. How about his numerous recitals when he was a young teenager? I personally have an amazing VHS tape of Kissin playing an all-Chopin program in Yokohama, Japan in 1986. I've also managed to get excerpts of then a 12 yr old Kissin playing the Chopin Piano Concerto no.1 and Mozart's Piano Concerto no.12. I also have his two "LIVE" performances of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto no.1. It's wonderful to see the young Kissin playing such difficult masterpieces with such poise and ease. Why didn't Mr. Nupen include these excerpts and some of Kissin's insights into these amazing earlier concerts! After watching this DVD, I felt robbed because I firmly believe I could've directed a better documentary than this. If it were not for the amazing footage of the encores during the Prom's recital, I would have not recommended purchasing this DVD. However, after seeing Kissin perform the fiendishly difficult Paganini/Liszt "La Campanella" and "Transcendental Etude no.10" it's worth the buy. I just hope in the future classical piano lovers will get a chance to see Evgeny Kissin's monumental performance of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto no.3 "LIVE" with Ozawa and the Boston Symphony Orchestra on DVD. Unfortunately this documentary DVD doesn't contain it, or any of Kissin's amazing concerto performances. Anyhow, if you're a Kissin-fan like I am who loves "LIVE" performances then you'll want to get this DVD, otherwise save your money.

I wouldn't be reviewing this title if it weren't for the gaping wound I suffered from falling off of my chair when another reviewer suggested that "he was disappointed with Kissin...after watching Lang Lang(!)" What? I am drowning in a vat of incredulity.

On those rare occasions, having medicated myself heavily, when I have gathered the intestinal strength to actually listen to Lang Lang play, I find myself wondering, "what the heck is that guy playing?" It's Helfgott all over again! I recall recently hearing something familiar--La Campanella--I think, being played on NPR and thinking, "Well that has to be some kid from a regional talent show." It was Lang Lang! And of course, when twinkle-tinkle got done with his "interpretation" (a heinous crime if you ask me) the commentator (like the reviewer below) gushed in sync with the hype and publicity machine about LL's greatness. Yikes!

This DVD is excellent and a must have even though the interviewer is obviously star struck. Kissin has a transcendental greatness about him that has cemented his superstar status. The interviews were of great interest but as usual the questions I begged were not asked. That's ok. I especially appreciated the long performance sequences which ensure that I will watch the DVD many, many times. I know some will disagree (though plenty will concur) but in the pantheon of piano greats Kissin will be legendary with Horowitz and Cziffra. After the hype-machine finds another "star" to inflict on the world, cLang cLang, will join the ranks of the temporarily notable and strangely once-was. If you don't believe me then leave Amazon and read what some of the professional reviewers have had to say about Kissin and the cLang cLang. Read the shocked disappointment and utter dismay that followed in cLang's wake when he recently toured the Far East.

Get this DVD and enjoy it as a glimpse into the life and gifts of one of the greatest pianists to have ever played the instrument. Kissin is not as powerful as Cziffra but he is more reliable and prolific; and more precise than Horowitz. This DVD is a steal at twice the price. Get it; you will be inspired and amazed.

If you are looking to study Kissin's life, some reviewers are correct to say that only the basics of Kissin's life are covered. But I don't think the makers of this film were out to create a documentary. I think they were also out to inspire audiences. There is a great amount of piano playing in the video, a lot of which comes from Kissin's legendary concert in Royal Albert Hall. You can hear many of the pieces played in full, including many of the encores. If you aren't INSPIRED after watching this video, there is something wrong with you. Don't buy it to become educated, buy it to become inspired.

This is truly an amazing musician - a genius - with technical skills beyond any I've seen. The next Horowitz. To see this kind of talent at his age is astounding.

The only drawback is the lack of camera close-ups of his hands during the concert at the end. It was frustrating at times. But that does not deminish the talent.

I've seen him in person twice. Now he is so popular it's hard to get tickets to see him - even months in advance. The number of encores he performs for his audiences seem endless. One cannot get enough of his raw talent.

I was DELIGHTED to know there is a DVD out that presents his talent and gives us some insight to his background and his gift. And to hear him talk about his ability to hum classical tunes and improvise them at 11 mos is - well - genius at work!

The documentary portion is nothing to write home about. Just a quick history of Kissin and his childhood. We also see a gentle interview where Kissin plays some of his original compositions. His performance at the prom is shown. A chopin heavy program, but who's complaining? He really makes the pieces look effortless. However the pieces are not shown in their entirety, but just in large fragments. This movie is definately renting if your local video store carries it. His performance of the 10th Transcendental Etude by Liszt is just unbelievable. In fact, he should release a video where he perfroms the entire set of 12 transcendental etudes.

this documentary shows us the life of one of the premier pianists today. we see the early stages of his learning to the present day virtuoso. it is inspiring for young pianists to see the high level of musicality and technical skill that kissin displays. though i wish that they could have shown COMPLETE works, this video very much shows the musical atmosphere that kissin creates through the music, and draws you in as if you were sitting in the front row. as a pianist, i was truly inspired!

Kissin is quite fluent in English and things he mentioned are all relevant. To be fair, talking occupied only about 1/3 of the total footage leaving well over an hour on the piano.

Kissin has a sister who is some 11 years his senior learning the piano and when he was a toddler. His sister was learning Bach's Fugues and he had been listening to her all the time and could hum the tune(s). So he started early and he was allocated a special teacher after he was assessed to be a gifted child by the State, and his teacher even stayed in his home since and for some 20 years! And we have a glimse of his teacher as well as his home here in this DVD. Kissin also told us about his early experience with the piano: the first year, only some 20 min per day and then a year later an hour and then the third year, 4 hours a day.

Most of the short pieces like Lizst and Chopin are not in the form of snippets, albeit that a small proportion of them were shot from a distance. There are quite a number of jems, judging from his age and background, one after the other, including Turkish March as arranged by Godowsky. Most of them are rather heavy encores when he played them in a promenade concert in Royal Albert Hall in one go when he was only 26 . The hall was packed with 6,000 audience-- a phenomenon in that hall for 50 years!

As pointed out of some reviews, there isn't too much depth in the portrait. That I suppose is a soft spot for many musicians grown up in Russia behind the iron curtain: they are more concerned with the technical side than music or art, as pointed out by Ashkenazy. But Kissin is still young and he has started to play chamber music, as depicted by the clip here, with more mature musicians like Gidon Kremer and the Hagans etc with whom he'll sure progress fast.

He also started composing early and he played two of them telling us what sort of standard he was in when he was a small boy. He also told us about his experience of stage fright...

I've seen his Tsaichovsky with Karajan when he was around 13. From this DVD, we can see his fingers and hand position much more clearly. Very high bridge and very unique indeed. He has small hands and rather delicate fingers, but his fingers are so independent as could be seen from the way they curl or lift separately from each other when he is playing. Tachnically he is amazing if not stunning and his rhythm is clearcut or perhaps too clearcut.

The sound as well as photography are excellent. A very good documentary indeed, and not to be missed by music lovers.

The only reason I gave this DVD 4 stars is because there is not enough footage of Kissin playing, and (in my opinion) too much talking! There is a lot, but I want more. :)

Frankly, I want a DVD full of Kissin performances, not just snippets.

Other than that, this is a great buy if you are a fan of this amazing Pianist (which is an understatement)

This Kissin's documentary is very inspiring. Especially the interview is really interesting. He plays a few of his early compositions with some interesting childhood episodes. You can watch the first solo recital at Prom in London, where he plays Chopin and Liszt, etc. Also, Schubert's Trout Quintet with Gidon Kremer at the summer music festival in Switzerland. Don't miss it!

With a new mega pianist popping out of the woodwork every fifteen minutes or so these days, there are few indeed who possess the depth and interpretive range to go along with the dazzling technique that seems to be rather commonplace among young piano virtuosos. Evgeny Kissin, now in his thirties, is the most notable exception. His is an ability that is beyond his years. We're talking about someone who was humming classical music he heard at the age of 11 months and playing the piano with ten fingers at 18 months. Couple his talents with a very modest personality, and you have a rare artist indeed. Kissin has it all, technique to burn, a huge repertoire, and a wide range of musical interests. The highlight of the film is the extensive coverage of Kissin's 1997 BBC Proms concert, which broke all records, the audience having called Kissin back for the longest string of encores in the history of the famous concert series. Kissin plays all the encores in full. Some of the pieces are Beethoven's Rage Over the Lost Penny, 2 Chopin Waltzes and Liszt's La Campanella among others. This is a wonderful documentary/concert and I have watched it many times. If you are a pianist or a music lover you will enjoy this dvd very much.