New tonebase YouTube on
Hey everyone,
Robert here from the tonebase YouTube, and I'm excited to share the latest video! In this video we spotlight the recent superstar pianist Víkingur Ólafsson, in particular his album "Johann Sebastian Bach". I try to get to the bottom of what makes that album, and Víkingur Ólafsson in general, so appealing in the present day.
This was a super fun video to make – I think it's quite clear that I love Víkingur Ólafsson's Bach album, and I admire his work overall very much. But it seems that this is also a pretty divisive topic, and it's fun to read opinions that differ from my own.
Give it a watch and let me know what you think! And, don't hesitate to let me know what you'd like to see in future YouTube videos!
Thanks all,
Robert
5 replies
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Robert - I happened on this video on You Tube maybe only an hour after you posted it. I enjoyed every minute of what you did here, not merely your great insights into Olaffson’s artistry, but also how you expanded those to broader discussion of artistry itself. Really wonderful and so perceptive — and all delivered in a kind, enthusiastic, never arrogant tone. Loved it and am now looking forward to seeing more from you.
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Loved the video Robert! A quality production with lots of great details.
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Robert Fleitz big bravo! Awesome work!!
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Hello Robert, thank you for making this video and talking to us. I also love Olaffson's playing, his concerts are often very surprising in programming. I have attended Olaffson and Yuja Wang's concert this past season playing The Schubert fantasy in f 4 hands for one piano. They each have a 9 ft Steinway side by side. While this solves a lot of the fingering and hand position problem of this difficult piece, somehow it sounded 2 independent pianists are playing and not enough of a unit as a whole. I think by having 2 separate pianos, it eliminates the resonance and overtone from the base carried throughout the piano if the primo part is played on the same piano, there is something sterile about the 2 piano version. I am not expert on such matters. i was preparing this piece at the time. I think the composer may have written the harmony differently if it's on 2 pianos. Nonetheless, it was a powerful and memorable performance.