The Piano; Wednesday, 9 p.m. Channel-4 TV ~~~

I do not watch these reality TV 'shows' but decided to make an exception as the subject was 'The Piano'.
For anybody who did not know; pianos are placed on railway station concourse/platforms and various people (obviously checked/auditioned) are invited to play. The performer is 'secretly' watched by two celebreties - Lang Lang; brilliant classical pianist - and - Mika; pop-star I have never heard of...

I recorded the programme to watch last evening. First observation is that there is an incredible amount of talent out there. Second observation is that I will probably never, ever agree with the eventual verdict of this type of 'talent' programme (the winner of each week will take part in a concert/grand final at the Royal Festival Hall in London).

The 'winner' of the first programme was a young man from the Isle of White who started off well playing piano then launched into 'rap' singing (I use the term loosley). It merely confirmed to me that George Harrison was correct when he said that in 'rap' the 'c' is silent...

In my opinion the winner should have been the lady who played her own composition - brilliant, emotional and full of expression - and in the final moments of the programme, at the announcement celebration, demonstrated a superb singing voice confirming an exceptional talented artist.

Just my 2-cents worth ~~~ did you see it???

I look forward to the remaining four programmes with some trepidation and prepared to be disappointed yet again .

KenH

Ken,

Thank you for posting that. From a Google Search it appears that one can watch Channel 4 as 'catch-up' on a laptop. To get the quality I shall listen with headphones rather than the laptop's 'tinny' speakers.

This is the LINK to where the program actually is:
Do a right-click to open this up in a New Tab.
https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-piano

It says "Sign in to play Episode 1". I presume that so long as I don't go for the Ad free version I won't have to pay.



More on this ...

When I clicked on Sign in to play Episode 1, I did have to Register. Had to give my Email Address (which I had to confirm); a Password; my Name; Gender; Date of Birth; Address. I did not click on the button that said to sign up for all the promotional things they would send me (my email address would have been flooded with things they thought I might like to watch!). Just clicked on the button underneath, which got me Registered without all that!

To watch 'Ad free' you have to pay (gives you a Free Trial .. no thanks!).

The 'Watch screen' then changed to this:



Will click on the Play, watch the program and let you know what I think.

Hugh

Ken,

I too thought the lady with the pink hair was the best pianist. When I hear music I like to hear 'harmony', and she ticked all the boxes for me. Not so keen on Harry, the 92 year old. His 'jazzy' chords weren't doing anything for me.

Lang Lang was the one professional we got a taste of. Technically perfect. But too many notes to get any harmony. If anyone hasn't heard of him before, listen to this.

Berlin Gala Concert - Lang Lang - Chopin: Waltz No. 1 "Grande valse brillante"



The other professional pianist was Mika. This is a video of him playing.

Mika performs 'Piano Man' (Billy Joel cover)



Hugh

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the first episode and look forward to the next one.

However my favourite on Youtube is as below. He plays lots of my type of music which is by Alan Walker.




Fred

Ken,

I have watched Part 2 now. Did you watch it? Not sure what to make of any of it. I'm not 'into' classical music (Chopin) so wouldn't know how well those pieces were played, or if they followed the work of the original composer. As for the others, when people put their own interpretation of notes to a piece I find the harmonies too 'jazzy' to relate to. And if the 'melody' is also their own composition (as at least one of them was), what they play can be a bit repetitive and that doesn't grab me either.

I suppose at the end of the day, the judges have to bear in mind what they want to include in their concert at the Royal Festival Hall and therefore must choose their 'winners' to give a varied program on the night. They couldn't have every performer playing the same genre of music. In a quick preview of Part 3 I gather they couldn't agree on a 'winner'.

Hugh

Have watched Part 3 .. same LINK as I used for watching the 'catch-up' program, but this time had an option to watch it 'live' ie. I watched it on my laptop (with headphones on), not on the television.

That was more like it! Had some amazing pianists this time (must be something to do with the Scots, as the program came from Glasgow). Part 4 is coming from Birmingham. Wednesday 9pm, Channel 4.

Hugh

I am becoming more adept at using the 'fast forward' button on my remote

This programme is NOT turning out to be what I wanted

The clue (surely) is in the title 'PIANO' ~~~ why do 'they' have to sing (I use the term loosley)? Too much talking by the 'observer-judges' over the actual performers.

I was right about one thing, though ~~~ I never agree with the final decision

Being a sucker for punishment I will continue until the bitter end and I have checked to see that I have spare batteries for the remote


KenH

Ken,

You started all this! Just hang on in there!

I agree with you about the 'vocals'. I was not expecting that in a program about the 'piano'. When the pianist doesn't have to play the melody they just have to provide a 'backing' to the singing .. which can be none too clever.

I have also noticed that one doesn't get much of a listen to people the producers of the program have decided are not really up to it. The judges would have got to listen to their whole performance, but not us. Selective viewing, I think.

Hugh

Ken,

I have now watched the final program .. the concert at the Royal Festival Hall. I don't know what you thought, but I was enthralled. I watched the program twice .. and Lucy, I watched a third time. Completely bowled over by her playing of Arabesque No: 1 by Debussy. I am not 'into' classical music .. but that was something special. Lucy was chosen as the best performer on the night.

I knew they would put this up on YouTube, so there is no need for you to listen to her on Channel 4 (with all those adverts inviting you to do Casino Gambling).

Lucy - Live at the Royal Festival Hall on Channel 4's Finale of "The Piano"

When the advert appears, click on the X in the top right hand corner of the rectangle to remove it.

Some of the comments from underneath the video:

My wife and I watched this last night and we both cried with emotion. What a wonderful talent this young girl has. Hats off to Danial her teacher as well for being so patient to help her develop her talent. Simply amazing.

I’ve watched Lucy several times and each time I cry. There is just something so beautiful about the way she plays. It’s so pure, intense and emotional. Very few people process a talent like this. Her teacher is just so wonderful too. I’ve never been someone who has liked classical music - until now.

Daniel is her piano teacher. How does he teach her to play? To find out, watch this video below. It is clear that Lucy has an amazing musical memory, and talent.

The Amber Trust - Lucy's story



Hugh

Ref my early comment about 'never agreeing with the judges' (or words to that effect) on this occasion - for the very first time - I did agree with the final decision as 'Lucy' .

Such an amazing talent and the question now is will that talent be lost?

I have mixed emotions on this one... On the one hand I don't want that talent to be 'lost' and on the other hand would not wish to put Lucy under what would be enormous pressure to satisfy 'her public' ~~~ people like me!

With regard to the TV-programme itself; I do believe there were so many opportunities 'missed' and that the whole thing could/should have been handled differently. But what do I know?! No doubt the constraints of the commercial world (money) dictated how it eventualy morphed into what we saw.
I was, though, extremely pleased when I read in the Radio Times (alternative programme guides are available) that there would be TWO broadcasts ~~~ the 'normal' with all the chatter (during performances) from the Celebs and a later broadcast completely without verbal overbearance. Guess what I watched...

All of that said, I stand by my earlier claim that there is SO much talent out there. So much that we could probably have a TV channel devoted to 'The Piano'.
I would watch it

KenH