I love how Mr. Bernstein doesn't scoff at a piece because its popularity. The lack of snobbery is so refreshing. Beautifully played!

this piece is far too often viewed as an "easy" piece. he's truly mastered it. absolutely amazing

The best interpretation of this piece I’ve ever heard.

No ice water in his veins.

He gave the piece a depth that I've never heard before in it. It's a pleasure to have you online, Mr. Bernstein.

I don't play any instruments, and rarely know what he's talking about, but the WAY he speaks is so soothing and lovely.

Instead of a performance- and dance-floor showpiece, Seymour Bernstein is playing it as a heartfelt, reflective romantic composition.

I can honestly say I've never heard it like this. Excellent. Brings real life to a largely lifelessly performed piece.

Wow it’s like hearing it for the first time. Hearing it played tastefully and skillfully, most people just poop it out as fast as possible with no damns given for the dynamics.

The transition from B back to A is the best I have ever heard. It's an awkward spot that students often get wrong with too many E-D#'s. In the second part of the A theme I love how Mr. Bernstein holds the bass note C longer and takes time with the C major harmony. Also holding the very low A with his pinky in the last section of the C theme while the thumb keeps the ostinato A's moving (to add resonance) is so great. I'm always going to play it that way from now on.

Mr Bernstein’s fingers are as arthritic as mine. Now I can no longer use arthritis as an excuse to play badly. Thank you so much for this depiction of a true master.

To be able to play at this high level way in your nineties as mister Bernstein does is a blessing, for him and us, people that admire him. His views on music are fascinating to me. I’m a fairly rookie classical music listener and the way he explains his views on how he likes the music played draws me into it. He’s often my guide in the music, how it’s made and thus what to listen for and how to listen. Thank you very very much Mister Bernstein 🙏

I've never been so spellbound by Für Elise before. Magnificent.

Bernstein makes the piano have the swells and fullness of a full orchestral arrangement. Complete mastery.

Wow, the touch... that's in the blood... Everyone can learn how soft and hard to play the piano keys, but the soul, the essence of the music, has to come from the performer. Bravo. A real master.

When I hear this song I think of being trapped by a habit or pattern. For moments here and moments there you exist outside your prison but ultimately the theme can’t be escaped. I imagine Beethoven felt trapped or constrained in many ways and I sense a manifestation of it within this piece. Seymour’s somber rendition felt really earnest and reinforces my emotional impression of Für Elise

Wow! Mr. Bernstein unlocked the treasure chest called Fur Elise. Such a gorgeous understanding and performance of this wonderful piece by Beethoven. Thank you!

Why doesn't this channel have more views! The videos are marvellous!

Wow, I have no words. I learned this piece when I was young and it didn’t sound anything like that. It was definitely faster and he was completely right it is a serious piece. I feel honored to have seen him perform it.

Following a performance in which I played 109,110,and 111 I played Fur Elise as an encore. It held its own….and why not? Marvelous piece.

Seymour Bernstein is from the Beethoven lineage himself. After his own career as a concert pianist, Seymour Bernstein became a master teacher of other concert pianists. I think this is the correct lineage, but not 100% positive: Beethoven taught Liszt. Liszt taught Czerny. Czerny taught Leschetizky. Leschetizky taught Clara Husserl. Clara Husserl taught Seymour Bernstein. Clara Husserl also taught her daughter, who became a profound concert pianist. She taught my mother. And she also taught Liberace. I once asked my mother if Liberace was more of a popular musician or if he had the skills to have become a major concert pianist. My mother said that he absolutely had all the professional skills to have become a major concert pianist. In 2014, the actor Ethan Hawke did a documentary about Seymour Bernstein. Called "Seymour: An Introduction." Really a must see for all classical music lovers and lovers of a beautiful, gentle aesthetic.

i love how he leads your ear to believe certain notes or sections are passionate, emotional statements, and it makes listening really enjoyable because your ear is always waiting to see where his fingers lead you. i've been regaining my passion for music, and i realize songs are not just phrases supposed to be corroborated by mindless repetition or what you think the ideal listener would want, but what your ears want because you are that listener, and the audience is subjected to your inner world, your vision, transpiring through beethoven. thank you, seymour bernstein.

This version seems more emotional, I prefer it. Bravo!!

The way he knew to let that minor second interval ring in certain spots were just perfect!

I learn so much from Mr Bernstein. Amazing teacher and performer. Thank you!!

It does my heart so much joy to see his played well

wow that was FANTASTIC! kudos to the maestro!

I love those passages, the rubato, the way he brings out the tension is just impeccable. This rendition is purely from the soul. It feels like I'm listening to a piano roll recording back from the 1900's (another certainty is like a music box, especially the A Theme).

Absolutely wonderful!! Thanks so much!

Yes!! The central section cries out to us to take more time. Just beautiful.

Those pauses took it to another level..😍

Truly beautiful. Of course this is a dreamy piece. Thank you.

I have never heard it played like this! Absolutely awesome and amazing! This is how it should sound!

Happily listened to this piece for many years and have heard all manner of playing from student to professional. Never heard it played with such thoughtfulness, precision and sympathy. What a great post! Thanks, tonebase and Maestro Bernstein.

Beautiful playing. Gentle and humane

Great performance. He's caught perfectly the true atmosphere of the piece and the thought of the composer.

He makes it look absolutely effortless.

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful, no other words to describe it. I love how he plays the part that a lot of people I have heard play fast, and him play slower and so gracefully.

That was very lovely and has given me new insight in this pieces interpretation and a small revelation in relation to the use of the pedal!!!

ive played this many time before, ive seen many people played this, but this is the first time ive been amazed by this piece

Wonderfully perfect!

My mother played piano and this was her favorite song to play when I was a kid. I still like this song, despite hearing it played hundreds or maybe thousands of times, with very....very....slowly increasing proficiency over time LOL

Thank you, maestro Bernstein

Like everyone else, I've heard this piece a thousand times. Or so I thought... Wonderful insight by Mr. Bernstein, as always!

Musical interpretation at its best, thank you for sharing this with us Seymour 🙏🏻

Happy 97th Birthday, Seymour! 🙂

So beautiful.

Beautiful performance!

It is beautifully molded without being overly emotional!

Sounds humble and sincere

So beautiful amazing lovely great music and musician. Thanks

maestro wonderful tutorial with technical & emotional interpretation of Beethoven beautiful masterpiece 🥰😍🤩

Gorgeous!!

If I had to choose one word to describe this rendition, it would be "free." Mr. Bernstein's interpretation for tempo, phrasing, and dynamics is so free and bucks orthodox interpretations, it's extremely refreshing. If you liked this interpretation, I would suggest listening to Lang Lang's Fur Elise as well. There are similar voicings. I will certainly be taking a fresh look at this piece the next time I'm at my piano. =D

I love this piece. It's not technically difficult, but beautiful in its simplicity. I like things that seem simple on the surface but when you dive into them, you discover worlds you didn’t know could exist. He opens us up to this.

For some reason, those few times that he gave both hands to that E and rolled over it has me feeling some way. I have a rigid mindset and I know that I couldn't make myself do that; and yet I feel like I'm getting carried along with the romance of the song and its charm is coating everything in sweetness.

Breathtaking!

Bravíssimo!!!!! 👏👏👏👏👏

Wonderful performance!! :)

Beautiful.

Fabulous !

Played masterfully.

Thank you for this Masterpiece !

This really is a great take. Goes to show the difference when played with care. Bravo sir

Very Inspiring!!

Yes exactly!!! Thank you. This is exactly how I felt it should be played 💯 / 💯

Straight out of a music box!

This is absolutely amazing - Jedi master

Beautiful!

Beautiful

That was truly lovely

amazing. i've never heard this piece so deeply

Extraordinary: I've never heard it so good!

This man’s heart flows with streams of life...What a marvelous musician!!!

So beautiful ❤

How many times did I listen to this music… as a child and young girl. Thank you so much.

Wow. Just wow.

Amazing! Have heard this piece ever since a young child, and NO ONE ever suggested the b and c sections could go slower. Everyone always portrayed this should be played generally fast, and I never could get certain sections lightning fast. This proves how much better it sounds slower and more expressively, rather than whipping through it. So beautiful, Mr. Bernstein!

My new favorite version!

Amazing playing!!!!!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Thank you, Mr. Bernstein!

I Feel... Beethoven's Bloodline continues thru Mr Seymour Berstein. ❤ Beautifully Inspired interpretation of a timeless classic. ❤

Speachless

Beautiful old Master

Why didn’t it surprise me that I see this piece in a totally different light after hearing Master Bernstein perform it ?

His use of sustain pedal is lovely.

Fantastic

Honestly... Played like I've never heard it before! Thank you hugely Mr Bernstein. ❤ My dearly departed Aunt (a concert pianist) taught me this beautiful masterpiece in my mid 30's (I am now 62). I loved the piece but played it poorly, as any beginer would, and still do! 😮 To hear it again... played so Beautifully, with such gentle respectful tonal expression is simply Heavenly to my HeartSoul. Thank You Mr Seymour Bernstein ❤ Thank You my Beautiful Aunty Barb ❤ Thank You Beethoven ❤

I don't even play piano but this was fascinating to watch and a beautiful rendition, thank you.

The fact that you said that certain pieces of music and this is one of those pieces where people and performers view as child’s play is so true! … and is sad to me.. just because pieces are over played or sound simple doesn’t mean we shouldn’t look back at those moments when the muse in the Universe was whispering these notes into the great masters ears and the sacrifices they made for their art great or small. Can you imagine hearing this for the first time? How could one not hear the depth of this man’s sweet heart and love of music. Thank you Seymour, you warm my heart every time I listen to your presentations and performances. Cheers sir.

I love your slow temp. Thanks.

Extraordinary ❤️🎶

Brilliant!

real master!

The best i ve heard

this ladies and gentlemen is HOW-YOU-PLAY this piece! perfect tempo, Bravo!

The way Mr. Bernstein played the section 2:35 gave me goose bumps. That was magical… bravo!

One sunny afternoon my Son, his Auntie Gramps & I where walking about a large Orangery. Then I heard this peice 🎶 coming in the distance… I wandered toward the piano 🎹 music. I found my son sitting there playing this…. He only learnt the beginning but it was beautiful.

Perfect.

That man is an artist, painting masterpieces in sound, taking the soul on a journey.