Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

It was a great pleasure to discover the city of Kuala Lumpur and visit the campus of UCSI. Not only was the Piano Pedagogy Conference superbly organized, there was true enthusiasm on the part of the staff and audience for all the programming, including the Heart and Soul Classical Smackdown!

The contest was mixed - Prokofiev swept the overall, the Total Rounds, but the youngest and oldest listeners went to Debussy. Debussy received more straight ticket votes than Prokofiev, and I did hear a lot of comments from people who were surprised by their Prokofiev votes. One is never too late to change one's mind!

Favorite Comments:

#Prokofievtheabsolutebanger

Amazing performance. My first official piano performance too!

I used to hate Prokofiev a lot because of his use of dissonance without proper resolution. Thank you for playing these Prokofiev pieces, I think they are much more bearable after listening to your wonderful renditions. However, my old-school tuned ears still prefer Debussy's harmony. There were a few rounds where I almost ticked Prokofiev because of yoru wonderful playing. However I still felt much more connected emotionally to Debussy. I can't imagine myself listening to Prokofiev a whole day, but Debussy it could be weeks

All other comments:

<3 <3 <3

Amazing performance

amazing! :)

Awesome concert

close call

colorful and interesting perforamnce

fantastic performance!! So enlightening. I am a diehard Prokofiev fan but is now inching towards Debussy a bit more!! Especially L'isle Joyeuse and Jardins. Thank you from the bottom of my heart

Fantastic program! Such an inspiring recital. How I wish I can vote both the boxes!

Great recital!!! Almost cry for Clair de Lune. Thank you for this wonderful concert!!!!! 

Hard decision for overall choice

It's actually a great programme. For me, I think it's just about preferences and depending on a performer's interpretation. It's hard to compare both composers as each of them have their own strength. I chose Debussy just because of my preferences on heart fluttering, Romantic and impressionism pieces

It's interesting that I think my taste actually changed. I feel like the "round 2" Debussy isn't as gentle and dreamy as how I thought it should be, the style is slightly close to the opponent, that's why I chose Debussy for that round. 

Love this idea and experience! Thank you. Such a cool way to get audience involved!

Nice to listen to with composers' interpretation live: Thanks!

Prokofiev is more powerful and confrontational the isle Debussy's colors sound dark

So hard to choose because both composers and Frederic were so good!

stunning ART <3. Thank you!

Such a fun ride :)

Thank you for such an inspiring performance. Hearing Debussy and Prokofiev side by side was an experience of completely different worlds. Yet you brought both to life so vividly. Debussy felt light and airy while Prokofiev was raw energy and fire. It was truly another feeling, and I left with a much deper understanding of Prokofiev's voice:

Thanks for a magical, dreamy, crazy, playful night!

Thanks for an engaging recital

Thanks! The Smackdown is an inspired concept - enjoyed the evening

The vote is solely based on tonight's performance. However, based on personal taste in compomser, this is my preferred choice: PDPP, and if there is Rachmaninoff, he is the only way!!!

Unique sound and marvellous colours!!

wonderful performance! Love I and enjoy it very much! Thank you!

Excellent playing!

Great performance! Bravo

I am a fan of You! Bravo!

Really amazing and inspiring performance! Love how Mr. Frederic interpret the music and bring out the vibe. Great night and thank you Mr. Frederic for putting effort in preparing this repertoire

Thank you Frederic for the wonderful performance

Your interpretation of the Debussy's pieces is truly one of a kind! I look forward to ehar more of your playing live!

1. Prokofiev more powerful 2. Debussy less avant-garde 3. Diabolic Suggestions is my favourite 4. I can hear diabolic suggestions melody at the end.

Before the recital, my choice was Debussy haha

Brilliant performance, especially Prokofiev's pieces are xciting, I also like Debussy's Suite Bergamasque

Debussy has more melodic color, harmonic freely and gentley; Prokofiev focus more on dynamic changes

Diabolic was crazy!!! The way you present Prokofiev gives me new perspective

Excellent music! Debussy is just simply beautiful and magical!

Fantastic! Thank you for inspiring me on Prokofiev's music!

Goosebumps happening throughout the programme, really. Appreciate the lovely music

Hard to pick one out of two. Voted for my favourite Clair de Lune

I like the Debussy; Prelude as beginning, some pieces I never heard before. I prefer Prokofiev

I like the football player. I enjoy all the dissonance and chaos, I guess.

I love Prokofiev style

I love your Debussy very much. I feel like I was immersed in your music, especially the Jardins, the different tone colours you nused made the whole piece sound so picturesque. Very inspiring!

I prefer Debussy, but I also like Prokofiev Toccata

I think Mr. Frederic presented both styles very well, and really shows it in the concert. Thank you for the wonderful performance. It really inspired me and made me rethink the composition of both composers and the sonority both of the composers arr trying to bring out

it is interesting to vs these 2 composers as their styles are very distinct.

It's really incredible to see and listen how you present two extremely contrasting composers in a program. And I just realized how barbaric I was when I learned Suite Bergamasque back then, after listening to your performances. Maybe my soul is more into Prokofiev

Love Prokofiev's compositions with Dynamic on rhythm. It is difficult to "smackdown" both as Debussy's composition painted with sound and mystic while Prokofiev's composition sculpted with power of rhythm, energetic and driving force

Prokofiev is always passion, energy, and powerful. Debussy is with a special flavor actually.

Prokofiev was very refreshing. Debussy calm and sleepy. The Montagues and Capulets are a very good example of Romeo and Juliet

R2 was a tough choice! While I enjoyed the aggressiveness of Prokofiev, I'm also enamoured by the tone colors of Debussy! R4 the decider, but too much dissonance from Prokofiev for my taste!!

Round 1: I think the suite bergamasque could be more expressive near the end but it was a highly executed performance. I like the contrasting dynamic near the end for the Prokofiev sonata. In Round 3, the transitioning between the 2 pieces of Prokofiev were brilliant and the emotion was clearly presented. Overall it was a fantastic programme. Thank you.

Thank you for showcasing the Thunderous Smackdown!

The votes alone go for Debussy! But… would love to see if Toccata (Pour le Piano) VS. Toccata Opus 11

very impressive performance! I love both composers but now Prokofiev more! Virtuoso!

very interesting programme!

Very interesting programme. Both composers have interesting harmonic properties, but Prokofiev has more unexpected surprises

Very interesting smackdown. Congratulations!

wonderful programming

Wonderfully interpreted for both composers. Still, Debussy's music speaks more to me as "music"

You captured great spirit of Prokofiev! Beautiful touch on Debussy!