r/classicalguitar • u/JoshuaJiao • Jun 28 '26
Performance Caprice No.24 comparison, Marcin vs MengSu
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I recently posted this side-by-side comparison of Marcin Patrzalek and MengSu playing Paganini’s Caprice No. 24 on guitar, and the comments on other platforms have been really interesting and fun!
Some people say Marcin is clearly superior — loving his power, percussive style, and modern flair. Others argue that MengSu is obviously better, praising her musicality, precision, and elegance.
It seems like it all comes down to personal taste and different aesthetic preferences. What one person finds exciting, another might find less engaging.
And that’s exactly what makes music so beautiful — unlike competitive sports, there doesn’t have to be a single “winner.” Everyone hears something different and connects with it in their own way.
What do you think? Marcin or MengSu? Or do you love both for different reasons?
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u/Pleaseappeaseme Jun 28 '26
Faster doesn’t always mean better. Her tone is better. He could be more careful and the strokes would be let cringy on the attack.
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Jun 30 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Pleaseappeaseme Jun 30 '26
He’s buzzing all over the place. You want good tone it’s David Russell in his prime.
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u/howzit- Jun 28 '26
Displays of two different talents. I prefer the more articulated one where you can feel the phrasing more it "sings" a little more.
The crazy speed is insane and something I could only ever dream of that's some Kazuhito Yamashita craziness and I love him too. But it feels like something is lost when it's that fast but is mind boggling impressive.
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u/RiceNoodleSalad Jun 28 '26
Half the notes Marcin plays in the very speedy sections don't even ring out properly before he plays the next note/have buzzing. The speed is impressive but it should serve the music rather than be the music imho. Also the speed makes it lack phrasing. It just comes of as loud and fast. Maybe this piece just doesn't translate to guitar as well idk.
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u/Diligent-Day8154 Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26
Marcin plays it as a flamenco piece, which is kinda interesting. I don't think he cracks the top 10 best performances of this piece on guitar, but it might be the only flamenco version out there.
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u/Successful_Egg_8907 Jun 28 '26
Yeah. His guitar also seems to have a low action. It makes fast playing easier, but it’s somewhat noisy by classical standards. Now I’d like to see someone like Grisha Goryachev attempt this.
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u/already_assigned Jun 28 '26
Both great. I like MengSu's middle section better. Marcin is very inefficient there. He moves around the neck too much. The first and the last section I prefer Marcin. I like his flow better. I think MengSu plays the notes, Marcin plays the piece. It's a very difficult piece, so hats off to both of them.
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u/Glum-Leave-4077 Jun 28 '26
Marcin is what happens when you go for showing off skill so much that you forget what feeling is
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u/Qrewpt Jun 28 '26
I didn't mind Marcin's version. It did feel hurried but I appreciate the speed as a party trick/YouTube short, it attracted all of our views and we're still talking about it, so great success. It also had some nice sounding parts.
If he were putting on a formal classical concert, I think he'd approach the song differently, and would benefit from a bigger sounding guitar or recording setup, but that's not what this was.
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u/baileystinks Jun 30 '26
Well in all honesty. Wasn't that kind of Paganini's point with the piece? That it is a shredders show piece.
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u/Qrewpt Jul 06 '26
Yeah. Could be, but lots of ways to interpret the same piece, it's out of Paganini's hands now.
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u/slightly_drifting Jun 28 '26
The dude shredding is foregoing tone and timbre for shred. It’s super trebly and thin. He’s a true musical masturbator. Best done by yourself or with other consenting adults.
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u/JoshuaJiao Jun 28 '26
Marcin’s concerts are often sold out — and a lot of the audience aren’t even guitar players. They just come for the show and the experience. By comparison, MengSu’s concerts feel more like traditional classical recitals, where most of the audience consists of serious classical music lovers and niche enthusiasts. I think this perfectly illustrates how different groups have very different aesthetic preferences. It also partly explains why classical music concerts have remained relatively niche for so long.
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u/RiceNoodleSalad Jun 28 '26
The fact that he sells out his concerts doesn't make him a better guitarist. There is not one way of playing that is right and some styles just appeal to the masses while others don't. Having said that, people who don't play guitar don't hear that he's miming.
Subtle things like picked notes while he is tapping whith both hands, the bass notes not even being in the frequency range of the guitar, the tapping sounding like a snare drum, stringbends at moments he's not even touching the strings and the tapping sounds not matching the motions are just a few examples multiple people have already pointed out.
While I don't mind recording, layering, editing or playing along with a recording in live shows. Acting like you are playing everything live and selling yourself as this virtuose while you are using recordings just feels like an insult to every guitar player who genuine puts themselves out there in live performances.
I do respect that he's genuinely playing here for a change.
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u/goblincube Jun 28 '26
His live show is a bit of a smoke and mirrors type of deception but at least he is a skilled player. Although it does feel dishonest compared to a musician putting on a concert in real time using only their instrument.
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u/bobbycancode Jun 28 '26
How do you mean smoke and mirrors?
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u/goblincube Jun 28 '26
Exactly what the other commenter already pointed out, using recorded sounds and tracks while presenting it as a totally live performance.
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u/unimpressivegamer Jun 28 '26
As someone who’s only ever heard Caprice in violin, MengSu captures the written music better in my opinion.
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u/pmkann Jun 28 '26
His right arm is so stiff and that flying pinky is going to give him hand issues later in life.
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u/CurrentAssociate9959 Aug 13 '26
The thing you said about his pinky made me laughed... because its not true lol
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u/Solpig Jun 28 '26
She has a better conservation of energy. She Lets natural overtones and glassy sounds of the guitar come out. You are your own compressor on nylon and he has a lot of extraneous noise that is energy wasted not putting out tone.
If I had them synced and double tracked? The Knob would be cranked way over to her side with just a touch of him for diction
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u/_PaulHimSelf CGJammer Jun 28 '26
I prefer Mengsu. Marcin compared to Mengsu is years away in terms of technique, phrasing, and overall musicality.
The good thing for Marcin is, there's a lot of room for improvement. Patience, environment, And a good coach will bring him in that level.
That's what I would tell myself if I'm in Marcin's shoes.
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u/BackgroundPublic2529 Jun 28 '26
She is just so much more musical to me.
As musicians, they have very different goals.
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u/Fourth-Room Jun 28 '26
MengSu’s is far more musical and displays her mastery of the instrument. Marcin sounds like a kid that learned a metal solo with tabs.
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u/Effective_Sorbet_677 Jun 28 '26
Are we supposed to not how to type guitar caprice no24 on youtube search bar? Weird post
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u/cacus7 Jun 28 '26
Mengsu is far superior, it gives more life to the piece. Marcin is at the edge of making a mistake and many many notes are missplayed (in duration and intention)
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u/milo-2112 Jun 29 '26
When you've heard different interpretations of this Paganini piece, you realize that such a rushed performance isn't necessary. I prefer Mengsu's interpretation, with its greater sensitivity and mastery of timing. It's not just because I'm Chilean, but I feel something similar between Claudio Arrau and Lang Lang, for example; the former is a "philosopher" of the piano, while the latter is more visceral.
All of them are great musicians by the way
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u/ThePandarenMonk Jun 29 '26
The marcin guy feels more of showing off than the Mengsu one. And the marcin guy's note arent very articulated.
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u/Occyfel2 Jun 29 '26
MengSu is actually articulating all the notes while Marcin is skating over them
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u/pathlesswalker Jun 30 '26 edited Jun 30 '26
Without doubt the girl, MengSu has like 5 levels more of depth to her playing. I would say that harmonically I’d prefer if she’d put a root/inversion for the bass to enrich abit. But it’s beautiful and gentle as you said- elegant. as such music should be. Like a natural thing.
His interpretation feels like a gimmick than an actual music prowess.
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u/Cyber_chipmunk Jul 05 '26
The piece is always played as a flashy show piece being Paganini after all. Marcin definitely takes that approach and plays fast. But I have heard a thousand impressively fast versions of that piece. Meng Su is the only version I have heard that touched me as music rather than just impressing me. She makes the piece sing and her accuracy and phrasing is at such a high level. I have never seen a better guitar performance than hers
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u/bumpty Jun 28 '26
Playing the notes vs playing the song. Marcin’s version has more feeling and intention. Mengsu is playing the notes as they are written in the page. It feels soulless. I like marcin more.
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u/Afiieh Jun 28 '26
Mengsu I prefer. Marcin''s one constantly feels like it's on the verge of unravelling and coming undone. If he played it slower I wonder if it would sound better.