Rachmaninov Piano Sonata No.1, Op.28, I (prt 1) Weissenberg

[danieldumanescu]

Tempo and coherence drift at 5:42

[superstition2]

rushed

[RichardMartin2]

Wow! I have John Ogdon's recording and Lydia Jardon's too: must go out and get this one too. I must admit I prefer this one: less showy, much more intense. (Horowitz' recording on RCA of the 2nd PS coupled with the 3rd PC under Reiner is great - the audience explodes at the end!) Rachmaninov produced 4 absolute corkers in a row: op 27 (Symph 2), 28 (PS 1), 29 (Isle of the Dead), 30 (PC3). The galloping rhythms in the first movement of this piece, and of course the tonality, echo the Third PC.

[shortestgiant]

An excellent Rachmaninov showpiece, but not up to the great Sonata No. 2. This Sonata was originally 45 minutes in length, but Rach worked with other musicians and cut it down. It's still longer than any version of the Second, Weissenberg is magnificent, as always.

[evskimo69]

@shortestgiant This is a much, much better piece of music than Sonata no. 2. Not only structurally but also in terms of its musical content. Listen to it a bit more and I'm pretty sure you'll come around.

[shortestgiant]

Dear Evskim:

I don't deny that the First Sonata is a good work. I have Ashkenazy's reading which is very good.

The Second Sonata as played by Yves-Jacques Thibaudet (the best recording!) is frighteningly beautiful, and the second movement, in is hands, reaches Parnassus.

The First Sonata may still emerge as greater than the Second, just like the Third Concerto has done to the Second, but that day is a long way off.

Sincerely,

Fran Cummings

[OrangeSodaKing]

@shortestgiant I'm not sure if I could say that this is a showpiece, even though it is immensely difficult, both technically and musically. I think this because I feel that it is immensely deep and profound, and I couldn't imagine Rachmaninoff being worried about showing off while being consumed in composing this monster, and I would hope to goodness a pianist wouldn't think the same while being consumed by PERFORMING this monster. Of course, this is my opinion.

[88alan8800]

a very hard piece also

[AnnMarry19]

I love Rachmaninov and his sonatas!

[aptcore59]

I love this piano sonata. I love almost anything composed by Rachmaninoff.

[lokomotivlukas]

what music, what a musician!

[imawsome13]

amazing performance of a very underplayed piece.