mine as well. :))) i love it from 8:17, valentina is my favorite pianist but i listened to lang lang's performance of this concerto and exactly this tiny part ( from 8 : 17) i liked more than valentina's...
there is something about valentina that just makes her so confident and malevolent in a way which doesn't reflect in her performances but rather shows up as virtuosity and accuracy. valentina hands down
I went to her concert and, afterwords, told her that I loved her Rachmaninoff. She gave me a real nice smile and said "oh, thank you." Very sweet person with outstanding talent.
i dont get why some people say that they dont like her style of playing. She acctualy puts emotion into what she plays and thats what makes a good pianist....well done.. :)
Must say i agree with PTfan54, at 6:09 is the onset of the recapitulation, the absolute climax of the movement, and it's screwed. The rest is quite marvellous. Lisitsa is awesome. Quite streamlined interpretation, no big indulgence. Yikes, the horns are badly out of tune around 7:45. Whe does she have to play with such a 2nd grade orchestra?!
I don't think this is too fast. Having listened to the youtube of Rachmaninoff playing this, I think this is how fast he meant it to be played. I'm not going to argue with the composer of a piece of music of how it should be played. I'd love to have seen him play this live. Other than that, I'd love to see this lady play it live. But I'm a poor mum, so I'll be content with listening to this here.
True,it's rapid,but full,vivid,passionate & cuntrolled.I was surprose to lik it so much,having thunk her solo vidoes good but not so passionate.Don't be unkind about the orch.I thunk they kept together pretty well in the Sir cum stances,and well pretty.Their tone was pretty full. In fuct,the hole vedio was pretty well done.Whoppa titty we cdnt get closer tooth er pinist.U krane your neck to see more of her wonderful....fingers!
The orchestra is Seoul Philharmonic and I believe the conductor is Myung Whun Chung. Born in a music family, he received the second prize in Tchaikovsky International for piano. Must be why he conducts this music so well...
She is clearly an astonishingly accomplished pianist. It's almost as though she find this piece too easy. Beautifully played though, her dynamics and fluid playing are wonderful. That all said, it's too fast. Sometimes she pushes the orchestra. Better a bit slower so we can hear all the music which is arguably the most beautiful music ever composed.
She also plays with a slightly faster tempo than I normally hear for this piece. She really does have wonderfully fast hands and very good volume range. I love the way she caresses the keys; almost like she engaged in love making.
omgawd! i lover how she just fluently plays with her hands and how she shows absolutely NO movement for power! oh gawd she's GREAT! i love this piece!
I ABSOLUTELY love her interpretation of this concerto and the way she brings out the left is amazing in the beg. <3 She makes me proud to be a fellow woman pianist! Boob power! LOl
Her graceful hands are suggestive of the powerful fluidity of a swan's wing in flight. This is a truely awesome piano performance. Thank you for sharing it.
No - that is a regular grand - most likely Steinway. But this is a stupid Utube distortion algorythm that treats 4:3 and 16:9 video the same way - somewhere in the middle.
Wouldn't it be a Bosendorfer since she is a "Bosendorfer Artist?" I thought a big-ass Imperial Grand? You don't get to see the fallboard or keyboard in this video.
I don't like the way she plays that beautiful melody beginning at about 2:15. She rushes the melody and some of the most dramatic phases in the melody are just played as incidental to the rest, thereby losing most of the drama inherent in the melody. I'm not sure I explain this too well. On the other hand, her technique is incredible! A very enjoyable performance, but, for me, not as spine tingling as it could be.
I think every good version brings out different melodies, different depths of a deep piece. What a treat to compare the differences between the artists, what they choose to stress, accent, etcetera, and what treat as "incidental." I think this is a passionate performance. There are other good ones out there also, with their own charms. Each is a different look into the depths of a wonderful song! Talking about music is like dancing to architecture... a mis-quote I think of T. Monk?
Anyone know if she has this recorded on CD? And if she does, how can I get my hands on a copy? The orchestra does struggle to keep up with her and it's a shame that they kind of ruin certain parts for her. She does an INCREDIBLE job with this Concerto - her technique NEVER sacrifices musicality. Truly the complete package =) Now if only the orchestra could match her skill.
She is super talented and I really like her unique style. I don't think she plays too fast, but too fast for the orchestra here. Especially at 6:09. They seem to struggle to keep up with her and it doesn't work and loses its way. Argerich had instances like this too. I like her playing but if the orchestra can't stay with you, its a problem.
just amazing watching her rip the notes off and i love the way she plays with such passion - incredible - i have always loved this song. 6:09 and on is the best.
Wow! Before I saw this video of Valentina, I had only seen her play a Chopin Etude and I wasn't crazy about it, but after watching more of her videos, she is now going to be added to one of my favorites. I love her tempo and emotion in this beautiful work. =)
Her tempo, even in what seem to practice sessions in her Youtube videos but even more so in her stage performance videos, is always extraordinary. And the surety and power of her touch is deceptively smooth and effortless and seems to originate so far down her arm. So the combination of the magic of Rachmaninoff and her wondrous performance is truly heartbreaking.
First of all, let me say that I just loooved your interpretation! I've seen nearly all your videos on Youtube, and each time I nearly fall off my seat... You're simply magic! And the orchestra, is it the New York Phillarmonic? 'cause they look pretty much alike.
Once again, I'll never be able to repeat it enough: you're breathtaking.
EXCELLENT. By far, the best ive heard this concerto played other than the great man rachmaninoff himself, of course. however, it was flawless on the pianist's part-just the sheer dynamics and correct placements made me smile. ^_^
I think the fault is really the orchestra's, not the pianist's. The speed she takes is very reasonable--listen to other pianists take it. Rachmaninoff himself played it considerably faster in the section himself!
She's from Russia, but see the article in Wikipedia. I think that she and her husband (also a fine pianist) decided that Putin was a bit much and fled to the United States. That's conjecture based on timing, but they sure haven't gone back to visit relatives.
If you are interested and if the CD still is on the market, the recording by Sviatoslav Richter of the Second is just incredible. Actually I got it on a two CD set on the Deutsche Grammophon budget label Panorama.
Musicians break the chords because they can choose whatever style or phrasing they desire. This is the case for all professional musicians - they can make whatever changes they want. Music has many interpretations.
It also depends on the piece. For example, In Rach's 3rd Piano concerto, there are a number of very fast, 10 finger, 12th interval chords (which are huge and incredibly difficult to play up to speed) in the 3rd movement (not the revised one by Horowitz) that Rach didn't roll to prove his virtuosity as well as his gift of obtaining unheard sounds with his exceptionally large hands.
No no that's not true,Rachmaninoff had very large hands...."his large hands were able to cover the interval of a thirteenth on the keyboard (a hand span of approximately twelve inches). According to fellow composer Igor Stravinsky,Rachmaninoff stood 6 feet 6 inches (198 cm) tall". (Wikipedia). Can't explain though why he also was braking the chords at this concerto,as you say...Out of Sympathy to his fellow pianists maybe ? :)
From what I've read that is wrong. I seem to remember reading Rachmaninoff had massive hands - 6 inch span. I have quite large hands but even I can't beat that.
Some of his other compositions would seem to back that up to - I think it happens a few times in Moment Musical #4 where some of the chords on the left hand stretch way over an octave.
The size of her hand can't be deterred by only concerning whether she break the initial chords or not since she may hit for some of the chords (like me, I have a hand with only a 23cm hand span, I still can hit the 4th chord without breaking them.),but due to her own interpretation , she broke all the chords for unifying.
(it still a mystery why Rach also broke the chords....)
The only thing we can deduce is she got hands which are smaller, that Rachmaninoff.
Why do you guys think that the only reason to break the chords is small hands? How about doing it because it sounds better? Rachmaninoff breaks almost ALL chords regardless of size, stretch placement and often plays left and right hand not together - is that because the distance between his hands is small?
This is sheer conjecture, but maybe he thought that other pianists would just play it as he did, or maybe he thought that they couldn't play it as he did.
Having the two CDs of Rachmaninoff plays Rachmaninoff, meaning the four piano concertos and *Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini*, I just love the way he plays it.
This is probably redundant, but Rachmaninoff had simply huge hands. He wrote it - he gets to (past tense) play it the way he wishes to. Droit de composeur (right of the composer)! Why can't Lisitsa play the way that he did? See Igudesman and Joo - *Rachmaninoff had big hands*.
Lol it makes me laugh how many people come on here to give critique on the pianist's performance. To behonest, I think it really is sad and it makes me want to strangle a baby. Youtube isnt a place for criticising works, its a place to come and just enjoy them. Besides, what is there to criticise about this performance? I think it's wonderful, I wish I could play like Valentina Lisitsa.
criticism does not automatically imply we arent enjoying the music. i always criticize pianists because i know what to say and what improvements should be made.
well when i say criticisie i mean in p particularly harsh way. its okay to pick things out, but some people on here tear the performances to shreds, and i bet theyve never even sat at a piano.
Despite a minor asynchrony at 06:00, it's a great rendition, comparing favorably with those of Richter and Weissenberg, my personal benchmarks. Hope very soon to hear ULUGBEK PALVANOV's. DoctorGradus is absolutely correct about the strong left-pinky after the Intro of Movement #1: It's one of several nuances that, in my opinion, make an extraordinary performance of this concerto. Brava, Lisitsa!
jeeez man why you always pay attention at how many mistakes a pianist do you can't pay attention at the music :|.If a pianist makes 14 mistakes it's ok to note this but not when a pianist makes only 3-4 mistakes in a whole concert
Actually, madrubber, she payed six encores. It was a pity she made more mistakes than usual at the concert. (which means stunningly few, considering she still played 4 large-scale pieces and perfectly) But it was still wonderful. Surely the best concert i have ever attended
her playing is marvellous.. i was lucky to be able to catch her performance in singapore, at the international piano festival. she played like, 5 encore pieces at the end! among which was one of my fav pieces, la campanella by liszt :)
really?? 'cause he had like 14'' btw his thumb and his little finger ( don't know the name of this finger lol I'm french) but maybe he played it like this 'cause it's more pretty :)
I like that she doesn't try to make it a solo in the opening where the orchestra has the melody. Even her posture and movements reflect that. To me, a lot of times, pianists forget that they're always the star of the show when they're playing with an orchestra.
Amazing! Even though it's very different from what I play. Tempo slightly too fast for me, especially for the opening bars. But she is an excellent pianist.
Shes Outstanding Genius, Marvelous, No.1 for Racha :) LOVE this concerto, and Love Racha, And love Vaentina :)
BassicStorm 1 year ago
OMG she is now my favourite female pianist!!!!! :)
AnnaKurusis 1 year ago 3
Magnificent!
jayemc3142 1 year ago
I like Kissin´s performance
AetherVial 1 year ago
She has the power of a man, the passion of a woman, and the performance of a great soul.
Henlog41 2 years ago 31
Beautifull Rachmaninoff, Bravo!!
cformas 2 years ago
the timpanist is not looking at the conductor at 6:10
JRtalaroc 2 years ago 8
Very good!
054711 2 years ago
I love this concerto... and I've to say that this was a beautiful performance, she's really 'strong'.
Yukistacia 2 years ago 7
I think she took some parts too fast. I still prefer Rubenstein's.
sclark3333 2 years ago
every pianist has its expressions. it should not be limited according to the piece only.
whatever happens, i like both. as long as they perform at their best. :D
dragons454 2 years ago 7
agreed
borry28 2 years ago
Val, that was really really wonderful...
huyt8 2 years ago
the last 30 seconds of this concerto is my FAVORITE!!!!!!!!
L33TOboist 2 years ago 19
@L33TOboist
mine as well. :))) i love it from 8:17, valentina is my favorite pianist but i listened to lang lang's performance of this concerto and exactly this tiny part ( from 8 : 17) i liked more than valentina's...
ninomagla 10 months ago
I did noticed from 6:10,The TImpani did the Wrong Counted with The piano.Wether the conductor or the timpanist.
KevinR3i 2 years ago 6
powerflul!!!
SekangKwon 3 years ago 6
You can see Pogorelich performance:)
AnnMarry19 3 years ago
so sexy
pian000 3 years ago 3
Excellent performer. What a treasure to the piano world !!!
DrLuu1972 3 years ago 5
pero su expresión en las partes lentas y con hermosa armonía es normal, muy normal, me quedo con kissin
zetangie 3 years ago
who would win in a contest? valentina or martha argerich?
MountCashelTuck 3 years ago
Hands down, Argerich.
smaddenleaman 3 years ago 4
thats a tough one lol
KearneyPiano 3 years ago
I would pick Valentina.
millionmileflyer 3 years ago 4
there is something about valentina that just makes her so confident and malevolent in a way which doesn't reflect in her performances but rather shows up as virtuosity and accuracy. valentina hands down
jjlee1994 3 years ago 6
Compare the huge age difference - Agerich is nearing her 70s now Valentina is still young and has the agilty that Agerich once had
steinwaygrande1 3 years ago 6
Dioss mioo que bellezaaa de pieza tiene un toque tan hermoso dioss ojala yo tocaraa asii jejej belleza de concierto jeje
2038368 3 years ago
I went to her concert and, afterwords, told her that I loved her Rachmaninoff. She gave me a real nice smile and said "oh, thank you." Very sweet person with outstanding talent.
inazuma3gou 3 years ago 11
i dont get why some people say that they dont like her style of playing. She acctualy puts emotion into what she plays and thats what makes a good pianist....well done.. :)
kiyoshiabc 3 years ago 3
Excellent rendition.
horatiodreamt 3 years ago
such a Russian music... here i hear motives of my country, my land... Rachmaninoff captured them all and used them on his music... fabulous.
Lidiazinha 3 years ago 6
watch nodame cantabile! they played this and it was so nice!
ayu84tateishi 3 years ago
well play!! i love it!!!
rachmaninov1873 3 years ago
Must say i agree with PTfan54, at 6:09 is the onset of the recapitulation, the absolute climax of the movement, and it's screwed. The rest is quite marvellous. Lisitsa is awesome. Quite streamlined interpretation, no big indulgence. Yikes, the horns are badly out of tune around 7:45. Whe does she have to play with such a 2nd grade orchestra?!
Mathi80 3 years ago 8
Wow!!! The best interpretation!!!
AnnMarry19 3 years ago
I LOVE IT!!!!!
It's the best interpretation on youtube!
:D
Annananas 3 years ago
Irritatingly the tempo at one of my favorite parts, 6:08 was all over the place. Besides that, it was nearly flawless.
PTfan54 3 years ago
the best concerto ever..without a doubt..
seshatsfilms 3 years ago 2
sounds so wonderful. although i did have trouble hearing the piano in some parts though.
Mithrand87 3 years ago
her technique is so dazzling
jhsjsams719 3 years ago
If you ask me, this is the most beautiful piece of music ever written. I absolutely adore it.
Though this version is a bit fast for my tastes... I prefer the slightly slower one.
ilikeatingcats 3 years ago
I don't think this is too fast. Having listened to the youtube of Rachmaninoff playing this, I think this is how fast he meant it to be played. I'm not going to argue with the composer of a piece of music of how it should be played. I'd love to have seen him play this live. Other than that, I'd love to see this lady play it live. But I'm a poor mum, so I'll be content with listening to this here.
mireah 3 years ago 3
True,it's rapid,but full,vivid,passionate & cuntrolled.I was surprose to lik it so much,having thunk her solo vidoes good but not so passionate.Don't be unkind about the orch.I thunk they kept together pretty well in the Sir cum stances,and well pretty.Their tone was pretty full. In fuct,the hole vedio was pretty well done.Whoppa titty we cdnt get closer tooth er pinist.U krane your neck to see more of her wonderful....fingers!
fartlestucks 3 years ago
Who is the conductor and the orchestra?
avfortozo 3 years ago
The orchestra is Seoul Philharmonic and I believe the conductor is Myung Whun Chung. Born in a music family, he received the second prize in Tchaikovsky International for piano. Must be why he conducts this music so well...
JunsukAhn2 3 years ago 2
The conductor's name is Nanse Gum. And this is not Seoul Philharmonic - it is Euro-Asian Symphony.
PianoProductions 3 years ago
Really?! I have actually met Nanse Gum in person but that doesn't look like him... haha
I am sorry about the misinformation.
JunsukAhn2 3 years ago
oh wow cool!
jaewoongwife 3 years ago
2nd and 3rd rachmaninoff concertos are one of the hardest pieces ever writen for piano. i love kissins interpratation as well
ichadzis 3 years ago
That is my favorite piano concerto and she played it well!
medviation 3 years ago
one of the best piano concertos ever.
gulsz 3 years ago 2
She is clearly an astonishingly accomplished pianist. It's almost as though she find this piece too easy. Beautifully played though, her dynamics and fluid playing are wonderful. That all said, it's too fast. Sometimes she pushes the orchestra. Better a bit slower so we can hear all the music which is arguably the most beautiful music ever composed.
jjaus 3 years ago
She also plays with a slightly faster tempo than I normally hear for this piece. She really does have wonderfully fast hands and very good volume range. I love the way she caresses the keys; almost like she engaged in love making.
cstarsoft2000 3 years ago
im greatly inspired by this woman... even thou im a jazz guitarrist , amazing feel and technique...
htrizzle 3 years ago
omgawd! i lover how she just fluently plays with her hands and how she shows absolutely NO movement for power! oh gawd she's GREAT! i love this piece!
skillzxd 3 years ago
A wonderful piece! My favourite part is 6:08
Persuasion86 3 years ago 2
That part is so great but i LOVE the begining because it like i don't know it's so full of fellings
sphinx200 3 years ago
same, we are playin it in my school concert, and when we get to that bit i always get a tingle down my spine!
iluvALLmusicYAY 3 years ago
agreed. So divine. But you can't really say that because the whole piece is something from another planet.
airad2 3 years ago
I ABSOLUTELY love her interpretation of this concerto and the way she brings out the left is amazing in the beg. <3 She makes me proud to be a fellow woman pianist! Boob power! LOl
darkkerrigan 3 years ago
Hooray for boobies! She is rather incredible. I LOVE her tempo.
jibbet97 3 years ago
Her graceful hands are suggestive of the powerful fluidity of a swan's wing in flight. This is a truely awesome piano performance. Thank you for sharing it.
ronbrister 3 years ago
This is one of my favourites of classicals pieces, so beautiful music!
Ulf Sawert. Sweden
Caecarulf 3 years ago
Beautiful and Amazing...
bambee 3 years ago
I am flabbergasted. My god she is incredible.
playgued 3 years ago
That's one big-ass piano
jtakken777 3 years ago
No - that is a regular grand - most likely Steinway. But this is a stupid Utube distortion algorythm that treats 4:3 and 16:9 video the same way - somewhere in the middle.
PianoProductions 3 years ago
Wouldn't it be a Bosendorfer since she is a "Bosendorfer Artist?" I thought a big-ass Imperial Grand? You don't get to see the fallboard or keyboard in this video.
RonNewYork 3 years ago
she's playing a Bosedorfer IMPERIAl...it's longer and wider than the steinway d concert grand usually seen in concerts
13orthanc13 3 years ago
Listen from 00:50 to 01:35. This is my favorite section of this gorgeous, agitated piece.
scottturner1994 4 years ago
I don't like the way she plays that beautiful melody beginning at about 2:15. She rushes the melody and some of the most dramatic phases in the melody are just played as incidental to the rest, thereby losing most of the drama inherent in the melody. I'm not sure I explain this too well. On the other hand, her technique is incredible! A very enjoyable performance, but, for me, not as spine tingling as it could be.
phoxee 4 years ago 2
I think every good version brings out different melodies, different depths of a deep piece. What a treat to compare the differences between the artists, what they choose to stress, accent, etcetera, and what treat as "incidental." I think this is a passionate performance. There are other good ones out there also, with their own charms. Each is a different look into the depths of a wonderful song! Talking about music is like dancing to architecture... a mis-quote I think of T. Monk?
DocMaynard 4 years ago
She's so good! It's amazing!
warmperson2007 4 years ago
She is incredibly talented. Rachmaninoff is amazing. This is one of my favorite pieces.
CMA7412 4 years ago 3
Anyone know if she has this recorded on CD? And if she does, how can I get my hands on a copy? The orchestra does struggle to keep up with her and it's a shame that they kind of ruin certain parts for her. She does an INCREDIBLE job with this Concerto - her technique NEVER sacrifices musicality. Truly the complete package =) Now if only the orchestra could match her skill.
darkkerrigan 4 years ago 2
where is she playing this? It's all asian women behind her.
notausernameatall 4 years ago
Seoul, South Korea. maybe in 2000..?
KyeongEun 4 years ago
Seoul, South Korea
KyeongEun 4 years ago
tahts a concert grand standard 9 ft
clockwurkhamster 4 years ago
Is it just me or is the video kinda fast? The conductor seems to be moving at a fast forward pace.
bubblebran 4 years ago
XD tehy need to catch up to her skill XDD.
she reminds me of what would happen to nodame if she played a concerto with an orchestra !
absolutely beautiful. i love her fast rachmaninoff ^^
tea4al 4 years ago 2
right!
Mattnesss 4 years ago
How big do you think that grand is, more than 9ft.? Anyone??
newerpilot18 4 years ago
beautiful hair!
dsyglym 4 years ago 2
She is super talented and I really like her unique style. I don't think she plays too fast, but too fast for the orchestra here. Especially at 6:09. They seem to struggle to keep up with her and it doesn't work and loses its way. Argerich had instances like this too. I like her playing but if the orchestra can't stay with you, its a problem.
Rachmanfan4life 4 years ago 4
She looks like an angel and plays like one! This concerto is not for sissies and she is competent enough to play it with expression!
RupertSwitz 4 years ago 3
an amazingly powerful player!
CT2507 4 years ago
just amazing watching her rip the notes off and i love the way she plays with such passion - incredible - i have always loved this song. 6:09 and on is the best.
graven29 4 years ago
Her clarity is NEVER sacrificed my her speed. She is truly the complete package. =D
darkkerrigan 4 years ago 3
Wow! Before I saw this video of Valentina, I had only seen her play a Chopin Etude and I wasn't crazy about it, but after watching more of her videos, she is now going to be added to one of my favorites. I love her tempo and emotion in this beautiful work. =)
darkkerrigan 4 years ago
Anybody knows who the conductor is and which orchestra is this?
ArekkusuOS 4 years ago
i'm in love w/ this song all cuz i first heard it on nodame cantabile. awesome show
dancemachine1919 4 years ago
Was this in Japan?
warmperson2007 4 years ago
Soeul, Korea.
jero13595 4 years ago
Her tempo, even in what seem to practice sessions in her Youtube videos but even more so in her stage performance videos, is always extraordinary. And the surety and power of her touch is deceptively smooth and effortless and seems to originate so far down her arm. So the combination of the magic of Rachmaninoff and her wondrous performance is truly heartbreaking.
wordwise3 4 years ago
Who's the conductor??
vnsn72 4 years ago
First of all, let me say that I just loooved your interpretation! I've seen nearly all your videos on Youtube, and each time I nearly fall off my seat... You're simply magic! And the orchestra, is it the New York Phillarmonic? 'cause they look pretty much alike.
Once again, I'll never be able to repeat it enough: you're breathtaking.
fashionaschen 4 years ago
ha ha, look at the conductor: he's dancing! well, I most surdently would do that too, such magnificent music!
FredeGF 4 years ago
Bloody haunting! Ever so well done. Such a talented pianist
mireah 4 years ago
that piano is awesome, its huge!
davidbaker03 4 years ago
How amazing. Wonderful interpretation.
TorontoEd7 4 years ago 2
Most peopel play it slower than this, but if you listened to Rachmaninoff's own play8ing of this, he plays this movement even faster.
Snappers3 4 years ago 3
I'm no expert but doesn't she play a bit fast at times?
8111982 4 years ago
grand concerto
mais le meilleur interprete pour moi c'est ciccolini
bilbaroud 4 years ago
Valentina Rules!!!
floydrharper 4 years ago
EXCELLENT. By far, the best ive heard this concerto played other than the great man rachmaninoff himself, of course. however, it was flawless on the pianist's part-just the sheer dynamics and correct placements made me smile. ^_^
drea98 4 years ago 2
Now THAT is a piano!
homerboy488 4 years ago 3
This version is Fantastic!!! Bravísimo!
escucharnos 4 years ago
in my opinion, the best pianist in the world and the best concerto ever: heaven!
monobrow638 4 years ago 3
este concierto me encanta
lo importante es el sentimiento
orellana19 4 years ago
I think the fault is really the orchestra's, not the pianist's. The speed she takes is very reasonable--listen to other pianists take it. Rachmaninoff himself played it considerably faster in the section himself!
xiangyik 4 years ago
not bad
...
but too fast!!!
davidoistrakh 4 years ago
nice interpretation! seems like the orchestra had trouble keeping up with her!
Jeremy7890 4 years ago
incredible!!
rachmaninov1873 4 years ago
What a great player. Stunning. She´s from Ukraine.
Even better: her play. Very good interpretation of this concerto.
I will buy her Chopin Etudes. I've heard only one Etude of her. Was amazing.
haioforler 4 years ago
06:08... mmmmmmmm dudoso.
tornillodepapel 4 years ago 3
Correct... bit too hasty
dommedomi 4 years ago
Cierto!
linnkaster 4 years ago
I can't find any fault in this lady's technique or expression. She is a goddess on the keyboard. Where is she from? U.S.?
cobalt100 4 years ago
She's from Russia, but see the article in Wikipedia. I think that she and her husband (also a fine pianist) decided that Putin was a bit much and fled to the United States. That's conjecture based on timing, but they sure haven't gone back to visit relatives.
gerryrains 4 years ago
Putin is a asshole so i don't blame her for that desision :P
cronan89 4 years ago
she isn't Russian, she comes from Ucraine
spina990 4 years ago
Indeed, and she went to the US in 1991. He the f*** was Putin in 1991?
dommedomi 4 years ago
It's so wonderful to actually see healthy and educated opinions/arguments for once!
liszts 4 years ago
We love this piece and watched it a few times daily/weekly. Great performance. Evgeny Kissin also recorded this concerto in CD (RCA), we love it too.
millionmileflyer 4 years ago
If you are interested and if the CD still is on the market, the recording by Sviatoslav Richter of the Second is just incredible. Actually I got it on a two CD set on the Deutsche Grammophon budget label Panorama.
gerryrains 4 years ago
Dude that chick is taller than an Escalade!! Gorgeous playing.
formenlehre 4 years ago
she's amazing!!! I agree that on the peak of the concerto it's bit faster than the usual ;)
EilisErina 4 years ago
6:10-6:15 way toooo fast there. Otherwise a solid performance
lemieux9 4 years ago
Actually she played that section just like Sviatoslav Richter played it. I guess she's in good company.
gerryrains 4 years ago 2
Musicians break the chords because they can choose whatever style or phrasing they desire. This is the case for all professional musicians - they can make whatever changes they want. Music has many interpretations.
holyblade24 4 years ago
It also depends on the piece. For example, In Rach's 3rd Piano concerto, there are a number of very fast, 10 finger, 12th interval chords (which are huge and incredibly difficult to play up to speed) in the 3rd movement (not the revised one by Horowitz) that Rach didn't roll to prove his virtuosity as well as his gift of obtaining unheard sounds with his exceptionally large hands.
julianwarren 4 years ago
No no that's not true,Rachmaninoff had very large hands...."his large hands were able to cover the interval of a thirteenth on the keyboard (a hand span of approximately twelve inches). According to fellow composer Igor Stravinsky,Rachmaninoff stood 6 feet 6 inches (198 cm) tall". (Wikipedia). Can't explain though why he also was braking the chords at this concerto,as you say...Out of Sympathy to his fellow pianists maybe ? :)
crazyunicorn20 4 years ago
I don't think he did.. search for the video on youtube (well it's only a recording).
AngelinaTaylor 4 years ago
She must have small hands for this concerto to break the initial chords.But what an extraordinary interpretation
crazyunicorn20 4 years ago
Apparently, Rachmaninoff's hands were also very small - he breaks the chords the same way. :)
PianoProductions 4 years ago
From what I've read that is wrong. I seem to remember reading Rachmaninoff had massive hands - 6 inch span. I have quite large hands but even I can't beat that.
Some of his other compositions would seem to back that up to - I think it happens a few times in Moment Musical #4 where some of the chords on the left hand stretch way over an octave.
fatpratmatt 4 years ago
He actually had a 12 inch finger span. This made for a key span of about 13 keys.
---Diana G.
DianaMGC 4 years ago 2
Im quite upset because of my small hands.I really want to play this concerto but my hands can only reach an octave + 1 key, so it's C to D. =(
HeartbreakerMax 4 years ago
The size of her hand can't be deterred by only concerning whether she break the initial chords or not since she may hit for some of the chords (like me, I have a hand with only a 23cm hand span, I still can hit the 4th chord without breaking them.),but due to her own interpretation , she broke all the chords for unifying.
(it still a mystery why Rach also broke the chords....)
The only thing we can deduce is she got hands which are smaller, that Rachmaninoff.
komachiy 4 years ago
Why do you guys think that the only reason to break the chords is small hands? How about doing it because it sounds better? Rachmaninoff breaks almost ALL chords regardless of size, stretch placement and often plays left and right hand not together - is that because the distance between his hands is small?
PianoProductions 4 years ago
I don't agree. If he wanted it that way, he should've written it that way. It's his own fault. There are such things as "Footnotes".
I personally never break them (simply because I can span it, and I'm proud) and they sound perfectly fine to me.
agreatguy6 4 years ago
This is sheer conjecture, but maybe he thought that other pianists would just play it as he did, or maybe he thought that they couldn't play it as he did.
Having the two CDs of Rachmaninoff plays Rachmaninoff, meaning the four piano concertos and *Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini*, I just love the way he plays it.
gerryrains 4 years ago
This is probably redundant, but Rachmaninoff had simply huge hands. He wrote it - he gets to (past tense) play it the way he wishes to. Droit de composeur (right of the composer)! Why can't Lisitsa play the way that he did? See Igudesman and Joo - *Rachmaninoff had big hands*.
gerryrains 4 years ago
everyone in the orchestra is asian
mdoub 4 years ago
not only that but if you know what improvements velntina lisitsa should make lol, what use is it posting them in here? she aint reading this...
pshades 4 years ago
lol thats probably cause its the japanese orchestra or something similar
JstAnothrVirtuoso 4 years ago
i was just about to say that
MengoMango 4 years ago
Lol it makes me laugh how many people come on here to give critique on the pianist's performance. To behonest, I think it really is sad and it makes me want to strangle a baby. Youtube isnt a place for criticising works, its a place to come and just enjoy them. Besides, what is there to criticise about this performance? I think it's wonderful, I wish I could play like Valentina Lisitsa.
pshades 4 years ago
criticism does not automatically imply we arent enjoying the music. i always criticize pianists because i know what to say and what improvements should be made.
and you want to strangle a baby?
mdoub 4 years ago
well when i say criticisie i mean in p particularly harsh way. its okay to pick things out, but some people on here tear the performances to shreds, and i bet theyve never even sat at a piano.
pshades 4 years ago
oh yeah. the world of youtube is full of douche bags. :D
Likeafoxow 4 years ago
Despite a minor asynchrony at 06:00, it's a great rendition, comparing favorably with those of Richter and Weissenberg, my personal benchmarks. Hope very soon to hear ULUGBEK PALVANOV's. DoctorGradus is absolutely correct about the strong left-pinky after the Intro of Movement #1: It's one of several nuances that, in my opinion, make an extraordinary performance of this concerto. Brava, Lisitsa!
sagalat 4 years ago
jeeez man why you always pay attention at how many mistakes a pianist do you can't pay attention at the music :|.If a pianist makes 14 mistakes it's ok to note this but not when a pianist makes only 3-4 mistakes in a whole concert
ieronim2003 4 years ago
Actually, madrubber, she payed six encores. It was a pity she made more mistakes than usual at the concert. (which means stunningly few, considering she still played 4 large-scale pieces and perfectly) But it was still wonderful. Surely the best concert i have ever attended
xiangyik 4 years ago
good job PianoProductions keep up the good work
ieronim2003 4 years ago
her playing is marvellous.. i was lucky to be able to catch her performance in singapore, at the international piano festival. she played like, 5 encore pieces at the end! among which was one of my fav pieces, la campanella by liszt :)
madrubber 4 years ago
i like how she plays the first chords in my opinion the chords played like this are more artistic and like to the ear
ieronim2003 4 years ago
too bad she can't reach the first chords :(. I still love her, Valentina is the best female pianist ever!!!
IloveAlexisBledel689 4 years ago
I suppose Rachmaninoff also can not reach these cords - he plays them the same way :)
PianoProductions 4 years ago
really?? 'cause he had like 14'' btw his thumb and his little finger ( don't know the name of this finger lol I'm french) but maybe he played it like this 'cause it's more pretty :)
IloveAlexisBledel689 4 years ago
Exactly! As far as I know Valentina can stretch 10-11 if she wants to easily.
PianoProductions 4 years ago
the little finger is called a 'pinky'
Likeafoxow 4 years ago
I like that she doesn't try to make it a solo in the opening where the orchestra has the melody. Even her posture and movements reflect that. To me, a lot of times, pianists forget that they're always the star of the show when they're playing with an orchestra.
JFman00 4 years ago
Amazing! Even though it's very different from what I play. Tempo slightly too fast for me, especially for the opening bars. But she is an excellent pianist.
AngelinaTaylor 4 years ago
This interpretation is breathtaking!
gthadani 4 years ago
so comfortable... although there are some slight mistakes... but so comfortable....
junehebe 4 years ago
i like the tension that she puts in the first notes i love lisitsa :D
ieronim2003 4 years ago
she's a magnificent pianist her thenique breathless
ieronim2003 4 years ago
She NEVER fails to take my breath away! Bravissimo!!
Robibi84 4 years ago
I want to marry her! She is perfect!
albarrakaka 4 years ago