Rachmaninoff Concerto #2 Part1

[lenlyn34]

I adore Valentina. And she has a very impressive handshake -

[BlissPascal]

Amazingly performed! I listen to this and the first thing that comes to my mind is Space Dementia and how Matthew Bellamy was clearly inspired from this beautiful work of art!

[march181959]

Suzie Lady has it right. Just a beautiful piece played as good as any. Too many critics on an ego high. Just shut up and enjoy!

[ImmortalSpecies]

Incredible bass at the beginning :)

[ImmortalSpecies]

@ImmortalSpecies Bells of moscow, was it :o?

[betolala]

Too fast for my taste, many mistakes but at 3:56 what an unforgivable mistake.

[satyu131089]

This is just the way Rachmaninov himself sounded...

[WTBbboyNAME]

Kissin

Richter

Ashkenazy

Lisitza

Rachmaninoff

All played to their own pace/interpretation and each performance was great in their own way

The conductor-soloist disconnect is a great example of artistic individuality. Clearly, they both had different ideas on tempo and were, apparently, unable to reconcile interpretive differences

[WTBbboyNAME]

what's with all the comparisons being made between different artists' interpretations?

"Oh, she plays too fast"

"Oh, Rach played it even faster so shame on you for thinking it should be played slower"

It's not the artist's goal to model their performance after anything. Otherwise it wouldn't be their *interpretation*

I think Liszt had it right in that he wanted to avoid creating carbon copies of himself and instead focused on a student's musical individuality.

[SuzieLady]

This is beautiful....I dont have a clue technically, I only know what I enjoy and what moves me...and this moves me...Wow!

[tjtheplay]

Lol that's a pretty energetic conductor!

[zachattack19942]

God I seriously wish they could release these of her Rachmaninoff project with the LSO!

[saby0009]

I love your hair:)

(I guess praising you for your piano skills is useless. Words cannot describe how good you are, and I swear you've got a piece of God in those hands:)) )

[Leonardo0691]

Bravo!

[enilegnave21]

Valentina, Thank you for sharing all these beautiful pieces with us. It is most generous as some of us might never be otherwise able to see you in person to appreciate the sounds of this Live in a Great Hall... and thank you for taking me home again, to the home of my girlhood, where all my loved ones still live in memory.

[GabriKnight]

Aparently she sat down and instantly remembered she'd left the oven on.

[lemansvk]

@GabriKnight

I have the remastered version of Rach playing this - he must have left the oven on too. Or maybe he wrote it in a hurry.

[NicoleMPLage]

Lindo demais !!!!!!!!!!

[annewarney]

Gyönyörű. Greetings from Hungary.

[simcha181818]

@annewarney Gyönyörű? Not quite. Maybe OK. Try Slava Richter's Rach2. That's truly gyönyörű.

[satyu131089]

fantastic tempo! the fastest i've heard...and the briskest... wondelful, Valentina... if i wanna show someone the Rach2, i can show them this video than any other recording....

[resonantdave]

Rachmaninoff was a bit drowned out by his orchestra when he played it.

She starts off pretty much as fast as him, only we can really hear her.

[AlinaShV]

этот игрок на ф-но превратит даже самое красивое произведение в безвкусицу и погоню за темпом. интересно, какому хорошему музыканту могла понравиться эта игра (это нельзя назвать исполнением!)?!

плохо!

[HACKARCS]

Fántastico, de nuevo me sorprendes, algún día me gustaría tocar como tú o siquiera parecerme. Gracias por todas estas obras publicadas.

[mikiwink]

this is amazing! I was waiting for the conductor to catch some air while he was conducting this. he's very energetic lol. i love it!

[tsvetkovprelude]

I secretly hoped to hear a Richter-like performance ;/

[harpefilo]

me gusta la pasión con la que esta chica interpreta la música.... me gustaría tener a mi lado a una mujer como ella!!!!

[whisper1012]

very good..

[sweetnessglyc]

I think she's beautiful here with her hair curled and with that gown...like a fairy of music... =)

[papcyrill]

there is nothing more beautiful in this world from the lady playing a piano with so passion and perfection!! Hat off Val

[eletricsan]

I have this on CD and I think that is very good....she is very good !

[maestrojimbo]

Gorgeous playing - BRAVA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mgbrad3388]

Lugansky should be taking lessons from her, this is so much better. Magnificent performance, though not my favorite.

[callofdutyops1]

she plays every piece a little too fast. Dont like her interpretation. listen to evgeny play it

[megh7x]

@callofdutyops1 its not fair to compair her to evgeny... Or compare anyone to evgeny for that matter... Kissin is a genius. Lol but she's also really great.

[wernerfrisio]

A música é interpretada com graça e leveza.

[aimf1998]

what's wrong with 29 people?

i really can't understand, i mean, she's amazing, a prodigy, i don't know if she's human or not (:

can someone explain me?

[weathergrl76]

I am not a student of music, I can't even read sheet music, but I do have a very fine ear. I have the original Rachmaninoff recordings and listen to them all of the time. I've seen Valentina in concert and she plays beautifully. I agree with the people who say that the conductor is "off". Rachmaninoff's original recocording of this piece is a bit faster than what I've usually heard from live performances, but not as nearly as fast as this one.

[sandralamcy]

impressive speed and finger jobs 04:22

[maksim47842]

@sandralamcy lol finger jobs

[krisevan1]

hey dont be stupid, if you didnt realize the orchesta is playing at the same rythem, its not just her, and who cares if its faster, rachmaninov wrote moderato in the script, not a damn number (but yeah maybe its a litte fast....) but wtf with the speed! if it faster or slower, it doesnt make the concerto more o less beautiful...

[doomless198]

is there any video of you playing rachmaninovs 3rd concerto

[Steinwaytoday]

Damn that cymbal player...

[mariposahierra08]

What orchestra is playing this??

[nikon052952]

Valentina!!! you transport me to another dimension

[LoftyProduction]

anyone who says this it too fast, should really listen to the opening of "brief encounter" that took some skill to play.

[mathilda1809]

очень, красиво, даже прослезилась

[Hrejwaltz]

too fast... verry beautyfull but it is too fast... where is the russian ascent?? weight you know...

[vampiresocietybabe]

@Hrejwaltz this piece is played faster by the composer himself. Listen to any Rachmaninoff recording and you will see...he intended this to be her tempo.

[xxcocoloco]

she's so amazing!

[thegreatapologist]

This recording is excellent. However, there is not enough of it. PART 2 PLEASE!

[manoli94pk]

27 people dislike this video, because part 2 does not exist

[madeddi]

I cant find part 2.

[debussy84]

The conductor's off the beat. She sets the beat and when he cues the orchestra you can see he doesn't even attempt to follow the beat she already established.

[korglove]

very choppy performance and to hyper. nobody will ever beat volodos's performance with chailly in london. volodos in my mind even outmatched rachmaninoff himself.

[ONEFINGERLUCY]

super pianist. articulation reminds me of when you get spectacles for the first time and everything looks suddenly so bright. and so clear. marvellous timing.

[rachmaninofflove]

Dear VL, You are my inspiration to practice and learn tedious details because it obviously pays off when you play. You technique is flawless and your interpretations are breathtaking. I just want to thank you for being an inspiration to myself and other young people. Best wishes in all you do.

[ShOwBiZ88]

the best music on earth

[shannianniful]

wow!! you make me cry when I watch you preform!!! you are truly inspiring!!!

[thegreatapologist]

???  There is no part two!

[mercutiana]

How many people here are thinking about Nodame Cantabile?

[mariposahierra08]

@mercutiana It's the only reason I knew this song existed! It's great though!

[djdrocco]

@mercutiana Or Gankutsuou for that matter.

[weepingguitar23]

Rach, himself, played it at about this tempo, but I PERSONALLY, am not a fan of such a quick tempo. I think this particular movement has such beautiful intricacies and chords that just need to be "dwelled upon." My favorite "interpreter" of this concerto is Vladimir Ashkenazy :)

[amonluxor1]

Orchestra sucks. Conductor started out of time not Valentina and put her off for the rest of the performance. He got lost. He may have been overawed and got carried away. Amateur orchestra players? Maybe off night.

[hanamano37]

@amonluxor1 This is badly performed. She have a "good" night? where is it?

[HansSerpico]

Playing Rachmaninoff at this speed is how he would have intended it. Most intense Piano Concerto in my opinion....

[StarcraftSensei]

hm.. music is something that requires an open mind. admire it for what it is. as for speed, listen to Rachmaninov's own playing.. from memory, it is actually even faster than this

[ionsaxofon]

just listen to rachmaninoff playin Schubert Impromptu Op 90 No 4

she knows exactly what she's doing

[Rafalmeidaa]

@dancingwithoutwords ?

How could you possibly say something like that? Do you really think you can conduct or play better than them? She's the most artistic, beautiful, and talented girl I've ever seen playing. You should search for Rachmaninoff playing himself this art piece before posting frustrated troll comments. Geez, what just happened to you? So you can barely play the first part and got mad at this? By the way, you should improve your English.

[gradientthemes]

@dancingwithoutwords

Before making such comments, why don't you listen how Rachmaninoff himself played it? Was that too fast for you too?

[TomBarrister]

@dancingwithoutwords You're not sitting at the piano; she is. The tempo isn't that fast anyway.

[MasterGuba]

I do not agree with your enthusiastic comments. She's outstandingly great, no doubts about that. But I don't like this performance. It is too fast. All the dreamy component is lost in favour of showing how much fast I can play...

It is ridiculous to say "if you want to hear this played ok, get the CD." I think that in any occasion the music must be respected. To play fast to show how good you are it is unfair with the music. IMHO, of course. From such fantastic artist I'm expecting much more

[BigDuckKetterer]

OMG!!!!!! What artistry!!!!!!! Plus she is beautiful beyond words!!!! The Grand Master Sergei Rachmaninoff himself would have given her a standing ovation and a red rose!!! This is how it is meant to be played!!!! TenStarsplus!!!!! Thank you for this fantabulous video my friend!!!! Stephen

[arcturian627]

Can't wait to get her Rachmaninov cd. Fantastic!

[lilshinodahahn]

ermmm??? an unusual Rachmaninoff's Piano concerto No.2 this is.... played in a faster tempo????

[Brouagh]

I Think not so unusual @lilshinodahahn, in the version played by Rachmaninov himself, the tempo is very similar. Are the other players who prefer to play it slower... and indeed I am also more accustomed to these versions.

[edwardpiercy]

@u229758

Well I saw her play it in Spokane and she knocked my socks off. That's all I can say.

[Bret6464]

Wonderful :-)

[TheKsk1997]

Looks like vienna ?

[XavierMac]

Sorry, idiots, but she can't start "off-beat" (as if you even know what you're talking about) when the first six or so bars are played at the pianist's discretion and NOT CONDUCTED.

[mandrewce]

@XavierMac  thank you for saying that, because it definatly needed to be said

[Nowak87MN]

mal eine Frau, außer Frau Argerich,ist super! gute Interpretation von der Pianisten, jedoch lässt der Dirigent zu wünschen übrig und zappetl an stellen rumm, wo es garnichts zu zappeln gibt!hm...!

das müssen wir noch im meister Kurs üben!!!!

[mojazka]

this was excellent!!

[Golritz]

which orchestra is that?

[Titere05]

Reminds me of Rach's own recording. I like the fact she doesn't make it pompous, the eternal problem with Rach's music

[iqsymphic]

Started bit off beat? Who cares? It's live music and it's her type of interpretation. Hell, she's playing it at a tempo which is a bit uncommon from the usual, if you want to hear precise recordings, then just listen to the ones that are manufactured on he CD's, heck, better yet, just get the sheet music, you should be able to do it no?

[MasterGuba]

@iqsymphic I do not agree with your enthusiastic comments. She's outstandingly great, no doubts about that. But I don't like this performance. It is too fast. All the dreamy component is lost in favour of showing how much fast I can play...

I do not agree when you say "if you want to hear this played ok, get the CD." I think that in any occasion the music must be respected. IMHO, of course. From such fantastic artist I'm expecting much more...

[Powerslider]

@iqsymphic Hahaha, very amusing post! Spot on :)

[Powerslider]

@iqsymphic hahahaha, that's a hilarious comment. 100% True.

[1234Daan4321]

@iqsymphic

lol nice comment haha

[DreamingPhenom]

I would love to see the director fall backwards.

[MissBMoon]

where is part 2?

[Thunkful2]

I admire anyone who can play this. But if you want a man, try Entremont.

[smotherdinsyrup]

Stop bashing other peoples interpretations of a song that someone else wrote. A musician can always play a song another way. Its called a cover song. Its never done exact. Classical musicians are the greatest cover musicians in the world. And most of you write nothing. Ever. But sit around bashing those that dont play what someone else wrote "oh so perfectly". Learn to write a song like Rachmanioff instead of bashing technique. Maybe then you'll actually be musicians instead of cover artists.

[northb100]

davehellod, That's all I see and hear that's wrong. Maybe some fertilizer in the water would really help a lot.

[veilofanoath]

lol everyone talking about what she did wrong i'd like to see you play this

haters gonna hate

[cuteshox]

Valentina is a wonderful pianist. I've always loved her affinity with the piano. However in this performance, she is not so comfortable with the conductor or the other way around. But it still sounds beautiful.

[Kaggypants]

@cuteshox Glad you caught this. There is definitely something wrong with the synchronization between the orchestra and the piano. I think she might have thrown them off by playing a little rushed. I still enjoyed the performance because Valentina plays it like it is: not trying to turn this concerto into something it is not like so many other pianists have done before this.

[davehellod]

the only think wrong with this is that one of the flower pots s in front of the piano could use a little water

[whitenigma1]

@davehellod

and maybe some manure !

,also someone has to give him (conductor) a metronome  !

who is this maestro ?!

[amirasco69]

Her feeling of the song is what matters.. and I think she's the one who understood Rachmaninov... I'ld even go so far as to say perfectly.. she made me cry.

[dhaganda10]

amazing =P

[47viviane]

@rachmaninif: of course that's total b.s. about women not being able to pla Rachmanonoff, the recording by Helene Grimaud is the best around - sorry Valentina - you come up second! Much better than Richter for example

[yosorodrigo]

me parece que interpretan rachmaninoff de una forma estupenda, sin embargo pienso que la orquesta tubo algunos errores que le quita poder a la obra

sin embargo la pianista hiso una muy buena interpretacion

[pianoairlines]

WOW - 6:00 !!!!!!

[Thisisnotmyrealname8]

It would probably be better if it was like 4 hours long.

[diegokillua]

BRRAAAAAAAVOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!!!!

el tempo es muy rapido pero au asi me gusto aunq huviese sido mejor q fuera mas lento

[jonprak]

I've also listened to the original, Rachmaninoff himself, play his concerto. Valentina plays almost exactly like he does :) It's stunning!

[z1Amii]

Noticed that this performance is a minute and a half longer than your version w/o the orchestra. Does it ever frustrate you that the orchestra can't play as fast as you can?

[stephaniepianomusic]

@z1Amii I think so, it's very clear at around 6:08

[Saelaanor]

I don't rellay know why, but I nearly startet to cry at 6:08 ... And now I can't stop seeing this video. :(

[ZbmwM5]

Between 6:00 and 6:35 ..... just stunning. I get goosebumps every time.

[roseism]

@ZbmwM5 One of my absolute favourite parts from any piano concertos as well. My heart goes crazy everytime I hear this

[Desireyso58]

EXCUSE FOR WRITING IN SPANISH, BUT MY ENGLISH... LO ÚNICO QUE PUEDO DECIR AHORA ES NADA. YA NO ES NECESARIO DECIR NADA, SÓLO ESCUCHARTE. COMPARTIR ESTA BOTELLA AL MAR QUE HAS LANZADO -JUNTO CON MUCHAS OTRAS- ACA EN MI ISLA DESIERTA LAS OIGO DIARIO, ME FALTA TIEMPO PARA HACERLO Y RENDIRLE TRIBUTO A TU TALENTO Y DEDICACIÓN Y GENEROSIDAD. GRACIAS VALENTINA.

[vampiresocietybabe]

I give this a standing ovation from my desktop. it's brought tears to my eyes every single time I've seen this particular performance online....BRAVO.

[kingjepoy]

Her singing tone is so gorgeous! It swept me away!

[pvn2474]

She is amazing!

[thesilentone13]

man i love orchestra's who over-exaggerate moving their bodies.. it just looks so beautiful to me..

[raawrmanbearpig]

This has to be the fastest tempo interpretation I've listened to besides the one from Nodame Cantabile. Beautiful nonetheless.

[turtlefreak01]

No matter what ANY of the comments say!!!, this is an absolutely superb piece and played magnificently!!!

[ChukCharcoales]

glorious piano playing

[rozybuhay1]

that' s too bad. . Good performance piano playing, but Poor orchestra performance

[ilwmb]

@rozybuhay1 u really think so?? the recording isnt the best. consider this.

[itisjinzo]

Valentina, you're amazing!

[fireb0rn]

@pianolise

mad hate much? jeez

[petie32]

Actually I prefer the Bechstein. Somehow they can be tuned more precisely than a Bosendorfer or Steinway or even a Baldwin.

Top living pianists: In no particular order:

Latisa, Van Gennip, Argerich, Kissin, Freddy, Pogorelich. IMHO the best is Pogo.

[stephaniepianomusic]

@petie32 Latisa? ^^

[maximumx5]

such a beautiful song =]

[FrdChopin]

She rushed at some parts but great performance! very impressive

[Margaux3200]

I feel a few of the passages were rushed, but otherwise a beautiful performance.

[cacasi222]

ピアノが気の毒すぎる

[VideosAlcides]

A filmagem foi realizada num ângulo que não permite a visualização das mãos de Valentina, particularmente nas poderosas articulações do grave, a partir de 00:25, e de sonoridade tão característica...

O movimento de suas mãos é um espetáculo à parte!

Brava, Valentina!

Brava, brava, bravíssima!!!

[vera0428]

the beginning is very impressive!

Nice performance.

[MirkoAlejandro]

que belleza hay en esta musica, entra en el ser, se apodera del alma y calma mucho, gracias

[miguelmouta]

@MirkoAlejandro Rachmaninoff is also a real of Yogi . Since he achieved self-mastery , from the day he accomplished , with no medicines , a cure for a big grave psychic deppression ( as confirmmed by medical authorities). Even Beethoven - and all of them , as I know ) didnt such an herculean job. His music transmits some of his "cure" vibrations, with beauty , force and peace. Appears naive. But is, in fact, very deep.

[gwennybandibas]

i just remembered chiaki

very beautiful..i really love piano concertos! maybe i were on that hall maybe i shed a lot of tears..

[bbvoncrumb]

Heh, i came accross this excellent piece because of chiaki! Im glad.

[DonFlute22]

@gwennybandibas what are you talking about, i shed tears right here!

[robertslistening]

I love the beginning of this piece. Those big bass tones remind me of an ominous bell. This piece and Grieg's concerto in A minor would be two great pieces for a movie background.

I think she has great dynamics. I love the way she plays Chopin's etudes also.

Valentina is great with developing moods, and one of my favorite female pianists. Yuja Wang is also an up and comer.

If I had as much talent as she does, I'd be one happy person.

[sebastien29200]

"This piece would be a great piece for a movie background. "

--> "Partir, revenir", Claude Lellouche (1985)

[cesttout8842]

beautiful Rachmaninoff

[iLoveChopin]

the orchestra could have done better. end of.

[JosephKrammer]

Don't take it as a bad comment, but I don't see the connection between the director, the orchestra, and Valentina

Is it maybe because of years of experience and training?

[wookyval]

we often notice that in some concertos with pianos, the piano melody is ... next to The Melody, but not totally within it ... Hard to explain, but in an orchestra, i think the piano is ... another part of it. I agree with with JosephKrammer.

[baldwin363]

an orchestra director looks different that a band director. He is more free because of the nature of the string instuments. While directing you have to take the delay factor of the string instuments in affect hence it looks like he is off. Thats probabbly what your seeing

[ijustretired]

its surprising that you mention this I have thought about this so many times- unfortunately I think the connection comes in the practice before the real day.

[mrmolinodelahoz]

Valaentina deserves better recording equipment and a better piano. The opening bass notes are really clunky.

Valentina, in my opinion, is the best pianist of ALL time.

[LJBSasha]

The piano, as a Bösendorfer, is TOP-LINE - Steinway can't positively even kiss the feet of Bösendorfer!!

However, the recording is not the very best possible (if I'm not wrong, it's simply the sound the videocam picked up). Also, there are certain sections where she could ease off on the sound when the orchestra has the main material (e.g., the start of the recapitulation). Otherwise, very good indeed!

Which orchestra and conductor are featured here, please?

[dragons454]

at 06:09 - 06:13, is the timpani really meant to be off-beat? dunno, but i liked how it sounds :D

[beyond9001]

don't think it's supposed to be off-beat.

listen to Stephen Hough's recording. precision and coordination on that passage.

[cafity]

It's not only the timpani, that section is played for the brass section too (you can hear the horns at 06:22)!! ;-)

[Kyousuke687]

Nodame!!!

[HypnoSurf22]

LOL I thought the same thing (^_^)v

[kyalamio]

woodwinds completely out of tune - horrible. but great pianism! this is a talent in the line of martha argerich - but unfortunately the times have changed - record companies and concert organizers aren't of the same level as they used to be at argerich's times.

[PaperPlanes4138]

since i play a woodwind instrument i must say its VERY hard to keep the instrument in tune even as you play it (wont go into details). but i must agree with the fact that they are professionals and must've learnt to overcome this issue. and yes, great pianism =)

[truthkillz666]

Not only this but the recording isn't done proffetionally. A slight hint of tuning issues will be blown up in scale due to the harshness of quality. The piano actually isn't that clunky as mrmolinodelahoz says, again that's down to shoddy recording equipment.

[gigorete]

i've heard better interpretations but this one's alright

[mrmolinodelahoz]

Valentina is GREAT from the very first note.

This pianist has something really special.

Great nobility and grandeur of presentation. what a pleasure to hear.

[9122625]

haha.. she is good...but i prefer horowitz's expression i suppose. i believe at their stage its isnt about skills anymore...its about expression

[HolyMotherofGrid]

This lady is GOOD!! Positively chilling opening, and she plays with elan, verve and style. I wish the piano part could be brought out a bit more in the tutti sections of this recording, however... anyway, this is a rock-solid performance of a perennial classic, and i for one am happy it is here on Youtube.

[Arhena1]

Wonderful !!! Quel talent ! =)

[jujojus]

Evalentina Velika

[dinodebarini]

Grandioso!!!

[TheNonWho]

i love this!!

metal for ever

[salvo711]

but it's not metal...

it's romantic...

[freqtrav]

salvo711:

Although Rachmaninoff - by the way - doesn´t belong really to the romantic period, it seemed to me played very "romantic" and her playing has really nothing to do with "metal".

[sutphoe]

sorry?

[PAlexR66]

Vous êtes admirable !

congratulations !!

Je ne me lasse pas de vous écouter jouer, I'm enjoy to listen you, it's wonderful =)

[xxshizuka89xx]

LOVE this piece.. rach's awesome, she's good too haha *hanyaan~*

[vladisgreatmusician]

An Over-actioned conductor..

[wcepheus]

unfortunate interpretation, that I did not like it

[Jusohpin]

i love yefim brofman's playing of this piece, amazing

[jonnyhead]

One of the most sublime pieces of music ever writen.......makes my heart race, it's so much part of my soul from young boy.

Aaaaaaaah!