Moiseiwitsch plays Rachmaninov Prelude in B minor

[kyleclef]

This is the only interpretation that makes me cry. I feel like he really really got the piece. This is master interpretation, really is, he has right to the very core, we are lucky to have this man's recording, and even lucky to have had a genius like Rachmaninoff so we are able to play such music.

[Hobott]

Magic piano and deep notes

[TehBrettsterBLF]

Wow.  The effect of the first page in Moisewitsch's performance surpasses any other. My teacher didn't lie about this.

[meredith218461]

Moiseiwitsch brings just the right degree of longing and pathos inherent in this masterpiece. Arguably the composers finest prelude.

[JohnEBPiano]

I wish I could steal his fine timbre in the bass notes! The bass chord after the first movement is amazing. BUMMMMMM.

Moiseiwitsch was the master of subtlety.

[6lues6rother]

Here i extracted the history that Moiseiwich tells, of him, this prelude and Rachmaninoff

watch?v=iFobyhwznng

[Robotman42]

I've got to be listening to too much Rachmaninoff. Such good music...

[Florion]

@Robotman42 There is no such thing as "too much Rachmaninoff." Everybody else just doesn't listen to him enough. :D I've spent the last year trying to learn this piece—BLARGH CADENZA FROM HELLLL but it made me cry the first time I heard it, so it must be worth it. <3

[hellomate639]

@Florion

Well, I'd say this cadenza is from one of the higher circles of Hell. I mean, some stuff that Rachmaninoff and Liszt wrote came from circles of Hell never thought to exist...

[aardvaark069]

Some of this sound reminds me of the Berman Scriabin fantasy in b minor from 1950. Perfectly relaxed technique with an utterly unforced quality about it.

[RachmaninoffGuy]

I much prefer Richter's rendition of this piece. For one, Richter goes headstrong into the Tempo I, whereas in this recording, there is a sense of restraint.

[hellomate639]

Too bad Rachmaninov liked this one better than himself playing it!

[morvensky]

Indeed, Richter's is more outgoing and to the point. Weissenberg's and Moseiwitsch's are more personal, shy and held back. Richter's is undoubtedly very good although I do not like his. This version and Weissenberg's are my favorite.

[Bret6464]

@morvensky Yes, Richter's is excellent but Benno and Alexis hit hard emotionally, Benno more so - where it counts :-)

[SamuelFeinberg]

!!!

Highly satisfying rendition. I love the rather ghostly mood. Especially in the beginning of the huge build up from 1:30-2:30. Makes it much less martial than it is often played. Thanks for the great upload!

[Keytaster]

in my opinion the best rendition ever. moisewitsch communicates the melancholy and wistfulness so well, the end is so haunting, almost like a ghost image of Rachmaninov living in exile

[mamoulian69]

I haven't heard a better rendition of this yet.

[pjioayncoe]

The ending is haunting...

[Giovanni222]

I don't know if there are any Michael Giacchino fans round here, but don't you think Ben's theme from Lost is inspired partly by those descending chromatics in this piece?

[hellomate639]

That's a run, not a chromatic...

[Giovanni222]

Hey I'm not stupid! I meant those little trickling down bits such as at 0:39 where it just falls by 3 semitones. It's very very similar to sections from the theme "Dharmacide" from the Lost soundtraack.

[tharhodyhomieKdollaz]

Giacchino is sick, are you familiar with his score from the game Jurassic Park The Lost World for playstation?

[DAXUREvsPUTIN]

so is the way of thinking too ...)

[DAXUREvsPUTIN]

Oh by the way you westners always mixing things as even to how to pronounce the names of thouse grait musicians, example:

Рахманинов-Ra(c)khmaninov or even Beno Моисеевич Moisee(i)witch, it's like greeks can't pronounce letter sh cause there no such sound in greek so they use to say: Σεκσπιρ(sexpir) insteed of Shakespeare )

[allegrissimo]

Well, would you like to argue about language issues here? Because in English you only got 2 letters in the right place. In this case - as in contrast with judging the level of playing of Rachmaninoff - reading a few books might actually help you! ;)

[Alessandro1985]

thank you!

[suicide1112]

Yes, thank you. Easily the best performance of this piece, in my opinion.

[DAXUREvsPUTIN]

Rakhmaninov him self was always asking Beniamin to play his own piece, Moiseevich was best interpreteur of Rachmanonivs works.

[allegrissimo]

I don't think you can say he was the best interpreter, as we cannot speak of only "good or bad". I have the complete recordings of Rachmaninoff played by Rachmaninoff and have to say that his performances of his own pieces were - besides authentic - incredible and nothing "less good" than this recording. Although I'm a great admirer of Moiseiwitsch and this performance is wonderful and beautiful in every sense!

[DAXUREvsPUTIN]

When Rachmaninov him self have sayd that your argument is out of question, Rachmaninov was not so good player he was composer. (read more letters of both on this theme and you gonna stop arguing without knowing reality)

[allegrissimo]

Anyone who says that Rachmaninoff himself was not a good pianist is not to be taken seriously while discussing music. Of course Rachmaninoff said that for instance Moiseiwitsch was better at playing his music, but then again he said the same about Horowitz, etc. Maybe he was just modest. It's just a fact that Rachmaninoff was one of the greatest pianists of his time, and his recordings prove every bit of it.

[DAXUREvsPUTIN]

You better to decide which position you take ) Yes Rachmaninov was not so good player? or what?

shame, you can't know more then what you know right now cause maybe you read too less and that radicalism between your comments may be the reason of mixed up like Schönberg's pieces opinion ...

[allegrissimo]

My ears and knowlegde are quite sufficient, as cannot be said about the motivation of your statements. Do you even know the meaning of the word radicalism? There's nothing radical, or arguing in my comments, I just think you are overrating the value of your own opinion, based on a book you read. And again, your opinion is not to be taken seriously, but is rather ridiculous.

[SamuelFeinberg]

What?