Benno Moiseiwitsch plays Scherzo - "Midsummer Night's Dream"

[amezcuaist]

I saw him in the Albert Hall near the end and in the quiet passages you could have heard a pin drop. Utter respect from every listener there. I think myself honoured to have been so close just once.

[RobSilverMania]

What an uncanny combination of digital dexterity, razor-sharp rhythmic precision, and utter clarity of voicing! Even Rachmaninoff himself (pace, Sergei) doesn't quite reach this level of perfection. Kissin's a great pianist, but his rhythmic sense doesn't equal either of the others'.

[asv8104]

Great

[1980NewWave]

For me this is better than Rachmaninoff's version. Yes Rachmaninoff was one of history's greatest composers, but that doesn't mean that EVERYTHING he ever recorded was the gold standard.

[semicolin]

BRAVO BENNO! this is just sublime.

[DimitarRM]

Sublime and unmatched but for Rachmaninoff's own interpretation!!!!

There are two more videos here of the scherzo that are also great, Kissin's and Jung Lin's performences. Great story about BM and SVR first meeting :D

[jaredoaks]

Charming yet he still plays with a wonderful dramatic arch from beginning to end. I love that the staccati have so much roundness, which adds to the dance-like quality. Brilliant!

[bigmouthfrog2009]

I recall another detail from the BBC interview with Benno Moiseiwitsch. Benno first met Rachmaninoff at one of Sir Henry Wood's Promenade Concerts, at which Rachmaninoff had just played.

When Moiseiwitsch entered Rachmaninoff's dressing room, the latter was writing a letter to Sir Henry Wood, and his first words to Moiseiwtisch were, "Mr. Englishman, how do you spell "exhilirating"? Great story!!

[bigmouthfrog2009]

Years ago in England I heard Moiseiwitsch speak of this piece on he BBC radio. He was with Rachmaninoff at the recording studio while Rachmaninoff played the piece several times, but was very dissatisfied and said, "Benno, you play it." Benno did and Rachmaninoff said that this was the inspired interpretation which he had been trying to achieve.

Molodets, Benno!!

[hamelin69]

unbeatably fabulous!

[kempff95]

GREAT !!!

[gtimny]

Someone who has it should really post the Garrick Ohlsson recording of this which is also very VERY good.

[gtimny]

It may be that the story paulprocopolis tells about the numerous takes confuses Moiseiwitsch with Rachmaninoff himself who apparently struggled with his own recording of it.  A good friend of mine was in charge of remastering the complete Rachmaninoff recordings released on CD in the early 90s and he told me that there were at most 3 takes in the RCA archives of each of the something like one hundred pieces he recorded, but there were 14 takes of this Scherzo!

[micheldvorsky]

Probably the most impressive 4-minute virtuoso piano recording ever. (except maybe Benno's own Leggierezza!)

[billyguns2]

This alone would qualify Moiseiwitsch as one of the greatest pianists who ever lived; fortunately, he left a wonderful recorded legacy, including my favorite Liszt "La leggierezza" and Beethoven "Emperor."

[paulprocopolis]

The wonderful lightness of touch gives this performance a genuine scherzando character - even more so than Rachmaninov 's own. I understand that , during the recording session, Moiseiwitsch made numerous unsuccessful attempts with this piece and then finally, on the verge of giving up, sat down and recorded this take ... or so the story goes!

[NOSEhow2LIV]

According to HMV lore, it seems that M.was recording other Noises, and at the end of the session, with time to spare, relaxed, drank & joked with the studio crew, who, for a laugh, said: "Give us a tune, Benno...." There was a spare master left running, (unknown to M): this is the result, totally relaxed & brilliant, in one take! Rachmaninoff preferred it to his own, the ultimate compliment!

[paulprocopolis]

Your version is certainly nearer the truth than mine (received verbally and probably about 10th hand!). in 1939, the Abbey Road recording crew asked M to play something to fill up spare time. He didn't want to but the producer agreed to one take so that M wouldn't be late for a planned meal of oysters. M suggested playing the Rachmaninov, which he hadn't practised - but thought the result was his best ever recording! If this (condensed) version of the story is wrong blame author Timothy Day!

[truecrypt]

Yes, the story is well known, but I don't believe it's possible to play this piece the way BM did without VERY active practicing of it. Trust me, I know what I'm saying! ;) Regardless of whether the story is completely or partially true, - this is an exceptional and legendary performance! What a great combination of inspiration, mastery and luck!

[paulprocopolis]

I do trust you! I'm sure that at some point M would have put many long hours into practising this piece, even if not immediately prior to this recording session - or maybe he was just bragging!

[NOSEhow2LIV]

I'm sure BM was in VERY active practice; what is more important is that he was apparently relaxed, playing for fun. Known to be microfone-shy, many of his records show only a ?% of his best! My parents heard him often and loved & praised him, but found the records relatively flat(!). Like another Odessa treasure, Shura Cherkassky, you don't get the best from the recordings, ....except, as here, and I think that's what verifies the story best.

[NOSEhow2LIV]

The piece was also known as among the most treacherous, even for very confident players. Earl Wild, interviewed before a series of London recitals said laconically: "I've been playing & practising [the Mend/Rach Scherzo] for forty years, I should know it by now...." Result: tripped up halfway, much blundering & busking around til a rather undignified finish!

[NOSEhow2LIV]

I think the most authentic note in this version is in the oysters! Benno was known & appreciote as lover of Good Things, wining, dining and dressing in style, so no doubt he was in a good mood, anticipating his oysters as he dashed off this jewel for his beloved Abbey Road crew, blissfully unaware that he was still on record!

[paulprocopolis]

Possibly - but since Timothy Day (curator of the British Sound Archives) is apparently quoting Moiseiwitch's own account, it seems likely that M did know he was being recorded. Whatever the circumstances, the recording is a true classic. (And the story has probably entered the realm of mythology - witness my own first garbled version heard from two separate sources as I recall!)

[markarama23]

He knew he was being recorded - the story is that he had a little extra time at the studio, and he suggested this work. Rachmaninoff's recording of it was still in the catalogue so they didn't really want to do it. He said he would make only one attempt at it - and he did it, note perfect. That is the story I remember hearing - and there is an interview with Benno on youtube here where he talks about the session and it is more or less like this... he definitely knew he was being recorded.

[Bruce88keys]

These guys had the secret golden tone that shines through the old school technology-amazing isn't it?

[truecrypt]

Absolutely correct!

It was a golden period for pianos too!

[Grigor99]

It certainly is amazing. This kind of playing will never again be duplicated.

[89hedgehog]

@Bruce88keys Don't know if what we hear is the old technology, I think it is Benno :-) Have you heard Jung Lin's scherzo at the IKIF's on YT! She also has that incredible tone :-)

[Noshirm]

It is simply incredible that Moiseiwitsch recorded this in one unrehearsed take. This is playing of sheer genius. Moiseiwitsch's interpretation here has no equal but Rachmaninoff's itself. It is thrilling to hear him at work. Also most delightful to listen to is the Mendelssohn-Hutcheson transcription of this Scherzo, posted by pianopera.

[realpianistcomposer]

This is one of the monuments of recorded piano. Thanks for posting it!

[Grigor99]

For those who don't know the story behind this historic recording, Benno M. was in a recording session and finished early. One of the engineers suggested he record something else. He never wanted to record the scherzo because Rach. himself had already done it, but he said ok and if it's good then fine, if not then he wouldn't release it. So, in one,and only one take, he sat down and played through it and there it is-the single-take Scherzo!

[gtimny]

re Moiseiwitsch vs. Lugansky in this piece: Lugansky's is a digital miracle for speed and accuracy and of course it's fascinating to watch him do it (although why he doesn't look too pleased afterward is a mystery to me), but Moiseiwitsch's recording has a lightness of touch and dancing character missing from Lugansky's amazing video. I'd give the prize to Moiseiwitsch in this piece. Also there is a fabulous Garrick Ohlsson recording of this from the 70s if someone has it, please post it.

[NOSEhow2LIV]

Absolutely spot-on as analysis! I was lucky enough to hear Luganski live,(summer 2008, La Roque d'Antheron) and consider his rendition among the best possible, but listening back to Moiseiwitsch's recording, realise just how much that extra feel for featherlite fantasy, shadowy sinuosity & delicate dance-iosity(!) counts.

[anblanco333]

yet, the great nikolai lugansky remains unbeaten in this magnificent piece...glad for us that we have among us, in this times of sorrow, full of lang langs, amazing pianists such as lugansky...

[RabidCh]

Again, somebody compares two recordings that are very different. Sorry to say, but Lugansky's "unbeaten" status is only your opinion.

[Sinfoniette]

I'm sort of little neutral in this little squirmish of a dispute. Anblanco, so you are calling Moiseiwitch a 'Lang Lang'? I really don't think...Moiseiwitch is that terrible. He, although I am not familiar with, is a pretty great pianist. But...then, what would be left in the world without opinions? As much it is different, they are still playing the same piece; you can compare it. But ironically, this piece of writing is an opinion...

[RabidCh]

Lugansky is known as an excellent technician. Just watch his Liszt Feux Follets or Prokofiev Second Piano Concerto.

However as gtimny said there a lack of character in his Scherzo that I also think exists in the two performances I mentioned. Plus he takes it at brisk tempo!

But coming back, I just think he doesn't play with enough character or sometimes conviction.

P.S anblanco speaks of the present, Moiseiwitsch has already left us, he was of the era of Rachmaninoff and Hofmann.

[Sinfoniette]

Hmm. Maybe my opinion does not really count here. I have not really heard Lugansky's version of this. But again, ironically, we are stating our own opinions...

[NOSEhow2LIV]

"Unbeaten" is a bit strong, even tho I loved Luganski's live performance. As a modern interpretation it's among the best imaginable, but, strangely, now I think of it, Moiseiwitsch, who I would have called "unique" in this piece, probably qualifies also as "unbeaten", as i can't imagine anyone finding that almost mystical feathery fantasticality(!) ever again. Any mention of LangLang in this context is completely irrelevent,(very gifted musician-turned-showman who took the wrong path!)

[pjioayncoe]

It's a great joy to hear a piece played so perkily and buoyantly.

[suminexsan]

Just Good! Thanks for sharing!

[shela2]

It,s great to see more and more of Benno Moieseiwitsch.This performance is breathtaking.

I think Rachmaninov favoured him to play his concertos ...Thankyou for posting this treasure

[angelastefanescu]

Ten stars. Thanks

[paulostroff99]

Splendid! Bravo! TY.

[vova47]

It´s actually available,you can get it from amazon.I´ve enjoyed this gem for years,having

paid an arm and a leg for it in "out of print"

shop.Still,it´s great to hear it again,thanks!

[chad410]

and so it was twas as if that moment were never to have happened and all the pixies just danced off into the horizon with big grins.

[Neuwo]

So clean! What amazing technique. Thank you for posting of this, I was unaware of this pianist until now. Mr. Visa and Amazon will be happy as well =]

[bineblies]

The greatest thing that truecrypt has achieved with his channel was not to the apperciation of the classical youtube community but them all gathering at the same place!

[truecrypt]

I'm really glad if it happens!

[francescaemc2]

Wow! This ain't no scherzo e' veramente serio!

Thanks for posting. Delicious.

[tHEnOOSEsWING]

Benno Moiseiwitsch performs the scherzo with great evenness and scope (matter, relevance and opportunity-circumstance) and I agree with chad, such brilliance can only be achieved within a given context: where the artist is able to transcend the music notes and provide an interpretation that could not be repeated. Thank you for your video TC.

[Grigor99]

This IS THE standard for this piece. Rach. version is very very good also, but Benno edges out even Rach. As Benno described, because Rach knew he had to record it and get a good take, there was more pressure on him. Benno threw it in at the end of a recording sessions and just didn't care if it came off well or not!

[chad410]

it s as if the flash of inspiration is the actual dream in a midsummer nights dream. he was for that moment shakespeare. inccredible. i ve never heard this matched.

[palcsi]

Magical.

[utubesucks2003]

Yessssssssss

[go9zu]

Amazing performance!

[chad410]

this was done on a whim i believe when he suddenly felt in good form and did it in one take at a recording session.

[pianopera]

He had some time to spare after a recording session and did it in one take indeed -- and it can compete with Rachmaninoff's rendering!

[weikko79]

To my ears, this is even better than Rach's somewhat hard-handed rendering.