Rachmaninov - André Previn - Symphony No.2 Mvt.3-4 (2/3)

[Forkygolach1]

The tension and release in this music is almost unbearable.

Thank you Sergei Rachmaninov, Maestro Previn and the NHK Symphony Orchestra.

The pinnacle of human composition and performance

[tonynater]

3:30 beginning of 4th movement

[kennkong]

The height of Rachmaninovs genius. This grand and lush symphony. I've always loved this work from the first time I heard it.

[cyberbabbo]

I play this while taking off and landing in a plane. So beautiful.....

[Rasterius]

this is a masterful performance of a stunning movement, I just hope we can keep producing compositions of this nature in music, instead of becoming absorbed in academia and atonal modern music. Notice some of the motifs in this symphony are used in rach 3, and other works. Does anyone know any composers similar to rachmaninoff? I'm thinking the russian five?

[tompaxkur]

I use the Rachmaninov Symphony as a sleep aid, played most every night. I wholeheartedly agree its one of the most beautiful compositions ever written.

[zighomak]

The best masterpiece ever :P

[robinho1979]

I'm only just started appreciating classical music when I stumbled on this piece by Rachmaninov Symphony no.2 Adagio..it's absolutely brilliant..makes me either want to ice-skate or walk in the wilderness. I noticed I like the slower paced music (Adagios...I'm only learning the terms to classical music..so much to learn) Can someone please give me a list of peices closest or similar to Rachmaninov Sym 2 Adagio, I also like Mascagni Intermezzo, Saint saens the swan, Shostakovitch Romance

[martatxu2]

@robinho1979 MAHLER, Gustav: Symphony No 5;

[kingdave84]

@robinho1979 yes the slow movement from mahler 5 will be right up your alley of you like this (whole symphony is great too), brahms symphony no. 3 - 3rd movement, slow movement from beethoven 9, 2nd movement from shostakovich's and rach's 2nd piano concertos, barber adagio for strings, mozart's piano concerto no. 23 - 2nd movement, mozart's requiem - lacrymosa, sibelius violin concerto in d minor - 2nd movement. there's loads!!!

[gojewla]

@robinho1979 The second movement from Bartok 2nd piano concerto.

[Gargantupimp]

@robinho1979 no dont listen to those, only listen to wagner

[Shadelassy]

@robinho1979

Rachmaninov's music , if you have listened to his stuff during the beginning of his career, are quite revolutionary and he's criticized badly because it's not the tune that was common at that time. I would say, his between the Classic - Modern Music. If you really want Classic, check the much older artists before him. :) Good luck and have fun !

[bumblebee813]

stunning :)

does anyone know what form the third movement is in? is it basically theme and variations but sort of ternary as well as there are three themes?? any ideas greatly appreciated!

[herper64]

i was curious to see what part of this influenced Eric Carmen when he wrote Never Gonna Fall In Love Again. now i see. ;) the segment around :40 is the part he used for the chorus. he wrote his song in the same key of A Major. and he utilized the same notation: A, C#, E, G#, A, F#. i think that's pretty cool!

[IVlr3vil]

Rachmaninoff wasn't just talented, he worked hard to achieve his goals. You got to give him some effort. I hate it when people keep praising some deity for his music. Had he not fallen into depression and had it not been for his psychiatrist, there would be no symphony no. 2 there would be no piano concerto no. 2. He fought hard to get out of depression and to marry his cousin which the church denied. And it's the same church that's praising his music? God damn it.

[sillychad18]

@IVlr3vil yes you're right as much as someone may be gifted they still work hard....he had problems and he rose above it =)

[BrucknerMotet]

Love the way Previn takes control of dynamics at 1:38.

[Ascaidh]

Outstanding!

[Thecatycate]

The Toledo Symphony was performing this incredibly beautiful piece this evening. Unfortunately I could not attend, so I settled for this slight bit of heaven. How can one deny God when He gifted Rachmaninov with such talent!

[lswoolf]

I was at the Toledo Symphony's stellar performance last night under the baton of Ignat Solshenitzyn. You missed something special.

[MonacoFrost]

@Thecatycate God has nothing to do with this mans talent and you disgrace his legacy by inferring that he had an outside influence with his talents.

[bgcatfan]

We each have our own beliefs about God. No discussion here on that will likely go anywhere.

I live close to Toledo, but I didn't know about this. UofM USO is playing Symphony #2 in Ann Arbor's Hill on Jan 26 if interested. This piece is absolutely gorgeous!

[fctchk]

You appear to have quite the extraordinarily detailed knowledge of the source of Mr. Rachmaninov's capabilities: a deity and a masculine one at that!

Could you perhaps also specify which god? Was it the god of the Russian Orthodox church which meddled in his marriage? The Catholic 3 in 1 god? Allah and his prophet? One of the Hindu gods? Zeus? Poseidon? Ra? Or your very own personal god?

Sergei's (not a man of religious observances) god it was most definitely not.

[gerhold101]

@fctchk Thank God (whoops) someone states the reality of the sheer endeavour that creates a symphony that interweaves a multitude of instruments into a cohesive whole. To do this and end up with a thing of beauty such as this symphony - well this is no miracle ascribable to God (whatever that may or may not be) it is Rakhmaninov's achievement alone. All around beautiful creations are ascribed to God (and famous war and football victories etc) yet the bad stuff is always human responsibility.

[shannon357]

As I read in a book, this piece is the perfect description of love. Rachmaninoff is a genius..period.

[ttryl09]

@backoswacko10 What state?

[rglinNewMex]

Nothing more can be said about Rachmaninov other than to offer thanks to God for endowing this man with the gifts that he possessed.

[AbigailOfTheArts]

Absolutely! So many people totally miss the fact that God gives everyone his talent. Rachmaninov was an extremely gifted man.

[LJBSasha]

Amjíñ!!!! [Amen!]

For me, this piece is the height of bittersweetness - this truly is music of love and SORROW, like when one's lamenting the irretrievable loss of something or somebody exceedingly dear (with which or whom you're desperately in love) and having to let go. It almost feels near the end like Rakhmáñinov's answer to Wagner's "Liebestod" at the end of "Tristan und Isolde".

Not for sunrise but sunset IMHO. To God Truly be the Glory for Rakhmáñinov's talent!!!

[masotta]

pure beauty...

[ritabrugre]

what a gorgeous piece of music to watch the sunrise with, thank-you!!

[BachLoveNat]

Thank you...It's beautiful!!!!

and I also have to thank my friend Shela for sending it to me...

[ceb2633]

Some of the most romantic music ever written...my hear aches with this segment. Thank you

[gortiz1989]

clapping between movements!?

[0630812]

Well, clap in front of your screen, if you want to... Sincerely, I understand your astonishment, clapping have always been an appropriate reaction of appreciation. But, I prefer silence between the movements. Musicians and conductor know if they have well played. Clapping just break the melody.

[gortiz1989]

i very much agree

[stradrools]

it is not a matter of prefering silence between the movements.There is no claping because the symphony is in the half and claping is for a whole piece.sorry my english are bad..

[ceb2633]

stradrools, I agree. It is a thing that most symphony concerts know, but many just automatically clap because they can't stand silence. Your English is fine. I am just happy that people still go to symphony concerts. And such a lovely one!

[helmsdeep84]

Never Gonna Fall in Love Again.......haha...the third movement is just divine....

[Gypsy0033]

That where Eric Carmen got the inspirartion for "Never Gonna Fall in Love again" and also "all by myself" was inspired by Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 .

[Coque019]

Rachmaninov tiene pasajes estremecedores que me hacen sentir un vacío en el estómago... Cómo dijo Beethoven música que vino del corazón que al corazón vaya.

[4cuerdasx4]

Es peronista

[Sibelius19]

1:57 to 2:16 is just heaven

[htshoward]

Yes, I would agree.  The entire movement is just sublime, but you certainly noted a special point.

[rkrealtorva]

I was blessed to hear the NSO perform this piece this past weekend. Amazing. The entire symphony moves me to tears, but I weep openly and unashamedly during the III movement.

[endtymesssssss]

The proof of God,& His greatness is the gift of Music.,He so willingly blessed man inspite of all His infermities.,God received joy from Creating man,with regrets earlier on(Genesis chp.6 verses 5-8)Sensitive beautiful music,a few precious moments to forget how we have forgotten the greatness of OUR Creator who sent HIS Son as a sacrfice for us. With World affairs & troubles.,all rectified by Him soon. Heavenly music, put into the heart of Man by God.whether He realizes it or not.

[LiztheLark]

Maybe, just maybe, you could momentarily get down off your high horse, suspend your antagonisms toward the human condition, and appreciate what can be created by the imagination of the human heart, mind, and spirit. Too much to ask for? Perhaps.

[Handyman120]

I hate it when people say that god gifted people with certain things.

It totally detracts from the tremendous natural talent and artistic vision which the likes of Rachmaniniov had and developed through a tremendous amount of hard work.

I agree with you LiztheLark.

[htshoward]

Amen. Thank you for saying so!

[LJBSasha]

Well said!!!

Let's face it: the majority of people don't want to give glory to anybody or anything but themselves. It's entirely human to wish to deny God, but it doesn't make it any more right!

I just wish that all of us men can come to repentance and salvation before it is too late...

Either way, the very ending makes one wonder if he was thinking about his 1st symphony (that Dies-Iræ derived theme sounds like a major-version of opening theme of the earlier work, as in Op.45)...

[swmrh911]

this is the most beautiful symphony whether you are listening the first movement or the fourth. I could listen to it all day!!

[obiwan88]

Has anyone heard of Gennadi Rozhdestvensky's version with the London Philharmonic? IMHO, Andrew Marriner's (Sir Neville Marriner's son) clarinet solo in the 3rd movement makes the 3rd movement one of the most beautifully performed one in record.

[buffalocrotch]

Absolutely love this. Takes my breath away every time I hear it, and makes me cry. Makes me think of my father, and how he loves this music so much.

[wilburpup]

Andre Previn is responsible for restoring the integrity of the third movement in the 197's when he began to perform it in full. Prior to that, orchestras played a trimmed-down version to save time.

[4ngry4nus]

I love the 4th movement. Just love the strength!

[checkoutmyprofile]

happy birthday André Previn

[Erisleea]

nothing compares to actually playing this piece. having the music swirling around you while also being a part of it is nothing short of breathtaking. I almost cry every time i hear this, and it reamains one of my favorite pieces of all time.

[soph41190]

Having just done so. I COMPLETELY understand!!!!

[Jakesbull]

sound is bad - i love classical music and i really think that previn is one of the best. but this youtube version lacks clarity/sound.

[yamahaU3]

And just what's wrong with movie music?

[sergiomusico11]

el tercer movimiento de esta sinfonía es la música mas bella jamas escrita.

[frootiloopi]

hermano tienes razón, pocas obras conmueven como esta

[rachmaninovbrahms]

some of the most beautifully moving music ever written. I love this symphony, especially the third movement. People consider Rachmaninov to sometimes be too lush, but I doubt that the beauty exemplified in the third movement can ever be reproduced by anyone else but Rachmaninov.

[soph41190]

I'd say maybe dear old Tchaik could be 'too lush'. At a push. I don't really think there is a too lush, I love this sort of music. But Rach is one of the most underrated composers! He has so many ideas going on in one piece, and yet it never sounds disorganised, or frantic. Just beautiful.

[mmaybrown]

@rachmaninovbrahms I completely agree with you. Yes he writes a lot of tones that are not conventional to classical music, but that is what's makes his music so beautiful! He uses those diminished and augmented chords that make the music so lush and tasteful.