Rachmaninoff plays Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto 3 (3)

[forgottenbooks]

If I were asked to single out one composition as my favorite piece of music, it would probably be this. Adjectives I would use to describe this concerto include "epic", "heroic", and "triumphant". You may sit and listen to it, but really, it's a journey.

[XvXFrankyXvX]

Spechless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Airlon100]

Rachmaninoff plays this with so much heart and soul that he makes it seem so easy, but when I looked at the sheet music (!) WHOA!! Nearly fell off the chair! Thats the brilliancy of Sergei, hats off to Rachmaninoff

[TJFNYC212]

I can hear the elephants beginning at 7:50 :) wow! 

[TJFNYC212]

quicksilver  why don't these schmaltz pianist listen and study Sergei's recordings? His technique and tone seems to be unique........... I find that only Horowitz and Argerich get it right.........................­.....

[MrTimber101]

This version is among the clearest reproductions of this historic recording. Only the original 78-rpm discs, if one has them in "mint" condition, probably sound better. I have noticed that on the original discs it was possible to even hearing Rachmaninoff humming at times. The intensity of the performance is probably only exceeded by Vladimir Horowitz's recording, which was praised by Rachmaninoff.

[jasienku]

I do not agree that Argerich performance "desintegrates". I think that what she and Chailly did is created incredible dark colour. It may sound like the orchestra and piano do not hear each other. Listen again, but close your eyes. Their tone creates incredible darkness and sadness. I think it was intentional. Rachmaninoff concept is different here. He actually wants to show that "everything ends well" here, rather than show us the "Day after..." {:-).

[forgottenbooks]

Am I mistaken, or is the part at 0:40 usually dominated by the piano?

[mmoynan]

I don't even have words for this. Any interpretation I have ever heard has just disintegrated into nothing--including Horowitz, Argerich (yes, Argerich), Cliburn, everyone. Rachmaninoff's genius manages to shine through and transcend the terrible audio quality. Phenomenal.

[TJFNYC212]

@mmoynan Please explain how the performances of Horowitz and Argerich disintegrate and to what. I find their performances top drawer and similar to that of Sergei himself. As for others: so much romantic schmaltz. As for Argerich and Horowitz I must say that I prefer that of Argerich. Of course, one could argue that once a piece is published, it is up for grabs and for interpretation.

[mmoynan]

@TJFNYC212 Buddy I'm not wasting my time making you a spreadsheet on my opinion. The sentence is informative enough: other interpretations pale into comparison.

[TJFNYC212]

@mmoynan Then I will take it that your comment is totally subjective, a personal opinion not based on any musical principles.  That is valid enough. I might point out in passing that the expression is to "pale in comparison."

[mmoynan]

@TJFNYC212 Dude, get outside more. YT "conversations" are so petty. 

[rgrannell1]

holy shit he ends that well

[IVlr3vil]

@MrDesperateArtist So no, his musical God most likely wouldn't be Liszt. He did look up to Tchaikovsky and probably knowing Josef Hofmann to be Anton Rubinstein's pupil, he spent 15 hours a day to obtain a technique like Josef Hoffman. Liszt had some of the most bombastic playing according to history accounts, a bravura affect and blurred pedal usage. Anton Rubinstein just kept it cool and used less pedal. So if you're wondering about the less pedal usage, well now you got your reason.

[IVlr3vil]

@MrDesperateArtist If we're narrowing it down to composer and piano influence, it would probably be Tchaikovsky and Anton Rubinstein. Rachmaninoff had two separate influences, in terms of composers the top would be Tchaikovsky (primary) and Bach (secondary). His piano influence was more so Anton Rubinstein and Josef Hofmann, both primary. Chopin is his most favorite composer to perform, so in terms of secondary he's the top. Next would be Beethoven and then Liszt (rival of Anton) would be last.

[TJFNYC212]

I love the austere and non romanticized phrasing and tone. In my opinion, most pianist over "Schmaltz" his music.........................­................ Luganksy, Lang-Whack-Job-Lang and Kissin are good examples of the the schmaltz. Now don't get all bent out of shape.............. it is just my preference.

[mwakin22]

I really like the tempo he uses at 7:55. He starts out slower than most others would, but he builds up to an explosive pace that really leads up to the rest.

[MrDesperateArtist]

Rach's gods are Tchaikovsky and Liszt! no wonder he has the ability to write beautiful melodies and superhuman feats for the piano!

[TTakach999]

I wonder why he would edit out some of the best parts imo

[sackwhacker]

I loved 9:04 onwards!

[mrjlowitz]

FYI. When Rachmaninoff met Horowitz they supposedly played the entire concerto with Rachmaninof p\[laying the orchestral part. Oh to have been a fly on the wall for that.

I can never get enough of listeneing to this piece. Don't miss the Bolet masterclass with six students of this concerto on You Tube. Mezmerizing.

[IVlr3vil]

An interesting version would be Rach playing it like this except a mixture of Horowitz.

[steve2045]

somehow he makes it sound easy..

[kaleidoscopio2006]

exactly a hundred years ago, rachmaninov premired this piano concerto in usa, congratulations!!!!!!

[trschaefer]

OK let me get this straight.. just because I don't care for a 40 second section of a 25 minute Concerto, then I should dislike the entire Concerto??? Yeah... Right...

[trschaefer]

(That same "nasty" gallop part occurs again at 6:36 through 7:14. I'd just like to "delete" that section entirely from this otherwise wonderful concerto!)

[SCHneiDen777]

IDIOT ALERT! "Nasty gallop"? You sir disguuuuustttttt me!

Well, seriously, I don't think you will ever know what Rachmaninov was going for.

[trschaefer]

LOL! In my opinion, whatever he was going for in that particular segment, it was NOT very successful. The late music critic Claudia Cassidy commented that this concerto is "Cheap unless it is Magnificent..." I tend to agree, because I've heard it played both ways.

(SCHneidDen777, if you are truly disguuuuusttted by my comment, then you've got some issues...)

[SCHneiDen777]

There it is. Ya, sorry. I was half kidding and half, well not really serious. The octaves are rather slow and I am wondering what Rachmaninov thought himself of this tempo loss. It seems a bit weird, but oh well. I love Rachmaninov regardless!

[trschaefer]

His interpretation is a revelation! Love the tempo. My very least favorite part of this composition is from 0:00 through 0:41. I'm not exactly sure what he's trying for here. ( It is a kind of awkward, unappealing "GALLOP" of sorts, I guess...) I actually think that Argerich handles that section better then Rachmaninoff himself.

[IanPianist2]

BIIIG HANDS O__O

[wcwarrior1083]

His music reminds me of the ever flowing beauty of the Mandlebrot Fractals. Repeating yet never the same, I feel like we could go on and on listening to it and forever and hear something new continually.

[Laphonse]

no dude... this is the third movement

[HiyaHolaHey]

This is pure beauty!!!!!!

[ArturoAlejandroS]

One of the best finales ever.Really relaxing music,I only can enjoy this.With too many stress every day,you can hear this part specially of the concert and you will be relaxed.I only regret the cuts,these parts are great and relax you more.

Beautiful at extrem,thansk for post this,the emotion is great here.

Rachmaninov was one of the best pianists ever.

[horatiodreamt]

Stupendous technique! What flawless execution--he makes it sound so effortless.

[gerardbedecarter]

Back in the 1960s I nearly wore out my Van Cliburn Rach 3 LP. It was a live recording of his performance at the Tchaik comp in Moscow. I loved his performance. Even the wrong notes in his "heavy" cadenza were wonderful wrong notes. Even the person with a cold in the slow movement added to the the verisimilitude!! I later got fron oseas the LPs (from 78s) of Rach playing Rach concertos (4+1). My first love always stayed with me, however (Van Cliburn Rach 3 -- which is, of course, now on CD).

[jhoward1957]

I agree. there is such a thing a wonderful wrong notes. I compare them to slightly burnt meat. Even though burnt it taste so good.

[aspacguy1]

What do you mean wrong notes? Not when the composer is the pianist. They are just revisions that did not make the printing deadline,

[thomasallenmusic]

@aspacguy1 hahaha never thought of it that way

[thomasallenmusic]

@aspacguy1 hahaha never thought of it that way

[TillDust156]

@aspacguy1 I quite agree. You can't play a song better than the composer.

[alexandramorales25]

I think and I feel although he is the great and magnificent Rachmaninoff, the Horowitz performance is much better, I coulnt't be completely sure, but it's like Horowitz could be more emotive, sensitive and puts all his soul, brain, body and being in its performance, well, just tell me what do you think about this comparison. But beside of that, Rachmaninoff is the best and wonderful, I love him.

[jiolsmolimassunemo]

Rachmaninoff did admit that Horowitz played certain of his works better than he could himself.

[4c00h]

Wow his genius is absolutely incredible, he played it extra fast because he knew in 60 years youtube videos would have a limit of 10 mins so he made it fit just right, with an extra second just to catch a quick breath from such a breathtaking performance.

[yamahaU3]

Lmao

[jasonextreme]

80 years...

[IloveAlexisBledel689]

Why isn't he playing the Ossia at the end?

[mars7272]

Because the Ossia is what it is, it is an alternate section. It is up to the performer's discretion to play it.

[ArturoAlejandroS]

Where shold be Ossia?Is it the famous cadenze of the first movement?Is the theme that shuold be in 2:51?Thanks.

[mwakin22]

The Ossia is in the cadenza. Technically, you could play one cadenza or the other.

[eltachimetro]

the ossia is the long one, and the short fast one is the tocatta xD

[thegamusic]

We are talking of a masterpiece like we were talking about cars. Understanding this piece of art will take several years and according to me it's too great to think that its quality can be seen only through an interpretation. It exists over interpretations, over mankind, actually. In this very case music gives greatness to the musician. I took 2 years to learn and perform in public the 1st movement and I'm not the same after that.

[RainMan34]

The rach 3 is a mountain! Many musicians are made mad by it.

[4ngry4nus]

and some die trying to climb it, like ppl do when they go up everest.

ie helfgott

[alchemistgrl]

wow...such a long comment...but very meaningful -_-

[gpablito14]

no se por qué, pero kissin me hace sentir esto mucho más

[alex9nanc]

He is unique in his greatness, because he was BORN with it... G-d's gift's were used to it's max. Born An Aries (strong,courageous FIRE) with His very Warm and Sunny LEO in the MOON side.. his emotions.. were LEO... a double fire .. you can feel it in his music.. bold & warm, agggressive, yet passionate, proudand direct in it's personality. Greatness written in the Stars and accomplished on earth. Beautiful.

[nicevidbro]

ugh....

[pianodan10]

Rachmaninov plays with such tremendous feeling, exitement, and with a technique so perfect that his playing ability could be built on just that. But what is so amazing about Rachmaninov's playing, is not about how much emotion he puts into it, it's about how much he HOLDS BACK till just the right moments. It's funny too that people think being rhythmic is some sort of drawback... not every moment in this piece is supposed to be some sort of rubato orgasm.

[SummerRoxxx]

lol

[juansmdgp]

Maravilloso!.... muchas gracias por este regalo!

[habahaba123456789]

NOOO I want to hear the part he cut out!

[horowitzkissin]

Rachmaninoff - Simply the BEST. Wondewfull Maestro, fantastic Player and marvelous Composer. Better? only God!

[ayuprnkcller]

I really love his work, but I hate his interpretations.

Isn't that Ironic?

[sab3156]

You're out of your mind, bro!

[musicfreak42]

how could you question the COMPOSER of the WORK!!?? His interpretations ARE the work!

[Someone241]

Quite, hahah. I was going to say "I don't interpretation means what you think it means" until I saw your response.

[ayuprnkcller]

You guys all miss my point. He plays this piece without feeling, without passion that other musicians play it with. He composed this piece, so he should be the most passionate and understanding about it. However, as you hear it hear, he plays everything so rhymically and boringly.

[MartMart]

ayuprnkcller: with all due respect.. he wrote it, so I think he's allowed to play it how he likes, lol. No one would dicate to me how MY music, the music *I* compose should be played. :))

[ayuprnkcller]

Yea? You think so? So what about Richter and Lang-Lang's interpretations? Did you listen to those? Their interpretations are WAY different that what you hear here. So are you saying that Lang-Lang and Richter are directly defying Rachmaninoff by choosing a different interpretation? If you were a musician, you should know that no matter who plays the piece, even if he is the composer, there is no one correct interpretation. Otherwise, what is the purpose of the musician?

[valemasquenada]

mmm I understand you... I really like his interpretations but sometimes, in some parts I prefer other interpretations. Particlary I enjoy his way to play "rhapsody on a theme of Paganini" is incredible his perfection and his pasion in hat piece. Viva Rach!!!!

[harryg94]

You're not alone :P On the other hand I think his interpretation of his Rhapsody has some special aspect making it sound much more playful than others.

[pianopill88]

It does not matter,,,,,,,,,,,,what you think

[ayuprnkcller]

Doesn't matter what you think. Matters how you interpret.

[ayuprnkcller]

Doesn't matter what you think. Matters how you interpret.

[METALxLIFE]

more like stupid

[willistara]

Music is THE only immortality! Rachmaninoff is one of the greatest. He presents thru his music an intensity of emotion that can cut through your soul with just a few notes..His music is alike a thunderstorm brewing, Before the torrential onslaught, there is stillness. But the stillness holds a great threat because you know that the winds, rains, and lightning are on the way- and a great tapestry of emotions & musicality soon take captive of his listeners.

[atsaka]

Dont forget the signature in the end: Rach-maninoff!!!!

[atsaka]

OH MY GOD!

THANK YOU!!!

PRECIOUS!

[IloveAlexisBledel689]

thank you so much!! one of the best thing I've heard in my life!!!

[sychoi2002]

thanks for the music, nice to hear the composer play.