Rachmaninov 2, 1-st movement (Fragment 1) Andrei Gavrilov Moscow farewell concert with Ashkenazy, LPO

[iguarni]

gavrilov= legendary pianist!

[fledgehog]

i wish the sound quality were better...to match the perfection of the performance quality!

[KillianLawlor]

best video on youtube...

[michaelnyman1]

Gavrilov plus Ashkenasy= Extraordinary music

[mrjlowitz]

I think Ashkenazy somewhat laborious and pondering therefor at odds with Gavrilov over tempo. Too bad as the piano playing is superb as usual from this artist. I wonder what M. Puchjok thinks?

[bassann22]

and then from 6,35 again conductor fails and stops the fluent continuation of orchestra....again missmatch in rhythm and gavrilov makes mistakes.....sorry for this 2 moments another way it is absolutly amayiong concert....i would not exagerate with Ashkenazys conducting excelence in this case though....he kind of took the cherry from the cake with this passage

[bassann22]

i agree that it is really amazing version.... however if you listen more carefully you can hear in about 6th minute how the rhythm is a bit hanging in the air for 1 minute....the gavrilov wanted to go faster but conductor did not get his intention and stoped him...you also can see the look when gavrilov looks at conductor...because of this missmatch gavrilov makes few small mistakes because he is trying to save the rhythm

[seta12]

Try playing that concerto yourself and then listen again. Gavrilov looked at Ashkenazy because you have to look at the conductor there - the piano is not the highlight anymore.

Throughout the whole development Ashkenazy actually follows somewhat erratic and rushed (yet exciting) approach of Gavrilov's (any conductor will have a heart attack at the piano entrance when he speeds up just like that). Here almost all ensemble issue seem to be the pianist's, not the conductor's.

[koooraman]

I don't understand what Ashkenazy does to Rachmaninov's music, it's just not the same! I don't understand how he does it but it sounds totally different and just more superior to anyone who has either played it or conducted it! I thought Horowitz was the best but I was stunned when I heard Ashkenazy play Rach's concertos. I am speechless to see him conduct the second! Thank you for such a video!

[Lifotistens]

Best introduction ever !

[rabengeraun]

Bloody hell! He conducts this quite superbly; what warmth and care there is the opening theme compared to most people just playing the right notes at the right time.

[1l3rner]

absolutely exuberant; one of the purest forms of music in my opinion.

[ThomasJBromley]

Wow, this is worth it just to see Ashkenazy conduct! I wish there was a video of him playing this concerto himself, his Rachmaninov is second to none!

[cattleman6420012000]

This is truly wonderful!!