First rate!!!! The piano part is so wonderfully molded to the orchestral part, the phrases shaped and sculpted as only the greatest of artists could do. Rachmaninov himself is supposed to have always searched for the "peak" of a composition, feeling any performance failing to do so came up short--Moiseiwitsch was one of the few along with the composer who could achieve this. I'm still searching for Moiseiwitsch's Schumann "Carnaval"...one of the greatest ever recorded.
...about 1963 I read on the record jacket, recording by Hofmann, that their teacher, Lechetiszky..spelling....stated that all of these spectacular pianists put together that he taught would not equal one Josef Levinne. I think I still have that record cover. And that same cover stated that Levinne had more interest in hobbies like astronomy than in piano playing.
gerry rains-Certainly not! As a matter of fact i have most of what he recorded and find him to be along with the other highly regarded pianists of all time. Where he ranks at that level is not important, Just yesterday I picked up a C.D.of him playing Brahms Concerto#2,and Beethoven's Appasionata Sonata. His Liszt Sonata is priceless,as is so much of what he recorded including Tchaikovsky Concerto.
WHOA WHOA WHOA wasn't that Moiseiwitsch Rachmaninoff comparison only made in the case of Rachmaninoff's transcription of the Scherzo from a Midsummer Night's Dream, and the story was that Rachmaninoff preferred Moiseiwitsch's lighter touch on it than his own?
"Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini" better than him.But Idon´t know if Rachmaninoff was refering to a recording or a specific live performance.Ithink,though, we should take such
statements with a grain of salt,for who could
possibly play better than Rachmaninoff?The main thing Benno was also great and understood
Vova47-You may very well be right,and your suggestion to just enjoy both-is a great one. AS to who was a better pianist than Rach-I'd say Hoffman and Lhevinne (according to Horowitz)along with Rach were the three best. Thank you for the delightful video. Best wishes.
Paulostroff99-Sure,Ididn´t mean to say there was nobody else on top and you can add several
more names like Busoni or Godowsky.The choice would depend on repertoire and your own taste.But why choose.when thanks to many reissues and people like truecript here and several others, there´s never been better time
Horowitz told a friend of mine that he thought the best overall pianist was Moriz Rosenthal, "the most complete musician," and that Rachmaninoff was "the best technical pianist," and Paderewski "The most musical." He also mentioned admiring Michelanegei, "Although a little crazy," and Cortot. Your comment is the first I've heard of Horowitz saying he admired Hoffman and Lhevinne. My own personal favorites include Rosenthal, Kapell, Schnabel, Lipatti,Gieseking, Moiseiwitsch, and both Lhevinnes.
billyguns2-That statement is well documented although he has a framed photo of Paderewski in his living room I believe on his mantle. I'm a huge admirer of Lipatti,Kapell,Josef L'hevinne,Hoffman,Michelangeli,Soloman,Richter ,Moiseiwitsch,and others that include all that you mention and more. It is startling to me that Hoffmann is not o your list,as most artists of his day considered him to be the best of them all. Tastes being subjective,a case could be made for many others.
By all reports Hoffman was a colossus, and some have said the greatest of them all. I am generally not a fan of the recordings he left us, finding them somewhat cold and arbitrary; his Chopin Ballade No. 1 in g minor, though, is staggering, and can be heard on YouTube: it is simply the greatest performance of that I ever heard.
billyguns2-As are Richter and Michelangeli on mine. If I could add just one more,it would probably be Dinu Lipatti. Shame that life robbed us of the opportunity to hear him at what might have been even greater- in full maturity.
I think this is a much better performance than the remake he did in 1955; thanks for sharing it.
billyguns2 10 months ago
awesome buildup at the beginning! the anticipation!
freya38 10 months ago
Marvelous!
I heard him play this "live" in the late 50s. It was superb.
And Beechum was conducting! What a magnificent evening.
snaaptaker 1 year ago
wonderfool he is plaiyng from all hees hart you can iven cry in some slow places
anderssonas1 2 years ago
First rate!!!! The piano part is so wonderfully molded to the orchestral part, the phrases shaped and sculpted as only the greatest of artists could do. Rachmaninov himself is supposed to have always searched for the "peak" of a composition, feeling any performance failing to do so came up short--Moiseiwitsch was one of the few along with the composer who could achieve this. I'm still searching for Moiseiwitsch's Schumann "Carnaval"...one of the greatest ever recorded.
soami2u 2 years ago
Phillippe had posted it on one of his older accounts. Unfortunately well you know...
RabidCh 2 years ago
...about 1963 I read on the record jacket, recording by Hofmann, that their teacher, Lechetiszky..spelling....stated that all of these spectacular pianists put together that he taught would not equal one Josef Levinne. I think I still have that record cover. And that same cover stated that Levinne had more interest in hobbies like astronomy than in piano playing.
j72050 2 years ago
you all should listen to alexis wiessenberg's version.........
this still is one of my favorites recordings!!!!
kempff95 2 years ago
I enjoyed this a lot
morvensky 2 years ago
gerry rains-Certainly not! As a matter of fact i have most of what he recorded and find him to be along with the other highly regarded pianists of all time. Where he ranks at that level is not important, Just yesterday I picked up a C.D.of him playing Brahms Concerto#2,and Beethoven's Appasionata Sonata. His Liszt Sonata is priceless,as is so much of what he recorded including Tchaikovsky Concerto.
paulostroff99 2 years ago
WHOA WHOA WHOA wasn't that Moiseiwitsch Rachmaninoff comparison only made in the case of Rachmaninoff's transcription of the Scherzo from a Midsummer Night's Dream, and the story was that Rachmaninoff preferred Moiseiwitsch's lighter touch on it than his own?
Gnasherator 2 years ago
There is so much strengh this music and this playing...
pjioayncoe 3 years ago
Brilliant. Rachmaninov once said that he(Moiseivitsch)played his music even better than he himself did!
paulostroff99 3 years ago
No,I think he said that Moisewitsch played his
"Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini" better than him.But Idon´t know if Rachmaninoff was refering to a recording or a specific live performance.Ithink,though, we should take such
statements with a grain of salt,for who could
possibly play better than Rachmaninoff?The main thing Benno was also great and understood
Rachmaninoff perfectly.Let us enjoy both of them.
vova47 3 years ago
Vova47-You may very well be right,and your suggestion to just enjoy both-is a great one. AS to who was a better pianist than Rach-I'd say Hoffman and Lhevinne (according to Horowitz)along with Rach were the three best. Thank you for the delightful video. Best wishes.
paulostroff99 3 years ago
Paulostroff99-Sure,Ididn´t mean to say there was nobody else on top and you can add several
more names like Busoni or Godowsky.The choice would depend on repertoire and your own taste.But why choose.when thanks to many reissues and people like truecript here and several others, there´s never been better time
to hear and appreciate them all.Peace.V.
vova47 3 years ago
vova47-Very well put! As you so eloquently state-there were very many others besides.Better to enjoy them all than to nit pick. Best wishes.
paulostroff99 3 years ago
Horowitz told a friend of mine that he thought the best overall pianist was Moriz Rosenthal, "the most complete musician," and that Rachmaninoff was "the best technical pianist," and Paderewski "The most musical." He also mentioned admiring Michelanegei, "Although a little crazy," and Cortot. Your comment is the first I've heard of Horowitz saying he admired Hoffman and Lhevinne. My own personal favorites include Rosenthal, Kapell, Schnabel, Lipatti,Gieseking, Moiseiwitsch, and both Lhevinnes.
billyguns2 2 years ago
billyguns2-That statement is well documented although he has a framed photo of Paderewski in his living room I believe on his mantle. I'm a huge admirer of Lipatti,Kapell,Josef L'hevinne,Hoffman,Michelangeli,Soloman,Richter ,Moiseiwitsch,and others that include all that you mention and more. It is startling to me that Hoffmann is not o your list,as most artists of his day considered him to be the best of them all. Tastes being subjective,a case could be made for many others.
paulostroff99 2 years ago
By all reports Hoffman was a colossus, and some have said the greatest of them all. I am generally not a fan of the recordings he left us, finding them somewhat cold and arbitrary; his Chopin Ballade No. 1 in g minor, though, is staggering, and can be heard on YouTube: it is simply the greatest performance of that I ever heard.
billyguns2 2 years ago
Richter and Michelangeli are also on my list of favorite pianists!
billyguns2 2 years ago
billyguns2-As are Richter and Michelangeli on mine. If I could add just one more,it would probably be Dinu Lipatti. Shame that life robbed us of the opportunity to hear him at what might have been even greater- in full maturity.
paulostroff99 2 years ago
paulostroff99,
Aren't you forgetting about Sviatoslav Richter?
gerryrains 2 years ago