Prokofiev playing his Piano Concerto No.3 (Audio Only)

[8JustGoodMusic8]

About the "Better" or "Different" interpretation, my opinion is that the composer most of the times (not always) will play the piece exactly as he has imagined it to be. Here's an example: Bach-Busoni Chaconne is much better played by others than Busoni, his interpretation was almost boring. Although, he wanted it exactly as he played it: same accents, same colours etc. Rachmaninoff the same. So, the composer's interpretation is the right one, but not the best.

[cheradinine8]

Wow!!! At 8'22"this is lightning fast... Even the opening Andante in the orchestra is way up tempo... I doubt anybody could play it that fast today, because only Prokofiev could talk a conductor into such a race... The 2nd. and 3rd movements are also very fast, much faster than comparable performances today...As the composer Prokofiev must have seen it this way, and maybe this explains the little infelicities in some of the piano runs. It is food for thought, and quite a stunning performance

[NellaGinnyng480]

ey wer will mit mia schreiben

[katty2trips]

Prokofiev just kicked my ass. Thanks, Maestro!

[GeoJDr]

Wonderful recording. Reminds me of Gutierrez's magnificent recording. Thanks for posting.

[piax00]

This is amazing. The tempo seems to make more sense than our contemporary recordings with kissin, askenazy or argerich. It has more feeling, technique is much less in the forefront; less of a mental exercise and much more powerful, makes me feel like falling off my chair. Just beautiful.

[BlueCougar]

@piax00 The first recording I ever heard was with Tzimon Barto (don't remember the orchestra), and it was in EXACTLY the same tempo!

[Rantikwo]

quel compositeur extraordinaire Serge Prokofiev, sensibilité, énergie et constante invention lyrique, grand génie ! Dans le genre "musique occidentale de tradition écrite" il domine !

[iansquared3]

yeah yeah argerich, kissin, and ashkenazy might play it better technically and all that mumbo jumbo, but i really enjoy this recording because prokofiev is so confidant! the recording just feels so natural. not forced at all!

[WorldCupSeoul]

A dozen different tempos in the first 45 seconds. Weird. Great composers don't necessarily play their own works greatly.

[musoderelict]

Oh, and before anyone takes me to task on what is or is not a 'better' interpretation - yes, interpretaion is largely subjective and you can't say this is absolutely better than that - so let me clarify what I'm saying - I think Argerich brings out the structure, energy, humour, colour and brilliance of the piece that I feel this performance tends to lack. Bear in mind too that composers can have bed days - Richard Strauss was known for it - he sometimes didn't do his own works justice.

[codeman2008]

@musoderelict to compare Richard Strauss to Sergie Prokofiev is ridiculous, and to assume that anybody knows better than the composer how a work is to be performed is downright offensive.

[musoderelict]

@codeman2008 Obviously I wasn't comparing Richard Strauss to Prokofiev by styles! It's a fact that Richard Strauss Iater in his life became disinterested and mechanical as a conductor And so his interpretations were lesser than others'. Now, just think please: 1. A composer isn't God (others might see things in his work that he personally didn't), and 2. There may be other performers (as opposed to composers) more talented than him. So I come back to what I said. I think Argerich is better!

[codeman2008]

@musoderelict The composer conceived the music. To think that a performer would know something about a composer's own conception that the composer didn't. And Prokofiev was an absolutely incredible performer with unsurpassed technique (definitely on the same level as Argerich). Any performer is a representative of the composer. Which artists or museum curators claim to know better than Monet or Michelangelo how the paintings of said masters should have been executed? Same concept.

[musoderelict]

@codeman2008 What is 'conceived'? - The composer thinks up the music in his mind and writes it down. Someone else, taking maybe a much longer time with the work than the composer did, may well see structures, connections, meanings, possibilities that the composer missed. I think a comparison with museum curators isn't accurate - they are more like critics! The performer's role is to make the music come alive - I don't believe there's a comparable role in art. Mostly you're right, but not always.

[musoderelict]

@codeman2008 Sorry, I ran out of chars. Mostly, yes, you're right, a composer who can also perform would be expected to perform his own works better than anyone else - but not always. Another example of this would be : compare Hindemith's performances of 'Mathis der Maler' or his Concerto for Orchestra with Furtwangler's. Most people agree hands down that Furtwangler's is better, including me. (And I'm sure normally Prokofiev is better than others, but unfortunately, I don't think here ...)

[codeman2008]

@musoderelict That i can agree with. It is the composers' abilities as performers, rather than their understanding of their music, that may be questioned. Olivier Messiaen had some very strange and lethargic performances of his own organ works, probably due mostly to his old age at the time of the recordings.

[musoderelict]

Sorry, but I think Argerich is better.

[TheKsk1997]

favorite

[SyriaMosque]

Yes to this wonderful recording!  I m pleased to own it.

C'est bon!

[danijanimi]

1:50 till 2:15....simply epic

[BarbaraPloyer333]

Who better than the composer himself to play a piece?

[tyuzynho]

Listen to Rachmaninoff playing his pieces, then listen to Horowitz.

[tamegomaith93]

@BarbaraPloyer333 actually Rachmaninoff himself said he thought Horowitz' version of Rach3 was much better than his own - Sadly I almost have to agree, but that is also one of the only cases where a performer gives a better interpretation of a piece than the composer himself

[pokey303]

As Jorge Bolet remarked: the componist spends a few months on a piece and moves on to the next one. But the performers study it for decades (even centuries). Why on earth would everyone expect the composer to play it better than anyone else?

So composing something great does not imply the composer is also the best at performing it.

[pianodan10]

@pokey303 Very good point, except it does have to be considered on a case by case basis. In this case, as well as, say Rachmaninov's 3rd concerto that the piece was written as a showpiece for the composers, who played the pieces extensively, and were clearly the most competent of pianists and musicians. The thing I find superior in this performance above all others is how much he clearly is allowing the orchestra to breath and share the space with him. He knows this piece, inside and out.

[BlueCougar]

@pokey303 Prokofiev was one of the leading pianists of his time and he wrote the concerto for himself to perform. So he wrote AND studied it for decades himself. He should know how HE intended it. Others may play it different, according to personal taste. Tehre is no ABSOLUTE interpretation in music.

[th3wing3dpaint3r]

@tamegomaith93 It was rumored that Rach thought a lot of his pieces were better played by pianists other than himself.

This might suggest low self-esteem rather than weak interpretation skills.

"that is also one of the only cases where a performer gives a better interpretation of a piece than the composer himself"

better? how? different, yes. But better?

[John11inch]

Prokofiev is conducting, not playing.

[walmazi]

@John11inch no, you're wrong; the conductor is Piero Coppola

[kempff95]

incredible!!!!

[bfchess]

I would like to add this to my Playlist....

How?

[ReignOfPraine]

Click on the 'Playlists' button, smart guy...

[shockfox7]

under the video there is a playlist option, click it, add playlist, add video

[ReignOfPraine]

This is awesome! Anyone know what year this is?

[ReignOfPraine]

Never mind, I found out it was in 1932.

[donaldcallen]

I have known this recording since I was a kid, which was a long, long time ago. Prokofiev was clearly a master pianist, but I doubt he practiced much, fortunately for us, since he used the time to write fabulous music, such as this concerto. I think the lack of the kind of practice time that a full-time concert pianist, e.g., Argerich, puts in, shows in a lot of his playing, including this recording. It's a great historical document, though.

[beethomozart]

of course I agree with Mifflish, no person in this world can play a piece of music better than the own composer. who can convince me that what I am thinking right now is not what I am thinking, I mean this is out of discussion. When Mozart composed his last work left unfinished, his student Sussmayr did his best with some sketches left by his teacher to end such an extraordinary work in the best possible way that he thought Mozart would like has been and not to Sussmayr taste!

[beaver7756]

I absolutely disagree, because, for example, Ravel wasn't even technically able to play his own Concerto in G! Have you ever heard Shostakovich playing his second concerto? There is no emotion at all in the second movement!

[beaver7756]

Good interpretation though!

[MIFFLISH]

Well, Prokofiev was an amazing pianist. And this video proves it. you can tell that he has the skill to play whatever he wants. And im sure he has the skill to play his own 3rd piano concerto better then anyone.

[MIFFLISH]

An other way to see it is like this. Scott Joplin would write "do not play fast" on the sheet music for all his rags. but people would still play it fast. just because some people play it faster dosnt mean they are playing it better. and in that case they're not even playing it right. This recording of Prokofiev's 3rd concerto shows how it truly is. And to me, it appears as a brilliant, and beautiful work that takes a lot of technique to play. But would be a very rewarding experience.

[somedudeplayingpiano]

well, martha argerich gets close with her last preformance :P but I always think that the interpetation of the componist is the best

[7Row7enn7]

I can play the first 4 notes.

[kyleclef]

haha nice

[hophmi]

There are some great Prokofiev thirds, but despite everything, this may still the best. I'm not sure anyone has ever brought as much energy to the piece as Prokofiev himself did. He's also supported very, very well by Piero Coppola, who I think had an opera background, which is always good for an accompanying conductor. It's interesting; in addition to conducting the premiere recording of the Prokofiev, he apparently conducted both the premiere recordings of La Mer and Bolero.

[MiserablePathetique]

I prefer the Martha Argerich's version of this piece.

[svetlomirzlatkov]

I agree with you! Martha`s interpretation is much more emotional and I dare say that Prokofiev`s one lacks of any emotions - it`s like a toccata.

[MIFFLISH]

I must disagree.

Prokofiev Knows how to play Prokofiev better than anyone.

[gnolti]

Martha's is the tops.

[CharlyChoi]

Yeah. But no one is batter then composer himself. He knows feeling of his piece and many pianists trying to copy it. Anyway. Martha is also quite famous. I also like Mikhail Pletnev's one

[kyleclef]

martha is the best pianist ever. full stop

[beethomozart]

from my point of view you don´t get the point, if schostakovich played his own concerto in the way you say it's simply because he intended so, just because he composed it so, and as far as Ravel is concerned, if an author composes a work that as you say he isn´t able to play it technically, is perhaps because he intended to leave it freely to the interpreter without being stuck to any special inspiration. Many Bach's works don't even state the set of instruments which should be used!

[kyleclef]

i'm sorry i shouldn't have been so rude, although whether i get your point or not, i still think martha argerich is a far better pianist, never mind the interpretation.

[beethomozart]

well, never mind my reply was for beaver7756, not for you, only that accidentally I press your reply box, not beaver's one, if you please read beaver7756 answer to my previous statement you'll get acquainted with this, anyway I'm very glad that a young man like you knows and appreciates the best music, congratulations, and you'll be discovering many "new" wonderful works by the great masters, greetings

[gahero31]

Yes you are right, but this is also a beautiful playing by the own composer. it also very fast. Matha Argerich is my favorite pianist.

[Hervinbalfour]

I have NEVER heard anybody play it like this. MY GOD this was so inspirational. He plays this like a fire and drive that is lacking from so many people's interpretation. And the orchestra is right on in this recording. This concerto and Rachmaninoff's fifth are on my list of must learns for 2011. I'm late but thanks to the person who posted it. But can we get th other two movements. We want more.

[svetlomirzlatkov]

Hervinbalfour, Rachmaninov has only 4 piano concertos. I don`t know why do you think otherwise, but... they are only 4 ;)

[lscully2]

Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini is colloquially known as Rachmaninoff's "Fifth" Piano  Concerto.

[beaver7756]

some people call the Paganini Variations 'rachmaninov's 5th concerto'. Maybe that's what hervinbalfour meant..

[Hervinbalfour]

No. I meant what I said. There is a fifth piano concerto that is based on Rachmaninoff's First symphony. It is supposedely based on scores that were found years after he died. The score was put together and some elements were added by another composer who edited the work. I believe the recording of it was released in 2004. The Rachmaninoff estate gave permission to publish and record the concerto. I like it but there is something about it that doesn't give me that pure Rachmaninoff flavor.

[beaver7756]

ohh. I didn't know that. Very interesting :)

[Hervinbalfour]

If you do a search for it here on YT you will find the audio of the second movement and you can hear it for yourself. Overall its a beautiful work but not "pure" Rachmaninoff imo.

[gahero31]

Did you know Prokofiev was a Christian Scientist? I think in his works it shows he is trying to fight ''mortal mind''.

[Hervinbalfour]

I've never heard that one. Based on all the research I did on Prokofiev while in college the information I came across always stated boldly and clearly that he was an Atheist with no belief in any form of God what-so-ever.

[MarshallKutuzov]

WHAT??  Where did you find this astounding piece of nonsense??? This is a lie.

[cheradinine8]

@Hervinbalfour The so-called Rach. 5th piano concerto is based on his 2nd. symphony in E minor... The symphony no 1 in D minor was not performed again in Rachmaninov's lifetime afrer Glazunov ballsed it up by conducting it when drunk... Rachmaninov was so traumatized by Glazunov's conducting that he visited a psychotherapist, called Dr Dahl, to whom he dedicated his 2nd. piano concerto in C minor, out of gratitude for successful Hypnotherapy...

[MiserablePathetique]

There seem to be a demon-like face in the background at the right. A creepy mystery.

[MillyProductions]

or just the creepiness of an old photograph...

[klavierbooster]

这首录音酷毙了！

This is the best recording of this piece i have ever heard!

[violinguy1234]

Nur ein Wort: schön.

[thelittleliszt]

ich liebe Prokofiev!

[ChrisWatch]

Are there any recordings of him playing his 2nd piano concerto????? I would love to hear him play his Cadenza in the 1st movement.

[gabydragona]

What year is it?

[oaueo]

1932, if this is the hmv recording I think it is...

[simsa21]

私のお気に入りのピアノ協奏曲の中で、ラフマニノフと並んで作曲­者当人による演奏が聞ける数少ない録音ですが、実にすばらしい。­今までに様々なピアニストの演奏を聞きましたが、作曲者自身のも­のが正に一番でした。

[n0tkerbalbulus]

Potete trovare queste incisioni in CD sul catalogo Naxos Historical. Il disco contiene questo Concerto, "Suggestione Diabolica" op.4 n.4, una selezione di visions fugitives e vari altri pezzi. Personalmente ammiro molto il modo di suonare di Prokofiev.

[fangzhoufeng]

this is a very precious audio material, it helps me a lot!!!! thank you for posting this.

[journey2102]

プロコフィエフはピアノがやはり上手なのがよーくわかります。オ­ケが速さに追いついていけていない。でも興味深い演奏でした。

[ClassicalMusichild]

This is so awesome. Thank you so much.

[ThePiano1991]

Wow this is really nice... Prokofiev himself!

[marosigy]

Yeah. Amazing. Truly.

And now some original Bach, please.

You Tube is great and getting better and better!

[brocczz]

The way this genius and his signature piece were meant to be heard...dizzying virtuosity and energy and yet a lightness that have been lost in other versions over the years.

Please...the last two movements if you have them!

[Vladpeters]

I was in love with this piece the whole spring of 1998...(the L.O.Andsnes recording).

[strikerdisc]

best best best best

[IloveAlexisBledel689]

the best plays his best. thank you so much for posting this.

[caramalapples]

I never thought I'd ever get to hear Prokofiev play Prokofiev! Thanks for posting!

[ibclappin]

prokofiev was better-looking than that; that picture is stretched!

[Vladpeters]

This picture was taken short time before he died, after being ill for some time. He wrote the 6th symfony at the hospital (on napkins, because he wasn´t allowed to write music).

[KEYSONGS]

what a great artist

[Allen2880]

Thanks for posting. Lovely! :D 5/5.

BTW look on the right part of the photo, it looks like a face... behind Sergey Prokofiev.

[davedubya]

what is the proper pronounciation of his name?

[Allen2880]

Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev or do you prefer: Sergéj Sergéjevič Prokófjev?

[anaklasis]

It should be "PrakOfieff" (to be read with Italian vowels)

[Xparrot75]

Indeed. In Russian, the 'o' vowel would be pronounced as a short 'a' when unstressed (as in the first syllable), so pra-KOF'-jev.

[guetaria]

Lovely melody!

[marcas86]

prokofiev genio!!!!!!!!!!!

[OTHONIII]

great! of course: its prokovivev! if someone have a video WITH prokoviev playing, please tel me. I know it exist but i don't think we have it on youtube. Thanks and live the 3the concerto: the best. All professionnal say that.

[snaaptaker]

PS: If you can find Kapell's and Katchen's recordings of the Prokofieff 3rd, check them out. They're like night and day-- Kapell's is fiery and Katchen's is hauntingly lyrical, as is his (Katchen's) Bartok 3rd on the flip side. Both are wonderful.

[snaaptaker]

macromera: I haven't watched it in a while, but I think you can see Prokofieff at least "moving a little bit" on the DVD "RICHTER--THE ENIGMA". Check it out, and good luck.

[snaaptaker]

jimjennings: This was recorded in 1932--amazing ain't it?

[snaaptaker]

MarioCavaradossi: I've had Petrov's LP for probably about 30 years or so. You're right, it's a wonderful performance--as is his Rach4 on the flip side.

[snaaptaker]

MAHLER2006: Lousy performance? Sgouros's performance is more "authentic"?---than Prokofieff's own? You GOTTA be kidding!!!?

[Mahler2006]

Lousy performance. Too fast, and little dynamic contrast. Sgouros's interpretation is much more authentic.

[macromera]

Thanks for sharing this treasure,, but where can I see Prokofiev talking, or, playing, or moving a little bit?

Thanks again.

[vcupiano]

prokofiev won the moscow concervatory piano competition with his own concerto # 1

[habahaba123456789]

lol wonder why Rachmaninoff didn't do that :D

[IloveAlexisBledel689]

wow! no one is playing it as good as himself! I love Prokofiev!

[florange00]

OMG...what excellent quality audio for such an old performance. Thanks for sharing. BRAVO!!

[fengxuan007]

wonderful!

Prokofiev is a genius.

[MarioCavaradossi]

This is such a wonderful recording. I love to hear composers play their own work. You just learn so much. If any of you are fortunate enough to FIND Nikolai Petrov's recording of this concerto for Melodya you will thank me for the recommendation.

[melomania192]

非常喜欢他的作品~！

I am Chinese.I like his music very much!~

[xmeout29]

Does anyone know where I can find his "autumn" (op. 8) piece anywhere on the web so that I can listen too?? It's said to have a gloomy atmosphere.

[vocalpianist]

It sounds similar to Martha Argerich's version. One of the greatest concerto's ever written

[Bruce88keys]

Prokofiev will be remembered in the same breath as Mozartean genius.

[EllChupacabra]

I don't think Prokofiev would have liked that comment. I don't think he really liked Mozart too much.

[Bruce88keys]

It has nothing to do with Mozart's work, it has to do with a comparison or analogy to Mozart and Prokofiev's originality, their inate voices. And of course you know what Prokofiev would have thought.

[EllChupacabra]

I agree with you, but I was just repeating what I have read about him and his thoughts about being compared to mozart....not that I pretend to know what he thought.

[Bruce88keys]

Don't repeat what others say. As a musician, I felt Prokofiev as a 20ieth century composer really had a unique "musical fingerprint" I saw this alone with out any outside authority, like a biographer or reviewer etc..my own observation, from playing his scores. At a time when composers were plugging themselves into the wall contriving god awful serial music Prokofiev was a joyful presence in a lousy world.

[gudesuppes]

he was a genius

[jimjennings]

WHEN was this recorded? It's wonderful to hear the composer do it his way.

[ryanks]

Nice to see this recording up here. Interesting picture too...what interesting hands Prokofiev had.

[goldberg72]

il mio concerto prefito..grazie grazie grazie grazie

[GroupieChix]

Vladimir Krainev!

[emtube]

It truly is a pity that Prokofiev hardly made any recordings after returning to the Soviet Union. Such a wonderful pianist! And his works really make excellent use of the resources of the piano. Fortunately he had many excellent collaborators, like Richter and Oistrakh, who have left so many memorable performances.

[alonsoamadeus]

it´s wonderfull lisent Prokofiev, it´s incredible, and of course, i think the best interpretanition, I know almost all recordings and this is wonderfull, becouse it´s his music. Any of you knows who´s the pianist that play the piano concertos with the URSS´s orchestra? i have the recordings, but not who is playing. i feel those are the best recordings of Prokofiev´s concertos

[MichaSchlechtriem]

Wladimir Krainiew

[asianchickmagnet]

I recommend either Byron Janis or William Kapell's recording of the 3rd concerto- if you really studied the score carefully, you'd realize that it's marked Allegro ma non troppo and NOT vivace- and that it's much more exciting when it's played in a moderately fast tempo- it's human nature to want to go faster and faster, but Prokofiev lived in an pre-industrial age and depicted the sound of machinerly through his music.

[asianchickmagnet]

When one plays as fast as Argerich did in the 3rd concerto, all is lost, especially in the recapitulation, when she played twice as fast as she did in the beginning- there is no drive because it's simply too fast and simply, unprofound. There are lots of people who could play just as fast, if not, faster: Askenazy, Toradze, Feltsman and many others- if music was about technique alone, performers such as Kissin, Volodos and Lang would easily top Argerich

[fionasapple]

poor you!! kissin, volodos, LANG? how wronger can you get?! :D

[asianchickmagnet]

Music is NOT about how fast a person can play- any musician understands that, especially pianists. Argerich is often praised for her interpretations on Prokofiev's music, like that of the 1st and 3rd piano concertos. It's also true that she could play it really fast- but Prokofiev often reminded us that his music is (sometimes) motor-rhythmic- which means there needs to be a steady and unrelenting pulse, like that of a machine.

[chad410]

I played it faster.lol

[PrinceYuca]

This is a wonderful contribution! Thank you! I actually play this piece only slightly slower than he, it turns out. Pletnev plays it even slower, but has a "grander vision" if you will. This recording shows what a remarkable pianist Prokofiev was!

[beyond9001]

prokofiev pulls off this in lightning speed, faster than any pianist interprets it today, which is interesting.

[visionesfugitivas]

Listen to martha argerich's interpretation, it is faster but of course he was the one who write this so...

[beyond9001]

in all the martha's that I've listened to, she does all three movements in around 9:01 each; Prokofiev plays the 2nd movement of the 3rd concerto especially fast, and out of four different other performers, none of them I've heard so far have matched that tempo