Rachmaninoff plays Liszt: Gnomenreigen

[Nimenicamine01]

Joder, malditos anuncios de mierda que te estropean el dia. Que los apestosos mediocres de arriba los quiten de una vez, me están poniendo enfermo. Siempre que intento ver un video aparecen publicidades de entre 30 a casi 1 minuto. Que gilipollas por el amor de dios.

[Nimenicamine01]

@Nimenicamine01 No los soporto, hasta contagian a genios tan grandes como Rachmaninoff. Por favor, quiten los anuncios de una vez!!

[j9brewsbeer]

Of all the interpretations of The Gnome's Dance that I've listened to, this is the only one that actually conjures up images of little dancing guys. It feels like dance music. Those who play it for speed totally miss that aspect of the piece. Wonderful!

[ykrahs666]

he's the only one who has the control to keep things accurate, yet has that rachmaninov PULSE underneath it all...the best recording of this piece i've heard, and i've heard hundreds of people really butcher the poor thing

[greeneondine]

I love Rachmaninoff, but Cziffra owns this piece.

[ykrahs666]

@greeneondine cziffra is ok but looses control at times and gets a lilttle bit sloppy..cziffra WAS great in his own way but it wasn't because he kept control...rachmaninov's temperment was perfect for this type of "not too flashy" music while really letting the fury show thru

[worf1492]

Rach had it all...great technique with a logical sense of structure.

I don't always agree with his interpretations...but it makes sense when he plays the music. A great all around musician.

[TheHanslick]

I know performances of this etude by almost all reputable pianists.

This is undoubtly the best one, not only from the point of view of technique,

but especialy ,musicaly. All the phrases are breathing, perfectly closed and, although

fast, it is not hurried. Rach was one of the greatest pianists of all times. Bravo !!!!!!!!!!!

[ideamachineim]

OMG!! SO CLEAN!

[MrMrMikayel]

Fennomenal playing and recording! The best in the world!!!

[IBunyakin]

Wow...this is so well...done...fantastic, phenomenal. Just listen to 1:31, the intro into the middle part...and at 1:36...the left hand is so well formulated, articulated...such perfect touch and conception. Rachmaninoff was definitely a fantastic pianist, one of my favorites of all time. His technique is so vast...so precise and perfect....Thank you for this recording. Bravo, Sergei, as shela2 said. Bravo.

[fzlotkin]

I have never heard a recording of anybody, or any instrument, that's as magnificent as this.

[fzlotkin]

Love Cziffra. Rach reigns!

[dancersover40]

I'd almost sell my soul for those hands! And the talent that went with them of course!

[jujuijoel]

Arrau - the best

[ploschad]

Such uncorrupted musical intentions and a beautiful translation into sound.

[efitzger76]

It's so obvious when a pianist has complete mastery of the instrument (and music); and so enjoyable to listen to.

[5507156693]

He's an impersonation of the word genius! My absolute favorite piano player and one of my favorite composers. His personal touch on everything he ever played is so distinctive that any comparisons look laughable

[engjan]

Bravo Sergei!

You are good at grab-and-smash pieces!

Sorry you cannot understand the poetry of Chopin.



[Atlantis2184]

@engjan

The Chopin Waltz in C sharp op 64 no. 2 is the best I've heard. I say that over Rubinstein as well.

[cynic150]

The speed here sounds impossible, the fastest I have heard,AND MUSICAL!

[nonogilb]

It's false for "the fastes", but you can say the greatest !!

Speed is deifferent than quality and beauty in piano, as fore as Rachmaninov is concerned.

[bubosvocsok13]

i dont like the beginning though..

[dajohnthomas69]

this is so stately played, in a good sense. It had a same feel as Paderewsky playing his menuett, with an aristocracy like from old statues.

[pianiplunker]

Have you heard Rachmaninoff play the Paderewsky minuet? It's much more of an aristocratic performance than Paderewski could ever do.

[dajohnthomas69]

@pianiplunker : I have heard it. Personally I find a bit too much romantic virtuosity in Rachmaninoffs interpretation. Considering it is a minuet, a pre-Beethoven classical genre almost, in vein what Haydn or Mozart could have, where too much contrast can undo the effect of the piece. What he does - magnificently - is to exploit the rythmic and tempi-possibilities of a minuet. And playing minuets of Bach myself it requires touchertechnique. To a certain extent it's taste. Beyond taste is debate

[pianiplunker]

I see your point. Rachmaninoff was no musical scholar, I frankly can't stand his recording of parts of Mozart's sonata in A. Rachmaninoff admitted to Claudio Arrau that he had never heard of Beethoven's Prometheus variations or any of the Schubert sonatas.

[nelsonyum]

@pianiplunker

for me, I always prefer Paderewski' own interpretation, which is aristocratic and natural. I could not still persuade myself to enjoy Rachnaninoff' playing.

[britcrit09]

A delight to the ear! Thank you for uploading this piece.

[anonymousQ45]

earl wild

[uhartchristian]

Rachmaninoff was a wonderful pianist and composer . In both he was top.

[MrChinatalia]

yes,absolutely right!how u can discuss Cziffra and another here...Rahmaninov is Rahmaninov))))if u have no special education,dont understand in music enought well,in styles,levels of pianists-dont write this comments,its ridiculies))))

[y1g1tcn]

i think we must not talk about Cziffra or any other concert pianist under the video of Great Rachmaninoff and Liszt.

[verystacy]

I think recording made him nervous-and that comes across.  But every once and awhile you actually get to hear him unbridled-nice.

[silverbud]

Stop comparing, it is so silly.

I am happy that we have at all old recordings like this! 1925!

Thank you greatly for uploading!

[chutdigadut]

GREAT point. THANK you

[ibclappin]

my favorite interpretation of this piece was cziffra's until now that i've heard this.

[demosj]

@ibclappin My favorite interpretation of this piece was Rachmaninoff's until I heard Cziffra.

[ibclappin]

@demosj i like both of them. rachmaninoff's is more interpretive and cziffra's is more like the original

[Grivendal]

haha!!!man!!!everything a composer do for him is good....and one day you see that this is good...when you get used to this troubled peice!xD

[jasonextreme]

You know? Back then, they didn't give an eff whether or not you missed a note or hit a wrong key. Even composers made A LOT of mistakes in their on compositions.

[mrpossibilities]

Now this is one interesting Liszt piece. It doesn't even sound like Liszt to me. I wonder at what stage of his life he wrote it. I would be willing to bet it was at an advanced age.

[ccen1]

well this actually is pretty Lisztian. and no he wrote this when he was 51. it was published in 1862.

marvelous isn't it?? :))

[mrpossibilities]

It truly is

[concertobub]

I think I hear Rachmaninoff humming between 57 seconds and 1:05 - low humming on the augmented chord which he is playing at the time. Sometimes I catch him humming on his recordings haha

[Rachoszsky]

you're right! haha :-)

[EinSofVirtuoso]

This is an interesting interpretation, much slower and deeper than Cziffra's. He does execute very precisely without sacrificing emotion. Nothing less to expect from the composer of the Piano Concerto No. 3

[superstition222]

"Rach´s recordings were often also more interesting, quality over quantity. "

Actually, he wanted to record much much more (all of his major repertoire), but RCA refused to let him. So many pieces he knew well, like Beethoven Op. 111, were never recorded because of this.

[shevansilva]

Did he even record the appassionata?

[nmvdw]

Nop.

[DanRhu124]

i love the stylistic ritardando on the bridge into the verse

[SmokeWeedForEva]

Wonderful performance. Rachmaninoff knows how to play this piece so well.

And yes, Rachmaninoff was well known for his thorough way of studying a piece.

He would start by playing the piece VERY slow, so he could play every note with such focus that he would know it by heart next time he would play it again.

It is said that a befriended pianist once came to his house and heard him study a piece so slowly, that he couldn't even tell which piece it was!

This is a wonderful performance!

[PuresMusic]

Yep, that was while he was practicing Chopin's double note etude.

[mrpossibilities]

That's phenomenal. I love that anecdote. Where did you hear/read this?

[ichigosenpai]

i have to play this for a competition and it's hard!!!! omg...

[demosj]

That is the lightest and most graceful leggiero I have ever heard. That demands an ironclad technique, which Rachmaninoff definitely possesses.

[Ray0X0]

I think this rendering is too much personalized... too much Rachmaminoff way... of course it is beautiful, this work is beautiful and Liszt was a genius... but, to me the best Genomenreigen, in magic and musicality was the amazing performance by Claudio Arrau... (ING1lFPoHks&feature=channel_p­age)

[funfor1life]

Cziffra's rendition for God sake and without a tinge of hesitation :)

[zamyrabyrd]

Yes, indeed!!! Cziffra had the musical mantle of Liszt himself.

[lisafannypack]

what i like about this is that it isn't fast or "flashy" like some of the other recordings, such as by cziffra

but it is certainly more musical and each note is played with more meaning

his interpretation stands out from the others'

[choti007depuchamadre]

this interpretation is similar at the interpretation of arrau in the pulse

[nearenough3]

The rhythm and especially the PULSE, the inevitable emphasis and beat of the conception are what Rachmaninoff adds to his own and others' compositions. Horowitz most often picks up on this deep and rubato-abiding Russian-gut rhythmic throb.

[ingres125]

This version sounds even better than the amazing Cziffra interpretation.

This one is more colorful, especially in the intricate passage work towards the very end.

And Rachmaninov's finish is perfectly timed, poised and meaningful. The others are all slightly awkward.

[BalletBabyBoy]

@ingres125 It is because he comes from the last heart beat of the Romantic era. Divine

[kokoramoni]

lizst must be proud of his piece to be played by rachmaninoff and this kind of beautiful playing

[NOSEhow2LIV]

What makes this one of the most memorable must be something to do with shape, pacing, structure & release of power at just the right moment. Beautiful clarity thruout. One of the great interpretations in a crowded field!

[chopinlytlyt]

This interpretation is the best one I`ve ever heard!REALLY REALLY FANTASTIC!

[q8pianist]

rachmaninoff was busy composing all the time

he dont have the time to make a better interpretations

and allso its really stupid when u say that his interpretations SUCKs !!!!!!!

for me, im sure he can play batter than any if he wants 2.

dont forget his concertos and symphonys.

full of feelings that can go deep in to ur heart very easy.

and who knows how chopin playd allso befor !!!

:)

[j67123]

I agree with you (except about Lisitsa). Of course I'm going to get the big thumbs down for saying Rach was anything less than a piano god. He's a good pianist. That people think he's great is a result of his name. People think, "he's a famous composer; his playing must be brilliant." That's my theory anyway. If you just listen without knowing who's playing, you'd think his performances were somewhere between mediocre and pretty good but not great and definitely not incredible or beautiful.

[keenanonie]

Are you kidding? Have you even listened to his recordings? Rachmaninoff's playing is characterized by several distinct elements which place him in the company of the greatest. Who else possessed such an incisive and flexible approach to rhythm, not to mention his well-balanced orchestral sonority and incredible fingers. Don't take my word for it, read what Hofmann, Rubinstein, and Horowitz had to say about him. Go read it. To disregard Rachmaninoff as a pianist betrays your naivety.

[billyguns2]

Yes, I know first hand that Horowitz revered Rachmaninoff. But really, compare this to Sviatoslav Richter's much fleeter, faster, and more imaginative performance and tell me who is really the better pianist in this piece.

[micheldvorsky]

Are the people who are hating on Rachmaninoff's pianism even listening to this recording?

Rachmaninoff is a phenomenal pianist in every respect.

[SevenCircles]

Richter hade a huge repertoire that´s for sure but he never composed like Rach did.

Rach´s recordings were often also more interesting, quality over quantity.

[CoolWJL]

Silly comment

[NOSEhow2LIV]

debussy84 it really depends whether you prefer natural material to plastic, or a succulent patisserie to a fast-food cookie.

Here is character & fantasy. Much elsewhere is efficiency & forgettableth!

[persistantpianist]

At 2:40 the left hand is beautiful. I love that part. I am playing this piece now, and there's just no comparison between Cziffra and Rachmaninov (or RachmaninOFF). Great recording, Shrinkingglasses.

[ross5th]

I've heard this a lot over the years. These were the days when what you recorded was what the listener heard. No fixes. I think this is the best example of note-perfect piano playing ever recorded.

[pianiplunker]

Stop comparing Cziffra to Rachmaninov everyone. They had little common pianistically.

[Theonedue]

Hey they were pretty close as far as skill goes....the recording quality of Cziffras video is better than this one, so its hard to tell.

[TheRedArmy10]

@pianiplunker Did they have anything in common? I don't think so.

[Grigor99]

I used to think Cziffra's version was the best too, but edges his out IMO, but Cziffra's has a bit more edge and bite to it which I also like, but the fingerwork is slightly better here.

[Liszt1886]

Interprétation sublime!

[goodray]

Dit is dus piano spelen

[crackapolo]

kijk ook even naar de cziffra die grand gallope speelt van liszt dat is eng

[fl0ryan]

interesting way of playing the harmonies

[piano345]

As always with Rachmaninoff there are many imaginative and personal touches.

[paulostroff99]

Sensational! Bravo!  TY.

[shela2]

I agree, Rachmaninov knew how to deliver and with a Style so personal ,no one can copy. Bravo Sergei!!x..

[Schnabel87]

One of my favorite piano recordings, and easily the best recording of Gnomenreigen ever.

[pianolord]

i'll have to disagree with you that this is the best recording of Gnomenreigen.Check out Cziffra's performance.

[galapz]

With all respect please let's not compare Cziffra with Rachmaninoff.

[MEpianist]

you care to explain that? No one would compare Cziffra to Rachmaninov the composer, but what are you talking about?

[galapz]

Dom you think Cziffra is better pianist and artist than Rachmaninoff? I don't.

[Uhr0kraft]

Don't compare him to Rachmaninoff. Every great player had something another great did not...

[piano1618]

There is no way I would not be able to tell. Rachmaninoff's playing is immediately distinctive

[JakWho92]

my words! (can i say that in english? xD )

This interpretation is superb and only because its not so extremly rushed like the other versions which seem to be more popular its not worse.