Prokofiev plays Prokofiev Piano Concerto #3 ii. (1932)

[cheradinine8]

At 7'37"this is also much faster then would be done today... In fact he only takes a little over 24 minutes to play the whole concerto, at warp speed... This is very interesting and listening to some of his playing of the super-fast 4th. variation he seems on the verge of stumbling, but does not... He sat rigidly at the keyboard with almost no movement, except for a slight rocking, and was nicknamed The Pianist of Steel because of it...Would have been some experience to see him play...

[fritstube]

The passage at 2:29 is played totaly different from what we know by others! it is as if Prokofiev is telling us: no, ..you should play it like this!

[cheradinine8]

@fritstube It is played basically the same as other pianists do only much much faster. I note people posting that other pianists play it faster than he does. I doubt that is possible because at 24+ minutes for the whole concerto, this is lightning fast, and I have never heard the 2nd movement played in 7'37" before. The Pianist of Steel was notorious for punching out his own works at top speed, and bullying conductors into taking very fast tempi...Always mistakes too but very exciting

[weedermann]

@fritstube Likely when Prokofiev was playing HIS OWN concerto, there were none by "what [you] know by others". Prokofiev conceived the music, wrote and practiced it before it went public. Whether all of you listeners prefer it or not, THIS is how HIS music is intended to be played.

[SCarlatti17]

Wnderful hear Prokofiev play his own. A real treasure. Thanks for posting.

[jhamilton421]

The orchestra fails to synchronize with the unique tempo changes, and there are mistakes, but a couple of passages revealed their beauty as I hadn't heard before, even after decades of listening to this piece, especially the extraordinary Byron Janus recording referred to below. I've never really gotten that from Rachmaninoff playing his own.

[pianofan24]

This is so interesting! I would've never imagined that he'd play it like this.. it's so different that anything I've heard... can't get over that part. I've always loved Prokofiev as a pianist (whatever I've heard on YT that is) and he's one of the few composers I like playing their own pieces. (I know I'm going to get slammed for this, but I don't like Rach's own recordings of his work, at least not as much as other pianists performances of those)

[weedermann]

@pianofan24 If you had been an admirer of Rachmaninoff or Prokofiev while each lived, while each was introducing and playing their OWN music, you'd see all of this differently. ALL of the more modern performances would then seem too slow, perhaps too full of "unneeded nuance" or whatever all of you like to pontificate about.

[jafigueroa41]

Muchas gracias por compartir ésta maravilla.

[HanKyeolYoon]

Lots of composers are grabbers. That's why it's sloppy. Cannot blame the great composer by his performance. He handed down these masterpiece!

[flickfry1]

I love this recording because people always go on about playing Prokofiev in a "faithful" way referencing his various quotes about interpretation.

Which makes it interesting that no one even attempts to play it like this.

Who knew he had such a romantic style.

I don't care how many mistakes there are. I find mistakes to be the obsession of a sadly limited mind.

[Fiorenzo1111]

Prokofiev is among the 5 greatests composers off all times

[JiggyHo]

Dammit, slow down.

[beethomozart]

premiered on december 16th 1921, with Prokofiev himself at the piano, the most classical of his 5 piano concertos, really a treasure listening to the composer in such an old goldie recording.

[paparichard62]

Fun to hear Prokofiev play this movement, but in truth, it's very sloppy with many many notes. In places, the he's not even with the orchestra where he should be. Try the Byron Janis recording.

[kiwani4]

@paparichard62 -don't know for sure, but it's my understanding the orchestra is supposed to keep up with/follow the lead of the pianist...anyway, how can one criticize the own composer's interpretation....

[suzettegm]

Very nice.

[chad410]

this is such a wonerful mvt. with eastern like feel in the theme.

[NGS712]

chad: Yeah, I always like how some of those Eastern Euro. composers give their pieces a regional flavor to it.

Like Chopin, Liszt, Brahms, and so on.

[chad410]

wan t Brahms German ?;)

[NGS712]

chad: Yes, but I was referring to his Folk Dances. ;)

[chad410]

ok. your the king :)

[NGS712]

chad: No, just a humble tyrant. ;)

[chinaboy1991]

@NGS712 or his drinking songs ;) Very German drinking songs.