Yefim Bronfman - Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 - Part 1/5

[hunkydorybadger]

Dude. Yes!!!! Awestruck!!! Thanks for uploading all the movements in sequence!

[TheHyenaKing]

i never would go and rate a performance of my beloved piano concert as "best" "superior" or something else.

this simply is , among all other great performances like argerichs or Ashkenazys or kerns or a couple of others, my absolute favorite.

thx mister Bronfman

[wbrandriff]

Superior performance but you should check out Earl Wild's with Hornstein and the Royal Philharmonic. Wild has the virtuoso equipment but none of the eccentricities of other piano masters. His tone is never forced and class and elegance are the two words that best describe him as a musician and person. But he now belongs to the ages to steal a quote made about Lincoln or was it Reagan (just kidding). wbrandriff@gmail.com

[schmuckenheimer9]

Thumbs up if you gave a standing ovation at the end of the concerto

[kirinlager49]

@schmuckenheimer9 Sucked in - you're not funny and deserve no thumbs up

[schmuckenheimer9]

@kirinlager49 I don't care :)

[G1GAR0]

Eveny Kisen is the best performance in this melody!

[schmuckenheimer9]

This is without a doubt my favorite piano concerto. Mozart's 9th, 21st, and 23rd come close, but this one I can't stop listening to. Yefim Bronfman just takes this piano to town.

[teacupkid123]

You've got to be kidding me! The most amazing rendition??? You need to get out of the house more often! Oga kern puts this guy to shame.

[tjtheplay]

@teacupkid123 But we AAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL know that Horowitz puts EVERYONE to shame lol

[teacupkid123]

You've got to be kidding me! The most amazing rendition??? You need to get out of the house more often!

[marpie1171]

Absolutely brilliant. Just saw Fabio Bidini perform this in Buffalo. It was spectacular, but not quite as good as Bronfman.

[7652CD]

Awesome! Wang, Horowitz, Gutierrez...legendary!

[DrunkColin]

Amazing! But I still like Argerich version more :)

[schmuckenheimer9]

This is one long piano concerto

[DarwinIsInCharge]

Notice he is the just about the only Pianist to honor the quarter note rest after the first piano cadenza

[DarwinIsInCharge]

This is special.  He really puts shame to the new famous wizz kids

[harisdmrt]

12 people really dont know how hard this part is...

cant stop listening it...

[zzpianoman]

Finally...someone with the guts to play it up to tempo.

[GeoJDr]

A very fine job.

[tonymus58]

I have listened to 8-10 recorded versions of this piano concerto, and I have heard Yefim Bronfman play it live on 2 occasions. I maintain that this recording is absolutely the best that I have heard. Previous greats, like Horowitz and even Rachmaninoff, simply made more mistakes while playing this incredibly difficult piece. Bronfman is both a technical and emotional virtuoso.

[UsernameHerpDerp]

This may just be the best performance of anything by anyone ever

[94jmcorrea]

the difficulty of this concerto exceeds our wildest imagination, and this guy played it flawlessly and passionately.... I want to be him

[zaf511]

Yefim's dynamic control and his extraordinarily precise accuracy when playing the cadenza is really jaw dropping. Incredible musician.

[morten555555]

The sound is miserable and that is a real shame.

[LivK135]

does someone recognize this piece? v=7PyDc8JnOfs

[cejames]

I've got to admit, after listening to Horowitz' 1941 performance (for the first time), this is the second best performance of this piece that I have heard.

[avalokiteshivara]

Amazing Rendition!

Melhor interpretação desde os tempos de Horowitz!

[ThePaul1E]

I think this redition is simply extraordinary however Horowits 1941 performance is and always will be the best

[kmbnavy]

Horowitz' version is still top in my book

[sakulreyel1]

@matillkeke do you really know what you are saying ? this piece is one of the most difficult pieces of the world... you just upload vids with horses so pls dont comment this awesome music- i dont know about horses so i dont give my comment to it but just say FAIL! is bad.-..

GREAT PLAYED !!

[vickiehill1]

I love this piece & Bronfman is brilliant!!!

[matilleke1]

FAIL!!

[SSlavaS]

Beauty itself!

[5454Frank]

Magnificent!

[eskepro]

How can someone dislike this play?

[tchykovsky]

Starting at 4:15 it's so difficult. Don't let the pace fool you. The first six pages are considerably much easier compared to that passage.

[MrRaphaelBM]

@tchykovsky are you kidding me? its look so easy...

[tchykovsky]

@MrRaphaelBM Look up the Jorge Bolet Rachmaninoff 3 masterclass. When he goes over this part, then you'll know why it's difficult. Sure, it's not as technically challenging as the previous "toccata" section, but to keep the melodic lines clear and to express the music fully, that's a challenge. The cadenza is much easier to go through than the earlier sections in my opinion.

[AreaQNH870]

BRILLIANT!

[kbillysupersounds]

I have a version of this peice played by Vladmir Ashkenazy, which i much prefer. VA seems to play with more measure and nuance. I felt a bit shortchanged hearing this performance.

[alexandrabak]

@kbillysupersounds

I absolutely agree! I don't feel the 'Rachmaninoff sense' as I believe there should be. It's technical, yes. It's good, yes. But I still don't like it. Ashkenazy's version is far more superior.

[AnthonyGallo84]

@kbillysupersounds That version is an in-studio recording. It's not live. Ofcourse its better.

[bndctus]

the guy on the piano has to memorize all that O.O

[tisho91]

@bndctus

"the guy on the piano" as you refer to is probably the greatest pianist ever! I've heard Yefim playing Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto #1 and it's almost as good as this! The best Piano concerto ever,though,is Rachmaninoff's #2.

[hommefriday]

@tisho91 don't let's forget Tatum and Peterson?

[musicfanof]

love the performance... not to sure why any proffesional orchestra would need 10 bassists lol. not good for balance

[fagelsinnet]

Incredible performance! I especially love the part at 8:13 - 8:55. It gives me chills. I use to listen to it over and over. 

[hidday]

Bronfman has that unique quality wich makes you literally hold your breath.

this kind of breathtaking performance of this piece was only matched by the early Horowitz - and Rachmaninoff himslef.

+he playes the best ossia cadenza that ive heard.

[tangerineman91]

Great wrong note at 6:07.

[fernandotorresr]

I like it but I dont approve of the sudden lurches in tempo

[fenderwangcaster]

@fernandotorresr  Then go back to listening to your shitty Lady Gaga music in which NOTHING in the song (lyrics, tempo, rhythm, chords, same 3 notes) changes for the entirety of it.

[fakirpoo]

@fenderwangcaster way to be a dick about it

[trigon8707]

Stunning, flawless!!

[Ledtoogesabpistol70s]

oh the development!!! such color

[kerenezra]

perfect..

[charmclover]

Truly the work of a master. Both Rachmaninoff and Bronfman.

[mortalfrog0815]

the great thing about this performance is that you hear phrases differently from any other performance... i've never heard it like that! stunning...

[albusdumbledorexcore]

...That guy is surely sweating.

[albusdumbledorexcore]

No wonder people go insane trying to learn his music... Only a genius could come up with that!

[t3hwasabi]

8:16 ___gapes___

[Zengui]

Outstanding!!

[mgyucht1]

umm... this isn't rach 3. :D

[jungyeonii]

@mgyucht1 This is certainly Rachmaninoff Concerto No.3 ...

[lypunkdud20]

@jungyeonii oh wow, you're absolutely right. How did I ever mix this up with rach 2? My bad.

[lourak]

The opening bars alone highlight Bronfman's poise, elegance and technical mastery.

[rhapsodisabella]

The most amazing rendition I have ever heard. Simply extraordinary. Yefim Bronfman's musicianship is incomparable.

[simcha181818]

@rhapsodisabella I agree 100%.

[slaytesics]

@rhapsodisabella Yuja Wang, just sayin

[SquealingGucciPiggy]

@rhapsodisabella I agree 200%

[tititalin]

I believe this is one of the greatest performances of Rach 3 on youtube!

[alsmed]

he had unusually large hands

[berlusmafia]

I was thinking about the same thing about his butt!!

Great pianist anyway

[MrDesperateArtist]

shut up Rach!, you made me cry!

[gerillaserbaz]

Fantastic!

[MrSecureT]

Bronfman performed this with the Houston Symphony several years ago. He's not my favorite, but it was nonetheless a great performance of my favorite concerto for piano.

[astrofizzi12]

Hallo I am not a professional piano player but I recorded a mix of pieces from Piano Concerto n. 3 and played electric guitars along. You can hear it and leave a comment:

thanks a lot, Roberto

[astrofizzi12]

Great!

[TamarKhomeriki]

love love ..............................­....

[bivala]

great!

[julia4328]

great performance!

[edniushka]

simplemente maravilloso!

[gretagardeva]

...............

[TheJoshzilla]

Russians are teddy bears

[cowheadcow]

@TheJoshzilla I lolled at this.

[TheRachmaninoffFan]

8:13 - 8:30

gives me chills everytime....it's soooo powerful!!! my goodness, what I'd give to be able to play like that. *rewinds*

[peterSclarke]

@TheRachmaninoffFan What i'd give to be able to compose like that *rewinds*

[ClassicalNNewAgeYo]

huge mistake by flute at 7:45

[arnihl]

@ClassicalNNewAgeYo it heard loud but is it a mistake?

[roeltje18]

beautiful, some tiny mistakes, but surely they nailed it

[BenMcCormack91]

(lying through teeth) I could sightread this. With my eyes closed. With my hands tied behind my back.

(speaking honestly) It takes a pretty good pianist to play this monster.

(giving unnecessary opinion) Nice performance by Bronfman, though I still think the recording Horowitz made in the '50's is probably still the best recording out there.

[arnihl]

@BenMcCormack91 if you are going to play this then i guess you have to be able to play it blindfolded

[BenMcCormack91]

@arnihl ...with my forehead.

[arnihl]

@BenMcCormack91 with your forehead yes!

[Asphyyxia]

I love the way the in the midst of writing the concerto Rachmaninov was just like, "It's too damn hard!"

Lets just say, it fucking shows!

[Impalla11x]

Wow i was listening to this in a playlist and i ligit stoped what i was doing and just sat and listened to this. Fantastic

[birtahrund]

6:11 to 6:21

[kevilicious]

wow are those 2 violists playing with carbon fiber violas? unexpected especially in the Vienna phil

[tititalin]

starting 7:19 - highlights of the whole piece!

[Phoenix1342689]

I wonder what kind of wood those black violins at 1:38 are made out of.

[sebastianlanducci]

I dare to say carbon fiber

[Phoenix1342689]

Ahhhh. That could be. Being a violin player myself, I always associate carbon fiber with worse sound quality than a natural wood, though. But I don't reject your theory at all.

[EdwardACS]

It is indeed a unbelievable piece when executed by an skilled pianist and maestro. Therefore, didn't appreciate that interpretation. Arrhythmia between pianist and the rest of the orchestra, few emotion on the piano and strings... It's a wonderful piece in a fail. Not a virtuoso pianist.

[jpage22]

@EdwardACS you are a fucking idiot. that is all.

[EdwardACS]

why am I an idiot? that's my standpoint about it. If you don't agree, great, make then a statement of why you think I'm wrong. If not... well then I'll take yours as just a vague sight of some ignorant vermin. bye

[DJCrazyDiamond]

@EdwardACS In my humble opinion, the notes are all well executed but it somewhat lacks the passion i've heard in other performances. It almost sounds at moments like he's churning out the notes instead of harnessing the expression of each passing segment. This is probably one of the hardest pieces to play in the classical repertoire though. Props to Bronfman for performing it on this level.

[EdwardACS]

@DJCrazyDiamond Yeah I mostly agree with you, but I'm a little dramatic when showing my opinions lol. Basically that's what I stated. It sounds mechanized, unlike the pieces with M. Argerich on piano. I could even compare her passion when playing with Horowitz! It's just perfect. She makes every piece seem so simple when it's extraordinary complex (like Prokofiev p. concerto no.3), and once you compare those two interpretations of this piece, the difference is immeasurable.

[DJCrazyDiamond]

@EdwardACS I honestly think it really just simply comes down to showing loyalty to a certain performance that you're used to hearing. hearing this piece interpreted differently from the way you're used to hearing it can be difficult because you can really grow akin to this piece. I can't say this performance is bad at all, it's just a little bit faster with less rubato than the way i'm used to hearing it.

[EdwardACS]

@DJCrazyDiamond It isn't about loyalty, I was just being realist. When I say their interpretations are proper and this one isn't only my opinion or loyalty to determined interpretation, it is reality. If Bonfman was inept to play this piece properly, sorry, but he should have practiced it better. And then people keep saying it is a "very right performance", oh cmon, I just can't hear that (metaphorically speaking) and stay quiet. It's not right neither plausible.

[EdwardACS]

Oh and to finish... his facial expressions are so artificial. It would be nice if he'd "thrown" all that "passion" on the piano instead the face. XD

[HolyMotherofGrid]

Must agree with you, Mr. Diamond!!! Aergerlich;s version has MUCH more coloring and passion than this somewhat mechanistic performance by Bronfman - and i like Kissin's interpretation also, as well as Richter;s of course :-+). Granted it;s a tough piece, but i still think Bronfman is more than a tad "wooden" in this particular rendition.

[mrjlowitz]

FYI Richter never recorded the 3rd. I'm not even sure it was in his repetoire?

[HolyMotherofGrid]

I stand corrected!!! I was thinking of Richter's completely amazing rendition of #2, which is on Youtube: it sends shivers all up and down my spine - every time!

[itsanthonyhere]

I'm sure he sight-read it some morning while brushing his teeth or something.

[mrjlowitz]

Agree withj yoy. Also admire Bronfman, Ashkenasy and Cliburn.

[mario54671]

@HolyMotherofGrid There are other performances on YouTube of Bronfman playing this piece! There's one someone uploaded of him with Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic, and another with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Philharmonia Orchestra, which is my favorite one. :)

[rabbitwaran]

The orchestral 'swell and sigh' led by him at 6:13 is purely ethereal. A magnificent musician!

[lareinadebastos]

Me encanta este concierto, es sublime :)

[Powerslider]

Wow! Finally a version where the tempo is right and the orchestra sounds mesmerising!

[Dennischek]

very right performance

[rjm1009]

i cried the first time i heard this...and the last tme

[Budwolfe]

This is great. But I must confess that I cannot tell the difference between one great performer and another. They all blow my mind and make me very jealous. I love them all and feel blessed that we have such talent in the world.

[semme01]

i agree with you about being able to tell the difference between performers.of course there are different interpretations. but the differences are not really describable in words. you just hear it. the world-class performers are just like different flowers in a meadow, different colors, heights. everyone has its own uniqueness.

[playpianolikewoah]

@Budwolfe This performance is 300 billion times better than Martha Algerich's.

[QBFC]

A melodia principal desta música enche-me as bolas =)

[BluffnWin72]

I watched him play this piece live at the Walt Disney Hall two years ago. His interpretation was simply magestic!!!

[angierre]

Oh what a lovely melody!!

[jackthesnake2]

Spettacolare, magnifico, un grande esecutore che suona il piu' complicato tra i compositori.

[mongoose7001]

I just saw Bronfman play Brahm's 2nd piano concerto, which was amazing, but I wish I could have seen him play THIS

[hedones]

Sokolov and Bronfman are far the best in this concerto; they play the music, not only the piano

[Leshiye69]

Wow...

I've heard this piece played by many.... but this rendition has some genuine emotion. This is a big deal considering the beauty you must have an appetite for to accomplish such a feat.

Truly, this performance is a good and honest piece of art. The whole performance was good, nothing stood out... just the music as expressed from all the artists gathered.

[sarrapianist]

oh my! thats great!!! fantastic! thanks!

[dragknuckle]

More of an athletic event than a musical one.

[bendfeldtf]

Inappropriate comment, and plain wrong - Drag your knuckles

[dragknuckle]

In general, people are more interested in the physicality of playing this piece than the musicality of listening to it. As such, it is watched as one would watch a figure skater attempting a quaduple Axel.

[eltachimetro]

today 100 years of being composed this concerto!!

[RADAMES1983]

It's is the most "Russian" begining I'vwe heard.

The real emotion is inside this small small pianissino. Like a huge and quaet Russia field, and only a little wind move it....

[tato4527]

sin lugar a dudas uno de los mejores pianistas del mundo en la actualidad.

[alijumc]

almost perfect, master

[kimimoro903]

lol i recently discovered this guy when i saw him on Iron Chef America as a judge. Weird, i know!

[Jooseef95]

This is really, really good.

[coconco]

The best !

[benbisley]

What a superb interpretation. Thank you for uploading.

[gctlcda]

Agree w/ you 100%!! Thx for the upload.

[caedin9]

I had the great opportunity to meet Mr. Bronfman in person and attend a master class of his, amazing pianist.

[HolyMotherofGrid]

Awesome!!! Gave me chills down my spine from the very first bar. MANY thanks for posting this great performance.

[mzkim3385]

GREAT PERFORMANCE!!!!

[chester0320]

awesome performance!!!

[bobcash69]

I must admit this is one of the best rach 3 I have ever heard.... i have heard from the recordings of rachmaninov himself, from Martha Angerich, Olga Kern and a favourite of mine - vladimir horowitz.... and this version from yefim bronfman is one of the best there is....

[TaniaKojev]

It is the best for me too!

And Gurgiev is super!!! We flew to Australia for his concert, whole Sydney came to the Opera House...

[rockychuck7]

This is best Rachmaninoff for me.

He is wonderful!!

[Thebookguy1]

I can't believe I haven't heard about him b4!

[elderarce]

UUUUUyyy (HQ) que se veeeé mal

[ThePro911]

This is awesome!!!!!!

[TheFilantrop7]

Pure genius indeed

[rbanerjee23]

really great...does ne one else think the very beginning is a little simplistic ( i was reminded of a disney movie score )...but the rest is pure genius

[FfycOff]

No... it's not simplistic. It's the theme. You need the theme in order to create variations on it and build up to a climax. You can't really go straight into the cadenza, can you. You need build up, and every build up starts with a "simplistic" basic theme.

[lbambacus]

Thank you for sharing this - it 's an impressive performance and the fact that Mr. Bronfman is so unassuming tmakes it all the more enjoyable

[ghostpianist]

Why does Gergiev conduct with a toothpick?

[FredilYupigo]

Because he can. That's how awesome he is.

[TheTurtleman9]

Is he really?

[rasoros]

The more I watch this the more I belive Yefim understands the mind of the russian revolutionary.. he is very in tune with the intent of the music. A lot of respect I give him.

[uleriarecords]

if there is a dvd... I NEED IT. or at least a hd upload... please! cant stop watching this!

[mikanou]

Does anyone know if a dvd of that one exists ?

Why ain't there a dvd with the full 4 rachmaninov concerto ? They totally deserve it ...

[RawWasWar]

Thanks for the Repost!!!! The old one got removed!

[anto12877]

No me canso de escuchar este concierto. He escuchado la interpretación Marta Argerich, la de Abdiel Vázquez, la de Vladimir Horowitz, pero sin duda alguna la que más me emociona es la Bronfman. Da una dimensión un pelín más lírica a la pieza, sin resultar por ello insoportable.

[TheRachmaninoffFan]

I really like 7:55 - 8:50 (:

he plays it SO well....it's probably one of the best renditions I've ever heard of this Concerto (:

thanks for posting!!!

[andreichiu01]

i agree with you!!!

[Jheidimburg]

Extraordinario, no me canso de oir este concierto, consigue transportarme a otro lugar, a otra dimensión, y está magistralmente interpretado por Bronfman.

[xxbarbi84xx]

Por Dios, estoy completamente de acuerdo contigo. Hay una maestría absoluta en esos dedos, y lo toca con un sentimiento que te eriza el pelo de la nuca...

[elekku]

this one has got attitude, its an amazing performance!

[dailybeans]

He's amazing! (Yefim)

I wish he could somehow incorporate using his stomach for playing some of the middle-notes.

That would make my day!

[markhuskey90]

look at Gergiev's toothpick.

35 seconds or so in.

[twoearsonemouth]

2004/11/21 @suntory hall

This is legend.