That to say, Rachmaninov is tumultuous, and I love his compositions and renderings such as these of them. Rs' compositions remind me of something like "a storm at sea, opposite a cigarette being smoked on a bench during a cold night in The City all wrapped up in a kiss." and other such mixed imagery and metaphor. Thanks for this.
Great job. You played with the passion this piece deserves. Love how the audience bursts into applause before the piece finishes ... shows they were totally into it!
a very hard piece to play and I cant play it. but in my opinion I think the way you played it puts a little too much forte in the right hand. some of the parts that are supposed to decrescendo in the right hand only were played right through with too much power. but play it how you want really. great job.
You play this with great profoundity. It is deeply melancholic, introspective and haunting and that is what you have successfully transmitted to the audience. Those extended rubators were awesome, very effectual and heart felt. There is nothing wrong with the speeds you use. Speed too is a matter of taste and you were true to yourself in this regard. Do not let anyone dictate feelings to you. A brilliant interpretation all the way.
I love the feeling you bring to this Elegie, it speaks to me. I had a high school student, very gifted, play it in one of my student piano recitals. It was in memory of my beloved mother who had passed away in India when i was in the United States. She was an unbelievable pianist and profound musician. She would have loved your interpretation of this piece very much.
oh I love that elegie. but this girl isn't playing very good I think. I was 12 years old when I was playing this elegie and I've been playing much more better! :D :)
It's just one huge gorgeous piece. To make it more accessible to listeners, I simply eliminate the difficult middle part. But Soulveris did it wond'rously, Brava
yeah! I understand, I've been working on this piece for about a week ( I just started) and I'm at the end of the first page. it's not that hard to play but it's really hard to memorize.
There was very dark, candels was the light source only. It looked wonderful, but darkness has prevented to normal quality of shooting. And I agree with you about aplause. Helen, who played, said the same after this. People can't wait and, simply, disturb her playing.
Good playing, but a little slow at times for me. Rachmaninoff's roll recording has a real sense of movement. The melody should be a G flat against the E flat7 chord on the last page. Some stupid editor 'corrected' what Rachmaninoff wrote and played on his roll.
When performing their own works, especially on piano rolls, many composers chose to improvise. We see this especially evident in the recordings of Rachmaninoff and Ravel.
That's crap, sorry. Rachmaninoff changed small details in the score of the work but not as a spur of the moment idea. Do some research before making pronouncements (to fit with ignoring what he actually did?). If Rachmaninoff changed something in the score it was out of a firm, DEFINITE decision.
Go back the listen to the roll again - there are 3 uses of grace notes that aren't in the score. He also changes the quintuplet at the climax to a septuplet. You can debate it all you want, but there's a reason everyone plays G natural - it sounds better. =)
What of the changes? I play them myself, but they weren't 'spur of the moment'. They were decided on over time. He didn't just do things on a whim. The G natural doesn't sound better. It sounds ordinary and routine. Minor against major is far darker and more in the mood of the piece. Rachmaninoff's manuscript has G flat and Rachmaninoff played G flat. It's only thanks to a dumb editor that it appears in some editions.
I'm sure there are plenty of people that think the G flat sounds better...maybe more than think the natural sounds better. I just like the tension that minor 9th puts in there - I actually think the G flat makes it sound more ordinary and routine. Different ears I suppose. =)
G flat is 'ordinary' against a left hand E flat 7 chord (only the r.h. is a flat)? Major AND minor 3rd is certainly NOT 'ordinary' or 'routine' within a single chord. Are you talking about a different chord? There is no minor 9th if you the play G natural, only a dull E flat 7 harmony (as routine as it comes).
I plead temporary insanity: I knew what chord you meant, but I could have sworn the left hand had G flats (hence the augmented octave/minor 9th interval) - my bad! I still like that G nat - I guess the "tension" I was thinking of comes from the temporary shift to major before the end. That minor/major third seems more Stravinsky than Rachmaninoff to me. Again...my bad!
Yeah, it's pretty extreme (late Scriabin also does simultaneous major and minor chords) but it's definitely what he meant. The natural sign was added by those who just assumed it was too radical.
That to say, Rachmaninov is tumultuous, and I love his compositions and renderings such as these of them. Rs' compositions remind me of something like "a storm at sea, opposite a cigarette being smoked on a bench during a cold night in The City all wrapped up in a kiss." and other such mixed imagery and metaphor. Thanks for this.
daviddanielgraham 4 months ago
I love your interpretation of this piece. It has a haunting and dark rich melody which will never grow tedious or tiresome to me. :D
MrLyons77 4 months ago
I used to use the account Callenishss. Now I use this one. I am still in love with Jelena and her piano playing still runs through me.
one day if i become famous my own piano performing i will tell the world how this vid reached the depths of my heart
Ingot49 6 months ago
Thanks Callenishss, that's really my job and my name is Jelena. I very appreciate your positive feedback! Thank You very much.
Soulveris is my old friend. Thanks a lot for this video, Maxim!
eglite85 1 year ago
i am in love with this lady performing. what is her name is she Elena?
I remember a few years ago someone called eglite85 commented on the vid and said it was her playing
.....i have yet to get into rachmaninoff, been playing all chopin lately
callenishss 2 years ago
Great job. You played with the passion this piece deserves. Love how the audience bursts into applause before the piece finishes ... shows they were totally into it!
natachu444 2 years ago
a very hard piece to play and I cant play it. but in my opinion I think the way you played it puts a little too much forte in the right hand. some of the parts that are supposed to decrescendo in the right hand only were played right through with too much power. but play it how you want really. great job.
Ureallydontknow 2 years ago
You play this with great profoundity. It is deeply melancholic, introspective and haunting and that is what you have successfully transmitted to the audience. Those extended rubators were awesome, very effectual and heart felt. There is nothing wrong with the speeds you use. Speed too is a matter of taste and you were true to yourself in this regard. Do not let anyone dictate feelings to you. A brilliant interpretation all the way.
concerto35 2 years ago
its too fast...and its ATCL...i know coz im in ATCL now and i play it
fykho 2 years ago
You should examine Rachmaninov's Ampico Recording he did on this piece.
ChrisWatch 2 years ago
does anyone know what grade this piece is?!
celtic55 3 years ago
in the rcm it is grade 10
musictada 3 years ago
i am playing in this video... thanks to Soulveris for sharing this video.
I like this elegie very much! every one is playing like he/she feels. i feel it like this, if you feel different - play as you feel.
eglite85 4 years ago
I love the feeling you bring to this Elegie, it speaks to me. I had a high school student, very gifted, play it in one of my student piano recitals. It was in memory of my beloved mother who had passed away in India when i was in the United States. She was an unbelievable pianist and profound musician. She would have loved your interpretation of this piece very much.
FerozaLaBonne 3 years ago
You play magnificently. I would have taken it a tad faster (maybe one or two clicks faster on the meteronome) Beautifully done!
mayvat92 3 years ago
Very good playing to me, I´m studying this piece and its giving me a hard time, any suggestions?
jorgestacruz 4 years ago
la fel de important
in memoria celui cu MASCA
ghemelza 4 years ago
foarte important in memoria celui fara MASCA
ghemelza 4 years ago
in memoria ta
ghemelza 4 years ago
oh I love that elegie. but this girl isn't playing very good I think. I was 12 years old when I was playing this elegie and I've been playing much more better! :D :)
belagogona 4 years ago
if you're so good why not post a video?
Bareghamyan 4 years ago
It's just one huge gorgeous piece. To make it more accessible to listeners, I simply eliminate the difficult middle part. But Soulveris did it wond'rously, Brava
sagalat 4 years ago
Eliminate the middle part! That's the best part!! :)
I2ubeU2ubeWeall2ube 4 years ago
how can u eliminate!!!
horrible
plus thats not soulveris, its elena egleetei i think, unless shes soulveris
callenishss 2 years ago
nice work. how long did it take you to learn this piece? cause im halfway through memorize it and it feels like ill never finish.
joeybettencourt 5 years ago
yeah! I understand, I've been working on this piece for about a week ( I just started) and I'm at the end of the first page. it's not that hard to play but it's really hard to memorize.
IloveAlexisBledel689 4 years ago
There was very dark, candels was the light source only. It looked wonderful, but darkness has prevented to normal quality of shooting. And I agree with you about aplause. Helen, who played, said the same after this. People can't wait and, simply, disturb her playing.
Soulveris 5 years ago
Nice... but those lights and the people who cant wait to aplause is hard!
extremist85 5 years ago
Good playing, but a little slow at times for me. Rachmaninoff's roll recording has a real sense of movement. The melody should be a G flat against the E flat7 chord on the last page. Some stupid editor 'corrected' what Rachmaninoff wrote and played on his roll.
cziffra1980 5 years ago
Slow? I don't think so. It's elegy - sad song... And everbody feels it differently
Freddran 5 years ago
When performing their own works, especially on piano rolls, many composers chose to improvise. We see this especially evident in the recordings of Rachmaninoff and Ravel.
chopianist8 5 years ago
That's crap, sorry. Rachmaninoff changed small details in the score of the work but not as a spur of the moment idea. Do some research before making pronouncements (to fit with ignoring what he actually did?). If Rachmaninoff changed something in the score it was out of a firm, DEFINITE decision.
cziffra1980 5 years ago
Go back the listen to the roll again - there are 3 uses of grace notes that aren't in the score. He also changes the quintuplet at the climax to a septuplet. You can debate it all you want, but there's a reason everyone plays G natural - it sounds better. =)
zellsai 4 years ago
What of the changes? I play them myself, but they weren't 'spur of the moment'. They were decided on over time. He didn't just do things on a whim. The G natural doesn't sound better. It sounds ordinary and routine. Minor against major is far darker and more in the mood of the piece. Rachmaninoff's manuscript has G flat and Rachmaninoff played G flat. It's only thanks to a dumb editor that it appears in some editions.
cziffra1980 4 years ago
I'm sure there are plenty of people that think the G flat sounds better...maybe more than think the natural sounds better. I just like the tension that minor 9th puts in there - I actually think the G flat makes it sound more ordinary and routine. Different ears I suppose. =)
zellsai 4 years ago
G flat is 'ordinary' against a left hand E flat 7 chord (only the r.h. is a flat)? Major AND minor 3rd is certainly NOT 'ordinary' or 'routine' within a single chord. Are you talking about a different chord? There is no minor 9th if you the play G natural, only a dull E flat 7 harmony (as routine as it comes).
cziffra1980 4 years ago
I plead temporary insanity: I knew what chord you meant, but I could have sworn the left hand had G flats (hence the augmented octave/minor 9th interval) - my bad! I still like that G nat - I guess the "tension" I was thinking of comes from the temporary shift to major before the end. That minor/major third seems more Stravinsky than Rachmaninoff to me. Again...my bad!
zellsai 4 years ago
Yeah, it's pretty extreme (late Scriabin also does simultaneous major and minor chords) but it's definitely what he meant. The natural sign was added by those who just assumed it was too radical.
cziffra1980 4 years ago
i much prefer it slow like this.
pianogirl714 4 years ago