Rachmaninoff plays Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No.4 : I

[slubert]

Am I THE ONLY ONE THAT THINKS THE 4TH HAS THE MOST AMOUNT OF RACHMANINOFFNESS??? the style of endless build up´s you never know when it goes from a section to another.... every "problem" pointed out by listeners is just a descriptions of rachmaninoff´s style.. the 3rd movement is Amazing and is pure Rach all through (Earl Wild/Jascha Horenstein is the best one to look in)

[kristoferfir]

wow, he sure did hit the climax way before the orchestra. ha ha

[kristoferfir]

I think Rachmaninoff did a very good job performing his 4th.



[Kijibob]

I cannot thank you enough!

[mmelymuka]

There's just something "extra" special in hearing/experiencing Rachmaninoff performing his own concerto's/preludes. While I have some very fine vinyl/CD performances of other pianists performing the Rachmaninoff concertos (and many preludes) ... with perhaps the exception of Horowitz in some occasions, the other performances somehow overall seem relatively pale once you've had the opportunity of hearing the Maestro performing his own compositions.

[6558369]

thank you for posting this, man!

[montrealactor]

Fantastic and pleasantly more attenuated at intervals than I had expected. The phrasing, rhythm and movement between the sombre and joyous are all stupendous!

[reduxmisc]

Thanks so much... I love this piece.... 5 stars

[kuhlautal]

My definitely favourit concert. Thanks a lot violavonschnitzel. I was always listening Michelangelis version and could not imagine anything better, until I heard this. This music is so amazing that it`s difficult to find words

[peterlunow]

too bad he didnt record the original version....anyway: such phrasing,pulse,rhythm,WOW ,unsurpassed!!

[th0mazV]

This is what you call Emocore :D

[DanaYasmina]

fascinating music...

[richclayderman]

totally underrated

[mako162]

The Rachmaninovs touch and phrasing are still unsurpassable, almost fabulous.

[lousvr]

Ok, sometimes the 'Search' subroutine on youtube doesn't work to good sometimes..

The ABM version I just mentioned IS AVAILABLE., but you must type in the following;

"Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli plays Sergei Rachmaninoff Concerto no. 4 op. 40."... etc.. Otherwise you won't find it right away... ok.. Enjoy

[lousvr]

Sorry bad typing.. it's Michelangeli.

[lousvr]

For anyone interested. For the last nearly 60 years or so, other than SVR, the benchmark all others are compare to is Arturo Benedetti Bichelangeli's recording of the early 50's which is still available. Make the bother to get it.. you will be amazed..

Trust me.

[weikko79]

@lousvr Not early but late 50s -- 1957 to be exact. There are two recordings, one from a live concert.

[84Fish48Fish]

This is one of my favorite concertos. The orchestra and piano work together as if to be one instrument. There are tons of different textures you hear in this. This is a maximum on emotion. It's certainly not just a piano concerto.

[Kevincygnus]

es hermoso este movimiento de este concierto, es el unico que me gusta del 4º concierto para piano

[ipmoic]

Many thanks violavonschnitzel--it sounds like a great orchestra. Now I know why!

Although I like Michelangeli's brilliant rendition as well, the balances on that recording are often poor, whereas here, so many years earlier, the balances are terrific.

[violavonschnitzel]

Incredible, isn't it?

[ipmoic]

Can you tell us the orchestra here violavonschnitzel?

[violavonschnitzel]

'Tis the Philadelphia Orchestra. Ormandy was the conductor.

[4c00h]

this is amazing and by far the best version ive heard

[PhilipLu3]

2341 is my ranking for Rachmaninoff's concertos.

[DanaYasmina]

Thanks S.R., your music makes me feel happier...

[MCarey0608]

I would LOVE to study and perform this great piano concerto. Phillipe Entrement made excellent recordings of Rachmaninoff's 1st and 4th piano concerti (both on the same album). Oh, my God . . . .

[PeacfulJoh]

I love this concerto!! I can't stand how people put it down as if it were inferior to the other 3 (or 4, really). It's just so gorgeous! I'm planning on learning it in about 3 years after a few more Mozart/Beethoven Sonatas/Concerti. Maybe I'll be ready after that. Every time I listen to this movement, especially, it makes me feel all bubbly inside. Nothing else does that! *Muah* Thank you Sergei: genius!

[violavonschnitzel]

I must agree. People put it down because the style is not what they expected from Rachmaninoff, but it is still a work of genius!

[Stoneyridger]

@PeacfulJoh I agree totally. This is my favorite Rachmaninoff Concerto. It is not as structurally cohesive as the 2nd or 3rd, but that's not really the point of this concerto. It is harmonically much more inventive than any of his other concerti. This was composed after Rachmaninoff had been introduced to a wider pallet (sp?) of colors --- jazz, blues, etc.

[q8pianist]

this concerto was his best piano work for him and allso the b/minor Prelude. he likes them so much. thats what he say for Bonne and Hofmen

thats way he realy play them so nice and beautiful

[superclive23]

Naxos has issued an excellent recording of Rachmaninov playing this concerto, and at a very affordable price. To date, I personally don't think that a better recording has been made of this concerto. And the best thing about it is the fact the orchestra is very sympathetic to the piano. I just love the orchestral energy at the very beginning!

[allegroconmoto]

A memorable wonderful performance of this concerto was given by Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli with the london philarmonia orchestra conducted by Ettore Gracis on an Emi record, coupled with the best existing performance of the Ravel's piano concerto in G .

[timuth]

Désolé pour le commentaire en français, je suis pas doué en anglais... Je trouve ce concerto triste, il exprime vraiment son déracinement de son pays la Russie, écoutez 7:10 - 8:12 un bout que j'aime, dommage aussi que les critiques ont été sévère aussi sur cette composition ce qui l'a rammené dans le silence... en tout cas... J'adore la musique de Rachmaninov, son interpretation aussi. C'est pleins d'émotions.

[Desmonddd2002]

Pretty good recording of Rachmaninov

[violavonschnitzel]

Sure is :)

[ArturoAlejandroS]

I never thought that I would see this marvel played by Rachmaninov in youtube!5 stars

[violavonschnitzel]

Many thanks!!

[ArturoAlejandroS]

I have a question :Is posible to find the original version or 1926 or 1927 even?

Is this of 1941?

Thanks again

[violavonschnitzel]

This is of the 1941 revision, but I'm not sure if there are any of the 1926 or 1927 editions... Sorry

[ArturoAlejandroS]

I'm sure that the 1926 version was good, a bit large, like the third concert of piano,but even these concert was criticized by its length.

Even I like the first symphony,is very irregular the finale, but the music sounds amazing and beautiful.

Thanks.

[peterlunow]

there is also a Chandos recording with the Iceland Symphony orch. wich is yet another version....here ,in the 3rd movement, appears a haunting melodyline that I never heard before.But whatever version:this is a fascinating piece,indeed a closure and a beginning for the composer.

[ArturoAlejandroS]

How is these theme?The trumpet theme is a fanfarre in the 2 minutes of 3rd movement.

Is similar to these or different?

Maybe I have another version even,remember he did many cuts.Thanks!

[TheMadman2006]

rachmaninov didnt record the original version but michelangeli did

[weikko79]

@TheMadman2006 No, Michelangeli's recording is also of the revised version. It's the exact same version that Rachmaninoff's playing here.

[peterlunow]

there is a recording by the Iceland Symphony with a pianist called William Black ,conductor Igor Buketoff(who knew Rachm.) it is the original version .I think it is much better than the revision: especially the last mouvement makes much more sense sense ,there is a theme there that will knock you over,!

Chandos Records #8987 recorded in 1991

[ArturoAlejandroS]

I have in a cassette a version,I don't know if is the original,but is of nowdays I think,not of the years of Rachmaninov.

In the last movement,yes there is a theme,a trumpet theme,beautiful,really I heard it some time and I think that this could be the theme you said.

The theme that I said you is a trumpet theme,near of 2 minutes in 3rd movement.

Greetings and thanks!

[Risk2029]

Very nice but technique is lacking

[violavonschnitzel]

Well, yes it is very nice - I'm not sure if there's any lack of technique, maybe I'm just not yet experienced enough to see it :)

Thanks for your comment anyway.

[Risk2029]

I was just kidding. It's rachmaninov playing rachmaninov. That's the epitome of, well, if not technique then original envision.

A lot of people criticize masters like Kissin so I thought it'd be funny to take it overboard and to criticize Rachnaminov.

[violavonschnitzel]

Of course :)

Sorry for misinterpreting your comment :)

[chad410]

loll

[weikko79]

@Risk2029 Hah!

[DanielLaszloKovacs]

This Concerto, the last of Sergei, is a true attempt to Escape from Music to another plane of expression and freedom!! Even though this Concerto wasn't conceived as well (at first) by the audience, and thus was rewritten several times, I think it is the most mature of the four. The first: young and fresh; the second: beautiful and mature; the third: a peak, brilliant; the fourth: a closure, a departing, an escape...

[violavonschnitzel]

Thank-you so much for your insightful comments regarding Rach's 4th concerto! Other concertos coming soon if you're interested.