Rachmaninov plays Rachmaninov Prelude op.32 no.12

[Hobott]

Rachmaninov as a pianist is like Everest - there's no one higher.

[boelen90]

The best performances of rachmaninoffs pianomusic that I've heart until now are the recordings of his own playing. It sounds natural, brilliant and the rubato is exactly in agreement with the tension of the music.

[TomBananas]

What an amazing upload... Also, speaking about bar 43 or 2:11 - 2:12 in this video, one of the few recordings where I have heard the right hand arpeggiated chord performed at the correct speed relative to the left hand ornamented figure that precedes... Bravo!

[keyboards91]

Hello, do u have any idea if i can get this copy in mp3 format? need to listen to it often till my exam!

and do u know if i can get his playing for prelude op32 no5 also?

thanks!

[SchuBomb]

I think Rach did rather unsatisfactory performances of his piano concerti, but everything else I've heard him perform has been amazing, this included.

[Tilan123]

@SchuBomb You can't judge him on HIS own work. HE is the one who plays correctly.

[Bret6464]

@SchuBomb You are unique in saying "Rach did unsatisfactory performances of his piano concerti" - who are you? Liszt reincarnated? In any case, yours is a flippantly ridiculous comment, but then some like you do not mind playing the fool :-)

[javiertw89]

Rachmaninov himself disliked his own interpretations of his concertos. In fact, he admired Horowitz's interpretation of his 3rd concerto, and said that “This is the way I always dreamed my concerto should be played, but I never expected to hear it that way on Earth.” (check Wikipedia)

Personally, I don't completely like Rachmaninov's interpretations (I mean, in comparison to others), but this one is remarkably good.

[Bret6464]

@javiertw89

Rachmaninoff is a gift to humanity as a composer and a pianist. Rach playing his own works are NOT interpretations, that is how HE wrote the music. Yes, he did say he preferred Horowitz's Rach 3rd to his own, but they were best friends for 20 years in New York. There are three pianists Rach admired most: Gilels who Rach considered worthy to be called his successor, Horowitz, and Moiseiwitsch. I add Weissenberg, Richter, Argerich and Jung Lin - and that's my faves list :-))

[javiertw89]

@Bret6464 I don't agree, you could find several recordings in which he doesn't play the same notes he wrote in the score, for example there is one in the 3rd concerto where he skips a part of the cadenza, and a recording of his Melody where he plays notes he didn't write.

Anyway, I do agree with you in the fact that Rachmaninov is a gift to all of us as a composer and as a pianist. I don't like him much as a pianist but it is true that he inspired many others.

[Bret6464]

@javiertw89 Yes, Rachmaninoff is not bound by his original scores - he created the music and he creates everytime he performs it :-)) That is the definition of a genius and a true artist.

[satyu131089]

@javiertw89 rachmaninov was a part of the tradition of mozart, beethoven, liszt etc who believed improvisation was as important as composing itself...

[JayLinden786]

@Bret6464 rach would have burned Jung Lin in hell for her musical moment no.4 :)

[Bret6464]

@JayLinden786 Have you listened to Rach play his Moment 2 and Moiseiwitsch play Moment 4?

Jung Lin's Moments Musicaux (not just moment 4, all six) are the only performances since Moiseiwitsch that do justice to Rachmaninoff - extraordinary musicality and technique - pianism! and incredibly faithful to Rach's own interpretation :-)

Moisewitsch was one of the 3 artists Rach admired, Gilels and Horowitz are the other two - Rach would have admired and approved Jung Lin's Rach :-))

[Bret6464]

@JayLinden786 I see you ae a Lugansky fan, that explains your comment :-(

Lugansky's Rach has zero - nada - in common with how Rachmaninoff played his works. Lugansky does not appear to have ever listened to Rach's recordings, IF he did so, I doubt he has either the technique (so so) or the musicality (zip - nada - none) to do Rach justice :-)) Happy New Year :-)

[JayLinden786]

@Bret6464 im speechless :D

[Tubaranesse]

Some artists are pure miracle just because of their existence.And this one is THE example.

[WatchBlueSkies]

Shure, who could play it better ??

Wow.

[pianopera]

A lesson in virtuosity, clarity and purity of expression...he is building to the climax without the annoying slackening and overly emphatic playing that is so commonplace nowadays.

Thanks for posting the most important version of this piece!

[xper2xper]

@pianopera

Very well said as usual, and I fully agree!

Cheers!

[Noshirm]

@pianopera - I hear things in this piece as he plays that I've never heard before! He was truly a sublime and aristocratic pianist, one of the very greatest!

[TheBenEEeee]

Thanks for uploading... good stuff!

[xper2xper]

@TheBenEEeee

I'm glad you've enjoyed it! ;-)