Alexis Weissenberg plays Rachmaninoff Sonata 2 Part 2

[nixonburgers]

Anyone else think the theme at :30 and 2:00 sounds a bit like Ravel's Pavane pour une Infante Defunte?

[Choltik]

This part of the sonata is just beautifull! One of the most beautifull pieces from rachmaninoff

[scepticthinker]

Simply the best- what more can be said? Masterful playing!

[TheBulgarianThunder]

Beautiful. Just beautiful.

[TheCrazyHairPianist]

The over tone series at 3:34 is just scary...

[billyguns2]

Fabulous!

[sagalat]

Superb Weissenberg! His sheer power at 2:00 and 2:16. I know many object to his heavy mechanical touch but...their loss. Also, listen to how he finishes the Rach 2 Concerto (Second Movement). HUGE!!!!

[rareviolintreasures]

im curious to hear any recording out there that is as good as an alternate recording, any clues?

[RichardMartin2]

Oh, Horowitz, on RCA Victor coupled with the Rachmaninov D minor (Chicago SO/ Reiner, 1951).

[RichardMartin2]

Also Cliburn. Both recordings have the additional advantage of being live so that the audiences go berserk at the end (more so in Horowitz' case).

[RichardMartin2]

And when you've done those, John Ogdon & Lydia Jardon. Happy listening!

[fledgehog]

@rareviolintreasures if you want to hear an absolutely mindblowing rach b-flat minor, listen to Alexei Sultanov.  he plays the horowitz transcription, and i daresay he plays it with more fire and drama than horowitz himself did! if the rach 2 even has a rightful owner, i'd award the title to Sultanov in a heartbeat.