Emil GILELS plays RACHMANINOV 3d Concerto 1949 (1-4)

USSR State Symphony orchestra conducted by Kirill KONDRASHIN, Moscow, 1949.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• GILELS
• plays
• RACHMANINOV
• Rachmaninoff

[snaaptaker]

Superb! Never heard this one before. Thanks much.

This was a "live" performance, yes?

[SSSLAWWWA]

To be honest, I've got absolutely no information about this recording. However, there's no applause in the end. I like so much 2nd mov. here...

[gtimny]

It's idiotic to suggest that Van Cliburn - who made a towering recording of this piece, and won the 1958 Tchaikowsky Competition with it - is some sort of American Idol phenom. Emil Gilels was the chairman of that jury, and he went to Khruschev to say "Cliburn is the best, we have to give him the prize."

Neishapour is also right about Cliburn's Russian roots - He was trained first by his mother who was a Freidheim pupil, then by Rosina Lhevinne.

Gilels and Van are BOTH the real thing.

[SSSLAWWWA]

Cliburn is a Genius. Gilels knew what he was doing as a chairman. Cliburn is one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. And it's good that he's an "American idol". Good for America!

[Bret6464]

@jonnyenglishlim

There absolutely nothing soviet about Gilels !

He is the true disciple of Rachmaninoff, acknowledged by Rach himself :-)

Gilels is a true poet, the ultimate artist who plays with surreal lyricism and that bel-canto tone that few ever have.

[rwidrew]

I have the Horowitz 1951 version, good but the orchestra is swallowed up by balance favoring the piano. I'm trying to decide between the 1958 Cliburn and the mid-50s Gilels recordings. All 3 are mono, all great performances, so sound quality is the only issue that distinguishes them, although I love Kondrashin's work (supporting Cliburn). The sound of the Cliburn (on Testament) recording seems very murky. This Gilels recording on EMI seems better. Any recommendations? Thanks. rwidrew@gmail.com

[fierydog]

I DID NOT KNOW THIS RECORDING EXISTED! I AM IN HEAVEN. My favorite pianist next to Rach and Van Cliburn is playing this concerto!

[jonnyenglishlim]

this is a magnificent piano concerto played by one of the greatest soviet pianists.... but it is a tad unfortunate that the other great soviet pianist of his time simply refused to play it despite having enormous hands- sviatoslav richter

[ComradeKomaron]

@pianotalent This is true, for I have read as well that ;)

[pianotalent]

@ComradeKomaron Richter did not touch it, he never even played it, he told it himself and wote that in the book...

[ComradeKomaron]

@pianotalent Richter did not play Fifth Beethoven Concerto because teacher Neuhaus, Richter believed, played it perfectly and was no reason to change perfect recordings. Similar with Chopin No. 1. I do not know why not Third Rachmaninov.

[pianotalent]

Richter said that he was not perfect to touch Rachmaninov's #3 and Beethoven's #5, he never never played them... Strange guy, probably scared to play those masterpieces.