Benno Moiseiwitsch plays Scherzo - "Midsummer Night's Dream"

Mendelssohn-Rachmaninoff
Scherzo From "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Benno
• Moiseiwitsch
• Mendelssohn
• Rachmaninoff
• Midsummer
• Night's
• Dream
• piano
• classical

[Bruce88keys]

These guys had the secret golden tone that shines through the old school technology-amazing isn't it?

[truecrypt]

Absolutely correct!

It was a golden period for pianos too!

[bineblies]

The greatest thing that truecrypt has achieved with his channel was not to the apperciation of the classical youtube community but them all gathering at the same place!

[truecrypt]

I'm really glad if it happens!

[DimitarRM]

Sublime and unmatched but for Rachmaninoff's own interpretation!!!!

There are two more videos here of the scherzo that are also great, Kissin's and Jung Lin's performences. Great story about BM and SVR first meeting :D

[amezcuaist]

I saw him in the Albert Hall near the end and in the quiet passages you could have heard a pin drop. Utter respect from every listener there. I think myself honoured to have been so close just once.

[RobSilverMania]

What an uncanny combination of digital dexterity, razor-sharp rhythmic precision, and utter clarity of voicing! Even Rachmaninoff himself (pace, Sergei) doesn't quite reach this level of perfection. Kissin's a great pianist, but his rhythmic sense doesn't equal either of the others'.

[asv8104]

Great

[1980NewWave]

For me this is better than Rachmaninoff's version. Yes Rachmaninoff was one of history's greatest composers, but that doesn't mean that EVERYTHING he ever recorded was the gold standard.

[89hedgehog]

@Bruce88keys Don't know if what we hear is the old technology, I think it is Benno :-) Have you heard Jung Lin's scherzo at the IKIF's on YT! She also has that incredible tone :-)

[semicolin]

BRAVO BENNO! this is just sublime.

[jaredoaks]

Charming yet he still plays with a wonderful dramatic arch from beginning to end. I love that the staccati have so much roundness, which adds to the dance-like quality. Brilliant!

[bigmouthfrog2009]

I recall another detail from the BBC interview with Benno Moiseiwitsch. Benno first met Rachmaninoff at one of Sir Henry Wood's Promenade Concerts, at which Rachmaninoff had just played.

When Moiseiwitsch entered Rachmaninoff's dressing room, the latter was writing a letter to Sir Henry Wood, and his first words to Moiseiwtisch were, "Mr. Englishman, how do you spell "exhilirating"? Great story!!

[bigmouthfrog2009]

Years ago in England I heard Moiseiwitsch speak of this piece on he BBC radio. He was with Rachmaninoff at the recording studio while Rachmaninoff played the piece several times, but was very dissatisfied and said, "Benno, you play it." Benno did and Rachmaninoff said that this was the inspired interpretation which he had been trying to achieve.

Molodets, Benno!!