Rachmaninoff plays Schubert Impromptu Op. 90 No. 4

Impromptu in A-flat major Op. 90 No. 4, D. 899
Composer: Franz Schubert
Performer: Sergei Rachmaninov

Category:

Music

Tags:

• rachmaninoff
• rachmaninov
• schubert
• impromptu
• op.
• 90
• no.
• a-flat
• major
• d.
• 899
• zimerman
• rubinstein
• horowitz

[Muramatsu988]

I would've liked to see those fingers :O

[CoolWJL]

Too many are so used to a particular trend of interpretations they tend to narrow their mind to them. And when someone plays differently it becomes unacceptable.

This is so unique I love it. Rachmaninov has a habit of turning everything into a Rachmaninov and this is no exception.

[costep]

@costep But to give also credit to Steinway I would like to add that the greatest Steinway D-grand I ever played was not the Horowitz piano but a piano from the 40ies, that I saw in the shop of a piano salesman in Hiroshima. It was a personal hobby of that (also) tuner to bring out the finest in that piano.

[costep]

@costep After that time it was bought for Paul Badura-Skoda, who seems to have practiced a lot of Mozart sonatas on it. When I bought it from Paul in 1991, the first pieces I played on it were some Mozart sonatas. And the piano knew them all:)

Although by the sound it is more suited for Brahms and Schubert.

[costep]

@ignaz1882

Because I read here again because of new comment I would like to add that my piano stems from what you call "Golden Age of pianos". It was built in 1913/1914 and used to be the main concert grand of the Great Hall in Musikvereinsgebäude in Vienna. Some of the greatest musicians have played on it. It stayed there for 9 years.

[costep]

@Bret6464 I agree that this is one of the best interpretations I have ever listened to. (And I would not be able to cite a better one.) And personally I learn a lot by his interpretation.

[Bret6464]

@costep :-))) Yes, the deterioration is not in the "instrument" - it is in pianism, from that "golden age" of Rach, Horowitz, Gilels and very very few others.

But this is THE master, no point in measuring others against Rach - that's a fool's errand :-) 

[costep]

@ignaz1882 :)))

golden age of pianos. This is quite new for me that there was a golden age of pianos. Although I agree that felt and leather were better at that time. But I would still believe that a Renner- action of today would react even faster than at that times.

I agree that they don't make them like that any more, neither Steinway nor Bösendorfer. But the deterioration is not in the action - it is in the sound.

[ignaz1882]

@costep 'How he got the repetition with the pianos of his time...' Are you serious? Not only was Rachmaninoff a Golden Age pianist, but he also lived during the golden age of pianos. They don't make 'em like that any more - not by a long shot!

[kuromaid]

I really don't know what to do with this piece so I went to Youtube to get some inspiration.

I saw Zimmerman with an extremely slow and relaxing interpretation, Horowitz with crazy butterfly rhythm and now there's Rachmaninoff with fast, powerful playing.

What should I do now!?

[Soila28]

What a genius!

[paulostroff99]

Lovely playing.TY theoshow2 tor posting.