It can be said that the most "perfect" version is the original for piano and harmonium. It has both worlds, the aerophone and the percussive, and it’s very intimate too. Both the piano and organ versions are missing one of these two parts, but both work quite well, and the piece is marvellous
I met Vladimir Viardo in the late 70 ies in Poland when he had several concerts there. I was his official translator and thanks to him I felt in love with Rachmaninoff's music. Vladimir is my favourite pianist ever. It was the most beautiful experience I ever had working with so talented artist.
Oh! how fantastic triplet and dotted note Serenade it is. the length of 8 note after dotted quater note and the length of the 3rd 8 note in triplet are so so mysterious and graceful length. The length of dotted note and long note here and there are also veryvery mysterious. That depends on the friction between odd number and even number though. Occasionally I would love to listen to Isaac Stern with orchestra, everything is so mysterious, especially 4 bars introduction tempo is veryvery fantastic forever. (soon be 91yrs.Japanese) sorry strange English.
This version does not capture the atmosphere of a solitary Swan, calmly swimming on a peaceful lake....unless the Swan was on the verge of hysteria or some kind of nervous collapse.
I love the interplay of major and minor which suggests simultaneously: optimistic reflection? Thank you for your sensitive understanding of this music. If I were to guess the composer, I would have said Granados for the lovely Moorish feel. What do others think?
