I always loved the sound of Rachmaninoff on a Bösendorfer Imperial Grand. The extra octave below really gives a deep harmonic resonance to the whole piece!!
This holds up to all the greats, Ashkenazy, Horowitz, Shelley, Hayroudinoff, etc. In my opinion, this is my favorite interpretation I've heard of this etude. What I particularly like is that you seem to understand what Rachmaninoff meant when he spoke about "the point", "a mystical culmination (not necessarily the climax) upon which all its elements converged and toward which the depth and power of each sound carefully but naturally was calculated to lead". I think you take it there better than any of the previously mentioned pianists! One part that you do that I haven't heard another pianist really achieve is the clarity of the inner voices around 1:45. It really adds the curiosity, questioning aspect into the sound. Something else that stands out is the way the tempos accelerate and decelerate so naturally, just as a person's mind might move naturally from thought to thought. It flows like a well rehearsed speech! If I had one improvement to make on this rendition, it'd be that at 1:58 I would like to see the right hand octaves a little more powerful and a little more acceleration. If those notes were articulated a little more it would just push this over the edge. Cheers my friend! Rachmaninoff would be proud. Here is Rachmaninoff's own words about the point: On a later occasion, he explained that each piece he plays is shaped around its culminating point: the whole mass of sounds must so be measured, the depth and power of each sound must be given with such purity and gradation that this peak point is achieved with an appearance of the greatest naturalness, through actually its accomplishment is the highest art. This moment must arrive with the sound and sparkle of a ribbon snapped at the end of a race- it must seam a liberation from the last material obstacle, the last barrier between truth and its expression. The composition itself determines this culmination; the point may come at its end or in the middle; it may be loud or soft, yet the musician must always be able to approach it with sure calculation, for if it slips by, the work goes soft and fuzzy, and cannot convey to the listener what must be conveyed.
What a great analysis! Very cogent and articulate. I agree, this is a masterful performance, enhanced by the dark beautiful sound of the Bosie. A fine rendition.
Dieses war schön. Sie spielen dieses Stück mit großem Gefühl und Empfindlichkeit. Ich schaue vorwärts zu viel mehr von Ihnen. (Verzeihen Sie meinem Deutsch auch! Es ist eine Weile gewesen.) My best from Texas.
Lo mismo que el comentario, anterior de Hervin Balfour, de hace 7 años, destaca el magnifico sonido del piano Bosendorfer, y de la gran interpretación del pianista, también coincido con destacar en este opus 39 la pieza numero 5 conjuntamente con la numero 2
I follow your music with great interest and pleasure as I am also a fan of Rachmaninoff. You have my biggest admiration. Can we expect more videos (with music of Rachmaninoff) from your side to come? Etude tableau Opus 33 Nr 8 in G minor for instance? I am playing this right now and I would be very much interested in listening to your interpretation of that piece.
Thank you for your interest and for your nice comments! I will probably record some things around December/January, but I am afraid that your Etude will probably not be among them. I still hope you will enjoy the results! Best regards
Thank's Adrian. I am sure I will enjoy your music.BTW I am from Switzerland and you will know for sure that Rachmaninoff lived near Luzern and his villa was recently open for public...however only for a small selected audience...can you imagine? Best regards
Es ist ein wirklicher Hochgenuss, die Etude-tableau Op.39 No.5 in einer solchen virtuosen Interpretation hören zu dürfen. Hier stimmt alles, von der Anschlagstechnik bis zur ausgefeilten Fingerführung, so dass sich der Hörer in seine vielfältigsten Fantasien hineinversetzen kann. Ich kann gut verstehen, dass sie in manchen Regionen unserer Erde als "Schneesturm" bezeichnet wird. Gibt es bezüglich dieser Interpretation käufliche Aufnahmen?
