Rachmaninoff plays Elegie Op. 3 No. 1 

It's so strange hearing the way Rachmaninoff plays in all of his recordings. He disregards his own scores so much and it makes it so fascinating and proves that perfection to the score isn't as important as artistic interpretation

This makes my heart ache. His timings on the left hand are so free and the melody is unbroken and direct. Truly unique! Simply glad I can listen to this.

Rach has a talent for creating the the most wonderfully colorful darkness.

I don’t know why but I love looking at pictures off Rachmaninov. I would have loved to been a fly on the wall watching him compose these incredible works

Rachmaninoff's Elegie - is an absolutely fantastic masterpiece, awakens incredible feelings in the soul, helps to live, think, love and empathize. . .

if anyone asks, the performance comes from ampico piano roll n. 69253. Rachmaninoff also performed several works on piano rolls. Several manufacturers, in particular the Aeolian Company, published his compositions on perforated music rolls from about 1900 onwards. His sister-in-law, Sofia Satina, remembered him at the family estate at Ivanovka, pedalling gleefully through a set of rolls of his Second Piano Concerto, apparently acquired from a German source, most probably the Aeolian Company's Berlin subsidiary, the Choralion Company. Aeolian in London created a set of three rolls of this concerto in 1909, which remained in the catalogues of its various successors until the late 1970s. From 1919 he made 35 piano rolls (12 of which were his own compositions), for the American Piano Company (Ampico)'s reproducing piano. According to the Ampico publicity department, he initially disbelieved that a roll of punched paper could provide an accurate record, so he was invited to listen to a proof copy of his first recording. After the performance, he was quoted as saying "Gentlemen-I, Sergei Rachmaninoff, have just heard myself play!" For demonstration purposes, he recorded the solo part of his Second Piano Concerto for Ampico, though only the second movement was used publicly and has survived. He continued to make roll recordings until around 1929, though his last roll, the Chopin Scherzo in B-flat minor, was not published until October 1933.

I love Rachmaninoff music so much, thank you for this recording, at the age of 15 I heard Rachmaninoff for the first time (pianoconcerto nr 2 with Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam), I fell in love with classical music that day.. Now I am 57 years and that love is going stronger and stronger. In april 2021 there will be my first grand child, a grand daugther, I shall listen to Rachmaninoff with her. I hope so will love classical music as much as I do. Greetings from the Netherlands.

Each time I am crushed by world events, conflict and senseless globalization. I listen to Rahhmaninoff and stand up strong but fragile. I love him so much

2:38 chills. Feels like the sun's just come out from behind the clouds.

The creator is not bound by his creation

Какие сильные,красивые чувства вызывает музыка Рохманинова! Она делает нас лучше!

No words are available to describe the depth of the beauty of the vibrations which radiate from Rachmaninov‘s soul to the piano keys as he deliberately attunes himself toward his yearning and ultimate and ascent.

Господи! Какая великолепная Музыка и исполнение !!! ❤ Можно тысячу раз слушать его произведения 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

Rachmaninoff shows all of his pain in his piece. It's extraordinary beautiful.

such a genius...i can listen 1000 times and i will feel more intense each time...every note comes together so wonderfully i can almost hear words while listening....what a story he told..timeless

Rachmaninoff is one of few composers who were, at the same time, excellent composers and excellent musicians! His Chopin playing, for example, is beautiful. Thank you!!

WHY CAN'T WE JUST BE KIND, CARING, THOUGHTFUL AND LOVING TO EVERYONE. TAKE TIME IN YOUR DAY TO BE THAT WAY TO AT LEAST LOVE OTHER SOUL.

My heart weeps for Russian people, Ukrainian people, people of both past and present who have been swallowed up by war and strife. Rachmaninoff composed this when he was 19! To me it seems to be a reverberation of pain, sorrow and complex emotions that still echo today. I wonder what music he would write if he could see his homeland now.

the 110 people probably cried a river and hit the dislike button accidentally for they couldn't see anything anymore. This melancholic piece isn't just said... it's a truly sad poem. I cried, I played it, and I still cry.

Genius. Apart from the beauty of the music, he makes it sound like two different pianos and pianists playing. Just, wonderful.

Even through the mechanical filter of the reproducing piano, Rachmaninoff's magisterial interpretation of his own music shines through convincingly. Here he is unassailable.

ГЕНИАЛЬНЕЙШЕЕ ТВОРЕНИЕ и по композиции, и по исполнению

In listening to the profound depths of Rachmaninoff performing his Elegie Op 3 No. 1, I could not help but remembere the words of revered admiration from my Great Violin Mentor, Nathan Milstein, who once told me if not Ten Times, "Rachmaninoff is the Greatest Composer of the Twentieth Century, Elisabeth! Do not ever forget this!!!!!" Hearing the immenseness of such an enlarged Soul, I carry Milstein's words with me - & Always ~ NM was a very close friend & younger colleague of Sergie Rachmaninoff, whom he - NM- Loved❣

Огромная радость в сердце -слушать игру самого великого Рахманинова!!Спасибо!!!

Fantastic... ab😊solutely fantastic !

Rachmaninov entirely captures and holds the heart ever more deeply with every listen 🎶

one of the most beautiful pieces i have ever heard

Его элегия и исполнение это шедевр мирового искусства !!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow. No words to describe the beauty. One of my favorite works by him. Legendary.

I want to click the "like" icon everytime I hear this. So good.

Его музыку никогда не спутаешь с другим! Его музыка имеет своё лицо. И оно прекрасно!!! ♥️😍👍

Спокойная грусть в этой мелодии!Браво!

rachmaninoff as far as I have heard was tormented by choosing between being a composer, conductor, or performer. he needed 3 of him to be complete.

Sergei Rachmaninoff, a great composer AND a great pianist as well. Thank you for uploading

His sound is full and mature. He is a maximalist in everything.

Всем понятная без слов откровенная музыка. слышу правдивые образы нашей жизни, как же она божественно прекрасна. Земная, благородная благодарная боль за братьев и сестёр, за отцов и матерей, за дедов и бабушек. Спасибо. Востребованная непогода и гроза, заканчивается как сказка, ласковым солнышком и просветлением, все становиться ясно как божий день. Путь за частую очень долог и не справедлив ко всем.

Гениально. Великолепно. Браво 🙂

Simplesmente sublime! (28jul2020 / Brasil).

Вечной жизни прекрасным творениям Сергия Рахманинова!

Rachmaninoff is a genius.....as a pianist and composer I am so envious and in awe of his talent! I can truly listen to all his music all day long.

Imagine playing this on the piano, it would feel like you own the world’s music

All the time in tears when I listen to this ❤

I can't imagine my life without this music because it created in my mind some emotions. Without it the best moment of my life would not be as I actually know them.

Браво , маэстро👏👏👏

СЕРГЕИ РАХМАНИНОВ. БРАВО ! СПАСИБО !

Как же это прекрасно!

Brilliant pianist, brilliant composer - the divine nature manifested in man! Genius.

Magnifique... ohhh, que c'est beau, bouleversant...

Гениальная композиция! Сергей Рахманинов действительно написал шедевр!

НЕТ СЛОВ💓

When other pianists play Rachmaninoff, it sounds cheesy and edgy. But when Rachmaninoff plays himself, it sounds badass. Always loved the aristocratic, serious, no-nonsense Rach sound.

The most magical piece I have ever heard! And the performance!!Amazing!

Pure creativity and musicality... genius

Очень волнующие звуки.Гений.

Rachmaninoff toca con una expresión sin límites , en el último grado de la locura y la belleza, su sonido la eternidad misma !!!, gran nostalgia …..

Великолепно !!!

As usual Rachmaninoff plays it in his unique, amazing way.

Essa composição anda na linha do tempo da própria história humana. Parece permear toda a nossa trajetória histórica. Belíssima. Profunda. Comovente. Atemporal..

"Rachmaninoff's 'Elegie' possesses an authenticity and spontaneity in its sound. It stands as a testament to his genius as one of the world's greatest pianists." Rachmaninoff is god.

Oh to have met this incredibly talented man....once would have sufficed....but we can only dream of such things ever happening in our lifetime. Thank you Rachmaninov.

I have listened to many interpretations and here, at last is the real thing.

Слушаю очень часто. Сердце рвётся от этих пассажей. Но музыка одухворяет. И завтра будет новый день. И только с Разманиновым

The rubatos he adds to it are so amazing

Always interesting to hear the composer's own take on their works. Hard to beat this performance!

Словами не передать насколько это гениальный человек со своею музыкой, полной страсти и такой душевной взволновонностью. Я становлюсь счастливой каждый раз, слушая произведения Сергея Рахманинова, и моё сердце замирает. Здесь даже слов не нужно! Это просто нужно услышать!

The astounding clarity of this recording makes it painfully obvious that this was not an original recording of Elegie by Rachmaninoff. I believe this is taken from the CD whereby the sound engineers took the piano rolls generated from Rachmaninoff’s playing and then transcribed them into a digital format (i.e. “digitized rolls”) and then ran these “digitized rolls” thru a Bosendorfer which had the computer hardware to read them. I have both CDs and they are AMAZING! I believe the CD is titled “A Window in Time”.

Самоцвет русской школы композиторов! До мурашек

A wonderful piece, played by the great man himself?? This is what heaven sounds like!

Обожаю!!!

Wonderful music. It helps in any kind of crisis. Thank you so much and all the best from Vienna, Austria

The best intepretation of Elegie by the world's greatest composer and performer...Sergei Rachmaninoff.

До мурашек!!! Нет слов!!! До слёз!!!

Every time life slams me down, I retreat to Rachmaninoff, where I can safely feel pain and then shed it, so I can go back out into the fray once more.

Heartbreaking and bleak. This one brings to me the emotions of romantic love, especially unrequited romantic feeling. The romance comes from the syncopated rhythm (though other performances use that syncopation more than Rachmaninov does here!) It perfectly describes the highs and lows of limerence. The middle part is the essence of bliss and madness. As an elegy though, it is also evocative of great grief and loss. That is clear towards the end in particular. Overall, this is one of my absolute favourite pieces of music. I couldn't stop listening to it when I found it.

Indeed, I find his no. 2 concerto to be the best concerto ever composed. The varying feelings, emotions, expressions, explosions of melody, intricate deep emotions; never have experienced such a deep and fulminant history telling. The Master.

Очищение и катарсис... божественная музыка!

The best, el mejor. I love his music. The master

I think this elegy is one of the most beautiful pieces ever written!

Это просто великолепно!

Happy Birthday to one of the greatest geniuses of all time.

This piece is majestic . Rachmaninoff is out of this world...

almost to the end the song the technique both hands in top of each other and tie together just like you hold all of feeling in to explore to last note which wake you up from the most beautiful thing. Very very intend and emotional. The best piece I ever play.

Incredible ! What an out of this world performance ! I'm lost for words

Thank you very much Rachmaninov composed such beautiful music!

Cum a compus atit de frumos asa ceva nu am cuvinte sa îmi exprim cuvintele frumoase ptr acest mare compozitor romantic!

1:15 the most beautiful thing in the universe

The way he brings out the left hand theme in the second part or exposition is awesome and typically Rachmaninov

Rachmaninov, un genio de piano, uno de mis músicos preferidos, no sólo como pianista, sino también como compositor. Su música es única, de una belleza indescriptible, llevada a su máxima expresión, es tan personal, tan bonita que me emociona mucho !!!!

His compositions are true music nothing more and nothing less

Rachmaninov knew the deep places of the Russian soul... and shared his with us in this grand Elegie.

Sublime.......composed, and played by the genius who was Rachmaninov

Absolutely stunning! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! He is the best!!!

Так чудесно!

и всего лишь в 18 лет написать такое, гениальный

Why should we be surprised if the composer varies from his score? Reportedly, Chopin didn't play one of his own pieces exactly the same way even at the same sitting.

So intended so beautiful master piece. I love his music it makes life so romantic and fragile remind you of the past with good and sad memories. Listening to his music we breath in full of emotional with hurt and pain happy and sad. It is really stir all of the feeling from every expect of the soul.

I cry...

Such a legend

He plays the dissent chorded melody in the right hand so perfectly

Век красоты, таланта без смарт фонов а книгой в руках