This is incredible. The potential for "banging" is limitless here - so many huge chords, so many notes. This is so exquisitely lyrical and musical, and perfectly voiced and clear. I never lost the melodic line. Never heard this played so beautifully.
Magnificent as usual! A proper pearl of late romanticism, spiced with tempest, energy of emotions and suddenly untied accumulation of suspended feelings. It is always remarkable to feel those echoes of time, moments of capture of all the details existing in author's soul, including the spirit of social environment and individual act of creation. Given the accomplishments in pianism done so far, since Liszt, Chopin and Scriabin, Rachmaninov made possible to offer additional pianistic mastery following his own romantic path. His entire musical contribution during twentieth century, that as we know was full of progressive experiments in music, helps in establishing good old idea of general role of arts, which is to reflect beauty. Many artistic outputs are prooving this claim, from Bach, Mozart etc, though we know their lives were full of horrible moments. There we are about to conclude that all the immense beauty contained in their timeless music may come exactly from their will to celebrate the brightness of the existence, as an act of necessity to make a definite choice between the ugly and the beautiful. Hear soon! Vanja
Dear Vanja, thank you so much as always, and what an incredible sentence: "All the immense beauty contained in their timeless music may come exactly from their will to celebrate the brightness of the existence, as an act of necessity to make a definite choice between the ugly and the beautiful." Truly memorable!!!
@@ThomasSchwan Dear Thomas! Recently I have composed a piano piece for young pianists and gave it to few kids I knew to play it. Since they loved it very much, as well as their piano teachers, I would be very interested to know what your opinion might be. If I don't ask too much, please let me know how can I send it to you... May I use the mail adress available on your university site? Thank you anyway! Vanja
Dear Vanja, what a treat, I'd be absolutely delighted to receive your piece. Yes, please, reach out to me via email, at the same address on my website: thomasschwan@my.unt.edu. Very much looking forward! All the best! Thomas
Absolutely great sonority. I love how you let the piano resonate. This can only be done when not forcing anything and staying physically relaxed. Piano playing at it's best, imho..
Thank you so much, I appreciate! Actually, that is exactly what I hear in each and every one of your performances: absolute relaxation, naturalness, freely resonant tone and the most delightful sound...
This is a really beautiful performance of my favourite Rach prelude....thanks! Starts in church, and ends with ocean waves breaking on some lonely shore.....
I just started to learn this prelude, starting from the difficult part from 3:29 and those difficult bars, to the finish than I will learn the first section. it’s so difficult to don’t miss some notes after the first 2 weeks I have learned only those 8 bars pretty good the rest is much easier. I like so much his rendition and this execution is so well made in every little detail. it’s taking me so much time because is relatively easy to play with the right balance between the different voices but is not so easy to control the expression due the great sonority and I lose my self control. I think I will be able to play in public only after having learned it with blind eyes. some bars I feel very confortable in playing like I’m playing 2 notes instead of 8 but my learning process is so slow and this type of dense writing demands so much effort and concentration to the pianists. great work and one of fhe best version here on youtube. I appreciate so much also the tempo.. it’s grave and you play it in the right way. most pianists use the final part I’m learning as a stupid exhibition of virtuosity. those massime sonorities need the right tempo to vibrate. I love so much this prelude.
Hi, thank you for listening and for the kind words, and for sharing something about your process! Yes, this Prelude is transcendent, indeed... All my best, Thomas
@@ThomasSchwan I played but got carpal tunnel from my job (software consultant) and the procedure went badly. Ten years later I've recovered but have a small repertoire - some Rach Preludes, Chopin, Brahms, Berkowicz, Scriabin, some Bach. Memorization has become incredibly difficult - thinking of hypnosis! LOL
@@smb123211 So sorry to hear about this experience, but I am absolutely confident that time heals everything and your efforts will be incredibly rewarding over time. I send you my warmest wishes towards the most joyful and creative continuation of your music making! All the best to you!! Thomas
You are Brilliant I'm sure Rachmaninov would be very proud after all this is as hard as any of his etudes I have just subscribed to you all the best Hugh
