Busoni ❤It's such a shame his earlier discs didn't survive, or that he didn't begin to record 20 years earlier. These 1922 recordings are among the last things he did as a pianist, already ill. And yet such playing!
I've read an awful lot about these two composers and have never come across this anecdote. I frankly do not believe it ever happened. These men were gentlemen.
Happy birthday Busoni and Rachmaninoff, and happy 1 April Fools' Day! The story in the description must be a joke, nice one :D. I would have believed it if you hadn't said Denmark!
Actually, Rachmaninoff and his family did live in Copenhagen (Denmark) in 1918, until they boarded the SS Bergensfjord in Oslo, arriving in New York on 11 November!
"Well, wait until I arrive in America later this year, Mr. Busoni, and you'll see I'll make more money than you ever did in your miserable life." Rachmaninoff got no chill, but nice prank
@@paulcapaccio9905 In some ways yes, but there is something quite distinct about these generations of pianists that transcends the boundaries of crappy recording qualities
I don't think that Rachmaninoff would have said that to Busoni - since in 1918 he would not have known enough English to carry on even a basic conversation in any language except Russian - and Busoni would not have spoken in Russian.
@@pianopera Aren't you aware Erwin of the boxing match the two had the following year, after Rachmaninoff had bought that Lamborghini and drove past Busoni's window singing the 18th variation every night? :)
Well, Rachmaninoff was a magnificent and brilliantly equipped pianist who went on to make the most incredible recordings. His works are far more often played and prized than are those of Busoni. He took a keen interest in the process of recording, instead of fretting and fussing about the technology as did Busoni. Who wants to play Busoni’s piano concerto? His transcriptions of Bach have some staying power, but there are others that are available which pianists can also choose to play. Of the pianists who worked with Busoni - and he sadly found teaching to be a drag - the ones we remember are those who were masters in the music of the great composers - of which Busoni wasn’t one. How many great pianists of the 20th century ever really programmed Busoni’s original works in their recitals? Rachmaninoff’s works, for instance the Third Concerto, the Second Piano Sonata, and so on, still find favor among virtuosi. The same cannot be said for Busoni. He even mocked the likes of Arthur Friedheim. 🙄 _If indeed he said these words_ to Rachmaninoff, it lowers him in my estimation. Great pianists can learn from each other. Rachmaninoff understood that - Busoni didn’t. Rachmaninoff was a great conductor, a great pianist, and in some works a memorable composer. Maybe Busoni was just jealous. Even Prokofieff slammed Rachmaninoff, but the truth is that few pianists out there make much room for his music rather than Rachmaninoff’s! Haiiiiii. ☝🏻
"...and in some works a memorable composer..." @noshirm625 I was just waiting for the snob to come out, and you didn't disappointed me! That's your subtle way of 'slamming' Rachmaninoff. Rachmaninoff was a great composer my friend. So was Prokofiev. They are both great in their own ways. Two totally different approaches to composition. Prokofiev wrote in a different and unique harmonic language. He is one of the all time Russian greats. But there is something to be said for the artist who can write a great melody! As Darius Milhaud said to his pupil Burt Bacharach: "Never be ashamed of something that's melodic, one could whistle."
There are gems among Busoni's piano compositions, hidden among the more famous but still slightly weird stuff. For example his relatively unknown "Variations in the form of a study" Op. 19 is a fine and effective piece of music whereas I just don't get the more famous "Fantasia Contrappuntistica". Whatever judgement posterity has passed on Busoni as a composer he was, by the evidence of the few piano rolls he made, a very capable and engaging virtuoso pianist. The supposed conversation between Busoni and Rachmaninoff is fictional, as could be assumed if one did not know. Why some smart-alec would want to depict the two men as such ill-mannered and unlikeable characters is hard to understand.
Busoni was not right, but Rachmaninoff's response is even more disappointing - as if making money had anything to do with being actually good. (unless none of this ever happened 😆)
Buoni was right because Rachmaninof was a wonderful pianist, one of the greatest ever and an uninteresting composer. Arrau agreed with Busoni's statement some year later.
I am unaware that Arrau ever said such a thing--such a remark would have appeared in the book "Conversations with Arrau"--but Artur Rubinstein did say in the second volume of his memoirs that in his "strong opinion" Rachmaninoff was a better pianist than composer. However, I politely beg to differ. I would say that Hofmann and Friedman, for example, were greater pianists than composers. Both Busoni and Rachmaninoff, however great they indeed were as pianists, are more significant to music history as composers, "great" or not. Most people are not familiar with the full creative output of Rachmaninoff's work, his operas and choral music, for instance. His harmonic language was traditional, yet distinctive and individual. He was a great orchestrator. His works have that indefinable thing, personality. Musicologists' dismissal of Rachmaninoff is just as ridiculous as their dismissal of Puccini.
I am happy to make a correction: as Mr. Mulieri indicated above, Arrau apparently did regard Rachmaninoff as less than first rank as a composer; in the book "Conversations with Arrau" the author Joseph Horowitz states on page 115 that "Arrau regards Rachmaninoff as a shallow composer" (though this is not a direct quote from Arrau) but notes that Arrau performed both the Second and Third Rachmaninoff piano concertos early in his career. However, I stand by the rest of my general remarks.
DISCLAIMER: This video was uploaded on April 1, 2022.
Busoni ❤It's such a shame his earlier discs didn't survive, or that he didn't begin to record 20 years earlier. These 1922 recordings are among the last things he did as a pianist, already ill. And yet such playing!
Happy birthday to both masters!!!!🎂🎂
Busoni's Doktor Faust is the best opera I ever heard, not done often, alas.
Both pure bliss. Like a warm shower at the North Pole.
I studied at Juilliard with Josef Raieff and Ania Dorfmann. That was the end of an era ! Now I watch soccer !
Do you remember Ted Ganger?
@@aaronlawrence5298 yes
I've read an awful lot about these two composers and have never come across this anecdote. I frankly do not believe it ever happened. These men were gentlemen.
Yes, either this story is fake or it took place thelepatically...
@@Barbapippo I think it's just their senses of humor, no offenses made and none taken
It does sound vile on both side. Hence unlikely
April 1st
April 1st happens to be Dinu Lipatti's birthday as well
So beautiful！！
Happy birthday Busoni and Rachmaninoff, and happy 1 April Fools' Day! The story in the description must be a joke, nice one :D. I would have believed it if you hadn't said Denmark!
Actually, Rachmaninoff and his family did live in Copenhagen (Denmark) in 1918, until they boarded the SS Bergensfjord in Oslo, arriving in New York on 11 November!
Million thanks!
Grata por este compartilhamento! 🌟🌟❤️
Nobody plays great anymore like these masters from the golden age. All we have are technical machines.
Not really, there are as great players around
I agree. Such sweetness and warmth!
Спасибо!
Who’s the first performance? I prefer it. Both lovely. Please more info next time. Great video.
Both lovely performances but Rach is the more 'romantic' of the two, which I think is reflected in the difference between their compositions.
I know it isn’t but it almost feels like a contradiction to hear these two larger than life titans play with such sensitivity and beauty.
Exceptional!
"Well, wait until I arrive in America later this year, Mr. Busoni, and you'll see I'll make more money than you ever did in your miserable life." Rachmaninoff got no chill, but nice prank
Technique is a cheap commodity today. There is no art anymore. The golden age was the greatest
Agreed, the only thing bad about the golden age pianism was the recording quality (which isn't a fault of the pianist).
@@SCRIABINIST but if actually permits one to listen more deeply.
@@paulcapaccio9905 In some ways yes, but there is something quite distinct about these generations of pianists that transcends the boundaries of crappy recording qualities
@@SCRIABINIST without a doubt
@@SCRIABINIST they all had their own rubato and phrasing. Individuals all. Not like today.
I don't think that Rachmaninoff would have said that to Busoni - since in 1918 he would not have known enough English to carry on even a basic conversation in any language except Russian - and Busoni would not have spoken in Russian.
Well sounds like morning exercise music lol
I prefer Rachmaninoff's interpretation.
What’s the source of the anecdote?
My imagination!
@@pianopera Aren't you aware Erwin of the boxing match the two had the following year, after Rachmaninoff had bought that Lamborghini and drove past Busoni's window singing the 18th variation every night? :)
@@pianopera Ach, vee haff been pranked! 🙈😄🙈
@@pianopera Right, I forgot what day it was. And here I was thinking that Rachmaninoff’s reply was clever haha. Well played Erwin!
Well, Rachmaninoff was a magnificent and brilliantly equipped pianist who went on to make the most incredible recordings. His works are far more often played and prized than are those of Busoni. He took a keen interest in the process of recording, instead of fretting and fussing about the technology as did Busoni. Who wants to play Busoni’s piano concerto? His transcriptions of Bach have some staying power, but there are others that are available which pianists can also choose to play. Of the pianists who worked with Busoni - and he sadly found teaching to be a drag - the ones we remember are those who were masters in the music of the great composers - of which Busoni wasn’t one. How many great pianists of the 20th century ever really programmed Busoni’s original works in their recitals? Rachmaninoff’s works, for instance the Third Concerto, the Second Piano Sonata, and so on, still find favor among virtuosi. The same cannot be said for Busoni. He even mocked the likes of Arthur Friedheim. 🙄 _If indeed he said these words_ to Rachmaninoff, it lowers him in my estimation. Great pianists can learn from each other. Rachmaninoff understood that - Busoni didn’t. Rachmaninoff was a great conductor, a great pianist, and in some works a memorable composer. Maybe Busoni was just jealous. Even Prokofieff slammed Rachmaninoff, but the truth is that few pianists out there make much room for his music rather than Rachmaninoff’s! Haiiiiii. ☝🏻
"...and in some works a memorable composer..." @noshirm625 I was just waiting for the snob to come out, and you didn't disappointed me! That's your subtle way of 'slamming' Rachmaninoff. Rachmaninoff was a great composer my friend. So was Prokofiev. They are both great in their own ways. Two totally different approaches to composition. Prokofiev wrote in a different and unique harmonic language. He is one of the all time Russian greats. But there is something to be said for the artist who can write a great melody! As Darius Milhaud said to his pupil Burt Bacharach: "Never be ashamed of something that's melodic, one could whistle."
There are gems among Busoni's piano compositions, hidden among the more famous but still slightly weird stuff. For example his relatively unknown "Variations in the form of a study" Op. 19 is a fine and effective piece of music whereas I just don't get the more famous "Fantasia Contrappuntistica". Whatever judgement posterity has passed on Busoni as a composer he was, by the evidence of the few piano rolls he made, a very capable and engaging virtuoso pianist.
The supposed conversation between Busoni and Rachmaninoff is fictional, as could be assumed if one did not know. Why some smart-alec would want to depict the two men as such ill-mannered and unlikeable characters is hard to understand.
@@tomrose2086could you possibly point me in the direction of more underappreciated works of Busoni? He fascinates me as a pianist
3:30
Busoni first
Play The Symphony No. 1
Quite a comparasion 🤔
This anecdote is sheer nonsense
Yep.
Busoni was not right, but Rachmaninoff's response is even more disappointing - as if making money had anything to do with being actually good.
(unless none of this ever happened 😆)
What makes it disappointing
it's a joke. Buso called him a "poor" composer and Rachmaninoff pretended to misunderstand
@@zorrderschnitter2 it what does this have to do with Rachmaninoff’s pianism?
@@tamer3397 u speak potato instead of English
@@aramzulumyan6380 looks like I do, I still don’t get it
Buoni was right because Rachmaninof was a wonderful pianist, one of the greatest ever and an uninteresting composer. Arrau agreed with Busoni's statement some year later.
Yes he was a bad composer. Go listen to good ones lol
I am unaware that Arrau ever said such a thing--such a remark would have appeared in the book "Conversations with Arrau"--but Artur Rubinstein did say in the second volume of his memoirs that in his "strong opinion" Rachmaninoff was a better pianist than composer. However, I politely beg to differ. I would say that Hofmann and Friedman, for example, were greater pianists than composers. Both Busoni and Rachmaninoff, however great they indeed were as pianists, are more significant to music history as composers, "great" or not. Most people are not familiar with the full creative output of Rachmaninoff's work, his operas and choral music, for instance. His harmonic language was traditional, yet distinctive and individual. He was a great orchestrator. His works have that indefinable thing, personality. Musicologists' dismissal of Rachmaninoff is just as ridiculous as their dismissal of Puccini.
I am happy to make a correction: as Mr. Mulieri indicated above, Arrau apparently did regard Rachmaninoff as less than first rank as a composer; in the book "Conversations with Arrau" the author Joseph Horowitz states on page 115 that "Arrau regards Rachmaninoff as a shallow composer" (though this is not a direct quote from Arrau) but notes that Arrau performed both the Second and Third Rachmaninoff piano concertos early in his career. However, I stand by the rest of my general remarks.
@@aramzulumyan6380 Rachmaninoff was a bad composer only to bad listeners.