Sergei Rachmaninoff plays his Piano Concerto No. 2
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- Опубліковано 29 сер 2008
- Here is Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) himself playing the first movement (Moderato) from his second piano concerto.
Written between 1900 and 1901, Rachmaninoff slaved over its composition for many hours a day for more than half a year. It had been the first large work he had created since his poorly received first piano concerto four years earlier.
The result, however, remains one of Rachmaninoff's most well-known and beloved works that is a pillar in today's piano repertoire. The concerto was first performed in its entirety on October 27, 1901 in Moscow.
This record collection was recorded in 1929 by RCA victor with Rachmaninoff's favorite orchestra; the Philadelphia Orchestra. Leopold Stokowski (1882-1977) is conducting. I personally own the records, which are in public domain, and digitally restored the audio.
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If you'd like to hear MORE RACHMANINOFF, check out my new video of his Études-Tableaux, op. 39:
• Janos Solyom plays Étu...
“Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music.” ― Sergei Rachmaninoff.
Isn’t it insane how we can listen to these types of rare and significant recordings all day long while at the time of the recording you would be lucky to hear such a performance once in your entire life.
Bjt that one live hearing costs more than listening this vid for whole of life actually xd i would give everyrhing to meet rachmaninoff and talk to him all the days long
I'm so happy this man was alive when audio recording was available.
preach!
In_a_Trance Studios yeah.!!!!
Ditto & How❣️
well said
And I just want to listen Bach or Pachelbel playing... 😭 Impossible dreams
GOD EVERY TIME I WATCH THIS VIDEO I THINK : ITS RACHMANINOFF HIMSELF PLAYING THIS PIECE! One of the most incredible pianists that ever existed playing a piece, and it is recorded! I'D LOVE to hear chopin playing 1 single song. 1 SINGLE song he composed. PEOPLE DON'T YOU GET IT! ITS RACHMANINOFF! RACHMANINOFF PLAYING HIS OWN PIECE, AND THIS IS RECORDED! GOD That's very emotional!
Yayy, a Rach!!
Thank you for putting this on. Played it to my 87 year old father (retired pianist) and it brought a tear to his eye. He finally agrees that the Internet may be a good thing :)
This is the piece that, in my youth, I listened every evening by a window thinking about a special high school girl. To this day, nearing my retirement, with that girl long gone, this piece still endures in me like an old burning fire still lighting, recalling my time with her, and of my many lost friends of yesteryears.
"...music, when soft voices die vibrates in the memory..."
Fred MyOpinion di
Fred MyOpinion : so true and so moving I can unterstand it very Well. I was 19 and I bougth this record and Spoon River Antology and a book with cinese old poetry. I still have a sense of surprise in front of beauty it kèéps me young inside
Fred MyOpinion nice, but... Yesteryears?
Poignant memory and beautifully written.
My piano teacher heard Rachmaninoff play live. He mentioned to me what a commanding and steely presence he had at the piano... he did not do all the emoting that you see in some pianists. He concentrated completely on the music. Amazing range of tone. I only wish I could have heard him.
Sadly, all of us can't be that fortunate. I'm 22 I wish I was there as well!
I HAVE A TIME MACHINE
You are hearing him....unless you didn't listen to this youtube clip!!! :D
Those "some pianists" are more of showmen than a true musician like SR.
Why do I feel lang lang is in everyone's scope here?
Regarding tempo: This was recorded at a time when only around 4.5 minutes could be recorded onto each side of a 12-inch 78rpm record. Therefore, a generally 35-minute concerto had to be squeezed to just over 31 minutes to fit onto 8 sides of a four-record set-- thus the brisk tempo.
What beautiful technique and depth of emotion feels like a great hug 🫂
This record set is actually 5 records.
that's true.
I first heard Rachmaninoff as a farm boy, on an old AM radio. Since that time some 60 years ago, I have listened to many kinds of classical music from all the periods, yet Rachmaninoff remains the very best of the best. He truly reaches for the stars. The older I get, the more my eyes become full of tears as each time I get insights as to his mental and spiritual processes. Truly such music is the closest thing to pure communication of one soul to another.
+bodryn +bodryn: yes you are so right, i'll translate your commentary into Spanish: esta clase de música es lo más cercano para comunicarse
una alma con otra.
Yes, it is MUSIC FOR HUMAN BEINGS
+bodryn Dad?! Is that you?!!1
bodryn I love Rachmaninoff pitman Browne
what makes them great? they just tell it straight...
Mi ingles es muy pobre, puedo entenderlo pero no expresarme. Por eso me dirijo a ti.Tengo 84 años y desde mi adolescencia este concierto es mi salvación en momentos duros. Lo escucho,, me dejo
llevar y quedo en paz. Gracias Nicolas
To hear Rachmaninoff play this just brings tears to my eyes! Too beautiful for words! I played this piece, long ago with an orchestra or two, and to hear him play it is sheer joy! He was such a passionate, troubled, artistic and gifted man. When he was age 24, he had a rejection of one of his compositions that sent him into a depression and quieted him for 4 years. It was after that time, that he composed this number that the world has never forgotten. He will live on forever with this very special concerto that he gave us!
Fantastic job with your restoration. You managed to get rid of almost all the "noise" but have retained a very full frequency reproduction. By far, the best sounding version of this immortal performance. You've performed an invaluable service for all music lovers.
+eoselan7 Thank you very much! I would love to process the rest of the concerto, if only I could find it in good condition!
+bwv1064
I have a copy I recorded at 384k when I went for my last visit - if you like I can send you a copy
I would love that! Could you share it through Google Drive or something similar? Thank you!
Did you ever get the rest of this? I'd love to hear the whole piece without the noise.
+Trenalon can you send it to me also? I'd appreciated that.
Why is Rachmaninoff's playing so special? Some say he wore his heart on his sleeve, but more so, love just flows through his fingers through the piano.
No possible way, with such deep feeling in his heart and soul. He was just greatly misunderstood and unappcriated by the "haters" on the planet at that time, like many great artists. You can just feel his great pain and loneliness in his incredible music. He is probable loved more today than ever before.
I am crying every time I'm listening to this masterpiece and I can't help it. This music touches the soul and evokes feelings that are very difficult to describe. You could think of all sorts of things, be it your beloved one, your parents, your personal drama, problem of life and death, or victims of war. This music covers all aspects of human nature and listening to this you always find your particular part, when tears are in your eyes and only you can understand why...
Your so correct
I,too, felt this touch the deepest part of my inner self. I was 28, in a bad marriage, and didn't know what to do. I would play this when I was alone to grieve what I was going through and it actually gave me insight in what I needed to do in my life.
JuliaAustralian this music opens our soul...
JuliaAustralian As a musician, clarinettist , my work with pianists has been very life-consuming and over many years. I love playing clarinet in the 2nd movement solo and his 2nd Symp also. I wish that I had met him as I would have begged him to write me a clarinet concerto! Your words express many reasons why pop culture and music does not reach the parts that great music like this can and does reach. We live in dark times and shallow sound byte times fulfilling and continuing the ancient Greeks creation of the word "Fame" with all it's empty stupidities.
i think of my deep depression and insecurity
Thank you for your work on the restoration @
bwv1064, this is a fine version, retaining all the natural essence, with the original nuance and pacing, as the master intended under his firm and guiding hands on the piano. This is how this piece was intended to be played. For 1901, the sound quality is excellent, you've managed to remove much of the crackle and hiss, and balanced out the instruments and levels to the finest degree possible. The power this Concerto has is timeless, and your production and archiving of it is a gift to future generations. What power and subtlety are to be found in this first movement!
My piano teacher's piano teacher's piano teacher's piano teacher was this guy and I'm very proud of that...
haha really?
Magnifique!!!!!!!
That's AWESOME!
Now you need to be a piano teacher to continue the chain🤣
Whatever how terrible our life is, there always some music to comfort our heart.
Rachmaninoffs talent for beautiful passages is unmatched. Darks tones, emotions , colors mixed in with elating joyful celebrating sounds. Definitely my favorite composer. Absolutely beautiful.
The Rach 2 and 3 piano concerti are definitely two of the finest compositions in the repertoire. Thank you very much for posting.
How can anyone not be emotionally, deeply, profoundly moved by this music???
because they have more important thing to do like watch tv
Jake Ryan Depends on one's mood, but seriously, at some point, I have to wonder about some people (older teens and adults, lets say), if they are NEVER emotionally moved by this kind of music...
+BenjaminGessel I'm 14 and I cried. it's so beautiful...
Lia H I haven't heard too many pieces of music more emotional than this one... :)
+Tretch Steyzer Also, Sibelius sounds too "chilly" in that distinctly Finnish manner, Mahler, Bruckner, and R. Strauss go on for too long with their ideas, and the French composers were after something completely different/less strongly emotional than most of the rest of Europe. The Italians had some good composers like Puccini and Mascagni in this emotional aspect, but, I dunno, I'm not very into opera, and opera reigns supreme in Italy...
We are so lucky that we can actually hear the composer play this piece. What if we could hear Mozart's or Beethoven's interpretations of their own works? This is an invaluable treasure.
my hair stood up. Something alive lives through this man's spirit. That is what genius is. A light that keeps the fire burning. Lets hope it never dies. One of the contagious things that are wonderful.
Thank you dear God for this man's music. His brillance will always reflect on great music.
Chris - Atlanta
I see nothing dark about this Concerto. In fact, it is very romantic to me. It makes me feel very good when I listen to it. I feel as if someone who is very much in love with me is going through several phases of trying to understand what it is he is feeling and why. And yet finally he comes to the firm conclusion that no matter why he is in love and that is that.
I imagine a Russian blizzard, maybe Siberia ala Dr Zivago.🌨
How cool is it that we hear the man who actually penned what is arguably one of the single greatest contributions to piano/symphonic literature.
How many artists he inspired. Myself included. And than to know his story and the almost crippling self doubt he struggled with. Sitting through sessions with a Psychiatrist making Sergei repeat self affirmations to combat his self criticism.
He was quoted as saying "I missed the point entirely" upon exiting one of his own performances backstage.
Greatness is a lonely place.
Музыка это единственный язык, который понимают народы всех стран !!! Браво Щедрый рыцарь - великий, наш русский, композитор Рахманинов Сергей Васильевич!!!
When Rachmaninoff plays his own piano concerto，we should not just enjoy the beautiful melody，but see him as a great musician.
Cantabile H
Who could NOT see that! (No one in their right mind.)
My schools 2012-2013 Academic Decathlon team opened me up to this music. I'm glad because I learned so much about the wonders of classical music and Russian culture.
Разве может быть настолько необъятной душа? Разве это возможно? Низкий поклон, Маэстро!!!
Он самый лучший, настолько же в нем всего. И человек замечательный был. Одни только письма чего стоят, по ним можно целый класс дипломатии в МГИМО обучать. Удивительный он был, Сергей Васильевич. Голова. Большой, красивый человек с удивительным чувством музыки, кульминации самые лучшие у него. А руки какие!; этюды, прелюдии, романсы шедевры...можно бесконечно о нем.
Rachmaninov......total and absolute genius, the 2nd piano concerto.....perfection, the best man can do, immortal.
What a treat to hear it as the composer intended ! So many performances of this masterpiece have seemed too slow for my liking and it was good to hear it at the speed in the fast passages as I have always imagined it should be set. This is one of my favourite if not most favourite piano concertos and I'm sure Rachmaninoff must have felt a bit touched by God when he completed it. He certainly deserves his seat in heaven for producing it !
You can hear the struggle, yet the grandeur that was his homeland throughout this most awesome of Piano Concertos...
The most genius piece through time played by one of the biggest geniuses of all time.........I just can´t find the words to describe this beauty.......
As a 9 year-old, my piano teacher took me to see the great Gina Bachauer play this work with the San Francisco Symphony. That was the moment I fell totally in love with classical music.
This is precisely the sort of hook that can have that effect. I was fortunate to grow up with this, the Tchaikovsky first PC, the Beethoven symphonies, etc.
your teacher had taste...
Rachmaninoff was an amazing legend, every time I listen to his music it moves me to another world, a great amazing world.
Да, наверное, лучше самого Рахманинова этот концерт вряд ли кому-то уже удастся исполнить. Как все-таки хорошо, что благодаря технике сегодня можно услышать таких замечательных людей!
I would like to know what you are saying. Is it russian?
@@hdiego2309 Si :)
The piano playing is astonishingly relaxed, tender and affectionate. Above all, it is natural-sounding, with nothing to prove and therefore no excessive force or brashness, just a soft, poetic temperament allied to a dazzling technique.
It's funny, if it wasn't Rachmaninoff himself playing this, I might of commented saying "it's a bit fast for my tastes", but I guess I can't complain :D
James Tucker Composers seem to play things faster than performers. Beethoven marked all his tempo much higher than most people will play them at simply because they like it slower.
It's all conditioning: you can recondition yourself to appreciate the faster tempi and perhaps gain a deeper understanding of the music.
Definitely. I was discussing the other day about how most (not all) of the time, you seem to be conditioned to enjoy most the style/tempo of the first recording you hear. After that, everything else can sound "wrong". It's a funny effect.
AFAIK, Rachmaninoff played this faster because length of the record in normal tempo was too long for vinyl. So he forced to play faster.
P.S. sorry for my english, it's not my native language.
Wow, that's interesting! Are there records of him playing it at a more "expected" pace in concert then? (I don't mean recordings but evidence somehow).
Макс Иванов Is there any evidence of this?
Sergei Rachminoff out to be canonized for the beauty he gave the world!!!!!
This makes me miss my grandmother, a lot. She was Concert trained on at least 7 instruments. Her favorite was the piano and violin. One of the first, all by themselves and on their own, presents I received from my sons was a tape of Several Rachmaninoff pieces. I don't listen as often as I used to, but when I do I usually start with Rachmaninoff.
Thank you Rachmaninoff , I love your music soo much and I am so lucky to hear your playing 💗💗
LISTENING TO THE OLD MASTERS IS LIKE CURLING UP WITH A GOOD BOOK IN FRONT OF A FIRE......
A SWEET, SOOTHING EXPERIENCE THAT IS NOT HEARD NOWADAYS................MARVELOUS!
my heart and soul feel every string in this piece. i fell in love with this aged 9. and 20 years later im still in love. thank you for posting
Strange how this fantastic composition by a true genius can portray absolute undying love, and yet total grief at a loss of a dear one.
This haves more value than gold and Diamond together, I can't believe I can easily hear this on youtube Thanks God
How wonderful to hear exactly how Rachmaninoff meant for his incomparable concerto to be played. It is my favorite concerto of all concertos. I just finished listening to several other interpretations when I discovered this recording. Although I've heard it many times played by others, I now feel I've heard it as never before. Thank you so very much for presenting this for us!
Emoción indescriptible escuchar al propio Rachmaninoff interpretando este sublime regalo para la humanidad, Gracias a quien lo subió a la red.
i can listen to this everyday...it's like taking sound vitamins
Thank you for doing this. One of my favorite Concerti played by the Composer himself. A gift for all of us.
Спасибо ! Рахманинов великий композитор....как Бах, Моцарт, Шопен...Он наша гордость!
Вот , где отражена Русская душа в полной мере!!!
The complexity of the melodies interacting - just leave me without words! His hands are like a flowing stream playing over the rocks and creating lovely reflective pools of waters, and then gushing into whitewater rapids. The rapidity of the notes overwhelms..and yet, we rest in the quiet coves of simple songs. My Lord Jesus Christ, the "lifter" up of my head into the heavenlies with this loveliness.
Este es un concierto maravilloso, recordemos que el maestro viene saliendo de una profunda depresión. Nótese que el 2 movimiento nos vuelve a la melancolía, así el 1 movimiento es una lucha con la vida misma, pareciera que toda la óbra nos habla de los dolores de nuestro querido Rachmaninoff. Atte Julián Espinoza C
First time ever hearing anything by this master and I must say I've been missing out. New to this genre but in love with it. What talent! Can't wait to hear more.
It is one of the most well known and most beloved pieces of classical music yet to believe we can actually hear the maestro playing his own work adds a little bit of magic to it. Thank you for allowing us to hear it.
I could listen to this Concerto or anything by Rachmaninoff all day and night.
legandary composition
Listening to Rachmaninoff himself playing this concerto I've loved since my childhood is a fantastic experience. Monaural recording, but his piano playing is clear and moving.
So glad that you were able to post this on UA-cam.
Thank you so much for digitizing this and uploading it.
i was listenin the song a lot when i was in zonguldak that is a very gloomy city in Turkey for my undergraduate education, and I remember these days now.
Many THANKS for sharing this recording! Bless you :-)
Thanks for uploading this. It is wonderful to hear the great Rachmaninoff playing his own music, the opening movement of the famous 2nd Piano concerto. This is fascinating to listen to. Apparently the composer and pianist had enormous hands which could stretch all the way from a C-Eb-G-C-G to form a chord that is an octave and a half long. Incredible ! Earlier I was listening to a CD of young Daniil Trifonov playing Rachmaninoff's variations on a theme of Paganini Op 43, the variations on a theme of Corelli Op 42 and the variations on a Chopin prelude Op 22, plus Trifonov's own piece called Rachmaniana. Trifonov's playing is outstanding and I think Rachmaninoff would have approved. It is not often that we get a chance to hear a recording of a great composer playing his own work. A real treat for all lovers of great music.
So beautiful! It is nice to hear how he wanted it played.
Awesome beyond words. Thanks for posting.
Thank you for uploading this video! It's so special to hear the man himself playing! This piece is beyond words. So exquisite.
man and piano becoming one, taking a journey together...... its pure pleasure to listen to him playing. I think all pianos loved him.
So Rachmaninoff had enormous hands right? It's interesting that he chose to split those opening chords in the way that he did.
Finally someone noticed this~
When aliens come to us, let's play this to them, and hope they don't enslave us all.
They wont
polyteknika ISN,T THAT THE TRUTH . IT WOULD BE DISCORDANT TO THE BUGGERS!!
Ironic you should say that. Reputedly, the ones from Nibiru bred us originally as a slave race, to mine the gold in Africa, when their own people wouldn't.
Nonetheless, it's probably accomplishments like this that give them hope that we will not extinguish ourselves.
Maybe they've already come, and music like this is why they haven't destroyed us.
Thanks for uploading this definitive recording.
Thanks for this upload.
I'm not a wise person in relation with classical but I always wanted to listen to a legendary musician and composer playing his/her own material. I'm grateful for the first of many tracks I expect to listen.
Great quality of sound and content. I cannot judge anything related with technique but the beauty is clear even for the less instructed ears.
i'm 72 yrs old and I have listened to this composition since I was 16 yrs and I never get tired of it. Rachmaninoff is my favorite next to Puccini. I read somewhere that his name is Rachmaninov and that when he came to America it changed to Rachmaninoff. Just trivia.
I feel like standing on my knees listening to this Masterpiece, geniuses!
LOVE it!!!
this is so lovely. It was voted No1 by the Classic FM vote and even without the memory of "Brief Encounter" this brings up romantic country walks, balmy days on the river, and even the occasional Summer storm. Brilliant!
Just re-listening to this marvelous performance by the master... and I just reread these conversation... How right you are when you say "can't even conceive an alternative value system..." YET... it still POURS out everywhere you look... truly GREAT films.... commercials... over head music at fine dinning establishments... stores all over the world... AND... I for one am SO happy we have recordings of this GREAT, GREAT Masters playing. How much it has enriched my life!
Великая МУЗЫКА ! Талант от Бога... Любимый композитор С.В.Рахманинов. Bravo !!!
This music is epic, evokes so many different emotions, orgasmic.
It is so charming to hear Rachmaninoff on youtube. Thanks.
This is the best recording of this piece I’ve listened to lmao: even if the actual audio quality is low.
SO MUCH PERSONALITY, GAWD
Thanks for ripping/restoring this from the record!
Not a classical music person, but this is just too good.
Maybe because this isn't classical music?
xrxt0 Strictly speaking, it isn't, yes.
xrxt0 Such a stupid comment.
Folks, this is within the classical genre, it's period simply isn't "Classical" but it's within the Classic genre of music.
Arpicembalo Yes that is true but in mainstream media this is called the “classical genre”
The amount of depth this music has, despite his brisk tempo, despite the nearly century old recording equipment, how he perfectly controls every aspect of his composition is absolutely mindblowing.
muchas gracias es mi favorita.Nunca pense eschucharlo de la mano del compositor.gracias!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Such a deep feeling. Masterpiece.
One of the eternal things that reminds you who you are in the very depth behind all your rush and fuss. Always wonder how could a human being create this. Sad that Rachmaninoff had to leave my country in 1917 but that was a luckily right decision for himself and for the music. Could easily end up with some average soviet music or in prison. That time was not right for such a geniuos in Russia.
Approximately 1% are dislikers. Who are you people?)))
Solo i grandi eseguono questa musica così e ancora il grande Sergei tiene banco con una autorità mai più raggiunta da nessuno. Grazie a chi ha pubblicato questa magistrale esecuzione.
Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 is one of my favorite musical compositions to hear when I am attempting to write or think about major written compositions.
thanks to Nodame Cantabile I've found this sweet piece. :D
me too! I think chaki senpai so cool at that time!!!
It would be interesting to have know whether Rachmaninoff himself would have liked the tempo he was forced to record his concerto in due to the recording technology available at the time.
I first heard this on Reader's digest music and fell in love with the romantic nature of this music even before I understood what Romance was. thank you for making this possible.
Thank you for preserving this. It is amazing quality considering the year of recording. Wonderful! Da svidania Rachmaninoff!
Love his beautiful compositions.
legend!!!
本当に美しく素晴らしい！言うまでもなく作曲者自身の演奏、音を追う訳でもなくRachmaninoffの心が伝わって来て胸を打たれ 感動の余韻がいつまでも残ります。素晴らしい作曲家そしてピアニスト、二楽章 三楽章も聞いてみたいものです。Upありがとう！
it is always fascinating to listen to the masters playing their own music. It helps you really get the gist and the soul of the piece, the way it was meant to be performed and the thought process behind it.
This is the work of the greatest musician who has ever lived. Many musicians can be seen as virtuosos. only Mozart could be viewed as a great composer, a virtuoso musician & a virtuoso conductor. Until my hero. He was all these things until he composed a world shattering piano concerto,dedicated it to his greatest rival, who then found he was unable to play it because his hands were too small to span the thundering chords. You rocked!! Oh how I wish I could have shaked your angelic hand.
It's amazing what one man can do!..his hands are big,but friendly,expressive,but strong! He is the last Romantic to me,and lots of composers put together. To think he was only thought of as a pianist in his time!
The very first time I heard Rachmaninoff, it touched my soul so deeply I began to weep. Sooo very beautiful. My all time favorite classical composer, by far.
This piece has such an amazing depth in movement. It's wonderful!
the music seems to say a whole century storey...
It does, right? God!
This truly amazing. Has anyone else noticed that Racmaninoff clips some of his rhythms so that even note values become a little like dotted rhythms, although not very much. But to my ear noticible.l Perhaps contemporary performers feel it their duty to play exactly what's on the page. I'm not sure the Romantics were so fastidious. Any comments?
He had the right. It was his creation. We do not have the right. We owe it to him to play it as he notated :)
*****
I agree with you!
Yes as you imply the score is a holy vessel and not to be tampered with.
Fortunately, one of the best recordings I have heard from 90 years ago. Great Job! Just saw a young Chinese woman perform Piano Concero # 3 Dm a couple of hours ago. The physicality of Rachmaninoff is astonishing. Tremendous strength and stamina required. Glad his therapist helped him.
While Ian am _thrilled_ to hear this, and am so thankful for the digital work accomplished, still….I thought this was going to be the entire concerto, not one movement. I should have looked at the duration in the corner instead of only reading the title. It’s lovely to have the hair raise on my arms when the Great Man plays!