Rachmaninov Piano Concerto no. 4 -- Yuja Wang

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRQn4m_5ijI

Cheers!

On 2024-03-11 2:18 a.m., DeepBlue wrote:
> Rachmaninov Piano Concerto no. 4 -- Yuja Wang
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRQn4m_5ijI
>
> Cheers!
WTF are you looking at?

Graham wrote:

> On 2024-03-11 2:18 a.m., DeepBlue wrote:
>> Rachmaninov Piano Concerto no. 4 -- Yuja Wang
>>
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRQn4m_5ijI
>
> WTF are you looking at?

Sorry, wrong link! Mea culpa!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjHK5A5XkDE

Cheers!

I am a Rach fan, but have always been under-whelmed by any performance of the 4th PC, including ABM's,I suspect because the music itself does not appeal much to me , but that's my problem as the music obviously appeals to a great many including Wang and ABM ( who are also better pianists than I ! ).

Bloomfield wrote:

> I am a Rach fan, but have always been
> under-whelmed by any performance of
> the 4th PC, including ABM's,I suspect
> because the music itself does not
> appeal much to me , but that's my
> problem as the music obviously
> appeals to a great many including
> Wang and ABM ( who are also better
> pianists than I ! )

How about Anna fedorova?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhL2qQKE4CU

Cheers

Bloomfield wrote:

> I am a Rach fan, but have always been under-whelmed by any performance of the 4th PC, including ABM's,I suspect because the music itself does not appeal much to me , but that's my problem as the music obviously appeals to a great many including Wang and ABM ( who are also better pianists than I ! ).

The original uncut version of the concerto is superior. Try Ghindin/Ashkenazy.

>The original uncut version of the concerto is superior. Try Ghindin/Ashkenazy.>

Thanks,Howard.Heard the G/A just now,my first hearing of the orignal 4th PC, and agree the original is superior, the cuts/condensations the composer made in all the movements in his revision lessen the impact,sweep of the work, even if the original final is a bit longish,IMHO.Sergio Fiorentino, who played all 4 Rach concertos,did not care much for #4 saying he felt the composer " lost something" when he left Russia.

Fww (little), for me the original 1st PC and 1st Piano Sonata are not as appealing as their revisions,while I do prefer the original 2nd Piano Sonata over its later revision and Horowitz' version.The composer certainly had concerns over length.

Bloomfield wrote:

>>The original uncut version of the concerto is superior. Try Ghindin/Ashkenazy.>

> Thanks,Howard.Heard the G/A just now,my first hearing of the orignal 4th PC, and agree the original is superior, the cuts/condensations the composer made in all the movements in his revision lessen the impact,sweep of the work, even if the original final is a bit longish,IMHO.Sergio Fiorentino, who played all 4 Rach concertos,did not care much for #4 saying he felt the composer " lost something" when he left Russia.

> Fww (little), for me the original 1st PC and 1st Piano Sonata are not as appealing as their revisions,while I do prefer the original 2nd Piano Sonata over its later revision and Horowitz' version.The composer certainly had concerns over length.

I always found the transitions in the revised 4th PC abrupt, causing it to sound fragmented. The original version flows much more nicely. There is also an intermediate revision that has some but not all the cuts found in the final version, it's been recorded by Black/Buketoff. It's a weird performance, very slow.

I agree about the superiority of the original 2nd sonata. I am indifferent to the original 1st sonata. In whatever guise, think the piece needs a sweeping, electric performance like Weissenberg in order to work.

The original 1st PC is almost a completely different piece written by a student. Interesting to listen to, the revision is much better.

howard wrote:

> I always found the transitions in the revised 4th PC abrupt, causing it to sound fragmented. The original version flows much more nicely. <

Excellent point, you put it better than my "sweep."

My fav Sonata # 1 remains John Ogdon's, especially first mov., originally an RCA lp ca.1968 I still have.

Bloomfield wrote:

> howard wrote:

>> I always found the transitions in the revised 4th PC abrupt, causing it to sound fragmented. The original version flows much more nicely. <

> Excellent point, you put it better than my "sweep."

> My fav Sonata # 1 remains John Ogdon's, especially first mov., originally an RCA lp ca.1968 I still have.

Yes, Ogdon's Rachmaninoff is outstanding. But then he did so many things superbly.

A pity Van Cliburn did not play more Rachmaninoff. He would have done an excellent job with the first sonata.

howard wrote:

> A pity Van Cliburn did not play more Rachmaninoff. He would have done an excellent job with the first sonata.

Indeed, his recordings of the 2nd Sonata and 3rd Concerto are tops. He also did record Op.39,# 5.I was fortunate to hear him live in the hall do the Barber Sonata and the Rach PC # 2 and PIT # 1.