Nobuyuki Tsujii plays Rach 3 -- is the cadenza the "ossia"?

[ubon2010]

In a previous post, I wrote --
I hope you can watch this footage of his performance of Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 3, performed in the U.K. in November with Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
https://bit.ly/1ApUY1r
OR
https://bit.ly/13Ym1Vz

I have just been asked whether the cadenza in the first movement that Nobuyuki Tsujii plays in this video is the "ossia" or the "non-ossia" version. According to Wikipedia: "Rachmaninoff wrote two versions of this cadenza: the chordal original, which is commonly notated as the ossia, and a second one with a lighter, toccata-like style."

I believe in the video Nobu plays the "ossia" version.  I now turn to wiser heads for the definitive answer.   Thank you in advance.

[cbreemer]

Yes it's the ossia, the proper choice for Real Men (and Women)  One of the most fearsome cadenzas in the piano repertoire. It defies imagination how a blind man can play this at all, let
alone in such a grand manner.

[faulty_damper]

I'm not clicking any of those links.  I think you're spamming.  It should be immediately apparent which of the cadenzas he's performing simply by looking at the score.

[perfect_pitch]

https://bit.ly/1ApUY1r
OR
https://bit.ly/13Ym1Vz

I would like to know why you didn't just post the original hyperlink, instead of hiding it behind one of those tinylinks...

[ubon2010]

Yes it's the ossia, the proper choice for Real Men (and Women)   One of the most fearsome cadenzas in the piano repertoire. It defies imagination how a blind man can play this at all, let
alone in such a grand manner.

Many thanks for your kind reply.  I have also now heard similarly from other knowledgeable people. Thank you. You made my day.

[ubon2010]

At a time when classical music seems to be at its nadir in the Western world, it is disheartening that my postings about the achievements of an extraordinary classical pianist drew some disrespectful responses.   I make my postings with deliberation and care, and my question stemmed from a genuine curiosity, not any ulterior motive.  Although I play the piano, I was not familiar with the two versions of the cadenza and hence sought input from more knowledgeable people.  Isn't that what this forum is about?

I am thankful to cbreemer for his reply, which inspired me to do some more research on the matter.  There is no lack of discussions on it, but they are all over the place.  For my own collection, I gathered the information in this piece
https://mlliu2006.blogspot.com/2015/01/rachmaninoffs-ossia-cadenza.html
Perhaps there are others who may find it useful.

[cbreemer]

That's a good piece of work. It is a subject that deserves some attention, this being one of the
most iconic piano concertos ever. You sure have a point about some top-notch pianists, including
Rachmaninov himself, choose the lighter version. I suppose it is what you're used to. I you were brought up on very powerful recordings featuring the big cadenza (Moguilevsky and Ashkenazy in
my case), hearing the lighter version is sort of a disappointment. But if you're weaned on the lighter version, the ossia may seem overblown and unnecessary as indeed there is more than enough power elsewhere. So like everything, a matter of taste and preference.

[ubon2010]

That's a good piece of work. It is a subject that deserves some attention, this being one of the
most iconic piano concertos ever.

Thank you for the kind words and for your courtesy, cbreemer. 

You sure have a point about some top-notch pianists, including
Rachmaninov himself, choose the lighter version. I suppose it is what you're used to. I you were brought up on very powerful recordings featuring the big cadenza (Moguilevsky and Ashkenazy in
my case), hearing the lighter version is sort of a disappointment. But if you're weaned on the lighter version, the ossia may seem overblown and unnecessary as indeed there is more than enough power elsewhere. So like everything, a matter of taste and preference.

Agreed, and I have the utmost admiration for anyone who can play it well! 
By the way, it is said that Vladimir Ashkenazy switched from the lighter version to the ossia.  I have it on good authority that last year Nobuyuki Tsujii consulted him on the playing of Rach 3.  The Liverpool performance shown on the video is only the second public performance of the concerto by Nobu.

Thanks again for your civil discourse.

[cbreemer]

My pleasure. I well understand your fascination with this extraordinary pianist. I don't think anything is beyond him, he's even playing Prokofiev and Kapustin, music even more jumpy and sometimes more taxing than Rachmaninov.

[ubon2010]

My pleasure. I well understand your fascination with this extraordinary pianist. I don't think anything is beyond him, he's even playing Prokofiev and Kapustin, music even more jumpy and sometimes more taxing than Rachmaninov.

I feel that Nobuyuki Tsujii has not received his fair share of recognition, and am doing what little within my capabilities to help.  It is unfortunate that Nobu came to prominence at a time when classical music is in decline in the West, and when Japan has lost its economic clout to China.  I also believe that there are those who will always think of his performances as a circus act.  Then too his management seems to focus his promotion on Japan mostly, where he is revered and beloved.

Nobu has Prokofiev 3 down pat -- he will next perform it this month (January 2015) in Japan with Vasily Petrenko and then in May with Yutaka Sado in Vienna's Golden Hall.  His Kapustin etude video on YouTube is priceless.