Rachmaninoff Concerto no.4

[frederic]

I know not many of you rach3 fans here like this concerto very much. But i am proud to say i am one of the few that do. So all those rach4 fans out there, and those arenkys out there too  , what have you got to say about this? How would you compare the difficulty of this concerto with say, rach1, or even, rach2 and pag rhapsody? No need to compare to rach3....
Do you think it's a suitable concerto for a competition?

Cheers, all the best

[mrchops10]

If you are actually expected to play with an orchestra, or a competition accompanist, it's probably not a good choice at all. Chances are you will have very little rehearsal time, and Rach 4 and Rach-Pag are really very difficult to coordinate. If you are working with your own accompanist, I'd say go ahead. I'm not really a big fan of this concerto, but I don't see how a competition performance would hurt at all.

[superstition2]

The 1927 and original versions are a lot better than the last revision. I adore the 4th concerto.

[pianohopper]

Definitely it is a better choice than the overplayed 2nd Concerto and Paganini Rhapsody.  Less played concertos are good to go with for competitions.  Not only does it show original thinking and a willingness to break away from convention, people are less likely to know it so well!!!  A few small mistakes in the 4th would be easier to get away with than in the better-known ones. 

[rob47]

im going to see the Whale play it in november should be good

[pita bread]

The 1927 and original versions are a lot better than the last revision. I adore the 4th concerto.

Do you have a recording of the original?

[frederic]

The 1927 and original versions are a lot better than the last revision. I adore the 4th concerto.

whats the difference between the 1927 and the original versions? So are you saying there are three different versions? what's different from one another? are there recordings of 1927/original versions?

If you are actually expected to play with an orchestra, or a competition accompanist, it's probably not a good choice at all. Chances are you will have very little rehearsal time, and Rach 4 and Rach-Pag are really very difficult to coordinate. If you are working with your own accompanist, I'd say go ahead. I'm not really a big fan of this concerto, but I don't see how a competition performance would hurt at all.

Is it just the last movement that is hard to put together? I mean if you say it's hard ensemble wise then wouldn't that mean ANY rachmaninoff concerto would be pretty hard to put together?
Would it not be fine with just a couple of well spent rehearsals, as long as the soloist has their part down pretty tight and the orchestra knows what they are doing?

[thierry13]

im going to see the Whale play it in november should be good

OMFG !! You're so lucky !! Where is the concert? Is he coming to montreal too?

[superstition2]

So are you saying there are three different versions?

Yes. Here's the breakdown:

1. Original version 1917 (unfinished orchestration?), available in this recording.
2. 1926/27 version, available in this recording.
3. Final common version from the 1940s.

I think the 1927 version is probably the best version of the concerto, but it's very close to the original. Unfortunately, the Black/Buketoff recording is too slow in the third movement. The final version is inferior to either prior version, in my opinion. Like his 2nd sonata and 1st concerto, it suffers from heavy-handed revision that takes away beauty.

[arensky]

Againsy my teacher's and my colleaugues advice I prepared this Concerto for big competitions about 20 years ago, and was a semifinalist in one of these competitions. My other Concerto in that contest was the Mozart d minor #20 K.466. In none of these conmpstitions did a a judge disparage my choice of the Rachmaninov 4th. So it worked for me, I guess... you can read my thoughts on the piece itself here...https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,11855.0.html

[ravel]

amazing work !!!!!!,  i specially love the first and second movement. and even the beginning of the third.

[tompilk]

Totally amazing and beautiful work, although the orchestra is overdone. Great stuff. 

[superstition2]

Totally amazing and beautiful work, although the orchestra is overdone. Great stuff. 

Overdone? Do you mean the piano doesn't dominate as it does in the 3rd? I think the orchestration of the 3rd is a bit thin. I prefer the lushness of the first two versions of the 4th.

[tompilk]

No. Sorry. I don't agree - let's agree to disagree. THe orchestra, in my opinion, is overdone and the balance in Rach 3 is perfect for me...