Your favorite Rachmaninoff etude

[Alasweetz]

Whats your favorite Rachmaninoff etude?? or whats the most challenging and difficult etude?

[ned]

Great question.
I have been in love with most of them from time to time. I have learned op 39 in E flat minor and op 39 in D major. They are magnificent and not excessive.  One day, my Russian teacher stopped me in the E flat minor when I came to the rolling left hand part in B flat with the single note melody in the right hand, saying, "it's like the Russian countryside when it's hot and there is scarcely a breeze." What an image!
I also play op 33/2 in C major and E flat major. I prefer op 39 and I have great admiration for op 39 no's 1 C minor, 3 F sharp minor and 8 in D minor. They are very hard, and I have never been able to get into them. I would say that no 3 and 8 are the hardest because of the double notes. I really don't care too much for op 39 in A minor or op 33 in E flat minor although these are palyed a lot.
Do you play any?
Ned

[Alasweetz]

I'm starting the first etude op. 39 but i'm not sure if its the right one to choose

[liszmaninopin]

I have done some work off and on with the Rachmaninoff etudes, and personally prefer op. 39 the most.  I think that #5 is an especially beautiful piece with tremendous power, but the ending is soft, which you may or may not want.  Number 1 is very difficult, and although I like it, when my family here it they don't like it, complaining that it's too hard to follow.  I guess my favorite would be #5.