Rachmaninoff as a pianist

[liszmaninopin]

What do you think of Rachmaninoff as a pianist?  I know that the recordings are filled with static, but from what I hear I like his playing quite a bit.  He has impeccable technique, and plays very intelligently.  If only he recorded more performances of other pieces in his repertoire...

[chopiabin]

I think he was incredible. Have you heard his performances of the C#minor prelude and the op.23#5? I normally don't like to listen to these very much because they are so overplayed, but he makes them sound utterly amazing. They make Ashkenazy sound like a child.

[liszmaninopin]

Yes, I have heard those performances.  I don't think I've ever listened to a recording in which he made a mistake.

[liszmaninopin]

Has anybody on this forum heard Rachmaninoff live?  I remember my grandfather did, and for the rest of his life, Rachmaninoff was his favorite composer.

[pou_lenc]

I haven't heard him play (only 19 - would be a tad tricky) but my old piano teacher did when she was a little girl and she still rembered it at 90+. Apparently he was playing a Beethoven sonata and forgot a whole section so just made it up! Most of the audience didn't notice as they were just spellbound by his playing. I wish I could have heard him live!

[Colette]

wow. rachmininoff playing rachmaninoff. he's my favorite pianist and he's made some of my favorite recordings. if you have a chance, pick up the great performances rachmaninoff cd. it has a wealth of amazing repertoire and playing which simply cannot be topped. the double cd includes a bunch of chopin; some waltzes, scherzo nr. 3, of course the famous b m sonata with him famously playing it, some wonderful rachmaninoff works including preludes, etudes, the amazing "lilacs", schumann's carnival, etc. some great transcriptions. it's had to breathe when listening to him play.

[bitus]

Can you be more specific on the title of the cd? Are you talking about this one? https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000003FB7/ref=pd_sim_music_5/103-9427249-9295013?v=glance&s=music
Thank you,
The Bitus

[Colette]

no i don't think it's that one. it's a double cd  called "great pianists of the 20th century" featuring  sergei rachmaninoff. it's philips. "great pianists" is a whole series that highlights just about every great pianist there is. sometimes hard to find, for whatever reason, but it's well worth it to search for this one. there is also a wonderful double cd richter set with rachmaninoff, schumann, chopin etc. these cds are great because they only assemble the pianist's very best recordings out of hundreds.