Gluck

[tengstrand]

I have gotten into Gluck's music lately: started listening to his stuff since it's imo essential to understand Beethoven's early sonatas (which I discovered kinda late, after playing them for 15 years...). Anyway, I was cruising youtube and ran into these two videos.

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Any opinions?

[thalbergmad]

Well, the melody is Gluck but we must give credit to Sgambati who transcribed it for piano.

Truly a beautiful piece, but i cannot believe how fast Rachmaninov played it in that clip.

Very popular melody for transcription and it must have been done at least a dozen times, including a tendon tearing version for left hand by Sosa that i failed miserably to play.

Thal

[ronde_des_sylphes]

First impressions:
Rachmaninov's tempo seems a bit fast at the start, but by a minute or so in, I'm much more convinced. I can't stand Kissin's version (though in fairness the sound quality doesn't appear very good). Seems to me that, metaphorically, Rachmaninov lights the room with subtle suggestion, but Kissin makes sure the room is lit by putting the light in your face. Anyway, who am I to criticise?

[m]

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Any opinions?

Haven't listen to this Rachmaninov recording for quite awhile and now coming back to it I understand why I always thought this recording (along with his Scherzo from MidsummerNight Dreams) is probably the finest recording ever made, the pinnacle of romantic piano performance.
There is everything here--imagination, fluidity, beautiful singing tone, great taste, subtle rubato... Listening to this recording one forgets that piano actually is a percussive instrument--the legato is quite unbelievable, rather something one could probably expect from a violin, or flute... or human voice. I don't think it is possible to play piano better than that.

I love this Gluck's Opera and watched it quite a few times in Opera theater. Listening to Rachmaninov I can understand why when Ortheus played this melody even stones melt and Gods got touched to return Eurydice...

Best, M

[mikey6]

Very popular melody for transcription and it must have been done at least a dozen times, including a tendon tearing version for left hand by Sosa that i failed miserably to play.

Thal

Out of interest, what exactly can you play Thal?
It most times you mention a piece you've played it's always been terrible - perfectionist/pessimist?

[thalbergmad]

Out of interest, what exactly can you play Thal?
It most times you mention a piece you've played it's always been terrible - perfectionist/pessimist?

I am in the habit of NOT keeping in very good pianistic shape, so that when i suddenly get the urge to play something, i am totally unprepared.

You do make a very valid point though. I do tend to dwell on my failures.

Thal

[furtwaengler]

Haven't listen to this Rachmaninov recording for quite awhile and now coming back to it I understand why I always thought this recording (along with his Scherzo from MidsummerNight Dreams) is probably the finest recording ever made, the pinnacle of romantic piano performance.
There is everything here--imagination, fluidity, beautiful singing tone, great taste, subtle rubato... Listening to this recording one forgets that piano actually is a percussive instrument--the legato is quite unbelievable, rather something one could probably expect from a violin, or flute... or human voice. I don't think it is possible to play piano better than that.

I love this Gluck's Opera and watched it quite a few times in Opera theater. Listening to Rachmaninov I can understand why when Ortheus played this melody even stones melt and Gods got touched to return Eurydice...

Best, M

I very much enjoyed listening to both recordings and reading Marik's praise of Rachmaninov's playing here. I'm thankful for both the topic and this post.

[m19834]

I very much enjoyed listening to both recordings and reading Marik's praise of Rachmaninov's playing here. I'm thankful for both the topic and this post.

Me, too .

[ramseytheii]

If anyone is ever in Cleveland, Ohio, you will find the most exquisite bust of Gluck in the Museum of Art there.  It was sculpted by that incomparable Frenchman, Houdon.  This bust is special because it brings to life all of Gluck's physical flaws: his pock-marked face, his turkey neck, his receding hair line.  But the eyes - the eyes!  Gluck looks at you as if he was standing right there.

Compared to the other sterile, sanitized busts of the day, Houdon's Gluck is a saving grace.

Walter Ramsey

[mikey6]

You do make a very valid point though. I do tend to dwell on my failures.
Thal

Don't we all!