tchaikovsky-rachmaninoff Lullaby

[birba]

[pianowolfi]

Hi Birba

I hear your soul and heart in there, and your broad experience, dear Birba! I don't understand your decisions on pedalling though, and, as I am in all probability younger than you and you have for sure much more experience as a performer than me, I'd just like to ask you about this.

Thank you for posting

[littletune]

That's so great Birba! It's so cool you finally decided to post something!

[birba]

Hi Birba

I hear your soul and heart in there, and your broad experience, dear Birba! I don't understand your decisions on pedalling though, and, as I am in all probability younger than you and you have for sure much more experience as a performer than me, I'd just like to ask you about this.

Thank you for posting

You're right.  I do tend to overdo the pedal in this piece.  I think it has to do with this instrument.  It sounds like one of those toy pianos to me and I guess to get more sound I just step on the gas and don't let up!  I hope to do it again on a decent instrument.  thanks.

[pianowolfi]

You're right.  I do tend to overdo the pedal in this piece.  I think it has to do with this instrument.  It sounds like one of those toy pianos to me and I guess to get more sound I just step on the gas and don't let up!  I hope to do it again on a decent instrument.  thanks.

Yes somehow I too got the feeling that it had to do with this particular instrument.
Please keep posting!

[becky8898]

Hi Birba. God I am so jealous. you make it look so easy. So effortless. Your control just seems so natural.  The attack you have with your fingers on the melody line is wonderful.  I really wish I could here you on a nice grand. On this piano the left hand bass notes lack richness. I guess thats the right word.  I have never heard this piece before. Its very nice. Please , Please, Please post more. 

Cheers, Becky

[ladypianist]

Very Nice Birba. I will tell you the same thing I tell some of the other young people that I enjoy so much listening to you perform.  I think compared to me you are still young.  I have normally heard this played just a hair faster. A couple of the performances I  have heard at Rachmaninov Hall where like that. I think your tempo might perhaps be more interesting. The tones do get to sing so nicely and hang in the air more.  It was so nice to hear the sound behind all those wonderful posts you have made. 

From one very old Pianist to one only a little old, Lady Pianist. 

[rachfan]

Hi birba,

By the way, Lady Pianist is probably not as ancient as I.  

Bravo!  I thoroughly enjoyed hearing your rendition.  You played very beautifully.  (And I envy your ability to still be able to memorize.)  One really needs to listen to this piece several times to fully appreciate all the wonderful sonorities, harmonies and delicious dissonances.  I especially loved the haunting melody and the coda with all of its unexpected turns of phrase.  Absolutely gorgeous!

I have to admit that I had never heard this piece before, so had to cheat and look it up in Hinson's The Pianist's Guide to Transcriptions, Arrangements and Paraphrases.  There I learned that this was Rachmaninoff's last work, completed on August 12, 1941.

Looking forward to hearing your next recording!

David

[birba]

Thanks everyone.  It really didn't turn out as expressive as I would have liked it.  I have 3 pianos in my life - actually 4 now - the one grand is in Rome and another is in a little hall here in the village.  I'll never use this one again for recording.  It's a great swiss upright for practising, though.
As far as age goes I'm probably older then anyone here - hence, you don't see me in the video.    Very very interesting that this was Rachmaninov's last piece. Makes it even more poignant.  Thanks David.  Must get hold of that book.

[ladypianist]

Hello Birba  And Rachfan : It seems where having an age contest. Well a lady doesnt tell her age but I will tell you that I competed in Geneva in 1957 and studied during the war with Vladimir Sofronitsky  as a child at the Moscow conservatory until my family immigrated to the united states after world war two was over.

From one young at heart person to another young at heart person.  Lady Pianist

[emill]

Dear Birba !!
I almost said aloud ...AT LONG LAST!!  a video!!
Often I feel so out of place here in pianostreet, knowing almost nothing
about the basics and technicalities of piano pieces except for what I read
here and what Enzo's teacher tells him... but i have learned to rely heavily
on my ears and my soul ... and let me just say you have soothed my soul today.
Thank you for posting.
Emill (stephen)

[pianist1976]

Yeah! This only makes me want to ask for more. One is not enough.

Waiting for your next recording on a grand  

You are a very generous person because it takes time to do the great comments you do here in Audition Room. And you are now generous enough to share us your art.

Congrats and thanks for sharing, friend Birba.

[gyzzzmo]

Hi Birba.
It sounds very nice, there is always some finetuning though
As commented before, there too much pedalling, listening yourself back probably brought you to that conclusion too.
Also you could play with the melody even more, maybe use this link as inspiration:

&feature=fvsr

The part from 2.14 till 2.35 should probably played more as a whole wich gives it abit of a sinister feeling and better to musically picture.

Oh and one other thing, In my version i dont have have those high notes on 1.05, havent heard them on other recordings either. Is it a personal touch?

Gyzzzmo

[birba]

Wow.  Thanks for the response everyone!
I'm really curious to hear more about Ladypianist!  Why don't you post something?  even from the younger years.  My teacher also studied at the moscow conservatory and came over after WWII.  But she was much much older then you.  she studied with Emil Sauer among others.  geneva 1957? That was the year argerich won, wasn't it.  I did it in 1973.  Tell us more!
Thanks gyzzmo. I know the song and even accompanied it a few times.  Listening to my recording again I, too, hear that the melody doesn't come across enough.  There most definitely is that crossing over of hands at 1:05 to hit the f,f-flat.  I have the charles foley edition.  You do see the treble clef in the left hand in the preceeding bar, don't you?

[scottmcc]

bravo birba, you've shown your mastery of the piano quite clearly here.  the piece is quite haunting.  I agree that it would sound better on a higher-quality instrument, but such is the life...I think most anything would sound better on a better instrument.  still, it's first rate playing of a piece that I'd never heard.  it sounds so effortless, which I know is clearly not the case!

birba, I seem to recall that somewhere you were speaking german.  you seem to be a bit of a world traveler and polyglot, as you referenced currently living in Italy.  I'd love to hear more of your travels.

[emill]

geneva 1957? That was the year argerich won, wasn't it.  I did it in 1973.  

CONCOURS de GENEVE International Music Competition

Argerich Martha   1957   Piano   Argentina   1st Prize
Raes Alain   1973   Piano

Is Alain Raes BIRBA ??? 
the other winner for 1973 is a woman, Haffner Caroline; both are French.

[rachfan]

Hi pianolady,

OK, I surrender in deference to you.  I started piano lessons in 1953, so was not ready for Geneva by 1957.    Sofronitsky is one of my favorites of all time.  His recording of the Scriabin Poeme, Op. 32, No. 2 in D inspired me to learn it and post it here at Piano Street.  Studying with him must have been an extraordinary experience!  My own teaching heritage from the Russian side comes down from Goldenweiser and Leschetizky.  I believe Goldenweiser and Sofronitsky were on the Moscow Conservatory faculty at the same time.  Did you ever see Goldenweiser there and hear him play?

And yes, we'll always be young at heart for sure!

[birba]

CONCOURS de GENEVE International Music Competition

Argerich Martha   1957   Piano   Argentina   1st Prize
Raes Alain   1973   Piano

Is Alain Raes BIRBA ??? 
the other winner for 1973 is a woman, Haffner Caroline; both are French.

Caroline Haffner actually got second place.  There was no first prize that year.  You could say I came in 4th.  I got a bronze medal.  I don't remember this alain raes - was he ex-equeo with Haffner?   Do you have that book on all the international piano competitions since B.C.? 

[rachfan]

Hi,

I'm looking at A Dictionary of Pianists by Wilson Lyle, which gives all the competitions in an appendix. For 1973 it indicates no first prize awarded and 2nd was shared by Caroline Haffner and Alain Raes. Back in 1957 the winners were 1st Marta Argerich and Dominique Merlet, and 2nd Therese Castaing and Maurizio Pollini.

[ladypianist]

To Birba and Rachfan.  Sofronitsky Didnt arrive at the Conservatory until 1943, the same year I did.  I think he had been at St. Petersburg before that.  Professor Goldenweiser had been at the conservatory forever. I saw him occasionaly and once he came over and patted me on the top of my head and complimented me on my Bach. Yes I did hear both of them play.

Yes I competed the year that Martha won, who even though I thought she was great, I still believe to this day that Maurizio should have won.

Lady Pianist

[birba]

The Maurizio from those times, perhaps! 

[gyzzzmo]

Thanks gyzzmo. I know the song and even accompanied it a few times.  Listening to my recording again I, too, hear that the melody doesn't come across enough.  There most definitely is that crossing over of hands at 1:05 to hit the f,f-flat.  I have the charles foley edition.  You do see the treble clef in the left hand in the preceeding bar, don't you?

Oh dear you are right!
I actually performed it in a concert an octave too low and nobody mentioned :p
Thank you for noticing, i actually learn things here too

[rachfan]

If pianolady says that Pollini didn't put the jury to sleep in Geneva, I totally believe her. 

David

[emill]

Caroline Haffner actually got second place.  There was no first prize that year.  You could say I came in 4th.  I got a bronze medal.  I don't remember this alain raes - was he ex-equeo with Haffner?   Do you have that book on all the international piano competitions since B.C.? 

https://www.concoursgeneve.ch/index.php/en/archives/search/laureates.html
Haffner Caroline   1973   Piano   France   2nd Prize 1st named
Raes Alain   1973   Piano   France   2nd Prize 2nd named

You're right ... there was no 1st prize awarded and Alain Raes was a co-2nd placer
with Caroline Haffner.  WOW!!   Just being considered a contestant at Concours de Geneve
is already a great feat ... winning a place in the top 5 is a super feat for any pianist.

Sincere CONGRATULATIONS to BIRBA and ladypianist even if it is decades later!!!

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

That was so, so beautiful...  Thank you so much for posting, and please post more

[scottmcc]

I liked it so much I had to have another listen this morning.  you wouldn't happen to know where i can find the score, would you?  it's not public domain yet, at least according to IMSLP, and I can't seem to find a for-sale copy either on any of my main sources.


again, birba, fabulous playing.

[birba]

I must get a scanner.  When I do, I'll send it to you.  It's Charles Foley edition.  I picked it up in Peddleston's in new york, years ago.

[riskarb]

Wonderful Birba!!!!   

Sincere CONGRATULATIONS to BIRBA and ladypianist even if it is decades later!!!

I am humbled to be here posting with you guys and exchanging views. I'm a total hack and I'm hoping one day (after the $$$ issues are sorted) to achieve just a fraction of what you guys have done in your musical lives.


 

[scottmcc]

I must get a scanner.  When I do, I'll send it to you.  It's Charles Foley edition.  I picked it up in Peddleston's in new york, years ago.

thank you!

[gyzzzmo]

Boosey & Hawkes has it too. Serge Rachmaninoff: Piano compositions volume 2

[pianisten1989]

Good job Birba! Nice to finaly hear you play!

Sometimes I though the melody drowned in all the harmonies, but that's about it

Yay, post some more soon!

[roger_1948]

You know this may sound silly, but not only was i mesmorized by you playing this, but I couldnt take my eyes off your left hand. The grace and ease with which you move it, leaves me so envious. I can barely get my left hand to function in a haydn or Mozart sonata and even then it sounds so akward.  Well done. also thanks for choosing some music i have never heard. Very Refreshing.

Roger