Rachmaninov Etude-Tableaux op.39 no.5 in e flat minor

[steinwayargentina]

A video I recorded some days ago.... thanks for listening...

[awesom_o]

Fantastic playing, Pablo.
 
You know the work extremely well and you play it in a personal, beautiful, and thoroughly convincing way. Your understanding of the style is deep. Your technique is at a very high level.

Your interpretation contains a vast amount of detail, and you have a wide variety of colour to express your ideas.  The textures are always so well-developed-never clumsy, too-thick, or badly voiced. Again, bravo. No easy feat in this piece.

Were you to play it this way for my teacher, I think one of the only things he would want you to do would be to vary the rubato a bit. You generally treat the subject matter with a broad, expansive approach to the phrasing, and while this certainly works and is a valid interpretation (especially when carried off so well), I think there is more agitato character that you could explore.
Maybe you don't feel that way about the piece-everyone seems to treat this one a bit differently. For me, it was the only (small) thing I could really think of that was missing.

Always such great pianists in South America!
I posted my own recording a month or two back-check it out-I'd love to hear your thoughts:
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=40780.0

Again, thanks for such an epic contribution. Well done!

[eminemvsrach]

Very beautiful and impressive performance! It does seems a bit calm at times, more agitato will make this fine performance even better! Try some more rubato in the buildup from 2:12 to 2:41. The other buildups and climaxes were very good.

Maybe a more intense forte from 4:20 to 4:33 so the e-flat minor chord that resolves the piece could have more contrast. Just like letting go after holding your breath for a long time.

You really did bring out the emotion and intensity of the piece! Bravo!!

Em

[steinwayargentina]

Hey guys, thank you very much for the comments, they are both really constructive and Im certainly glad you think that way about my performance. I found the observation about the rubatos and the agitato character very very interesting and I will explore that idea. I learned and played this work some years ago, and I coming back to this one since a few weeks so Im looking for new things to do, so your thoughts are very helpful in this process. Its a pleasure to have this kind of feedback from people who clearly understands music and can make such fine critics. Im certainly listening to your recording awesom_o, thank you again guys...

[steinwayargentina]

Hey Awesom-o I listened your recordings of the Rachmaninov etudes and Im delighted... I really like the way you play especially no.3 in f sharp minor, I think I will start learning it, you were an inspiration. About the e flat minor, I like how you always bring the melody so clear, even in the more stormy passages and I felt you save intensity and passion in the begining to build up the climax in the end, I like that way... My idea for this etude is like a storm is coming, if it were a painting I should say could be some storm landscape, like a tempest... well, I really enjoy your performance... hope you are doing well... regards