Hardest section of Rach 3

[korlock]

Obviously Rachmaninoff's 3rd is technically demanding throughout, but if you had to pick one significant passage that is technically difficult to play what would it be?
I haven't played it yet. I would say the build up towards the end of the last movement when the left hand is vigorously playing extremely fast octaves. It just doesn't seem humanly possible. What do you think? --Also, I'm only looking for straight answers here. I'm not interested in post such as "Well you can't pick just one place". I'm asking if you had to, what would that section be?

[49410enrique]

are in quiring about a piano i only part or piano (technical) + busy or tricky rhythm orchestra, the thing is full of places where ensemble can be an issue and for performance reasons could probably pose bigger challenges than just getting the solo part down. i love the work, not sure why no 2  and  n 4  (the pag var.) gets so much more play , all of them are freakin great.

[lorditachijr]

korlock,
There are a lot of killer sections in Rach 3. I don't think you could pick a "hardest" part. For me, the hardest parts of any piece are the ones I haven't put a lot of time into yet. Once you've mastered a section, it isn't hard anymore. Of course there are some sections where you absolutely cannot get it down no matter how much you've worked it. I guess whichever sections these are for you (we all have different techniques) would be the hardest parts of the concerto.

49410enrique,
Rach 3 is fairly overplayed in the classical world. Look at the competitors from the last Tchaikovsky Competition. I think at least half of them had Rach 3 as there second concerto choice. Rach 2 is much more popular with general audiences. In a way, it's easier to appreciate than the 3rd. Also, I think you're mixing up the Variations on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43 with the Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 40. The Paganini Variations are probably the third most-popular of Rachmaninoff's works for piano and orchestra (behind the 2nd and 3rd Concerti), but the 4th Concerto is almost never played (even though it is just as sublime as its more famous siblings).

The Rachmaninoff Concerti are all very wonderful and very hard works. If you wish to perform any of them effectively, you must have complete technical control over the piece. Getting off with the orchestra will doom you unless you know how to get right back on track.

Sorry about getting off topic (several times)!

Sincerely yours,
John

[pianovlad1996]

Well, I can say the introduction is the hardest part in the whole Rachmaninoff 3rd Concerto (when you play with the orchestra). At a very high level of stress for the cadenza and the other technically hard sections, you don't pay attention to the introduction (when the main theme is presented) and you can easily destroy it. In the introduction, every note should be clear and the phrasing should be very well shaped (any accent in wrong places will ruin it). As for the technical problems in the concerto, the section before the cadenza, the cadenza (ossia not the lighter toccata) and some sections in the 3rd movement will be very hard to play well. Hope it will help you.
Love,
Timea