Who has the best Rach 3 out there?

[the89thkey]

I did a poll to increase the number of replies, but I'm really asking this because I want to see what people's opinions are on this piece. Personally I like Lugansky's.

[p2u_]

Who has the best Rach 3 out there?

Other. More precisely: Lazar Berman - conductor Claudio Abbado, November 1976.

Paul

[the89thkey]

Other. More precisely: Lazar Berman - conductor Claudio Abbado, November 1976.

Paul

Interesting. I myself never heard this rendition.

[p2u_]

Interesting. I myself never heard this rendition.

Here's the "big" cadenza to give you an impression of how it sounds:

Paul

[the89thkey]

Here's the "big" cadenza to give you an impression of how it sounds:

Paul

It's an interesting interpretation.

[chauncey]

If anyone, I would say Horowitz. Rachmaninoff himself even praised Horowitz for playing the concerto so well and close to what he imagined it to be. Rachmaninoff even said "" Nevertheless, it was not until the 1930s and largely thanks to the advocacy of Vladimir Horowitz that the Third concerto became popular." ...

[patrickd]

I vote for Lazar Berman.

[cadenza14224]

The version that I've come to know and love is the one by Ashkenazy with Andre Previn conducting. The entire Rachmaninoff Concerto album by those two is simply amazing.

[the89thkey]

The version that I've come to know and love is the one by Ashkenazy with Andre Previn conducting. The entire Rachmaninoff Concerto album by those two is simply amazing.

Ashkenazy's recording is wooden and uninteresting...I hardly think it good.

[perfect_pitch]

OLGA KERN! OLGA KERN! OLGA KERN!

[the89thkey]

OLGA KERN! OLGA KERN! OLGA KERN!

Oh that's right, I forgot about her...
Yes I love hers as well

[pianoplayjl]

Byron Janis's rendition hands down. I don't know what year though because my teacher burnt a copy onto a disc and just gave it to me. I count myself lucky to hear a wonderful playing. The other versions are good, but Janis is miles ahead by comparison. Janis Rach 3 is way better than even Horowitz (probably the 2nd best Rach 3 out there). It's a shame Rachmaninoff did not hear Janis.

JL

[richard black]

I've always had great fondness for Horovitz's recording with Koussevitzky, but there are many others I like and even more I haven't heard, of course.

[blazekenny]

Ashkenazy's recording is wooden and uninteresting...I hardly think it good.

Then why did you vote for the guy who bangs all the time ? And when he doesnt bang, he looks at the ceiling to have the more artistic look. Or maybe he is looking for the money he gets after the concert ? Anyway, Lugansky has a pretty average performance of anything.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Horowitz.

The only problem is that the quality of his recordings freaking suck!

Second to that I would say my lovely Valentina Lisitsa!  She never disappoints me!

[thalbergmad]

Earl Wild for me.

[the89thkey]

Then why did you vote for the guy who bangs all the time ? And when he doesnt bang, he looks at the ceiling to have the more artistic look. Or maybe he is looking for the money he gets after the concert ? Anyway, Lugansky has a pretty average performance of anything.

I don't appreciate you insulting Lugansky's talent or making those obviously false statements about him. He is 1) not average, 2) he doesn't bang, 3) he does not look at the ceiling for looks, he does it because he is enjoying the music. Tell me, why is Ashkenazy better?

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Then why did you vote for the guy who bangs all the time ? And when he doesnt bang, he looks at the ceiling to have the more artistic look. Or maybe he is looking for the money he gets after the concert ? Anyway, Lugansky has a pretty average performance of anything.

What are you talking about?  Lugansky is freaking awesome!

[blazekenny]

I don't appreciate you insulting Lugansky's talent or making those obviously false statements about him. He is 1) not average, 2) he doesn't bang, 3) he does not look at the ceiling for looks, he does it because he is enjoying the music. Tell me, why is Ashkenazy better?

I never denied Luganskys talent. I just say he didnt use the talent and now he is just one of the thousands.

[akthe47]

Personally I find Olga Kern's rendition awe-inspiring.

As for some of the nonsense comments from Blazekenny, what else can you say to him after a comment like this:

"I never denied Luganskys talent. I just say he didnt use the talent and now he is just one of the thousands."

How do you know Luganskys talent that isn't apparent through what he uses?  What do you even mean??  Saying someone bangs at the piano is your implied way of stating Lugansky has no talent. 

I just love how posters try to find some clever way to back-pedal on what they stated before by arguing over 'semantics' and 'words', while avoiding what their overall message is in every post.  You're as clear as mud! 

[blazekenny]

Personally I find Olga Kern's rendition awe-inspiring.

As for some of the nonsense comments from Blazekenny, what else can you say to him after a comment like this:

"I never denied Luganskys talent. I just say he didnt use the talent and now he is just one of the thousands."

How do you know Luganskys talent that isn't apparent through what he uses?  What do you even mean??  Saying someone bangs at the piano is your implied way of stating Lugansky has no talent.  

I just love how posters try to find some clever way to back-pedal on what they stated before by arguing over 'semantics' and 'words', while avoiding what their overall message is in every post.  You're as clear as mud!  

Lol. Talent means he has the premises to do something better than an untalented person. Who cares about your talent on the concerts ? Everyone wants to hear the result.
So yeah, I never denied he is talented. He is a good sight reader, has perfect pitch and has active fingers. Yet he is just inferior to alot of other pianists. I have attended 2 of his concerts here in Prague. One was Chopin-Liszt and the Chopin part was absolutely ruined, banged and with ignorance to what Chopin wrote. Liszt was also bad, but people seem to like the empty technical bravado. Second concert was Rach 2. He couldnt be heard over the orchestra. You dont reach big forte by smashing the piano with your muscular arms as much as you can

Not even saying his pedal only knows "on/off"
And he doesnt have the balls to play the extremely romantic Chopin barcarolle
Music, or art as a whole may be subjective, but there are things a pianist just cant do, otherwise its a sacrilege to the composer

[jogoeshome]

I think Olga Kern is the best contemporary one. Horowitz makes it look like he's having a walk in the park, and I think this piece is best played my a man because is physically very demanding, so Horowitz is my favourite.

[austinarg]

Wild + Horenstein. In fact, he has the best Rach 1, 2 and 4 as well. Not to mention the Paganini variations.

[49410enrique]

Wild + Horenstein. In fact, he has the best Rach 1, 2 and 4 as well. Not to mention the Paganini variations.

wild is tops in my book for sooooooo many things. i have not listened to any of his rachmaninoff concertos (but it does not surprise me as his rachmaninoff song transcriptions show such an intimate understanding of his music). will have to start carving out some listening time to get those in.