Favourite Performer for each Rachmaninoff Concerto

[theodopolis]

Apologies to those who are sick and tired of seeing these kinds of ad nauseam posts.

Could everyone willing please put down their personal favourite Rachmaninoff Concerto performer next to each concerto?

If there is any indecision, pick one.
Toss a coin etc.

My own personal preference:

No.1 - Rachmaninoff (1939)
No.2 - Moiseiwitsch (1937)
No.3 - Horowitz (1951)
No.4 - Michelangeli (1957)
Paganini - Moiseiwitsch (1938)


Thanks
Theodopolis

[pianomann1984]

1- Rachmaninoff
2- Philip Fowke
3- Horowitz
4- Rachmaninoff
Paganini - Ashkenazy (excuse my spelling!)

[pseudopianist]

1. Idil Biret (I might get flamed for this but just listen to her raw power) /Ashkenazy
2. Rachmaninov / Biret
3. Martha Argerich/Horowitz
4. Rachmaninov

[AvoidedCadence]

1st concerto - Rachmaninoff (haven't heard too many, though)
2nd - Richter (probably my favorite of all Rachmaninoff concerto recordings)
3rd - Horowitz
4th - Michelangeli
Paganini - Rachmaninoff (listen to his cantabile variation!) or maybe Gavrilov

[steinwayguy]

1st- haven't heard it
2nd- Richter or Kissin (yes Kissin!)
3rd- Van Cliburn
4th- haven't heard it
Paganini- Rubinstein

[Waldszenen]

No. 1 - Janis

No. 2 - Haven't quite decided

No. 3 - Pletnev (yes), Horowitz 1978, Janis (either one)

No. 4 - never heard it before

Paganini - Rubinstein

[apion]

I don't care for 1 and 4:

1 = who cares
2 = Richter
3 = Horowitz / Van Cliburn
4 = who cares

[Will Millar]

Whoever said Philip Fowke... Did you see him at the Royal Festival Hall? It was a valentines day concert and I thought he was quite good.

However my favourite version of Number two was played by Julian Dyson at Medina Theatre with the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra.

The Isle of Wight may be small, but we have some good things sometimes!!

Will

[dk]

1/2/Paganini: Ashkenazy
3: Thibaudet
4: Michelangeli


is there another Horowitz version of the 3rd which does not always repeat the first two minutes and which is not mono recorded?

[SteinwayTony]

1st- haven't heard it
2nd- Richter or Kissin (yes Kissin!)
3rd- Van Cliburn
4th- haven't heard it
Paganini- Rubinstein

I'm surprised; I thought a cynical guy such as yourself with nothing better to do than spread your misery all over the internet would have at least heard the first concerto.  Hmm, guess I was wrong.

[SDL]

1) heard it once by Philip Fowke

2) Howard Shelley/Moura Lympany

3) Howard Shelley/Volodos at the London Proms - brilliant

4) heard it once

[Raagshinnah]

1) Not sure
2) Rafael Orozco ( https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000004167/qid=1114002532/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl15/002-7834911-9737625?v=glance&s=classical&n=507846 )
3) Not sure
4) Not sure, I haven't heard it much
Paganini)

[pseudopianist]

I'm surprised; I thought a cynical guy such as yourself with nothing better to do than spread your misery all over the internet would have at least heard the first concerto.  Hmm, guess I was wrong.

SteinwayTony, you are always such a handfull of joy <3

[presto agitato]

1- Marta Deyanova

2- Agustin Anievas

3-  Agustin Anievas

4-  Agustin Anievas

[musicsdarkangel]

1.  Ashkenazy
2.  Van Cliburn
3.  Van Cliburn
4.  don't care really.  probably Rach.

[nomis]

I'm utterly surprised how many people haven't listened to the 1st Concerto, or don't even care about it!  Some of you are missing out on great music. I can't really sing praises for the 4th, as I'm not too familiar with it. I have not heard many alternative versions of the concertos, and frankly I don't really care as I have the composers recordings. However, in the case of the 3rd, where his playing isn't as good as the others, Volodos and Horowitz come to mind. Which Horowitz one I hear you ask? The 1941, as I'm not familiar with the others. Plus, this recording has more electricity than any other concerto recording I've heard.

[pianomann1984]

Whoever said Philip Fowke... Did you see him at the Royal Festival Hall? It was a valentines day concert and I thought he was quite good.

However my favourite version of Number two was played by Julian Dyson at Medina Theatre with the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra.

The Isle of Wight may be small, but we have some good things sometimes!!

Will

Yeah...he is my teacher, so I went to support him! It's not the best he has played it...he seemed a bit cautious, and I've never seen him so nervous, which is really inusual for him.  He usually takes it all in his stride.  His best performance I saw though was at Blackheath Halls last November.  He really took chances and it was phenomenal!!!

[matthewpiano]

I too am surprised at the level of disinterest or even dislike for Concertos 1 and 4.  Granted, no.4 has suffered from some pretty appalling interpretations both on disc and in the concert hall, but when it is played with true understanding of its construction and musical problems, it stands as great as any work.

Its pretty impossible to choose one performance of each concerto as different pianists bring different worthwhile things to this great music.  If forced, however, my choices at the present time would be:

1.  Zimmerman (DG)
2.  Zimmerman (DG)
3.  Ashkenazy/Previn (Decca)
4.  Rachmaninoff (RCA)

This is, however, liable to change on a pretty much daily basis as I find things to love in many recordings.

Of the 4 concertos I have  special love for no.2 because I have performed it, and would have to include Richter's fabulous recording alongside the Zimmerman is I could sneak it in to my choices.  My biggest disappointment was a performance of that concerto - by Kathryn Stott with the RLPO.  Normally a fine pianist, Stott's playing lacked the inner strength and weight required by the work.

[maxy]

1: Rach
2: Richter
3: Gieseking
4: Rach 

Pag variations: undecided

[steinwayguy]

I'm surprised; I thought a cynical guy such as yourself with nothing better to do than spread your misery all over the internet would have at least heard the first concerto. Hmm, guess I was wrong.

You're cool. Real cool.

[apion]

I too am surprised at the level of disinterest or even dislike for Concertos 1 and 4.  Granted, no.4 has suffered from some pretty appalling interpretations both on disc and in the concert hall, but when it is played with true understanding of its construction and musical problems, it stands as great as any work.

Its pretty impossible to choose one performance of each concerto as different pianists bring different worthwhile things to this great music.  If forced, however, my choices at the present time would be:

1.  Zimmerman (DG)
2.  Zimmerman (DG)
3.  Ashkenazy/Previn (Decca)
4.  Rachmaninoff (RCA)

This is, however, liable to change on a pretty much daily basis as I find things to love in many recordings.

Of the 4 concertos I have  special love for no.2 because I have performed it, and would have to include Richter's fabulous recording alongside the Zimmerman is I could sneak it in to my choices.  My biggest disappointment was a performance of that concerto - by Kathryn Stott with the RLPO.  Normally a fine pianist, Stott's playing lacked the inner strength and weight required by the work.

I haven't heard Zimerman with Rach1.  I'm all over that puppy.  Thanks.

[fred smalls]

(Urgh! How do two people who dislike each other have pratically the same name! I always get you two confused!)

StienwayGuy:

You NEED to hear the first concerto!!! It is a truely amazing piece!!!

Now:

1: Rafael Orozco / Rachmaninoff
2: Rafael Orozco
3: Rafael Orozco
4: Dun know don't listen to it much: Rafael Orozco / Rachmaninoff
Paganini: Rafael Orozco / Rachmaninoff

WOW: Orozco plays with such intencity!!!  Get the complete concertos played by him on phillips classics duo!!!

Apion:

How dare you not like the first! I'm offended! LOL! JK. ([{But seriously?}]) Listen to Orozco!

Peace
Fred Smalls

[theodopolis]

Well, this turned out far more interesting than I had anticipated.

Don't be put off by the 'inferiority' division established between the 1st & 4th and the 2nd & 3rd.
I too dismissed the 4th until I heard it in Michelangeli's hands.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This afternoon, I discovered the Byron Janis Rach1 and must rate it over Rachmaninoff's own version.

To me, the thing that makes or breaks the Rach1 is the treatment of the opening flourish.
The inferior recordings all apply rubato to the opening piano part, but this destroys the momentum begun by the horn fanfare. This is the case in Ashkenazy's reading and I was disappointed that the same was true of Stephen Hough's new recording, surprising considering the rocketing pace he sets in the other concertos.

The only recordings I could find which maintained the opening energy were those of Rachmaninoff and Benno Moiseiwitsch, until I found the Janis.
(I have been unable to locate Walter Gieseking's Rach1, but based on the way he begins the final movement of the Rach2, I am hopeful that he follows suit.)

Thanks
Theodopolis

[SDL]

have you not heard the saying... composers are often the worst interpreters of their own music.  e.g I hate Prokofiev's 3rd concerto - its terrible.

I heard Rach's playing before but because its in the old early 20thc style of pull everything about fashion,  I wasnt impressed.

[brewtality]

Ugh. Ashkenazy's rach concerto with previn are mediocre at best. His early recordings of Rach 2 and Rach 3 are much better.

my favs:
Rach 1: Janis & Rachmaninoff
Rach 2: Moiseiwitsch, Kapell, Cliburn
Rach 3: Horowitz 1951 (although i'm really starting to like 1930)
Rach 4: Michelangeli
Paganini Rhapsody: Rachmaninoff.

Honourable mentions:
Rach 1: Pletnev
Rach 2: Rachmaninoff, Cziffra
Rach 3: Janis, Ashkenazy (fistoulari), Volodos (i wish he played the short cadenza)
Paganini Rhapsody: Moiseiwitch, kapell

least favourites:
Rach 1: Ashkenazy: brittle tone and questionable interpretation imo.
Rach 1: Moieseiwitch: he made 2 cuts in the cadenza. sacrilege! the rest of the concerto is not bad but the cadenza ruined everything.
Rach 3: Berezovsky: I don't like this much at all, it seems pretty weak to me. He chose to play the chordal cadenza which I don't like.

[thracozaag]

1st: Janis, Rachmaninoff.
2nd: Kapell (studio 1951, and live 1950 with Bernstein), Rachmaninoff, Cziffra (live 1950's)
3rd: Kapell (live 1948 and the one right before he died from Australia), Bolet (live), Horowitz (both the live 1944 with Rodzinski, and 1941 with Barbirolli), Cherkassky (live, 1950's), Katsaris (live 1983), Janis.
4th: ABM.
Paganini: Kapell (any of the live versions, I'm partial to the one with Ormandy from 1944), Browning (live 1955), Pletnev.

koji (STSD)

[Sergey R]

OMG, what a great idea for a topic. I love the Rach concertos! Except the 4th...

Rach 1 - Rachmaninov
Rach 2 - Ashkenazy
Rach 3 - Finley (An mp3 I found off the net, but for some reason I have always liked this version)
Rach 4 - Haven't heard this one too much, don't really like it. I've read that Rachmaninov himself was never completely happy with it, and was always tweaking around with the orchestral parts before recordings. Not too sure on this one.
Paganini - Ashkenazy

The Rach concertos are so good, Rach on!

[Awakening]

I'm surprised; I thought a cynical guy such as yourself with nothing better to do than spread your misery all over the internet would have at least heard the first concerto.  Hmm, guess I was wrong.

That's funny because it's true.  He acts like such a superior know-it-all, but he has only listened to two out of four of the most famous concerti ever composed?  Hmm.  Go to the library, check out some cd's.  They should have all of Rachmaninoff's works for you to listen to.  If you're even too lazy for that, you could try downloading them online.  They're really quite worthwhile.

[Regulus Medtner]

1--> Zimerman
2--> Richter or Zimerman
3--> Argerich
4--> Michelangeli

The fourth represents the core of Rachmaninov's psyche in his later years, when he was feeling himself alienated from the development of the musical world, a modernist trend he didn't approve of. I find the first version of this concerto equally, if not more, appealing, though no decent performance yet exists of it. I find it as powerful as either of his other concertos. It possesses a strange grim and menacing quality,  yet not blatantly overbearing. The melodies are wonderful as usual. I presently like it the most, although that might have something to do with the 2nd and 3rd being so ridiculously frequently played.

[Sergey R]

Don't forget about the first concerto. IMO, just as great as his second and third. I've found myself listening to it a lot these days.

[rohansahai]

My favourites
1. Rach
2. Cliburn*
3. Argerich*
4. Rach
Paganini- Pletnev

2* Kissin comes very close
3* Horowitz 1951 comes very close.

[aajjmb]

1: Rafael Orozco / Rachmaninoff
2: Rafael Orozco
3: Rafael Orozco
4: Dun know don't listen to it much: Rafael Orozco / Rachmaninoff
Paganini: Rafael Orozco / Rachmaninoff

WOW: Orozco plays with such intencity!!!  Get the complete concertos played by him on phillips classics duo!!!

I must say that I agree (lol i stole your cd)... though azekenazy¿¿ is pretty amazing for such small hands........

[thalbergmad]

1 Rach
2 Richter
3 Wild
4 Michelangali

[viking]

Rach 1 ---------->  Mikhail Pletnev. 
Rach 2 and 3   ------------->  Bernd Glemser   Actually a magnificent recording
Rach 4   ----------> I dont like it much, but probably Rachmaninoff
Paganini----------> Thomas Yu

[iumonito]

2 = Bolet
3 = Bolet (tie for second between Horowitz recording with Metha and Yefim Bronfman)
1 (revised version) = Tamas Vasary
4 = Earl Wild
Pag = Rachmaninov

[decadent]

Barry Douglas for Rach 2.

its really really great... somehow not well known...

[Bouter Boogie]

Lugansky's quite good at Rach 3 I guess? 

[hodi]

Rach2 -
1.Zimerman
2. Weissenberg

Rach3 - Horowitz/Volodos (can't decide)

Paganini Rhapsody - Pletnev

[rhapsody7900]

this would make a good poll topic for those who want to expand/discover new recordings. 

[dave santino]

1- Not sure, haven't heard enough to make a constructive decision.
2- Rachmaninov 1929
3- Horowitz 1951
4- Rachmaninov 19??
Paganini- Ashkenazy

[rachmaninoff_969]

1st - Rach
2nd - Richter
3rd - Horowitz
4th - Rach
Paganini - ...I honestly don't know

[rob47]

R1st - Rachmaninoff
R2nd - Rachmaninoff
R3rd - Rachmaninoff, horowitz, myself
R4th - Rachmaninoff
Paganini - Rachmaninoff

[thierry13]

R1st - Rachmaninoff
R2nd - Rachmaninoff
R3rd - Rachmaninoff, horowitz, myself
R4th - Rachmaninoff
Paganini - Rachmaninoff

I would like to hear your records!

[march05]

3. Lang Lang (the recording with Yuri Termikanov)

1, 2,4. haven't decided...