The Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts at Whittier College Pianist: Steven Vanhauwaert www.stevenpiano.com Special thanks to Shane Cadman and Wanda Stein
Whenever I listen to Rachmaninoff, I always listen for *voicing*. Those inner voices are key to Rach's music, and this pianist plays them masterfully, singing them out with exquisite control. Bravo. Great performance of a piece that is much more difficult than it sounds.
I may be late to the party, but hats off for your performance! Very clear voicing, beautifully played. It surpasses almost all other renditions I've heard. Very inspirational!
The best performance of this piece on CZcams. Click around and hear for yourself. Luganksy runs it close, but he lacks the long deep breaths which float us into a world of unearthly serenity. I didn’t know Rachmaninoff could do it.
Thank you for getting me to listen to Ashkenasy again. The integrity and depth of his playing is so impressive. My big objection to so much Rachmaninoff playing is the fake theatre of “inverted comma” big moments before the playing reverts to fin de siècle syrup. Ashkenasy will have none of that. But his seriousness makes him choose a speed far slower than Rachmaninoff’s crochet=60. Perhaps it comes across as ponderous or deliberately depressed. To my ears at least Steven achieves a quiet ecstasy I hadn’t thought possible.
Thanks for the suggestion. Sofronitsky is superb, the best of the romantic Russian interpreters. His rubato make you cling to each bar line as if your inner life depended on it. Vanhauwaert seems cold and detached by comparison - until you feel a beautiful sense of the piece as a whole. Your nose had been too close to the window pane to see the view. Perhaps it’s the notorious difference between romantic and classical art.
This pianist makes this piece flow like warm waters near the equator. The melody is always clear with carefully executed embroidery especially upon the 2nd repeat of it. I prefer how Ashkenazy prepares well in advance for and ultimately gushes the climax. Richter is careful to avoid any sentimentality; Weissenberg is very aggressive; Sokolov builds nicely to climax but takes a number of liberties throughout the piece. I can't say I have a favorite artist performing this piece; I have to listen to different pianists to get different things I want. But it comes down to Mr. Vanhauwaert and Mr. Ashkenazy whom I would listen to over and over. A shame this rivetingly beautiful work is unknown by to many lovers of piano music!
yes, I Sooo agree, such wonderful and clear interpretation, no frills, earnest and honest, always keeping the piece together as a whole. It has kept me daily company while I am studyig this piece, now well over 4 months , still I am recovering little bits, chords, accents , rubato - I dont really understand how youtube works, this interpretation should be out there, amongst the best, Thank you again Steven""
Waht beautiful sound!! I love this piece very much ,and find your performance on CZcams. It's really greatest impression for me than I 've ever listen of Prelude 23-4. Thanks a lot.
beautiful - thanks for correcting my interpretation at the end of bar 22 that the b is melody - yours sings. Others I have heard had buried it like i did.
Yeah, I love the complex voicing and fingering that this piece encourages. It inspires you to keep searching for better ways to bring out the counterpoint.
I've been all over CZcams - and this rendition surpasses the rest, IMHO. Your G minor prelude is very well done as well. Any tips on how well you handle the thumb voicing in the second section? We spend years and years learning to voice the outside of our right hand - seems so difficult to voice - what should be - an easier and heavier thumb. I get it, but not nearly as musical and singing as yours. Great job again!
This Is the best versión I've ever heard of this beautiful prelude opus 23 by Rachmaninov, my best wishes Sir.
Whenever I listen to Rachmaninoff, I always listen for *voicing*. Those inner voices are key to Rach's music, and this pianist plays them masterfully, singing them out with exquisite control. Bravo. Great performance of a piece that is much more difficult than it sounds.
I may be late to the party, but hats off for your performance! Very clear voicing, beautifully played. It surpasses almost all other renditions I've heard. Very inspirational!
I don't know much about classical music.
I just know when it feels right for me
- And this feels very right ......
I really love your interpretation, the theme is so clear all the way through, helped me greatly to understand it and practice, thank you!
Superb voicing of the different simultaneous melodies. You can really hear each one.
Beautiful, simply beautiful!
My favorite piece, played perfectly and without histrionics.
Great performance! This is one of my favourite preludes.
The best performance of this piece on CZcams. Click around and hear for yourself. Luganksy runs it close, but he lacks the long deep breaths which float us into a world of unearthly serenity. I didn’t know Rachmaninoff could do it.
Better than Ashkenazy?
Thank you for getting me to listen to Ashkenasy again. The integrity and depth of his playing is so impressive. My big objection to so much Rachmaninoff playing is the fake theatre of “inverted comma” big moments before the playing reverts to fin de siècle syrup. Ashkenasy will have none of that. But his seriousness makes him choose a speed far slower than Rachmaninoff’s crochet=60. Perhaps it comes across as ponderous or deliberately depressed. To my ears at least Steven achieves a quiet ecstasy I hadn’t thought possible.
Imo it's a guy named Vladimir Sofronitsky that has the best performance of this on CZcams
Thanks for the suggestion. Sofronitsky is superb, the best of the romantic Russian interpreters. His rubato make you cling to each bar line as if your inner life depended on it. Vanhauwaert seems cold and detached by comparison - until you feel a beautiful sense of the piece as a whole. Your nose had been too close to the window pane to see the view. Perhaps it’s the notorious difference between romantic and classical art.
I couldnt agree more with your comments, best performance on youtube.❤
Genius Mr Steven. Learning too… your version is magical
Beautiful interpretation and excellent voicing . . . gorgeous!!!!!
Stunning playing! Congratulations!
This pianist makes this piece flow like warm waters near the equator. The melody is always clear with carefully executed embroidery especially upon the 2nd repeat of it. I prefer how Ashkenazy prepares well in advance for and ultimately gushes the climax. Richter is careful to avoid any sentimentality; Weissenberg is very aggressive; Sokolov builds nicely to climax but takes a number of liberties throughout the piece. I can't say I have a favorite artist performing this piece; I have to listen to different pianists to get different things I want. But it comes down to Mr. Vanhauwaert and Mr. Ashkenazy whom I would listen to over and over. A shame this rivetingly beautiful work is unknown by to many lovers of piano music!
Yes, a wonderful piece unknown to many who would cherish it.
yes, I Sooo agree, such wonderful and clear interpretation, no frills, earnest and honest, always keeping the piece together as a whole. It has kept me daily company while I am studyig this piece, now well over 4 months , still I am recovering little bits, chords, accents , rubato - I dont really understand how youtube works, this interpretation should be out there, amongst the best, Thank you again Steven""
Waht beautiful sound!! I love this piece very much ,and find your performance on CZcams. It's really greatest impression for me than I 've ever listen of Prelude 23-4.
Thanks a lot.
This is so...o refined and played masterfully. I need to find more from this pianist.
Pretty sure I'm not the first one who thought this guy was Van Cliburn reincarnated?? 😆
Beautifully poised...
That crescendo at 2:35 is out of this world
That’s one of my favorite moments too:-)
happy i came across your videos
So much better at this 'moving' speed.
Je t’aime ❤
beautiful - thanks for correcting my interpretation at the end of bar 22 that the b is melody - yours sings. Others I have heard had buried it like i did.
absolutely gorgeous...
Très belle version... bravo.
Maravilhoso 💙
Great Performance. I am learning to play this piece myself and I find that it's not that easy as it sounds to my ears.
definitely one of those pieces that is A LOT harder than it sounds/looks! Good Luck! Totally worth the effort!
Yeah, I love the complex voicing and fingering that this piece encourages. It inspires you to keep searching for better ways to bring out the counterpoint.
I'm learning as well, and OMG. Much harder than it sounds. Trying to make those middle notes sing amidst the other fingers. Haha! :)
Això és Fantàstic 🎹🎹🎶🎶🎶
I've been all over CZcams - and this rendition surpasses the rest, IMHO. Your G minor prelude is very well done as well. Any tips on how well you handle the thumb voicing in the second section? We spend years and years learning to voice the outside of our right hand - seems so difficult to voice - what should be - an easier and heavier thumb. I get it, but not nearly as musical and singing as yours. Great job again!
Thanks for the kind words!
Ich muss mich wiederholen, das ist an Schönheit nicht mehr zu übertreffen, ueberirdisch....
🌹🙏🌹