Rachmaninoff 1st Piano Sonata Op28 Mov.1 Valentina Lisitsa
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- čas přidán 9. 09. 2024
- No recording, no matter how perfect, can do a justice to this sonata. The sheer power and strength of this enormous stream of sound, Amazon river of piano writing, doesn't translate well into limited bandwidth of even the most hi-def capturing. It's best left to concert halls. I hope those of you who have a chance will visit Dortmund in a couple of weeks , April 17th to be exact :
tinyurl.com/7en...
There is lots of Scriabin, more Rach and some Liszt...but this piece is a true centerpiece of a program. And this it the only occasion for me to play it live this year. So, grab your chance :-) lol
Few words about the piece- being Op 28 , it has far more famous and popular pieces for its neighbors: 2nd Symphony, Third Concerto, Cello Sonata...Since no Hollywood movie ever borrowed either a melody or a plot fro this piece, it remains largely as unknown and unappreciated as it was when "born". Rachmaninoff, being extremely insecure about himself and his art, asked for an opinion of several friends. Of course, being real friends ( lol) they didn't pass a chance to say that the piece is too long, too boring and too difficult. Rachmaninoff subjected it to several bodily mutilations- again, acting on "helpful" friends' suggestions, cutting out good 10 minutes = 25% of the original piece. He later said about inflicting similar cuts in 2nd Symphony that he feels like he is cutting his own live flesh...
One of those friends, Konstantin Igumnov, delivered the debut performance of the mutilated piece, which was - again- declared too long. Just maybe, maybe , perhaps , there was a tiniest guilt of the performer ? Igumnov was known and widely respected as a "miniaturist" - playing with a finesse, utmost polish and a detailing of a jeweler . Whereas this piece requires an architect as the very minimal qualification , better yet, a demi-god giant :-) ...After a failure and much criticism, Rachmaninoff largely abandoned this baby as a hopeless case. I think it deserves a better fate. Don't you? Here is sheet music in case you want t give it a try:
tinyurl.com/78v...
There WAS a program in this piece, Rachmaninoff shared it with a few people and decided against making it publicly known. It has to do with Goethe's Faust. Three movements ( just like in Liszt's Faust Symphony ) represent Faust, Gretchen( Margarete), and Mephistopheles.
At a party:
"Oh you play piano? Show us a little piece!"
And she plays this
lol
"Ok, i"ll try. But i have not played for a while...."
82 people were so overcome with emotion they missed the like button
work and work and work and work all fucking day then i come here and listen to her play this beautiful classics and for a brief moment everything just melts away. the noise just fades and she makes me go places where everything is just fine.
Are you on drugs ?
Jorge Orozco Well said...what's life all about eh????
Jorge Orozco For those who might be interested, Ashkenazy has finally recorded this Sonata along with the Variations on a Theme of Chopin. It's not here on CZcams however....yet, hopefully.
+J Joe Townley i'll check it out, thanks for the tip !
***** Its possible haahahaha, aromatherapy and al green sounds like the perfect setup for a sexy date with a blonde pianist genius :P
If you need to understand how from the chaos the beauty of the world was born - listen to Rachmaninoff.
strangely i find some sort of structure , especially in this one, it feels like an anchor to me, maybe an interpretation of that chaos that you speak shown in a way that makes sense? i don't know..
If not though, listen to God who created him.
Stalker Stomper On God's non-existent megaphone we can all hear. He says "Wazzzzzup" all day. So annoying.
Sure, we get it... you take pride in worshipping yourself as an atheist. We'll all have our judgement day whether you realize it or not. Let's just rephrase my previous comment to be meant for reasonable people who can recognize the source of mankind's talents. Have a good day my fellow Rach lover 😊
Stalker Stomper please guys. The church is at the end of the street. You can go there to practice your religion, but do you really have to bring it to youtube?
The more I listen to other recordings of this piece the more I appreciate what Lisitsa did here. The whole sonata form makes more sense with the faster tempo she chooses to maintain, it really glues everything together and unleashes all the hidden power in this deep work.. wow.. I have yet to find other recordings on CZcams that match this, I'm so happy she decide to post it
Wow. She can make Rachmaninoff seem effortless.
wcsxwcsx You are rude
Valentina is one of the reasons that I play the piano. She is truly amazing.
No other composer made the piano sound like Rachmaninoff. His music took the instrument to its absolute limits. Maybe the fact he was so insecure about his talent is what helped to make him so great. Valentina is about as close to a Rachmaninoff reincarnation as we could possibly ask for. I've never heard anyone play Rachmaninoff better, at least in the modern era. At the time the master himself lived, recording techniques weren't too good so we were not able to document his playing as well as I wish we could have.
Too much composer did it like Beethoven or Liszt...
no,you are so wrong,Do you know medtner and scriabin?
Richter, Lugansky, Gilels Horowitz, Ashkanazy..............SILLY COMMENT
@@geofffreeburn868 Why?
With close ties to students and friends of Rachmaninoff, such as Benno Moiseiwitsch, Gina Bachaur, Vina Barnden, Abram Chasins, Vladimir Horowitz, Constance Keene, I can honestly say that in this piece, Valentina captures just what Rachmaninoff was looking for, but then again it represents some of the most difficult management of a kaleidoscope of sonorities that far transcend just the playing of notes, but rather about how to replicate an entire ocean of water, churning with endless subtleties of undercurrents, and then to give it a sense of direction. The real problem with playing this piece is that one has to have a mastery of technique, and a pair of ears combined and working harmoniously, heretofore like none other, and that is what Rachmaninoff had, and almost no one else quite comes close to getting there except for Valentina. Then again, playing this piece at another time, or even just a few minutes later from the first performance, could be as unpredictable as that aforementioned ocean of water or the kind of wind currents inside a maelstrom, with entirely different tides and undercurrents coming into play. One note played out of place in this piece, makes it become just a bunch of meaningless notes, but with everything in place, the notes blend into a sweep, that takes piano playing to the far horizons of total sonority, and stretching the complete limits of what a piano can do, and very few pianos are even capable of this. You will hear that in every single second of her playing this piece. I personally think that this was one major factor that caused Rachmaninoff to have so much stress and uncertainty throughout his massively creative life, to have this surreal and cosmic jewelry of creative sound dangling right before his eyes and in his creative mind, and not being able to completely capture it, and that somehow, he was presented with this very special but elusive stream that has no boundaries, and didn't have but one lifetime to try to show it to humanity. Maybe, if there is another side to an afterlife, this conflict and uncertainty can be codified into total understanding and realization, or I would hope.
Lisitsa makes everything she plays sound as if I am hearing it for the first time! Such clarity where so many others muddy the waters - and such subtle highlights of sound. I love her paying. She has 're-discoved' the Liszt Totentanz for solo piano almost single-handedly. Simply brilliant in all respects.
So as we all know , She is a Bosendorfer artist . Those are some AMAZING pianos and share the space of " BEST PIANO EVER " with Steinway . I must just say that this Steinway is truly 1 in a million . Valintina + this beast = ..... well , " there is no use in trying to explain music in words... " ~ Martha Argerich
The very first time I saw this video I fell in love with that sonata.
Now, some months later, after buying & hearing many different recordings, interpretations of this sonata, one thing becomes very clear to me: Valentina, your version is by far the best version.
You are genius!
God, I was convinced that #2 was Rach's major sonata. But his 1st also has, maybe not so well understood, eternal beauty. Long live Rachmaninoff.
Wonderful playing. This sounds great on my headphones, full range and dramatic. Your work takes my breath away, how wonderful to be alive with you there!
A teacher said in 1978 that SR was the most underrated 20th c composer, and predicted eventual recognition. SR was less optimistic himself, but today the verdict is clear: all it took was Val's unparalleled dedication with her unique abilities, attached to matchless expression and the most generous character, in order to get inside SR's music. "True art is like red-hot, boiling lava held in check by seven plates of armour," Sofronitsky said, and he's right, but Val's Ipod is just blazing.
Maybe I didn't hear enough interpreters on this sonata, but she's the only one I heard who maintains a total sense of unity to the piece; she takes the listener by hand through the sonata like Virgilio leads Dante through the Inferno, Purgatorio and Paradiso. Thank you Maestro Lisitsa, now I understood this composition and from now on I won't think "too many notes" anymore, when listening to this masterpiece!
I remember the first time that I heard the First Sonata I was shocked that its first movement alone is longer than the entire Second Sonata. And it took me several hearings before I warmed to it. Now I love the First Sonata more each time I hear it. What a glorious masterpiece!
Janne Seppänen
Yes, you are right. Note that Ashkenazy is playing the original 1913 version of the Second Sonata; the revised version of 1931 that's played more often is roughly 6 minutes shorter (e.g., Kobrin under 20 minutes). And Lisitsa's first movement of the First is quite fast; the Howard Shelley version (he recorded the complete piano works) is over 13-1/2 minutes. As to the length of the score, comparing the two in the International Version, the Second in its entirety is 30 pages; the first movement of the First alone is 25 pages.
So technically, you are right. The first time I heard the First Sonata, the first movement sure felt longer than the entire Second. But now I love the first.
Anyway, thank you. I stand corrected.
i wish i could hear it in a concert hall
the moving power is spellbinding and mesmerizing
ms VALENTINA LISTISA HAS LIFTED TO HIMALAYAN HEIGHTS
.stunned into silence by RACHMANINOFF and MS LISTISA
she is totally consumed and consuming
REGARDS TO BOTH
This piece is extremely underrated in the piano repertoire, and you @ValentinaLisitsa have inspired me to learn and perform this sonata. Thank you
9:35 sooo muse, butterflies and hurricanes
One seldom hears Rach played so well...and with such expressiveness! Valentina, you have, amazingly, managed to surpass my personal favorite, Vladimir Ashkenazy, as one of the best interpreters of Rachmaninoff. Bravo!
This is the best version of this piece by anyone ever.
The mystical qualities of this brilliant performance are a joining of Rachmaninov and his greatest living interpreter, the great Lisitsa.
I was unfamiliar with this piece, having heard only Sonata #2. Since hearing this reading of Sonata #1 I heard Lugansky play it. He is a brilliant pianist and I love his work, but Val nailed this one so completely that anyone else must be judged to be in her shadow..
Wow, amazing piece of art. Absolutely love it! Thank you for sharing the description.
She is absolutely fantastic on this piece! ❤
Thank you Valentina for unearthing these gems. I was first utterly astonished by your piano solo interpretation of Liszt's Totentanz, now I see that you keep bringing the good word to CZcams. Never stop! We're all begging you!
Valentina the Queen Midas!!! Everything she plays become precious in her hands!!!
I am in absolute awe...
Those critics were idiots. Guess they wanted schlock. His two sonatas are some of the most powerful music out there. That build in the first movement, gads, what a ride!
Beautifully played. Closed my eyes.
Love this, beautifully played is an understatement -- a piece truly for a concert hall on a Steinway grand.
Cannot wait to see you in concert again !!
Valentina, beautiful work and you should post the entire sonata! I recently discovered sonata 1 after loving Helene Grimaud on sonata 2. Can't stop listening to all versions of this wonderful piece, and looks like Rachmaninoff's piano sonata 1 is finally being seen for its beauty and power, more artists are playing it (who can, it's not simple). I have to laugh at people who say, "I can't get Rachmaninoff, I've tried but just can't"----well, don't, leave it to us fans. I think his work is getting more and more attention. He revised much of his works while other composers started others, and he also had to earn a living in the US as an exile from Bolshevik Russia to support his family. He became one of recording's top pianists and was also a conductor, even wrote choral works. A complex and intelligent person, interesting bio he has; his music is full of melody, harmony, polyphony, and shows his great knowledge of music theory taught in Russia. He was not understood in his time as a composer but now he would be surprised to see his popularity---or maybe he does, from another dimension!
Браво Валентина!Фантастично изведено са много емоција.Ово ми је једна од омиљених соната,а Рахмањинов од омиљемих композитора! Хвала ти на овоме❤️❤️❤️
I dare to say that this is Rachmaninoff's best work and this is the best performance of it
What an incredible musician you are! I'd never try touching a Rachmaninov piece because I wouldn't want to disrespect his memory with my clumsy fingers. Just watching your perfect technical skills conquer this piece is amazing. I turned to playing violin from piano at age 9 because I could not play music with two hands at once.; just like I can't play guitar and sing at the same time. Great rendition, that was one of the most beautiful and skillful piano performances I have seen.
😒😒😒 and you think she knew this song before she was born?.. Practice my man.. Play it if you want, rachmaninov is not gonna die again 😁😁
+PBR Streetgang I just finished reading an article that pianists, through their practice, develop the two-handedness required to play. I too thought there was no way I could get my left hand moving fast enough but my teacher convinced me I could and I have through practice. You have to learn to shift your focus as you play. It takes tremendous will at first to make it happen but it can be done and through practice the ability strengthens each time. I'm now taking violin too now, which I at times think is incredibly difficult.
@@Mary-nl9uy after you learn both and can play them slowly together, it's just automatic. I've never gone near the violin, it seems like an incredibly difficult trombone (like playing 5 at once)
She is lost in the music everytime she plays the piano, no matter what piece. A true artist absolutely she is.
It's so beautiful how you express the emotion threw the music. It almost makes me want to cry when I hear some of the pieces you perform, and not because they are terrible... good grief Ms.Valentina, you are like my Ipod, I listent to you non-stop and I always tell myself I will be determined to perform some of the pieces you do one day :)
The best i've yet heard from VL, a really considered and well-played performance, and the piano sounds much more harmonious than usual. Exceptionally expressive; Rach Son1 needs this advocacy. Thank you.
Ms. Lisitsa- While I might take personal exception to your handling of the some of the directions for tempi in the score, your conception here is bold, daring, courageous and mysterious. The playing is nothing short of wonderful, even overwhelming. You have the perfect tonal palette for this kind of repertoire. Thank you so much for casting a spotlight on what is an unfairly neglected piece here in the West, and doing great justice to it.
Caa
This is by far the best interpretation that I've heard
Valentina ha un grande dono.. riesce mente, mani e cuore a entrare nelle corde di un pianoforte e in quel preciso momento.. è io pianoforte a raccontare ogni sfumatura dei compositori che lei interpreta egregiamente. Personalmente a me Valentina. Fa sognare emozionare e pulsare il cuore...la sua arte pianistica è ad ogni brano.. a prescindere da quale compositore lei suggerisce su tasti bianchi e neri...ha un deciso e romantico stacco dà tutto ciò che di orribile ci sia al mondo si di fuori della musica. Questo suo perché è ciò che a me da ancora oggi un senso. Tanti anni fa studiai anch'io pianoforte...ma oggi...nel mio mondo di cinquantenne... ascoltando lei quasi sempre...nei miei momenti più privati...si che la musica... specie questa.. classica e potente...non potrà mai essere distante da me seppure io abbia erroneamente ed irreparabilmente abbandonato il mio pianoforte. Valentina mi ricorda la bellezza e la meraviglia la gioia e il motivo per cui da uomo mi emoziona ascoltare Arte Pura.
Valentina, thanks once again for posting an amazing performance!
Wonderful, reminds me of my childhood, listening to my parents Rachmaninoff recordings over and over again because they were more enjoyable than the music on the radio.
Wow..powerfully played, didn't know this Rach piece before.
Magnificent and certainly one of the most honest pianist I ever heard.
Ms. Lisitsa,
I'm not an important person at all... I just wanted to let you know that this a wonderful, wonderful performance of Rachmaninoff's Sonata no. 1. Please take it as the best comment possible when I say that it is equal with the out-of-print Alexis Weissenberg recording on Deutsche Grammophon. The way you brought out the 'Dies Irae' theme from 04:50 to 05:24 was masterful. Also, the gentle middle parts of the first movement (with the intertwining themes) is done very beautifully.
It's as if people only know Rachmaninoff's 2nd sonata; I wonder why the 1st doesn't get as much attention? But thank you for keeping it alive and energetic.
Sincerely,
A Long-Time Fan
veryangrystorks if you like classical music you are important person
Anyone who is listening to Rachmaninoff's Sonata no. 1 is an important person.
Funny how I read through the comments the under-attention this piece has. It was, for me, one of the first of Rachmaninov I heard and definitely the one that made me fall in love with his vision and work.
As for the performance of Ms. Lisitsa : absolutely stunning as always.
I know I loved this piece because I found myself smiling as I watched. Thank you!
My hope is that Valintina's playing will speak for itself and we can avert our attention from her regretful Tweets about her homeland armed conflict and sorrows. Her depth of insight, her skillful playing, the depth of her feeling for her repertoire are things for the world to enjoy and learn by. Brava, Ms. Valintina! I look forward to hearing you play in person.
can,t stop listening again,and again,and again,,
She doesn't play a piano. She plays directly my soul. What a wonder!
I was fortunate enough to see her play this piece live last night. Watching the music flow through her was a joy. Exquisite talent. Thank you!
How have I only just found this piece >.
that sudden change of expression in your heart at 0:45
MANY NUANCES OF GREAT AND TRANSCENDANTAL ART CANNOT BE DESCRIBED BY THE USE OF WORDS, UNLESS THE ART IS POETRY. VALENTINA HAS THIS QUALITY WHICH CANNOT BE ACCURATELY DESCRPBED FOR IT´S SUPURB CAPACITY FOR TRANSMISSION OF THE MOST AESTHETIC OF MUSICAL COMMUNICATION.
OTHER GREAT PIANISTS, TOO, CAN PLAY THIS WELL. BUT VALENTINA HAS THIS QUALITY WHICH CANNOT BE DESCRIBED IN THE USED OF LANGUAGE WORDS ONLY. BUT WE ARE THANKFUL AND BLESSED TO EXPERIENCE HER GIFT TO US. THANKYOU. RON
I can not stop watching this video ! it is Love ! it is not just "playing " the piano ...unbelievable , she is touching our mind by touching the piano....Piano Sonata or Symphony for orchestra or whatever form or texture it is...this is an unbelievable unity between human and music, as if she is the spirit of the piano ! Bravo.....!
"remains largely unknown and unappreciated as it was when 'born' "
WELL I APPRECIATE IT NOW >:O
*likes this song and adds to playlist*
Absolutely amazing! Thank you so much! I do not think I have heard anyone as talented for a long time!
Your performance is absolutely amazing. This is the first time I appreciate this sonata, thank you for posting.
FANTASTIC.
May God give you a long and healthy life...People like you are truly rarities.
I just had to turn off the bloody TV for a while. After watching the sad news for the last day now, this is such a wonderful thing to remind myself of how beautiful the world can be.
I sure hope Val comes back to Seattle and does this entire Sonata. You can bet I'll be there.
Chaos is beauty. Rachmaninoff knew how to capture its essence.
I love so much this piece ! Thanks for the impeccable interpretation !! Merci 😍😍
Your technique is just amazing and near to perfection!
There are but a hand full of virtuosos that can flawlessly play arguably the greatest known composer of his time with the expressiveness intended...
Dear Mrs Lisitsa.
I just would like to say that you are a inspiration!
Some feelings and emotions cant be described with words, only music.. Valentina did it. Thank you very much
I bought the Rachy CD from Amazon, along with a couple others Val has done.
WOW!!! Just WOW!!! These are permanent additions to my collection.
Worth every penny.
stays with you forever
Sublime... It's 23:03 here after an enjoyable sunny Thursday. Am outside still on my patio listening to you on YT. Life is good. Thanks Valentina.
Gosh! Breathtaking...in the extreme!
Чудово ... чудовий піаніст ... спеціальна музика ... (Етель, Бразиліа, Бразилія).
Wonderful ... remarkable pianist ... special music ... (Ethel, Brasilia, Brazil).
Magnifique ... remarquable pianiste ... musique spéciale ... (Ethel, Brasilia, Brésil).
Maravilhoso... pianista admirável... música especial... (Ethel, Brasília, Brasil).
Magnificent ... very sensitive.
now, this is how you treat a proper piano...thank you so much, Valentina!!!
i wanted to hear you play this on a good recording. thanks for this! have been listening to it for hours and will continue to do so for days to come i foresee
love you!
Love this music so much - touches the soul deeply.
Valentina playing Rachmaninoff. It just doesn't get any better than this. As always, you take my breath way! Thanks so much for sharing this performance with us.
Such passion, beautiful.
It is wonderful to realize God made such wonderful talent! Thank You for your perfect expressions of wonder, excitement, beauty, harmony, memory, intelligence, spirit, every kind of graceful emotion. Your playing thrills me like magic!
One of the best pieces I've ever heard.
This is magical
perfect With some good speakers Relax close your eyes And just listen.
i wanna play like this one day ... people tell me it's impossible but i don't care about them ...
you inspire me :)
6:05 is absolutely insane
Ayn Rand, in her masterpiece, Atlas Shrugged, references a composer, "Richard Halley". But he was just a place holder for her favorite composer, Sergei Rachmaninoff. I've always thought of this Sonata as Rachmaninoff's Atlas Shrugged. Lisitsa is one of the few who "gets it" with this piece. Making music out of this piece is very difficult. She goes beyond that. Bravo!
prayvit valentina. thanks so much. even with the technique, performance, with so many pieces you need to understand the life & times of the composer, and the context in which the work was written and/or played. i appreciate so much your insight to these things that make what would be an average boring performance into one that is... well what can i say?! in this sonata, rach introduced many themes, but they develop over time, and it takes a very long view to understand the intro, development, many of the themes never finish but then drift off into another one. the tri-tones almost never even resolve back to the tonic key. to me this piece is sort-of a question. i guess it was the way rach wanted to express. the resolution to any sort of tonic key is only in the last measure of the 3rd movement from what my ears tell me. also the 3rd movement reminds me of Scriabin Sonata Fantasy No.2 Op 19 3rd movement. but at least scriabin, even with the tonality transitions, resolved back. and also some of rach motif or semi-motif reappear in his other works. with pianists that do not get the full picture, this piece would never work. this is not your problem at all. strange as this piece is, thanks to bring this sonata back to life again! i wish i could say the same for the steinway. ugh.
I have a dear friend from Dortmund. In fact, he has returned home to Germany this very day. :( If only I was able to come see you with him in April. That would be the best thing ever.
Greetings from Finland!
This piece like the Hammerklavier is as difficult for me to listen too as it appear to play. I don't think I'm alone and that is perhaps the reason it is more obscure than this symphonies and concertos. But thank you Valentina for giving us something to dig into.
Great Rachmaninoff and wonderful Valentina Lisitsa . I kiss Your hands in devotion .
I don't even have to listen to it before I like it... Because I know you're going to be awesome.
The theme introduced at 2:00 is hauntingly beautiful.
I always enjoy so much your new videos!!!!
You need to come to the Detroit area! :D Your playing is so wonderful. It would be so great to hear you live. I love how you can combine speed and technique with such emotion. It's truly beautiful.
Technique, perfectness and with great feelings...Thanks again Valentina !!
What is there to be expected other than an amazing performance by Valentina!
Bravo!!
Absolutely Amazing!
43 dislikes must be 43 ignorants....I think this is absolutely breath taking and phantastic!!! THANKS, Valentina!
You are right and they are wrong.
Christian K. no its just opinions ...
***** i dont understand it too .. but thats how people are :P
Christian K. 43 people who failed to learn it... or just opinions. We will never know
Phenomenal playing.