Why Listen to Rachmaninoff?

[@InsidetheScore]

Check out the "Rachmaninoff Essentials" playlist on Apple Music Classical! First month is free for new users on this link: apple.co/InsideTheScore

[@austinsavage4390]

You used Rousseau’s cover of Prelude in C sharp minor 😛

[@themorosov7]

I need the Apple Music Classical for android.

[@utubejoe11]

Oh christ i hope this doesnt mean that apple will try to tie up classical music as well.

[@TMOC1977]

I really dislike the advertisement woven into the video... Automatic thumbs down.

[@RogerBarraud]

Thanks!

[@nelsonchua9659]

“Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music” - Sergei Rachmaninoff

[@GabrielKonayuma]

Powerful

[@minekragle1950]

“Thou who doesn’t know music theory gets no bitches” - Frédéric Chopin

[@milesgilbertpiano]

This is gonna be my senior quote

[@Kowjja]

So true

[@thepotatoportal69]

“Play my pieces and you will get all debussy you want” - Claude Debussy

[@MutantsInDisguise]

Not only is Rachmaninoff one of the last sons of Romanticism, but he was also among the best pianists ever. He was skilled as a symphonist also. His 3rd Piano Concerto and Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini are personal, ultimate, favourites of mine.

[@johkkarkalis8860]

Let's not forget some of the wonderfully scored, moody tone poems, i.e "The Isle of the Dead", "The Rock", "Prince Rostislov".

[@AudunWangen]

His 3rd Piano Concerto is my favorite. It's superior to his 2nd, in my opinion. I catch myself humming to that main theme melody all the time.

[@johkkarkalis8860]

@@AudunWangen I know. It's like an ear worm. You can't get it out of your head. Rachmaninov is like that.

[@classicallpvault]

Classical music in the late Romantic tradition is being composed to this day. It's probably the most common style among composers and you can find a large volume of often really good homebrew compositions in the style on KZbin, including symphonies scored for large orchestra and recorded with Noteperformer. The problem isn't that Romanticism died, but the music press and also the tastes among the academics don't longer consider it fashionnable, so it's ignored, but the listeners crave for this stuff and don't give a damn about serialism and atonality. The influence of postmodernism and avantgardism in academia has done a great disservice to musical culture, promoting degenerate art like the 'music' of Karlheinz Stockhausen, or experiments like letting a dog press notes on a keyboard as part of a musical performance - something which the national news in the Netherlands picked up on a few years ago, and which was treated by the press as a genuinely interesting experiment. These people are creating a mockery of musical aesthetics and they're the ones we pay tax money to in order to educate young composers. Due to this terrible development in academia many people are just doing it the old-fashioned way and paying for private tuition and learning to compose outside of the conservatoire.

[@gamertechkid1490]

Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini is also my favourite piece from Rachmaninoff

[@hendricksam]

The first time I heard the No. 2 Piano Concerto, I cried. To this day I cannot hear it and not get emotional.

[@peterdawes9711]

And I cry every single time I listen to it

[@janneyovertheocean9558]

Me too!

[@hshlom]

I'm happy to report that Rachmaninoff is buried in a very nice cemetery in Valhalla, NY, with a very nice setup with flowers, bushes and trees around his plot. I wish I could upload pictures of it.

[@nicholasyanis1348]

I’ve seen it in person with my grandparents. It’s truly a beautiful place to be buried

[@Himari444]

But still he wished to be buried in his homeland😢

[@baysideharpy8350]

Rach 2 lifted me from a very dark place many years ago and continues to lift me to this day.

[@gogpoydi]

There's something about Rachmaninoffs music that touches the deepest parts of my heart and soul.

[@DavidMillsom]

It was the second piano concerto that brought me into classical music. My father had brought random classical records into the house so there was some Strauss, Tchaikovsky, Grieg and the Rachmanninov 2nd. I still remember the moment when I was out walking when a phrase from the concerto just played itself into my mind and straight away I had to come home to hear this work. The rest is history. It opened the world of classical music to me.

[@olivealbers2478]

Wish chooses too.

[@RogerBarraud]

Snap! 😃😍🤩PC2!

[@Bella91828]

Last summer I played the symphonic dances and it was magical. After a week of nonstop playing this concluded the tour and everyone started crying straight after because of how emotional it was

[@peaceandlove544]

Where was this? As no ignorant people in the west were banding the great Russian artists

[@ishtarhernandez8406]

The 2nd piano concerto is what I believe to be the most absolutely perfect piece of music ever written. The pacing is amazing, and climaxes i each movement rousing with the climax of the piece in the last movement playing a trick with keys and numbers (you hear the second theme exactly 3 times, twice in the "wrong" key and only the last time in the "correct" key, which a humongous set-up that absolutely pays off) in order to make it the entire piece's climax, especially considering it was a chunk of this melody that inspired the romantic melody of the 1st movement (the 2nd and 3rd movements were written first). Every note sounds like it should be there; no note excessive, no note out of place. The 2nd movement was so good it was turned into a pop piece whose popularity still endures (Celine Dion's "All By Myself"). The orchestration of that movement plays a funny trick too: listen to it and you'll hear a flute morph into a clarinet using only a symphony orchestra; no electronic music existed yet. My "desert island disc" would absolutely include the 2nd piano concerto, which I have listened to endlessly and still continue to be enthralled by.

[@Chima4289]

“All by myself “ is authored by Eric Carmen.., although it was popularized by great Celine Dion. Carmen utilized phenomenal “modal mixture, common tone, enharmonic, double chromatic, mediant modulation”, that made this composition one of the most stunning and impactful pieces of pop music ever. Please search youtube for: Adam Neely: The most elegant key change in all of pop music”

[@jimbuxton2187]

What a beautiful, insightful, and thoughtful tribute to one of the greatest composers of all time. Thank you for your wonderful comment! Rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto Moves me to tears and sends me to a place beyond this realm every time I listen to it.

[@79Tomasso]

Very well-said. It will always be my favorite

[@ishtarhernandez8406]

@@claude-achilledebussy8994 Eh, it's fun but I consider it neither more beautiful nor better paced or structured. It IS, however, more difficult.

[@danielhughes1300]

As much as I love the 2nd and agree with a lot of what you have said, and have seen it many times and learnt parts of it on the piano … In regard to creativity and expressiveness. In my personal opinion I don’t think it comes close to the 3rd. The 3rd is monumental. The third is the most complete piano concerto ever written with how much colour, passion, expression, excitement and variety it brings and as a concerto format it runs flawlessly. But again I agree that the 2 is certainly a masterpiece. I strongly would recommend listening to rach 3, symphonic dances and symphony no.1 and Vespers. If I were to sum up Rachmaninov in four pieces it would be those 😃

[@halfwaycrook1962]

There is tchaikovsky, there is chopin and then there is rachmaninov. Truly he wrote the most fascinating romantic compositions.

[@musicclassic5938]

To me Rachmaninoff is more refined than Tchaikovsky.

[@TonyMontana-os7kg]

both well behind Chopin. if talk of pure piano pieces

[@musicclassic5938]

@@TonyMontana-os7kg I love Chopin and yet his style is too recognizable, whereas Rach was more versatile stylistically, even in his piano pieces and concertos.

[@Widow-Cicada]

This man created Arguably the most emotional compositions ever written

[@ярославфуштей]

how about first ballade by chopin?

[@andrewchin6277]

​@@ярославфуштей Chopin too but Rachmaninoff piano concertos are whole on another level

[@musicclassic5938]

How about another great Russian composer Jan Sibelius? I call him Russian because he was born in the Russian Empire.

[@mete1099]

@@musicclassic5938sibelius is also pretty good

[@katerrinah5442]

"why listen to Rachmaninov?" because Rachmaninov is phenomenal. His piano concertos are beautiful, I cried the whole way though #3 when I saw it live. Rhapsody on the Theme of Paganini is the most incredible 24 minutes of music you'll ever hear 💖.

[@sergeirachmaninoff4467]

This is such an indescribably well-made video. I'm going to be performing the 2nd concerto in the not-so-distant future, and this video made me so ecstatic! Thank you so much for this!!

[@rawyalamei9226]

That is... Amazing. Magnificent. You’re so lucky! Good luck!

[@stevepowsinger733]

Thank you Sergei. I didn’t know you were still alive.

[@elise8276]

@@rawyalamei9226 Lucky? More along talented… any who can accomplish that feat must certainly be able to call themselves talented

[@balladin9200]

@@elise8276 if you're talented you're lucky, more like hard and smart working.

[@angelal1607]

@@elise8276 But also lucky to have access to an orchestra and opportunity to play with them. Many of us who play piano don’t have that option.

[@KaledTK]

Rachmaninov has been one of the biggest influences in my life, I am very grateful to him for creating such profound music, he along with Chopin and Liszt changed my life for the better, great video :-)

[@mikeweaver8790]

I've been listening to Rachmaninoff since I was a child and our mom bought our family an RCA Victor "HiFi" player. This was before the days of stereo. It came with a large library of 33 1/3 vinyl albums from RCA "Red Seal", Columbia, Mercury and other brands as well and which included his Symphony #2 and the Piano Concerto #2. I couldn't get enough of either of those two works and started playing Rachmaninoff Preludes on our home piano as soon as I could. When I got to college, I had a great, steely Austrian musicology professor who I've always thought (even to this day) knew as much about music as any one person possibly could. He only ever told me one thing that I ever wasn't sure about and that was that he didn't think Rachmaninoff's music would last. That was over 60 years ago and it's still around and played as much as ever. Will it be around 100-200 or so years from now? I have a hard time imagining that it wouldn't be. I think I might have had one of the greatest musicologists ever, one was only ever wrong about one thing. I still have those old vinyls by the way, safely tucked away on a shelf.

[@tajdaloncar527]

This video sums up the feel of Rachmaninov music so well. As a depressed and anxious child and adult later on, I really found myself in his music. Prelude in cis minor represent existantial dread and hopelessness perfectly and my all time favourite Rach 3 feels like life, beautiful and fluid at one time and moving too fast and being too chaotic to collect your emotions at other. I really wish Rachmaninov was more appreciated for all masterpieces he composed and emotions he managed to communicate through his music so masterfully.

[@samuellinares1141]

His 2nd Concert really changed the way I had in viewing music. It is a masterpiece, and will have forever a piece of my heart. Great video.

[@teelurizzo8542]

His 3 piano concerts are brilliant and contain some truly amazing harmony and voicing, being a major Jazz fan i cannot help to to hear how harmonical sophistication in Jazz comes largely from 20th century Classical.

[@jurejurakic]

he wrote 4 piano concertos

[@teelurizzo8542]

@@jurejurakic Correct, I meant to write that Concertos 1, 2, and 3 are my particular favorites.

[@musicclassic5938]

His non-sept chords were definitely borrowed by jazz musicians.

[@brandonmartin5650]

That sweet, honey-coated melody played by the clarinet in the 3rd movement from his 2nd symphony always warms my heart 😍

[@Gurci28]

Rachmaninov is regarded as one of the greatest pianists of the twentieth century. He had legendary technical facilities and rhythmic drive, and his large hands were able to cover the interval of a thirteenth on the keyboard (a hand span of approximately twelve inches). 12:00 [wmich edu]

[@kubancossack8496]

Surprisingly, Rachmaninoff composed this symphony in deep doubts about whether he should write symphonies at all. )) His mind could doubt, but his inner musical genius created music to cure his soul. And now it cures souls of milliions of people.

[@MANGOES1ARE1AWESOME1]

One of my favorite composers of all time!! Excited to see this 😄😄

[@genejones4110]

Rachmaninoff 2nd Piano Concerto is among the pieces that move me to tears. It grips your heart and wrenches every tender emotion within.

[@miguelisaurusbruh1158]

Same, i think its the culmination, the peak of all the music that was before it, what it lead to

[@leo29467]

I am lucky enough to say that this summer I'll get to see his Piano Concertos 2 & 3 as well as Symphonies 1 & 2 all in the span of a month. These are my favorite Rachmaninoff works and were some of the first pieces that showed me how much I could love music, specifically the Adagio of Symphony 2 and the 1st Movement of PC 2. Thank you Rachmaninoff for your gifts to the world

[@johkkarkalis8860]

Lucky you! Leo Dominguez. As Mae West noted decades ago, "Too much of a good thing can be ..... wonderful!" Enjoy

[@craigkowald3055]

My orchestra just performed the 2d concerto recently with a very talented pianist, who is a junior at Eastman. Was a wonderful experience.

[@johkkarkalis8860]

@@craigkowald3055 Just curious, Craig, are the performances at Eastman recorded and kept as a document of the performance? I was thumbing through my William Kapell recordings and put on the Rachmaninov "2 concerto. Lucky you who were part of performing this wonderful work. I believe Howard Hanson had a close relationship with the Eastman Scool? He was the subject of a recent chat by Dave Hurwitz.

[@veronikav3126]

Me too, me too! 🥰 But in April 😊 I am very happy for you and I wish you the best time 😊

[@dasportsfan2122]

Which orchestra?

[@nightshockplayz5894]

One of my biggest inspirations! Every time I am lost in how to orchestrate, I look to his music so I can get an idea of how he creates his musical atmosphere!

[@axyspianostudio]

you put subtle elements of rachmaninoff's orchestration into your own music? ayoo, could you send me some of your music?

[@nightshockplayz5894]

@@axyspianostudio I can send the beginning of my Symphony! If you want! It is the piece I am working on right now!

[@axyspianostudio]

@@nightshockplayz5894 Sure

[@nightshockplayz5894]

@@axyspianostudio I'm struggling to send it hahaha! However, whenever I can, I will try and send the media fire link with it!

[@axyspianostudio]

@@nightshockplayz5894 alright

[@Joey_Doe]

Put it on your bucket list to see Piano Concerto No. 2 and get the good seats where you can see the piano keys. Absolutely incredible.

[@rlajiw966]

I’m seeing Rach 2 in June of next year :) I’m so excited

[@autoghg]

I love Rachmaninov because he's a master in everything... piano music orchestral music, choir...

[@eduard6266]

Yessss. His choral music is simply divine

[@musicclassic5938]

Stravinsky too

[@Sphereal]

What I value the most about the second concerto is how it is pretty much a musical description of Rachmaninov struggling to get out of a depressive state of mind. That's what makes the last movement so triumphant and epic.

[@annalinnaea]

Just performed All-Night Vigil twice during Easter. That is absolutely the most beautiful music ever written and I love singing it!

[@eriksatieofficiel]

Great video! I will never get tired of his second piano concerto.

[@rawyalamei9226]

Rachmaninov is phenomenal! He’s always been one of my favorite composers, nothing and no one compares to him. My brother is even learning Russian because it’s the language of some of his favorite composers (Rachmaninov’s obviously on the top of that list)

[@musicclassic5938]

followed by Stravinsky and Prokofiev

[@nikkivenable73]

For me, there is no better composer than Rachmaninov. There is no close second. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@bargledargle7941]

Bach!!

[@nikkivenable73]

@@bargledargle7941 ok, if there’s a close second, he’d be it. No doubt.

[@bargledargle7941]

@@nikkivenable73 I think honestly that Bach is on top :3

[@nikkivenable73]

@@bargledargle7941 what’s your top 3?

[@bargledargle7941]

@@nikkivenable73 I have hard deciding honestly :/ I just feel Bach is the greatest for me because the reasons he is great is not just "It sounds good" it's more convincing for me personally. How about you?

[@EdoardoBrotto]

Thank you, being a pianist who dedicated his last 14 years to play his music and a composer who dedicated one and half album to Rakhmaninov, I genuinely appreciate the fact that there's someone who wants to enlight his genius and his masterpieces to a broad audience. My absolute and pure love for his music will never diminish.

[@breadmission]

Very cool music you have on your channel! Do you perform for a living?

[@EdoardoBrotto]

@@breadmission I did it for about a decade, I don’t like performing in public hence I changed career. My musical efforts are directed towards piano recordings and compositions. My daily job is in technical engineering (renewable energy field).

[@breadmission]

@@EdoardoBrotto ohh I see, very cool!

[@musicclassic5938]

As a pianist, Rachmaninoff used the sustain pedal very sparingly to make his sound crisp and dry.

[@matthewarant377]

Imo Rachmaninoff's 2nd and 3rd piano concertos are the magnum opuses of classical music. The command of color and tone he shows are astounding. He brings forth some of the most complex melodies but her they are easily digestible for untrained listeners. And most importantly, they feel like they tell a story. Truly the greatest classical composer whoever lived.

[@musicclassic5938]

How about the German-speaking trio: Bach-Mozart-Beethoven?

[@stephenburnage7687]

I have him in my top 5 but it is hard to argue he trumps Beethoven, Mozart or Bach. Mahler is my other candidate for top 5.

[@musicclassic5938]

@@stephenburnage7687 I agree with you, Stephen, but I rate Rachmaninoff as number one among Russian composers above Tchaikovsky and even Stravinsky.

[@kubancossack8496]

@@musicclassic5938 As Russian - totally agree.

[@PrinceValiance]

Rachmaninoff is unequivocally the most underrated composer of all time. His Symphony No 2, and his 2nd and 3rd Piano Concertos are among the greatest pieces of music ever written, in an age when Romanticism was dying and the jarring and grotesque style of Mahler was on the rise, he stood true as the last great Romantic.

[@musicclassic5938]

I'd definitely place him above Tchaikovsky. His music is deeper.

[@jaroddavid5933]

Yea his 2nd Symphony is my fav piece of all time

[@rhoclouds]

i think grieg is the most underrated but yeah rach is beautiful

[@theluanvuong5886]

What's wrong with Mahler? I'm a fan of both composers so i'm curious to know why you dislike Mahler's works. I notice that Mahler very much abuse the brass section more than others

[@musicclassic5938]

@@theluanvuong5886 I compared two Russian composers - Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky, did not even mention Mahler whose Symphonies 6-8 and Song of the Earth are great works that were a great inspiration for Alban Berg and Dmitri Shostakovich.

[@funnydonut2645]

I am in utter awe due to how well made this video is. The intro... absolutely a masterpiece in itself. By far the best classical music channel out there! The quality of your videos is just emaculate.

[@aliceinwonderland1120]

Beautiful interpretations of the deep emotion in Rachmaninoff’s music. Despair, foreboding, brushes from the wings of death, hints of hope, and ultimately vindication and celestial triumph.

[@jamesshoemaker3842]

I recently discovered Rachmaninoff and his 2nd piano concerto really spoke to me, and after watching this video, I believe I know why. Sometimes, it's really interesting how art can connect peoples experiences.

[@PlantiPal]

Wow. One of the greatest KZbin videos I ever watched. Never has anyone expressed so closely what I feel about Rachmaninoff and his second piano concerto. I had no idea why it was thus. Thank you.

[@aquamarine9568]

Rachmaninoff is one of my favourite composers. I wish he had written more pieces and had been more appreciated while alive. Thanks for this video.

[@monolyth421]

I grew up listening to Rach 2 and it remains my favorite piece of music

[@linklegend7536]

Easily one of my fav composers ever. Truly incredible what the human mind can do

[@SuuSinator]

Since about half a year one of my favourite composers. "The Bells" and "Isle of the Dead" are two of my favourite pieces of music of all time.

[@johnniediallo7544]

nobody talks about "the bells" as in the choral symphony when talking about Rachmaninoff. I think its one of my favourite pieces of music ever and is extremely underrated

[@jemkeystv5717]

I’m learning the 2nd piano concerto now for solo piano, even as a piano solo it’s amazing

[@christianvennemann9008]

YES! I've been waiting so long for y'all to make a video on Rachmaninoff! Happy belated 150th birthday to one of my favorite composers! 🥳🥳

[@z421_]

I had the honor of being able to play his second symphony in my school orchestra last year, easily my favorite piece of his

[@palpalonpalpalon]

he wasn't unknown during his lifetime.. he was a superstar! he drove the best cars at the time, and has multiple houses and villa's. he was incredibly famous too.

[@EliteCoasters]

The Second Piano concerto is what drew me in to Rachmaninoff’s works, but the Sonata Op.36 and “The Bells” are currently my favorite works of his

[@TheMarcHicks]

The irony being that, when played well, Rachmaninoff's 1st Symphony is absolutely AMAZING!!!!

[@robkunkel8833]

4:50 I just asked myself “why destiny has treated me so cruelly?”… and then I asked, “why must I suffer in its bondage?” … and then finally, my food order was delivered. It was perfect. My Dinner With C# Minor.

[@stevepowsinger733]

I think I love his Symphonic Dances best. So dramatic! I have overplayed his 2nd Concerto and 2nd Symphony unfortunately, but I enjoyed them immensely once.

[@DaGhost141]

I get goosebumps everytime I listen to rach 2, it's such a masterpiece

[@Shibshankar_Roy]

The introduction of this video is EPICCC...

[@chessematics]

I started listening to Mahler after watching your video. And I'm grateful to you for that. Now it's time for Rach.

[@LFont]

I think his 2nd symphony is one of the few pieces of musics I like absolutely all of it. His 3rd is also very good

[@barretthoven]

Very very very happy to see the All-Night Vigil in this video! The choir I am apart of is performing the 9th movement in a few weeks! As a bass his choral works are my absolute favorite to sing.

[@ianboard544]

The Rach 2, Isle of the Dead and his all night vigil are pieces I never tire of - all masterpieces.

[@stephthealmighty268]

Isle of the Dead is just.........perfection

[@jaygatz4335]

I'm a big fan of the 4th concerto. A passage in the first movement elevates you to the heavens and leaves you changed. Yunchan Lim's brilliance in the Cliburn Competition has made me better appreciate the 3rd concerto. (And Liszt, for that matter!)

[@andrewstarr9648]

Isle of the Dead is one of my favorite classical pieces. Powerful and cathartic.

[@donnytello1544]

Rachmaninoff is a composer that will always be an elitist, especially compared to the more widely recognized greats. His pianism is the best as far as sound and form, his orchestration is superb, he was a world class pianist and one of the recognized greatest in history, etc.

[@TristanMA]

He quotes Dies Irae more frequntly than any composer and I palce him among the Composer for Halloween.

[@BeaverOfDooom]

Rachmaninoff is the emotional outlet I truly need in my conventional male life :,)

[@denisehill7769]

His music takes me from rich deep red velvet, to utter darkness and the lightest of pale sunlit clouds. All while tearing one's heart out of one's chest. I can't imagine life without his music.

[@rolandholtz8250]

it is my impression, that besides Beethoven Rachmaninov offers a supreme depth in his music, that is relieving to the heart and can build up spiritualty, that is unmatched. I deeply love his works and I am forever grateful for it.

[@Hailey_Paige_1937]

Fantastic video!! Great job to Ricardo on the script, and both Eddie and Ricardo on editing! I’ll definitely take a dive into more of Rachmaninoff’s music. His 2nd Piano Concerto always brings me to tears and gives me chills. ❤

[@temich1985]

Listened to his Piano Concerto No 2 on a day of my college graduation after struggling journey lasted over decade to finish. For those who struggled but overcame its the most epic piece to get a vibe on.

[@Sineseol]

In my opinion, one of the best composer ever lived.

[@cool_kai3298]

the pc.II's moderato movement is just so moving and powerful and indescribably beautiful that it hurts, you can feel every shade of flowing emotion just beaming out from the movement, its just a magnificent experience oh goodness

[@MoneyAli75]

Great video ! I’m a music major, jazz major and I always loved classical music, it’s so dope to have a richer appreciation and understanding of different times and composers..my instructor played some Rach earlier in semester was feelin it ! Def felt it

[@SonataSecrets]

Great video! I hold both PC2 and 3 as absolute favourites in the genre, and it's impressive how they have touched so many listeners through the years. Also the slow moment of his 2nd symphony is probably the most blissful and forgiving music I can think of. Regarding him looking up to Tchaikovsky: in his first piano trio (Élégiaque the short), he quotes Tchaikovsky's 1st PC by taking the first motif backwards, as well as imitating the famous dotted chords texture!

[@jamesonrichards5105]

i love your channel, nice to see you here

[@matthewarant377]

I nearly cried when you described that moment in the second concerto as forgiving. I have never been able to out that section into words. You nailed it. It's forgiveness.

[@michaelk19thcfan10]

I was waiting for this...😊 I wonder how many fans of Rachmaninoff were first exposed to his music from the melody of a pop song, looking at you Eric Carmen, or a movie soundtrack. The painting at 2:10 is a group portrait of the Vanderbilts. It is displayed at the Biltmore. Rachmaninoff gets a shout out in David Lean's "Dr. Zhivago".

[@bettinapedersen4363]

Rakhmaninoff has been with me all my life. My father loved and played prelude in c minor a lot, and the concerto no. 2 is my favorite peace of music, never get enough of this.

[@Jodabomb24]

I would love to see an episode just on the all night vigil! I think it's truly one of the most beautiful pieces of choral music I've ever heard, which is made all the more incredible by the fact that Rachmaninoff really wasn't a choral composer. The antiphonic structure of several of the moments and the development of ideas within it, the amazingly rich harmonies, it's just spectacular from start to finish.

[@ExSkyCyclePilot]

I grew up in the south in the seventies, where classical music was considered the music of snobs. I was always interested in it, but kept it mostly to myself. Then, one Sunday in the eighties, I had public television on, while half asleep on the couch, when a show featuring Rachmaninoff's second piano concerto came on. By the end of the show, I was in the floor, mere feet from the TV, all but breathless. I knew, right then, that there had to be a story behind that piece. Little did I know how right I was! I became, and remain, a diehard Rachmaninoff fan, and of classical music in general. Rachmaninoff gave his last recital at the University of Tennessee just weeks before he died. There is a statue of him on campus, commemorating that recital. I visited it on April 1st of this year - the 150th anniversary of his birth. I believe him to be the greatest composer of all time, and the second piano concerto to be the greatest classical composition of all time.

[@denniskozevnikoff1209]

this is such a terrific channel, classical music hits on a whole other level when you understand the history behind it.

[@djysmallman2183]

What a masterpiece indeed is the 2nd concerto. The Bells choral symphony is well underrated. Btw…he died in 1943, not 42, and depends on which calendar for his birthday.

[@MOtt-hp3yk]

You forgot to mention the Opus 23 and 32 Preludes. They are magnificent and just as brilliant, moody and emotional as his other works.

[@wendyscott8425]

This video made me teary. I'm still kind of choked up over it. I used to play double bass in orchestras and got the chance to play Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto years ago. I was just thrilled to have that opportunity. What a fabulous piece, something I've appreciated since childhood. As a teen, I discovered his Second Symphony. Unbelievable. And who can forget the Rapsody, especially as it was featured in the movie _Somewhere in Time?_ The Prelude in C# minor was something I learned and performed in recital as a child. His music always affects me emotionally. Knowing all this background makes it even more touching. Thank you!

[@TenMinuteTrips]

It was the motion picture soundtrack to the film “Somewhere in Time” that introduced me to Rachmaninov. “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini” is sort of weaved into the story. The main film score by John Barry (composer of early James Bond film scores) is just perfect.

[@musicclassic5938]

Rachmaninoff was definitely inspired by Paganini's Bell Canto

[@miguelmontes9878]

In the book, a Mahler symphony was used instead.

[@musicclassic5938]

@@miguelmontes9878 Mahler was very creative and an inspired Shostakovich.

[@Umurhan999]

While I really love the third piano concerto, his solo piano works like the etudes-tableaux, the later preludes and the second sonata will be in my heart forever

[@marksmith3947]

I don't think he wrote anything better than the 2nd sonata. It's far superior to his concertos

[@quantomx07]

@@marksmith3947 i wouldnt say its superior but its in the same leauge

[@annedeline4421]

When I heard his second piano concerto for the first time I was in …😅ecstasy ! I was 16,and he was my favorite composer from then on! What a genius! What beautiful emotion he led us all to!l😊

[@Iliyakasipour-ft3np]

Your narration is awesome

[@Hans-tr6dx]

Thanks so much. This was an amazingly well put together story!

[@doudou53d44]

He has been a revelation to me. I just love his melodies and rythms. Unfortunately, no video/film of him playing exists😢.

[@lotsodhliwayo]

Unfortunately, that is the case. Thankfully, there are recordings of his performances available on KZbin.

[@williambarnes8865]

just played rach piano concerto two for a friends orchestra. genuinely one of my favorite pieces to hear and perform live.

[@russian_with_varenik]

if one is a beginner in classical music one may want to start with All by myself (Celine Dion or primarily written by Eric Carmen who created this song on the basic of the 2nd concerto II movement) He loved Rachmaninov's music so much that he also wrote a song Never gonna fall in love again based on 2nd Symphony III mov )

[@AdysondaSilvaDiogenes]

Wonderful exposition. I'm eager to listen his music now!

[@emilianohermosilla3996]

You always inspire me to listen to more and more music as time goes by. Thank you so much

[@carvajal_isabella_sophia_s5899]

I had heard on variety of occasions thoroughly enjoyed throughout my adolescent years within its timeframe as I’m 19 years old, I’ll soon be 20 years old, I’m a classical composer who plays music with pure passion of such depth that I wondered, maybe I should keep on listening classical composers than today’s musicians, I truly believe that classical aesthetics are a major factor to become benevolent citizens of this vast blue world we all share till we arrive on the red dust planetary grounds on the spaces we are divided, we are discoverers at heart. Thank you for listening. Always Have a Magnificent Lifetime for All’s Eternity Forevermore as well as a Benevolent Kindred Spirit Figure whom rather has a Meticulous Precision as a Formidable Humble Humorous Opponent onto the Pursuit of Benevolent Attribute’s Dignified Wholeheartedly Benighted with a Bestowed Noble Polite Heartwarming Soul. See you soon within a Given Proper Place In Time Itslef, if it’s Permissible to do so for the Betterment of Humanity than Ourselves. Hopefully not too long after, as I’ll be able to publish many recordings onto any form of platform that lets everyone at least, that I indeed exist on this planet we all have lived till we depart onto the next generation will take leadership afterwards. Sincerely yours with Genuine Humble Honesty, Kevin Carvajal Reyes - Carvajal_Isabella_Sophia_Studios ~ C.I.S.S. On The Date of Late Afternoon Past Sunset’s Sunshine Diminished Sunday’s A-Newly Discovered Nightfall without Moonlight, 9 of April of 2023 at 23:47 p.m. as I’ve finalised my thoughts near midnight surmises Itself.

[@jameslabs1]

Wonderful, engaging and respectful. Thanks

[@KarlRKaiser]

Surprised there was no mention here of his Piano Preludes and Etudes Tableaux. If you like Romantic piano music, check them out. The Etudes Tableaux are unlike any other piano works.

[@cossak5557]

Hi, I just wanted to say that i love Rachmaninoffs compositions and am very grateful that you made this video. I started listening to classical music after hearing Prelude in C Sharp minor and the three beginning note still give me thrills

[@bozarts22]

I have the 2nd Piano Concerto in a 4 lp record set with a photo of Rachmanioff's hands on his piano! My favorite piece! Genius!

[@franciscovanegas3409]

Amazing video, Rachmaninoff is by far my favorite composer and the way you talk about him and his music in such a captivating way is incredible, you just won a subscriber. And again this is an amazing job.

[@intelectoturbo]

Hi! I'm a big chopin fan and I've never listen to Rach... but I will! Thanks

[@soul-software-survivor]

The All-Night Vigil is probably the most beautiful thing I've ever heard.

[@killersaxsolo]

If I’m not mistaken, the conductor for Rachmaninoff’s first symphony was Alexander Glazunov. One of the stories from this premiere is that he was so drunk, that the first note surprised him and the baton went flying into the audience.

[@davidluck1678]

according to Prokofiev's diary, Glazunov was almost always drunk; during the infamous first performance of Rach's 1st Symphony Glazunov fell off the podium at least once....some sources say twice.

[@evangel1460]

This is one of the best videos I've seen on this website (and I've seen a lot). A great explanation on why Rachmaninoff is just amazing

[@Shemdoupe]

Concerto no. 2 is my favorite classical piece.

[@tfpp1]

Composer, pianist, conductor…thriller threat! And equally talented at each. Personal favorites include 2nd Piano Sonata, Corelli Variations, and his Bach Partita transcription. And everything else he wrote.

[@plootyluvsturtle9843]

honestly i feel like rachmaninoff is the peak of romantic music if not the peak of classical music in general