Ivo Pogorelich plays Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto no. 2 - live 2003 - 1/3

Ivo Pogorelich playing the first movement of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto no. 2 op. 18, with the Czech Philharmonic under Manfred Honeck, live in Bad Kissingen, Germany, 20 June 2003. This is a private, audience-made recording. I have uploaded all three movements separately.

[@constantin250]

Wow his version is unlike anything I’ve heard before. His playing exudes a sense of freedom and individuality, unraveling hidden melodies that escape notice in other pianists' renditions. It's a truly unique and refreshing experience that sets his interpretation apart.

[@danielalaura7304]

Unusual performance; Ivo's concept is completely different from all I've heard, and the most intriguing is the begining.Bravo maestro!

[@charlottewang406]

4 minutes longer than most other contemporary performances...Much warmth and intimacy.

[@Daniel_Ilyich]

Regardless of what most of the majority of "experts" say, I think this is an incredible conception of the spirit of this piece. After listening to this performance by Ivo (and the wonderful partnership by this conductor & orchestra), and the other private recordings on the net, I feel my understanding of this piece has been enriched on a deeper level. There are moments of such immense sadness and pain that it's almost unbearable. Yet, there is such warm in the treatment of each phrase. Spasibo.

[@irenaoparov5784]

One and only, unique IVO POGORELICH!! ❤

[@liviane109]

such a treasure. I cry. This piece and how he performed pierced through my heart. What a pity that there is no professional recording

[@danielgloverpiano7693]

It pierced my heart for a different reason. It ruined the music.

[@user-le8bg9dn9l]

Дирижера - в книгу рекордов Гиннеса! Спасибо за красивую фотографию, ADGO💓

[@javiertrabajo9438]

a creativity without limits, Pogorelich makes a reading on the reading of tradition, discovers new horizons and takes the work to a new level of listening and understanding, great

[@smr73]

We know so many recordings ... it's a real pleasure to hear it that way ... and even though IVO may not be pleased with this illegal recording, for me it's a real treat to hear it so extraordinary!

[@steveegallo3384]

I remember when Leonard Bernstein had to "apologize" for Glenn Gould's slow tempo, Brahms Concerto #1. Though Richter's is still my favorite Rach 2, it's wonderful to hear something totally off the charts....like Pogo's Brahms Intermezzi.....BRAVO!

[@user-vo1gx6xm8r]

Мороз по коже от его игры таинственной как древняя магия.

[@TheCookie30]

in response to Pogouldiwitz: I cannot agree with you MORE! I am the "expert" who you talk about and I agree that, while Pogorelich's concept is highly individual it IS a concept for whatever it is worth, while 99.9% of performances of this or any other masterpiece has simply NO concept! So I say: Bravo Pogorelich! Not only for daring and ability to have a concept, but also to be able like no other to convince of the eternal beauty and nostalgia of this, overused and grossly abused, masterpiece!

[@tetyanachorna8139]

I can't say better! Totally agree!

[@ugo957]

Иво, это потрясающая интерпретация этого концерта Рахманинова! Браво твоей незаурядности! Это так близко русской душе, что к горлу подступает ком, а на глаза слезы.

[@BenSadounJeremie]

genius

[@Chopin4321]

ivo has the most beautiful and perfect equilibrium of the 3 elements of music ...melody, harmony and form. ivo has the highest internal discipline possible, which is the ability to identify, discern, and take action on the particular thoughts in his head that are actually aligned with his life vision and goals. has infinite hard work and sacrifice, pogorelich once said he worked like a galley slave, i believe him, the result is this, the most perfect and beautiful piano playing ever. " SIMPLICITY IS EVERYTHING, IT IS ART¨S FINAL OBJECT. ONE HAS TO HAVE STUDIED A LOT, TREMENDOUSLY, TO LET SIMPLICITY EMERGE WITH ALL ITS CHARM, GRACE AND MAGIC. PLACE THE HAND AT EASE, WITH A MAXIMUM OF SUPPLENESS AND FLEXIBILITY, -- ( FACILEMENT, FACILEMENT ) -- EASILY, EASILY. TO ATTAIN GOOD TASTE, NATURALNESS AND PERFECTION IN PIANO PLAYING, LEARN FROM THE BEST OPERA SINGERS, LISTENING CAREFULLY HOW THEY BREATH. " - CHOPIN - " The Ideal of great Art is supreme serenity. " - Franz Liszt - " MUSIC SHOULD FLOW LIKE OIL, NOTES SHOULD GO AS SMOOTH AS OIL " - MOZART - " MUSIC WAS BORN FREE; AND TO WIN ITS LOST LIBERTY IS ITS DESTINY. " - F. BUSONI -

[@lenamcginnis5168]

Hello Javier, you are 1000% correct. The greatest pianist in the world!!!! Nice to read your comments again. Hopefully you are well. All the best to your and the family, Lena

[@TaniaCarolineChen]

Love love love this. Breadth & power, he is a unique artist.

[@PhillipLWilcher]

The manifestation of a musical mind so vast in concept to be almost beyond the comprehension of mortal man, this performance is testament to the fact that when in the moment, one is also at the mercy of the moment. It is to enter an arena larger than one's self and to accept what is yet to be as being of All That Is. To each his own, it must be said, but this interpretation moves mountains for me. There is a miracle at work here, and its name is Ivo Pogorelich. I bow my head.

[@danielgloverpiano7693]

Beyond comprehension is the fact anyone can respect this horrible playing. Do you have no shame nor taste?

[@elisabetta5044]

@@danielgloverpiano7693 Please, stop spamming your useless and acid comments under Pogorelich's videos.

[@danielgloverpiano7693]

@@elisabetta5044 my comments are far from useless. They are instructive, if you would only open your mind. Stop defending indefensible playing. I attended a Pogorelich recital where there were loud boos and people walked out in the middle of it. I would never do that. This forum is for us to express our opinions and I have backed up my claims. You offer nothing but to attack me. In addition to that, my performance of this piece is on my channel. It’s not like I’m an armchair critic. Where is your performance? What training do you have? Please defend the way Pogorelich ignores the written score and changes tempos at his whim. I would love to sit with him and ask him these questions. I would show him in the actual score what he ignored and why he is wrong to distort the music this way. . .

[@elisabetta5044]

@@danielgloverpiano7693 have you read my other reply to another of your comments under this video? That is the point. I don't want to defend Pogorelic, nor I am saying if his playing is right or wrong, although I find weird most his interpretations. What i feel ugly is a musician publicly offending a colleague with arsh "critics" . And on KZbin! You may be the best pianist of the world, but in this way you lack respect and dont make a good service to the music. If you are so disgusted by Pogorelic music, just stop listening. Or contact him if you are really interested to understand "why" of his interpretations. A good exchange between two musicians may bring something good. Wish a happy musical Life. PS I am an amateur pianist

[@pianonineg9576]

Many new found melodies here....and time arresting moments... love the depth. A bit slow in places but what's to argue? Perfect artistry

[@javiertrabajo9438]

Superb!

[@tetyanachorna8139]

The greatest pianist ever!!!!

[@SwePianoholic]

This is astonishing!!

[@tiptopthai]

SwePianoholic Yes, astonishingly bad.

[@tetyanachorna8139]

Yes, it's unbelievable beautiful!!!! Ivo is the best!

[@Daniel_Ilyich]

Thank you maestro! I by chance "googled" you and saw your wikipedia page. Could you post some videos of your performances? You studied with one of my favorite pianists Eliso Virsaladze and Lev Oborin. I'm jealous, ;-). My parent's are from Leningrad (that'll give you an idea how long they lived in the states) and I'm glad my mother gave me the opportunity to study the piano. While I didn't have a great talent and started late, my love affair with music has been lifelong.

[@rikikurosi]

Thank you ! 以前削除されたberlin philharmonyのより素晴らしいpeformanceです！！God　play Rachmaninoff!

[@dorotejanovosel4556]

Koje čudo. ..koja divota izvedbe. ..kakav li Božji poklon onima koji znaju čuti.

[@davorsaric8041]

It is horrible massacre! It is not Rachmaninoff. A piece of shit. Pogorelich. as usual the best or the worst.

[@halomode]

저 여자분이 스승이었다는 부인이신가~ 연주보다 왜 이런데에만 관심이 있는지ㅎㅎ 이보 포고렐리치의 독창적인 천재성이야 말해 뭐해!

[@alvarojosetasconospina3583]

FASCINA..SIEMPRE..MAESTROS IVO..ALISSA..ARQUITECTURA GÓTICA Y EL CIELO D ORIÓN AL INFINITO..GRACIAS..SERGUEI ARCÁNGEL..

[@borisyakubov6453]

Also - very intimate.

[@borisyakubov6453]

That is exactly how it should be played. Here you, as a listener, finally have space for your own imagination, it is very relaxing.

[@pedercic99]

@arturon111 Balance, whether written in upper or lower case, is not a quality I look for when playing or listening to Rachmaninov. Each to his own, though....

[@Pogouldangeliwitz]

I can't find the other private recording here, think i heard it once (on tour in the USA, posted by Gazda Mitke?), but it seems gone. Unless you could provide a link - pleaaase!

[@danielgloverpiano7693]

One of my great teachers once said to me there are two kinds of pianists: the architect (Rubinstein), and the interior decorator (Horowitz). I would add a third: the demolitionist (Pogorelich), who purposely destroys and blows up the whole building.

[@elisabetta5044]

Daniel Glover, is this your personal goal, to convince people that this playing is wrong, ugly, desrespectful etc etc? Why? I think it is not fair from a musician to another musician - I would even say deontologically abominable- to leave such harsh comments under a colleague's performance. Shame on you. Music does not deserve such "defensors" like you. Share YOUR music interpretations, instead of judging and demoliting the other's ones.

[@danielgloverpiano7693]

@@elisabetta5044 here’s where I disagree: when you cross the line to disrespect the composer’s written score, you should be called out for it. My interpretation is on my channel. You are welcome to watch and say whatever you’d like. I don’t know ANY musician who would find this abomination to be a valid interpretation of this score. It has crossed the line of what is acceptable. The Boston Symphony string players threatened to refuse to play with him because his tempos were so far off. They literally couldn’t play that slowly because they had no bow left at the end of every note. As I said. If you had done research, you would be able to listen to my own interpretation. I am not an armchair critic I can back up my claims and I know of no pianist who would find this abomination an acceptable interpretation. Sorry.

[@danielgloverpiano7693]

@@elisabetta5044 i don’t have a personal goal. You’re the one attacking me. I have told you why this interpretation is not acceptable. I’ve been very specific. No musician would find the way he distorts the rhythm to be in line with the composer’s intentions. When you take a beautiful melody and distort it to the point you couldn’t sing it, it’s just plain unacceptable.

[@danielgloverpiano7693]

@@elisabetta5044 here you go, lady: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6fKgYSjqZyJq7c This performance was done under great duress. I had just lost a friend, my mother and my cat in quick succession. I was not at my best emotionally. In fact, I wanted to cancel the performance. But I did it anyway to be professional.

[@danielgloverpiano7693]

@@elisabetta5044 i would relish the opportunity to sit with Pogorelich in person and show him why his choices were wrong. This is not the case of interpretive choices. This is a case where he ignores the written score. To us musicians, that is simply not acceptable.

[@rachmaninov2012]

Demasiado

[@babaeast]

His Liszt B minor sonata is the most amazing passionate wonderful rendering....this Pogorelich is not that same pianist. Either he has contempt for audiences...or he's lost his technique..or...some part of his judgement is impaired. (His Haydn is glorious and perfect!) And, he was adorable!

[@tetyanachorna8139]

He is the best! It's just His point of view. He is magnificent pianist ever!

[@danijelamikic9717]

peter kiss nazalost delimo potpuno isto misljenje.Ivo je izgubio svu zar...

[@JohnnyStricklett]

There are brief, sporadic moments in which his extreme melodrama makes sense. However, most of the time I feel the need for him to actually follow the tempo and momentum of the orchestra. I also wish he'd round out his phrases instead of allowing each note to seem detached and to have such volatile dynamics. It is also somewhat irritating when many details are not brought out, as if the passages are simplified. Perhaps if he could employ his brilliant ideas in moderation...

[@TheCookie30]

You are very welcome. You can also browse my website. Look under Lev Natochenny. There is more correct information than wikipedia offers.

[@almadelichalar7505]

[@Rakulla]

pogrešno si shvatio druže, nema ovo veze sa narodima i narodnostima. komentar je sa čisto muzičko-estetskog stanovišta. da si mi živ i zdrav!

[@dp53plante95]

I'm sorry - but this is simply bizarre. Pogorelich was a very talented pianist with a terrific technique in his early days, but what he does here is not supported by the music. The solo passages are so slow that you can no longer hear the larger phrases as a single span of music but rather a series of little details. And because the tempo keeps changing for each section you don't hear the movement as a single movement going steadily inexorably toward the end but just a series of moments with no sense of architecture. This goes past just being eccentric to being a self-indulgent mess. I'm really sorry to hear him playing like this. Something is definitely wrong.

[@Panzerino02]

dp53 Plante It is not only bizarre - it is unacceptable, because it is not Rachmaninoff any more. The phrase is totally incoherently played, all the music's sense is go on down the drain. It is simply like a schizophrenic dissonant thoughts of someone mentally gravely ill.

[@robertallen6710]

@@Panzerino02 ..it actually sounds like Ivo had one too many vodkas...

[@syourke3]

What’s the matter with Pogorelich here? He’s a brilliantly talented pianist but his eccentricities have overtaken him completely. Did he go mad? This is simply perverse. It’s not even musical. Like what Gould did to Beethoven’s Appassionata. Breathtakingly awful.

[@nvrlm]

I rather like it

[@MrElicottero]

Umetnost je univerzalna, ali nažalost, Pogorelićevo sviranje u proteklih petnaestak godina ne deli tu univerzalnost. I to nema veze sa nacionalizmom, mržnjom ili bilo čim takvim. Meni je zaista tužno da ga čujem sada, jer je u svojim najboljim danima bio genije i zaista ništa manje od toga.

[@Rakulla]

hahaha, ovo je još i kompromis, treba da čuješ snimak što mi je Zoza puštao :)

[@rigel48]

How slow is a moderato? Not that slow for Rachmaninoff in his own recording ! Here, much of the time the music is so stretched that it does not hold.

[@YTSeiyaGoFire]

This is too slow for pogolerich, but still good

[@davorsaric8041]

Massacre.

[@arturon111]

Good ideas and intentions,..... with icredible distortions to the music,... this is an example of great technical facility by Pogorelich NOT in the service of the music played....the key in life for EVERYTHING,... including music,... is BALANCE,... a concept that is far from Pogorelich's music making,....

[@TJFNYC212]

Hamlet.says "What a mind is here overthrown!" This is WHACK! lol

[@99Grigor]

Honestly, this is just too painful to listen to. No explanation needed. :((

[@danielgloverpiano7693]

Anyone who has the patience to sit through this abomination deserves my respect. But, what he has done to the piece is criminal, particularly the distorted second theme. A student could sight read it more convincingly. It’s sad that anyone thinks this is good playing. It’s playing of a charlatan. The Chopin competition jury was spot on correct, and I’m proud one of them was my teacher, Eugene List. This is like the Florence Foster Jenkins of Rachmaninoff 2nd Concertos. Sad. The conductor deserves respect for his patience at trying to “find” Pogorelich’s beat. Pogorelich seems to have no idea of music as architecture and form. It starts out normally until we get to the part that sounds like he hasn’t learned the notes yet, then he slows down to one fourth the proper tempo. I would be concerned if he actually thinks the music should go this way. It would be comforting to know that he was purposely distorting the music to be controversial and gain attention. Please tell me this is true. I heard that he played this with with the Boston Symphony and the string players threatened to walk out, because they couldn’t play so slowly without re-bowing their parts. Ivo, if expressing your own voice is more important than showing a modicum of integrity towards what a composer has written, please write your own music. Otherwise you are disrespecting the composer’s intentions and insulting the audience with your narcissism and ego. You know that a composer puts markings on the page for a purpose. To completely ignore them is to rape the score and violate the meaning of the music.

[@creativecolours2022]

I think you over reacting. Music is not only what is written on a score but also about interpretation from every individual musician of what this score means and what is supposed to communicate.It is not only notes on the paper played in a specific tempo or volume. And the composers don't give any instructions about what they mean with their music. This kind of interpretation relies on each individual player of each individual piece of music. This is Pogorelich interpretation of this concerto that I personally find very unique, personal and as such very interesting. I'm sick and tired listening to pianists playing with the same way well known pieces of music, like they don't have any personal opinion or understanding on what each of these pieces mean. And this is tragic and happens only in music. You won't f.e see actors playing all with the same way a role. Or read a book. You will not see anyone explain with the exact same way what a painting means, in fact no one expects and it is illegal for visual artists to paint the same thing. It is considered plagiarism. But we do expect from musicians to play the same pieces all the same way like the lack the intelligence to read between the notes and have their own interpretation about what music is all about.

[@danielgloverpiano7693]

@@creativecolours2022 I agree, but there are limits to how much one can ignore what the composer wrote on the page. One of my great teachers said “the score is our road map. We have to follow the directions or get lost.” In actuality, Pogorelich did not follow what the score says. This isn’t a matter of interpretation. It’s a matter of ignoring the rhythm on the page. That’s something that goes over the line, in my opinion. It would be equivalent to an actor completely making up his own words in Shakespeare. I’m sure it’s been done, but it’s no longer Shakespeare. As someone else pointed out: if Pogorelich wants to be a composer, that’s fine. He should write his own music, but don’t disrespect the composer by ignoring the sacred score we have in front of us. I can show you specifics of what he ignores in the score, but it would require meeting in person. The most egregious example is the distorted rhythm of the second theme in the first movement, where his rhythm is no longer recognizable. I give the conductor credit for trying to find a beat.

[@creativecolours2022]

@@danielgloverpiano7693 Actors do change the words of Shakespeare and the clothes and the sets....not to mention how many of them have changed the words and even the sets of Ancient Greek tragedies in order to make them more relevant to contemporary audiences. Nobody is freaking out about this, in fact such kind of changes are welcomed because they enhance in some cases the original play and make it more relevant with the contemporary world. Because all these plays were relevant and modern back in the era that they were made, but not that much after 2000 or 500 years. Same applies to the music.... there is no rule that forbids an individual from playing music the way HE understands it according to the environment that grew up. Not to mention that the constant repetition of the same works with the exact same way, that supposedly reflects what the composer meant is boring and pointless. If all musicians are obliged to play the same thing, then what is the point of listening to different versions of the same piece? My opinion is that Pogorelich is trying to express the emotions that each and every score triggers in him... His playing is a "point of view " one. It is personal and that is why it is interesting. He has explained after all what he is trying to achieve and how he is trying to do so. He wants to emphasize some passages, let the music "breathe" and so on. You can find what his intentions are online. He doesn't hide them and it is not that he makes random changes just for the sake of doing so. He interprets classical music into a very specific concept something that I personally consider it something beneficial, because it has been applied on all other forms of art and pushed them by trial and error forward. The final results might not be always of our liking but this doesn't mean that we should not try either way.

[@danielgloverpiano7693]

@@creativecolours2022 he ignores the score and it’s unforgivable in this case. I’ve served as a professor at four universities and wouldn’t allow any student to massacre the music this way. I sense that you’re not trained in music. That’s fine. Just be aware that this “performance” has nothing to do with Rachmaninoff. I find it offensive and supremely boring. I’m not alone. When he massacred Rachmaninoff this way with the Boston Symphony the musicians threatened a revolt. The string players said they couldn’t play the phrases so slowly. By the way, one of my own teachers was in the jury in Warsaw when Pogorelich first appeared as an extremely young contestant at the Chopin Competition. He said the jury agreed that his “interpretations” were not acceptable in the tradition of Chopin, and while they saw he had some talent, they could never endorse his playing as an acceptable standard for playing Chopin. The world would lose respect for the competition if they chose him. Your comment about changing costumes in Shakespeare isn’t relevant to the discussion. That wasn’t my point. I’m talking about someone who willfully distorts the music so that it’s no longer recognized as the same piece. I heard Pogorelich play a Rachmaninoff Moment Musical (No. 1), which I’ve performed. I honestly could not recognize what he was playing. It was pure garbage and unrecognizable as music. It took twice as long as it usually is played. If you think distorting music to the point you can no longer recognize the melody is a good thing, I would say you’re wrong. I could easily imitate the way he is distorting the music, but it would require us to do it in person. It honestly sounds like a bad student sightreading it for the first time. What he’s doing does not take talent. Anyone pianist could do what he’s doing, and I frankly can’t stomach it. He got many boos when I heard that recital, but other things on the program were much better. He has this strange idea that Rachmaninoff’s melodies should be distorted so you can’t recognize them. It’s almost a performance art level of performance which is difficult to grasp. I would love to ask him why he needs to make beloved melodies unsingable and unrecognizable. It’s almost psychotic.

[@danielgloverpiano7693]

@@creativecolours2022 if you get something from this “performance,” good for you. I don’t. But you may enjoy hearing a bad student play the Moonlight Sonata, too. I find it uncomfortable to sit through. I’ve been on too many juries and heard too many bad performances to share your enthusiasm. There was a famous quote by Sviatoslav Richter where he said he only gave contestants a 1 or a 10. Either they could play or not. Nothing in between! I’m not that bad, but I understand his point somewhat.

[@belamoure]

Simply horrible. Pogowhatever is not very good.

[@amam6743]

And why do you think that?

[@nvrlm]

I rather like it

[@pianopill88]

He should compose then he could distort all he wants. Poor Rachmaninoff,,,,

[@danielgloverpiano7693]

@@pianopill88 Norman Krieger, I remember you from Juilliard. I admire your playing. I couldn’t agree more. If someone wants to ignore everything a composer tells us to do, he should compose his own stuff. Pogorelich has this strange idea that Rachmaninoff should be slow. I heard him play the Moment Musicaux No, 1 live. I honestly couldn’t make out what he was playing, and I’ve played it myself. It took 15 minutes, which is twice the normal duration. Greetings from San Francisco!

[@danielgloverpiano7693]

@@pianopill88 PS. I studied with Eugene List, around the time Pogorelich didn’t win the Chopin competition. He said that the jury (except for Argerich, who famously walked out) felt Pogorelich was a bit of a charlatan and that they couldn’t endorse such eccentric playing as a standard for playing Chopin. They felt he was a unique gift but just too inconsistent. They were spot on and their words ring true today. Martha won’t talk about Pogorelich anymore. I think she regrets her earlier faith in him.

[@davidshengelia4798]

Is this his wife?

[@ADGO]

yes

[@davidshengelia4798]

She was Georgian.

[@ADGO]

many excellent pianists are from there :)

[@tetyanachorna8139]

His wife, Alice, was music teacher in Moscow conservatory.

[@ulfwernernielsen6708]

Horrible!!!!! That is the only word i can find for this.

[@nvrlm]

I rather like it

[@calcmandan]

ugh, why Ivo?