Nikolai Lugansky plays Rachmaninov Musical Moment No.4 in E minor - medici.tv

[@hautboisjj]

Lugansky is a humble man. After playing a concerto he sat down in front of me at the back of the hall to watch the 2nd half of the concert performed by the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. Not many people of his stature do that these days...

[@MrSashok99]

That happened today in Berlin during the concert where he performed Rachmaninov! Amazing personality

[@viktorijabrazaite1520]

Same happened when he performed a concert in Lithuania!

[@hatchegg80]

super nice guy, low profile, i hope his surgery goes well

[@chernorizetzhrabar1313]

@@hatchegg80 what surgery? He had played 3 days ago with the Belgium Philharmonie.

[@DariusMo]

@@chernorizetzhrabar1313 apparently he had a ruptured tendon

[@tomasjosefpiano8902]

HOW in the world can you make it sound THAT clean!?!?

[@LD9_YT]

crazy

[@lucajack007]

The clarity really is other worldly

[@anasaddek]

first you need to be an professional pianist then play this xD

[@SeekingTheLoveThatGodMeans7648]

Sufficient skill. Lots and lots of practice. A sufficient memory. (I haven't see one performer use the score, which is too complicated to read in real time.) A decent piano in decent acoustics. It's not going to sound clean with a lot of reverb around it. Though I've seen relative duffers and even a little Russian kid (!) who have worked it up on KZbin and it is possible. A digital piano turned out to be awfully good and clear for such a performance. Notice how there seems to be a lot of people seated close to the piano. This helps the acoustic damping. I'd say 1 part youth, 1 part musicianship, 1 part science (the acoustics and the piano -- there's a reason Steinway is standard: they never seem to make a bad piano, and it is a known quantity), and 1 part dogged work. And last but not least, 1 part speed. His hands are going so fast that if he fumble fingered a key in much of it, we wouldn't even notice. The highlights are nice and loud, the murmurs nice and quiet, giving less attack surface for obvious failures. Others bring up those murmurs, which is an additional cleanliness challenge.

[@AwKeShen.]

Yea, oh my it's really clean, takes lots of skill and practice

[@라쏠-y4j]

Lugansky's performance made me a pianist. Twelve years ago, I watched this video and decided to become a pianist. And I am currently attending the College of Music. At the time, I didn't even know who this performer was It's been a while since I saw him again and I found out that he was Lugansky! I think he's the master of playing Rachmaninoff.

[@thegreatballplayer1]

That’s awesome! Music is contagious and the piano is an instrument to be reckoned with. Good luck!

[@nadiad33]

In my opinion, this is the best performance of this piece.

[@Enriquex05HD]

Yo nigga

[@fredericchopin6445]

@@Enriquex05HD wot dude

[@christinamurra7204]

me too

[@mariaizmaylova9097]

Its gorgeous, but have u listen to Rachmaninov play that?

[@mariaizmaylova9097]

Its on KZbin

[@elegachi]

As someone who can actually play it too. Lugansky has this one in the bag. This is one of those onetime performances that are not repeated even by the musician himself, at least not every single time. He leans his whole body into some notes and the clarity is phenomenal. This is such a show-off performance. I absolutely adore it

[@MorbidMayem]

Mr Lugansky is a very great artist. Had the chance to attend his performance last Thursday. The audience called him back maybe 8-12 times if not more. He gave 3 encores. A moment I will cherish until my last sigh.

[@TheAskald]

Amazing player. You're lucky, he only played 1 encore to the concert I went to, around 2 weeks ago, despite partial standing ovation. What did he play at yours? For me it was Rach 3 with prelude 23 7 as the encore.

[@imaofsky2407]

This is getting ridiculous. I've listened to this a thousand times and still get impressed every time. Amazing talent, dedication and hard work and passion

[@kevinlee5281]

i carefully assume that he has the best interpretation of this piece

[@drovid008]

technically, most advanced too. But then again, I have never heard Rachmaninoff playing this himself.

[@joveyosagie2179]

Lucky you! Rachmaninoff lived in age where during his late years in his life he was able to record some of his most famous pieces like his piano concert! I'm sure you can find recording of his famous pieces including this one.

[@drovid008]

Jovey Osagie if anyone manages to.... damn

[@SpaghettiToaster]

I haven't found a roll of this piece yet, make sure to post if you find one.

[@drovid008]

***** ??? where did u see korea lmfao

[@oldbird4601]

Wow, his body is so relaxed he just let’s his hands do all the work what an amazing interpretation

[@bumbo9506]

I think it’s mostly appearance lol. Playing this piece at THAT level is a nightmare for the arms.

[@flyingpenandpaper6119]

@@bumbo9506 You don't use the arms when playing. I know that tension builds in the forearms for some pieces, but surprisingly enough, in my experience, this isn't one of them. This wears out your fingers fast though because of how much you bash against the keys with fortissimo leaps.

[@lafemmesanspseudo7840]

That's what I was thinking at first : he looks so relaxed. Then I noticed I was doing things with my mouth while playing it, and look ! He does the same :) Although I wouldn't say it is THAT hard technically, this piece is quite costing physically !

[@batur_psychology19]

@@lafemmesanspseudo7840 if this isn't hard technically then may I ask you what is?

[@lafemmesanspseudo7840]

@@batur_psychology19 I wasn't saying this piece is easy, just that to me it ended up being more demanding physically (stamina, fingers and forearms, unconscious jaw involvement ;) than technically. That's just imo. The same motives are repeated and the chords are not the most difficult ones. The difficulty once you master the motive is to reach the required speed (100 is already quite fast with that amount of sextolets...) and give a nice interpretation. But technically, I'm quite sure I would have more difficulties with some other pieces by Rachmaninov, or Chopin, or Listz, that feature wider chords which could be difficult for my hands, or more dissonant pieces like Prokoviev, for example.

[@geeeforce]

12 years later I'm back, and it still gives me the chills watching this

[@drovid008]

same here, 7 years since I first started playing the piece I still come back to the video

[@musicsdarkangel]

Years later, I still come back to this and it inspires me. Time to practice.

[@MrInneressence2]

This guy is THE real pianist in every way. No show off nor act out involved in his performance and plays this incredibly difficult masterpiece effortlessly which means he cares about playing music well than putting himself on a pedistal. Amazing technique and lots of passion are clearly visible here. Well done Nikolai!

[@TheSummoner]

Well said.

[@musicalwayshere4]

I love how he plays it so intensely and fiercely, but without exaggerating his facial expressions. He doesn't fake anything, which makes it a perfect performance for me. Just lets the music speak for itself, fantastic.

[@DerTodKommtImmer]

musicalwayshere4 couldn‘t have said it better myself

[@Irinushka2323]

Lugansky is probably one of the best Rachmaninov players

[@codythedoggo7671]

Or the best

[@codythedoggo7671]

@Max De Santa of course, how could you top the creator

[@instadiocom]

One of the best player alive

[@K_Kanjo]

He is the best bro.

[@Boidmaster25]

Moiseiwitsch, Horowitz, Richter, Cziffra, Van Cliburn, Zimmerman, Lugansky?

[@Seenall]

0:30 The moment the man to the left of the audience in the white t-shirtrealised what he was witnessing

[@bennyksmusicalworld]

This is one of the best piano performances in KZbin, hands down

[@iv0luti0n]

Lugansky's interpretation is the best I've heard yet. Others play this piece too lyrically, without emphasizing the agitation, the angst. Lugansky brings it out so beautifully.

[@christinamurra7204]

I have revisited this song so many times since I was 14. That was 14 years ago. What a treat.

[@fijant]

Keep asking myself who on earth downvotes this. Absolute brillant interpretation of this masterpiece. Mr Lugansky is a genius.

[@MusicalMissCapri]

Pay no attention to trolls that dislike things containing qualities they lack - beauty, passion, and intelligence.

[@MusicalMissCapri]

No, they're just talentless trolls that go around looking for good videos to dislike, for attention. Which they get every time someone points them out.

[@MusicalMissCapri]

My parents, and probably most of my family wouldn't care for this piece. Mom would appreciate it in the sense that it is dramatic and it's a show piece, but she wouldn't want it on her playlist. The classical anyone in my immediate family likes is quite a bit lighter. But none of them are so lacking in a life that they prowl about KZbin to troll via the down vote on videos that are obviously good.

[@urnice4172]

Jealousy blind people who are trying to find defect in this perfect interpretation. Or people who think downvotes can damage this beautiful performance. Both cases should not use internet anyway.

[@maynardalbis9935]

Probably those downvotes are from deaf and jealous individuals.

[@pjcpiano]

Not only is this a stunning piece by Rachmaninoff but there is something really special about this performance by Lugansky that really takes your breath away. One of those moments when the stars align and it's pure electricity.

[@liubovb.8790]

Сколько раз смотрю, слушаю, затаив дахание, с мурашками по коже, после последнего аккорда - улыбка! Радость. Что это?! Победа добра.

[@user-oxana]

Браво, Маэстро, Браво!!!!!!!!!!! Не знаешь, то ли слушать, то ли руками любоваться! Гениальное произведение в гениальном исполнении!

[@elisabetta594]

12 years later and still the best interpretation ever

[@vguiver565]

15

[@DERIVATIVES-mh6ej]

I love how he's not trying to dramatize the song or the performance with excessive unnecessary movements or facial expressions. Just playing the piano and kicking ass at it.

[@mimichokmamaeva2646]

Обожаю Николая Луганского ❤Восхищаюсь его душевной красотой , наполненностью и удивительным благородством ! ❤❤❤

[@ywgarak1558]

im not a fan of classical music, i mostly listened to various subgenres of metal and jazz. but the first time i heard this piece, i wept, i dont know why. over time, the song grew on me, it helped me cope with the death of my father

[@p-y8210]

That's exactly what this piece is about it's about the death of a family member

[@judahblocker6955]

Same here for me. I have been doing this piece since the beginning of this fall school semester and it has kind of reminded me of the chaos in life and when my father passed away.

[@pianoconcertono2]

It's a piece

[@claudiausavage1645]

@@p-y8210 Just out of curiosity bc I'm also super interested in the background of the piece, where exactly did you get this information?

[@magic22222222222]

@@claudiausavage1645 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_moments_musicaux_(Rachmaninoff) look at the background section.

[@smb123211]

Undoubtedly the best interpretation around. I like that Rachmaninoff often preferred the interpretation of others to his own saying they found hidden jewels. This is truly magisterial - the only word to describe it.

[@klara4199]

One night while I was deeply sad (grief), I randomly opened the newspaper (which I never usually do) and happened to read that Lugansky was giving a free (!) concert some 15 minutes away from my home, in a suburban city. I found out the night before that Lugansky was going to play all moments musicaux in my city. To be honest, I was grieving the death of a boy who was a talented pianist, and in a way, went to this concert for him, in his honor, and started to cry during moments musicaux 4, as I could never imagine seeing Lugansky perform this piece, but also knowing that boy would never again be able to see such a performance. Rip A.C☦️

[@big_darkside2716]

Watched this 14 years ago and still come back to listen to it, such a performance!

[@PianistPoland]

the best performance on youtube, it should sound exactly like this performance

[@petrakristofova815]

PianistPoland I agree !!!!This performance is the best !!!!!!!!!!!

[@geuros]

+PianistPoland in your opinion ;) no-one said how exactly it should sound. But I share the opinion that it's the best interpretation I have ever heard.

[@PianistPoland]

+geuros You can check my performance on my chanel, I was trying to play it as Lugansky but You know he is fantastic pianist but I am only amatour :)

[@TheHanslick]

... and not only on KZbin !!!!

[@bernardthomas3606]

Not exactly... but it almost comes near to the sound i intended this piece to sound

[@semtiness]

And still non musicians will say the hardest piece is flight of the mumble bee

[@ClassicalMMAChef]

Try the Cziffra transcription of it...

[@jamestelford8475]

ClassicalMMAChef Still wouldn't consider it the hardest, but that certainly is a challenge and up there with the hardest!

[@semtiness]

ClassicalMMAChef oh comon can you compare with the rachmaninoff piano concerto no3.Dont compare anyone with Rachmaninoff

[@benjaminbeam5273]

So true!!! that or Moonlight sonata

[@jongeiger8320]

Movement 3 maybe

[@LukeWelchPianist]

i had the privilege to hear him perform live last week, and i just have to confirm (along with this clip) that he is easily amongst the best three living pianist in the world right now and brings back the newness, sincerity, clarity, and brevity to everything he plays. what made it all the sweetest is that he is also such a kind person too, and took the time after the recital to talk to each and every person who went to him and answered any and all questions. my hero!

[@сергейкириллов-й3я]

Браво,Николай,тысячу раз браво!!!Потрясающее исполнение!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@bourbon101]

Everytime I return to this video I still feel the same chill that I felt more than a decade ago- only to appreciate this more. Phenomenal.

[@kymcomposition]

Velocity, pedaling, clarity, everything is just perfect.

[@floragutierrez538]

Specially perfect control of dynamics (crescendo, diminuendo)

[@danabo1000]

best Interpretation i've ever heard

[@danielhinrichsen6927]

Interpretation?

[@bernardthomas3606]

You should listen to one of mine...

[@codythedoggo7671]

@friendly Jew what?

[@coy2960]

Imagine Rachmaninoff performance

[@Bevsworld04]

@@danielhinrichsen6927 yes, interpretation

[@petersnell3128]

Why am I only getting to know Lugansky today? This guy is from another planet!! His playing is just sublime

[@restonnova6745]

I’m obsessed with this piece.

[@delko000]

This is Rach 'n' roll !

[@sabethgersak592]

nobulle 😂😂😂

[@thuhanguyen2367]

nobulle lmao!

[@신은진-j9o]

nobulle what's the mean?

[@dillyperson]

신은진 It's a pun of rock n' roll.

[@무너무너-v1z]

lmao

[@쇼팽쇼팽]

No one can play this piece like Lugansky. It's a crazy performance. I've never seen anyone play so intense and sophisticated. Lukansky is the best performer in the world for this musical moment.

[@RageMageD]

The fact this video still has that 1% youtube dislike ratio proves people will hate things for no other reason than to just hate things. This performance was completely flawless, what is happening in your head as you click the dislike button?!

[@РозаАршабекова]

Фантастическое исполнение! Восхищаюсь исполнительским мастерством Николая Луганского уже несколько лет, около десяти. Его игра вытащила меня из тяжёлой депрессии! Спасибо большое!!!

[@arnekorpen3143]

На самом деле или вы ради красного словца?

[@РозаАршабекова]

Вы меня удивляете! Как можно быть таким неискренним? Ради какого красного словца? Мне больше заняться нечем? Я действительно восхищаюсь мастерством , талантом Николая Луганского!!!

[@arnekorpen3143]

@@РозаАршабекова А вы это ваше восхищение кому выражаете? Вернее куда? Не в пустоту ли? Вот оттого и делаю вывод, что заняться вам как раз нечем.

[@lakek9573]

Plz no hate guys. :)

[@Min-wb3yb]

amazing...amazing....amazing... O M G

[@joelhacker4729]

@최석훈 auto like. Más el mío😂

[@ケロ敬え]

まさに完璧な演奏だなぁ………

[@KhoaSV]

So beautiful... Lugansky is truly one of the best pianists in our lifetime!

[@сергейкириллов-й3я]

Два русских гения -Сергей Рахманинов и Николай Луганский.Браво,браво!!!Одно из лучших исполнений этого произведения!!!

[@67Mannheim]

Exactly. I observed the same thing, too!

[@tommysmyth1210]

67Mannheim 😂

[@peterwrohr1388]

Tschaikowski is still the greatest Russian composer. I’m surprised that so many people are so impressed by Rachmaninow. But, yes Rachmaninov is also great! I wished these guys would be still around. They might have been able to talk Wladimir out of his recent actions.

[@ЮрийМолодыко-ю9ж]

Не одно из лучших, а лучшее

[@lafemmesanspseudo7840]

Can't wait to see this live in May !! 3 years after watching this video obsessively while training on this piece during lockdown

[@RedZed1974]

This interpretation/performance is flawless, full of passion, and so mesmerizing, haunting. I cannot find it's equal on YT.

[@Fatima-pf4yf]

Zed O'Haughy try lola astanova, she’s great as well

[@Sello_Hunter]

@@Fatima-pf4yfnot comparable imo

[@michaelsundarev5818]

@@Fatima-pf4yf nice joke, my deaf friend...

[@mryaint]

The amount of stamina required for this piece, for performing as well as learning it, is absolutely insane

[@valoulenstein9020]

It doesn't get any better than this

[@MusicalManuscript]

I’ve learned this piece, and it is indeed very technical. I watch this video before playing my interpretation, and my jaw drops at his performance every time!!

[@axm8376]

The fact that he can play the running notes in the left hand so softly when needed is really amazing by itself

[@pianoroom3522]

When pianists are recording this piece in our studio they always say Lugansky was one of the main inspirations for their interpretation. :-D

[@Ckavu]

One of many reasons why I love Lugansky is his lack of theatricality like Lang's or Kissin's. Unfortunately, that is exactly why he seems so cold and distant and people are not so crazy about him, but his performance is brilliant. I've seen him many times performing live and those experiences were highlights of my musical life.

[@pslogge]

Nikolai Lugansky played the 2nd concerto by Rachmaninov on the 22nd of October 2009 in Athens. He tore the theatre down. One of the happiest pianistic evenings of my life. After the concerto I left the hall. I was full of music and exhausted by emotion.

[@Aurelian159]

That's 100% precision. One of the best performance.

[@kdekaterininskiy]

Невероятная внешняя легкость при запредельной технической сложности! Трудно себе представить лучшее исполнение.

[@milenkopizdic9217]

Happy new year, another day listening to Rach.

[@ЛюдмилаЛяпина-ш9е]

Гениальная музыка!!! Гениальный исполнитель!!! Сколько чувств!!!!

[@pianoclassics6201]

By far the best recording of this piece. This is as close to perfect as it can get.

[@Wsls53]

I rarely listen to classical music, but this is my favourite I know of. It's so original and so emotional.

[@伊藤良知]

この曲に対するルガンスキーさんの熱情が溢れる演奏、最高です。

[@伊藤良知]

ルガンスキーのラフマニノフ曲演奏はピアノソロが最も冴え渡っている。他の音の入る余地を与えない程に美しい。

[@lucajack007]

0:34-0:51 He played it so perfectly…

[@blackzealot80]

Одного лайка абсрлютно не достаточно! Божественно сыграно!

[@789armstrong]

Superb.Lugansky was born for this piece.Nobody will ever play it better than this.

[@zoink5484]

spotted

[@thenameisgsarcibutthisisju4619]

Decided to give this video a visit for a long time. Glad to know I still feel awed at this.

[@aaiiaaaea]

That was the best performance for me for that piece. What a genius Rachmaninov is. Made my days.

[@veronikakh213]

how accurate is the sound, each note is soft and hard treated, magnificient interpretation, great technique, soul in the notes... I am speechless

[@Котенок-т9х]

Шикарное исполнение🤗 Брависсимо🤗👍👍👍👍

[@rishidesai9755]

he's basically on top of the piano by the end of the piece. and this is the best interpretation on youtube love it

[@tharealist824]

The bass on this piano sounds amazing

[@SorRema]

I'm at a loss for words. Amazing, overwhelming or touching would be unsatisfactory. It's incredible... so soulful!!!!!!

[@sophiesuzuki4222]

It's my dream to catch Nikolai Lugansky on tour one day.

[@philmaloney264]

Watched this and then again and then again. OMG. No words here!

[@Varooooooom]

The top comments have pretty much already said what I feel. However, despite having heard this performance so many times, I still find the slight decrescendo at 2:20 to be equally as mesmerizing as when I first heard it. I can’t even tell if it’s intentional or not, but it’s such a nice touch and makes for the PERFECT echo effect on top of an already perfect performance.

[@koubache]

I have no words to describe this piece .. I just get to a state of feelings and emotions .. incredible !

[@MmmAnastasy]

I pity those 81 people, how can they live without ears? Besides, worlds fail. God how brilliant he is...

[@ShiouderWannkossak]

The brilliance in this performance conveys excitement to audiences effortlessly.

[@ollol5981]

Нет слов...брависсимо!!❤

[@jungrolee5958]

best version out there, Rachmaninoff would be very proud of this interpretation! thank you :)

[@sussusamogus8860]

2:23 just listen to how the notes flow in the backround. Beautiful.

[@kamile296]

the best part of this piece fr

[@Bogdan_Olszewski]

If you listened to this at 1/4 speed , you would see that lugansky doesnt skip over a SINGLE note. This is what perfection looks like. And it is achieved by hours of diligent and mindful practice.

[@DayItsMusicAgain]

Какой раз смотрю, всегда до мурашек! Замечательно прочувствованно, выстроенно и спето произведение. Невероятные волны обрушиваются из его сердца. Конец блестяще - последний аккорд sffff - вышвырнул в космос. На мой взгляд это самый лучший вариант с ютуба)

[@barbaramatesa8053]

Lovorka, ti jako dobro znaš da je ovo meni najdraži komad klasične glazbe i da sam milijun pregleda nabila ja. Znaš taj podatak godinama, ali nisi ovo nikad naučila svirati. Ovo je javni i neanonimni poziv da mi ispuniš tu želju. Živim za moment u kojem ćeš ovo izvesti- Lugansky je senzacionalan ali od tebe očekujem još više. Moja JEDINA želja vezano uz tvoj klavir. Čekam.

[@Bogdan_Olszewski]

Lugansky keeps inspiring me not to give up on this painstaking piece. Thank you for this video. It is really uplifting to see what level a human being can reach in fine arts.

[@GB-mi5he]

WARNING! You can never unsee this. Every time I watch this awesome performance, I imagine that at the very last chord, he is shooting a half court shot in basketball.

[@shangtiansheng8258]

im mastering this piece currently and its so hard *respect for lugansky*

[@gixelz]

this is THE definitive version of this piece that has ever been recorded.

[@MBarsuk]

Это великолепно. Удивительно, что Николай играет так, как будто он может прибавить еще больше.

[@MarcAmengual]

I like the style of this pianist. Very precise and clean, good technique. Superb.

[@willa7xmoose]

hes a world class professional, very few can play like him (especially rachmaninovs works)

[@samirali8403]

This was phenomenal. Absolutely my favourite performance of this piece.

[@younghokim1994]

legendary performance

[@itsthejews1]

Still as amazing after all those years. Such balance, good taste and intelligence.

[@ОльгаТанаева-ъ7з]

Господи, какая прекрасная музыка!!!!!!.......

[@Gabriel_Hudelson]

What a stunningly passionate piece, and an amazingly clean and sweeping performance. Wow.

[@oritdrimer4354]

If I would say that Lugansky is good, I would be lying, the truth is that Lugansky is amazing.

[@charlesvernon4091]

2:23, those trills in the high register are amazing!!!!

[@AstridWXY]

This brought tears to my eyes..simply wonderful!!! Bravo Maestro Lugansky!!!!!

[@fdmc2278]

One of the best if not THE BEST interpretation ever, and I have listened all most all good ones.