Rachmaninoff - Prelude in D Major, Op. 23 No. 4

A dreamy prelude with a sustained melody permeating throughout the piece. For me, the main challenge here was to strike the right balance between overall flow and rubato without sounding monotonous. Also, the uniform texture of this piece really makes uneven notes stick out, something which I am still getting used to on the grand piano. The Kawai digital hybrid piano was really forgiving in this aspect, as I had no issues with control.
For this upload I made the recording very wet, in contrast to the last one, since the extra ambience suits this piece well.

[@MrMiaumee]

What a piano with smooth and luscious sound!

[@SkyMax111]

It's just amazing that ANY human being could write something so beautiful. The Genius of Rachmaninov shines through above all others! So simple and yet soo complicated at the same time. Brilliant!

[@jeremyngpiano]

Seriously, you pick the best music to record!

[@Mr_Tokon]

One of my favorite preludes, great choice!

[@pianothingsmusic]

So dramatic! Your rendition is really full of passion, love it! Subscribed for more 👍🏻🎶

[@julianereinheimer1999]

Fantastic! Amazing, Simon.

[@musicfriendmc3227]

Fantastic rendition of this beautiful Prelude. Thank you!

[@capivaramanqqq]

what a great rendition. This Steinway are really beautiful

[@jameslouw5955]

This is sooo perfect and beautifully played. Thank again.

[@mymatemartin]

Beautiful.

[@kylie_i]

my favorite piece..♥️

[@nickk8416]

Very, very nice! One of the most beautiful piano pieces ever. Rachmaninoff was such a genius and never satisfied. His slow movements such as in Rach 2, Rach 3, and the 18th variation of his Paganini Rhapsody and all sublime. Such wonderful complex harmonies.

[@jw25546]

Really interesting fingering. And beautifully played. Thank you

[@jackgulley5789]

Wow. You bring out the voices so nicely

[@jackgulley5789]

Ok so after listening to this arr. about 100 times in the past day just got to say thank you. Nice to really dip into the crevices of this amazing composition. I might give it a try

[@virtualpoboy]

The adventure of an acoustic piano continues with a sensitive reading of this Prelude. To capture its essence is to interpret within oneself what each thinks Rach is relating to them. With this interpreter, a stupendous one in my ears, has taken the emotions to heart to express her feel for Rach's musical thoughts. With Rach, it is not the bombastic of the concertos or some of the other Preludes, his truths are in the goldmines of his shorter works. Some could project homeland loss in his music, but I hear the inner angst of life in some of his quietest passages. She, the interpreter of his music has tapped into that well that is Rachmaninoff. In her interpretations, I hear the quietest passages express that depth of his emotions. I do enjoy shouting 'Brava! ' in my head after her final notes die away and think to myself what would Rach have done......BRAVA!!! Master.......

[@nicbarth3838]

That was beautiful 😢

[@jameslouw5955]

This is so beautifully played,I can only say,Thank you,in capital letters. Most beautiful.

[@lucidviolin1298]

Amazing playing 🎉❤

[@ruimanuel6555]

So beautiful….👏👏❤️👏👏

[@korayus]

Great performance. Thanks for sharing. Wish to listen on stage with live performance. Greetings from North Cyprus

[@uzaysametaydin]

so good

[@radiodoc999]

Gratulation zum neuen Steinway, der ist wunderbar!!! Wie Ihr Klavierspiel!!!

[@daliborpuchta1952]

Very gentle rendition. This piece seemingly looks easy, compared to some other Rach's preludes, but I've always found that rhythmically it's quite difficult. Good job.

[@Wuozlinga]

Wow, you brought quite a lot of new interpretative ideas to the table, I like it! I find especially the middle section (the one before the upward motion toward the climax) to be quite hard to grasp, I've been wondering about it: Where do the little phrases lead to, what are they trying to express, but you got me a little closer to understanding this section in particular. Thanks for uploading.

[@grollalong]

Brings out the voices beautifully, in a way I'd love to manage. I would like to hear it a bit faster, but perhaps I'm just impatient.

[@russellgale]

I'm glad you got your channel back! I could tell it was your channel that had been hacked because of two of your posts in the community tab that were still there; everything else was gone and replaced with an Elon Musk live stream. I've really enjoyed your music over the years, so I am very glad you're back.😊 Seems like the world is full of evil scammers out to get you. Even if you're careful, they can still get you.

[@charlesdavis7087]

It's not as easy as it looks. Rach... in search for what's right in this world. Does not work for me. Not everything one writes is a master piece. Right? Right. I loved his West Hollywood period. White Cadillac crusing for boys on Santa Monic Blvd. I love him now... even more for his humanity. He created so many melodic themes that transcend time. Of course so did Henry Mancini. Moon River... and the like. Love. moi

[@seancloser]

I have subscribed why doesnt KZbin recommend your videos to me

[@simonmatusek7006]

Are you planning to work also on the b minor prelude? This was amazing

[@rach3master]

I like that piece a lot. Will think about it.

[@MetaView7]

[@andremoreira4115]

Awesome performance, but not related to this video, whats the yamaha digital piano that tou used to play on?

[@rach3master]

Thanks. It was a Yamaha Avantgrand N1.

[@andremoreira4115]

@@rach3master thank you sweet

[@avantpianist6636]

Hi Rach3master! I’m sending a video that I did by playing this piece: kzbin.info/www/bejne/boKYaax4e6Z2bck. Thank you! It is you who inspired me to play and record this piece. I took a very different interpretation though, and I’m far from having the same refinement as what you have here. But I’m happy that I made it😊

[@zvelekva]

Did you replace the Kawai with the Steinway, or this is someone else's instrument that you're recording on? Also, you said you made the recording very wet in this, "the extra ambience suits this piece well". How do you change the ambience on an acoustic piano? I thought you can only do that on digital/hybrid piano like the Kawai Novus? Thanks.

[@rach3master]

I ordered a Steinway last year, but am very far down in the queue, so they lent me this one in the meantime. I still own the Kawai. You can adjust the balance of microphones and add some artificial reverb after you finish recording.

[@JitinMisra]

@@rach3master Could you please record Final Fantasy's Eternity Memory of lightwaves, on this steinway, please?

[@charlescxgo7629]

@@rach3master Did you order a concert grand? How much approx was it if you don't mind sharing? Been thinking of 2nd hand steinways refurbished, always wondered how much it be from steinway direct.

[@rach3master]

​@@charlescxgo7629 Brand new Steinway D's run over 200k nowadays.

[@spastor92]

1:15 i can't do this chord :(

[@vincenzo95610]

Je vous conseille de jouer le do# et le ré ensemble avec le pouce ... ce n'est facile mais vous pouvez essayer , la avec le 3 et do# avec 5.

[@lucidviolin1298]

Woah what made you choose both hands playing the beginning and the left hand occasionally playing the melody part? :0

[@fungaljungal]

That’s how most of the sheet music is written for this piece (probably because it makes it easier to play) 😁

[@markace1]

Too bad the piano wasn't well tuned, very interesting and intimate interpretation