Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.4 op.40 in G minor

[@thomasanderson5178]

I remember the first time I heard Rachmaninoff's fourth piano concerto, played by Ormandy and Philippe Entremont, in an album paired with the Rachmaninoff first piano concerto. Until then I had only heard the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and the second piano concerto. I must say, I immediately liked the 4th concerto and have listened to it countless times in the fifty six years since. I am puzzled by some of the comments that seem to damn the fourth with faint or condescending praise. I am delighted that Rachmaninoff now appears to be "coming into his own" as it becomes clear that people love his music and do not listen much to the works of the serialists, the composers who disdained audiences by asking, as Milton Babbitt did, in the late forties, "Who Cares If You Listen?" Anyone who liked to listen to Rachmaninoff was considered to be an uneducated buffoon, a lower form of human intelligence, a dimwit. Those people have mostly died. Rachmaninoff lives on, in his incredible music.

[@georgeappel4048]

I completely agree with you about this one. I love all four. Each is unique and they are all my favorite. But lately, I can't listen to this concerto enough. (But I've been going back and forth between this recording and a lovely version with Anna Federova ) Thank you for your thoughtful comment.

[@sasawhare]

This is my favorite Rachmaninov Concerto! The other 1, 2,3 concerots are great , but this no. 4. is REVOLUTIONAL to me.

[@wkehl2011]

His whole ouvre is mighty awesome :-)

[@Lucilia-caesar7777]

yes the 1,2,3 are great but this one is magical

[@exmodule6323]

3 will always be the magnum opus. 4 is outstanding

[@lindawetherby837]

"The new kind of music seems to create not from the heart but from the head. Its composers think rather than feel. They have not the capacity to make their works exalt - they meditate, protest, analyze, reason, calculate and brood, but they do not exalt." ~ Sergei Rachmaninoff

[@CompozinCarolinaTreborYeldah]

Rachmaninov's 4th is a somewhat acquired taste, (only if one has fixed 'romantic' period expectations of his work) but once you've heard it many, many times, it is very endearing as a earlier 20th century masterpiece, full of jazz innuendos from those decades. I keep coming back to Ashkenazy's interpretation as a gold standard. Having all 4 concerti together as a collection makes for a marvelous interpretive continuum.

[@SCRIABINIST]

Yes, I think Ashkenazy's 1st and 4th are amazing (not to say about his contribution in conducting the original version of both Concerti) though I think his 3rd is at best great, but not jaw dropping like Horowitz or Argerich

[@18724AK]

I fell in love with Ashkenazy’s recordings right out of the sleeve, and I still return to them. He’s as musical as any pianist I’ve heard. No flashy dramatics or hysterics, but no headaches, either.

[@TheVaughan5]

I guess it's understandable that the 4th is not as popular as nos.2 and 3 because it lacks the "instant appeal" which seems to be as far as a lot of people go when listening to so-called "Classical" music - but it's a gem, just like the not so popular 3rd symphony. Rachmaninov might have suffered from being "old fashioned" in his own time but his music evolved in a brilliant and intelligent way and at last he is recognized as the musical giant many of us always knew he was!

[@razzerraw1108]

Thanks for this brief statement :)

[@falls2shine712]

So true! I first heard Rachmaninoff after being introduced to "The Isle of the dead". It had a wonderful plateau that captured my attention and i only really listened at first because of the dark fantasy like theme.. Then came the second concerto which I thought was his greatest piece of music ever. However after listening to the third one plenty of times I am in love with it.. Somewhere around 12-13 minutes in, I am blown away every time! How can anything ever match those sounds.. Now i am just checking out number four to see what else I have missed.. If you like Rachmaninoff try Anna Fedorova's version of 2 and 3. Nobody plays the first movement of the third as well as her, in my opinion.

[@MFYouTube683]

The 1st and the 4th both have moments of incredible power, emotion and musical brilliance, maybe I have started to accept and expect them in the other two because let's face it, any music lover has heard them hundreds of times for their sheer beauty. But to me, all four concertos have their unique moments and although I wouldn't say the same level of musical skill and magic was at work during the writing process of each of the 4, he has created masterpieces for eternity. The symphonies are different. The second is clearly the best and most beautiful. I have a recording of Ashkenazy conducting it. It is BRILLIANT. My favourite symphony in the world. I recommend everyone to give the following recordings of the Concertos a listen, as they stand out in my opinion. 1st: Mikhail Pletnev (mostly because of the second movement, but he plays as if the music is flowing right through him, beautiful. 2nd: Cécile Ousset (The one that Rattle conducted) 3rd: Dimitris Sgouros (recorded this one at age 14, son of a b**** hahaha) 4th: Vladimir Ashkenazy (enough said) If you disagree, I still agree with you, cause in the end it is Rachmaninoff. Listen to his music and show it to everyone you know. People like him created this magic for us and generations to come. Listen to it and you will never feel poor, alone or sad for long.

[@StreetGerbil]

If you think Anna Fedorova is good, try listening to Yuja Wang's performance.

[@paulbeard4218]

Anna is peerless .

[@jessicakespohl8340]

Rachmaninoff is definitely my muse. Each of his concertos is unique yet incorporating many of his favored tonal complexities. The 4th is magical in a special way almost, a bridge between past and future. The Paganini Rhapsody is wonderful as is his final fantastic work, The Symphonic Dances. I fail to see why there is any reason to declare one composer greater or greatest, each contributes to the transformative power that music holds.

[@pianorama]

This Concerto is a masterpiece and Ashkenazy is a master of its performance. Bravo. And thank you

[@fjgonzaf]

La mejor versión de este concierto. Intensa, lejos de superficialidades, emotiva sin azúcar, todo un prodigio de técnica . Pianista, director y orquesta en una simbiosis perfecta. Sencillamente magnífica.

[@sasawhare]

Love Rachmaninov , never settleled the composition into a routine, each of his concert is revolutionary and unique !

[@wkehl2011]

Rachmaninoff's music is simply top-notch!

[@ArsentiyKharitonov]

My favorite Rachmaninov's concerto.

[@frederickfrederikfre]

Vladimir Ashkenazy, a truly wonderful, extraordinary pianist and interpreter. This version of this concert by the Genius Rachmaninoff is very beautiful. It is no coincidence that Michelangeli himself appreciated Vladimir Ashkenazy as a pianist, so much so that he wanted him as the absolute winner of the Chopin Competition in Warsaw in 19655, to whom he was instead awarded second place. In the comments, someone refers to the version interpreted by Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli. For me, Michelangeli's is the best interpretation by far. This one by Ashkenazy, I would easily place it immediately after Benedetti Michelangeli's.

[@larrymuse9625]

It is gorgeous! Isn't Rachmaninoff just that? I do like to see the recordings/videos of an artist. Eyes, emotion, tense shoulders and the like. LOL It moves! This too moves! Just the sound of absolute perfection! Hauntingly beautiful melody lines. It makes me realize how beautiful life really is. Ha! Does that sound silly? I think that is what the 'old man' felt. :) The old man still speaks! Oh...how he speaks! Glorious

[@ljiljanastanic9076]

The music of Sergey Rachmaninoff is love,universal and top that the person can have!part of this supreme beauty is this piano concerto which are presented to us in a beautiful way Vladimir Ashkenazy and Concertgebow Orchestra with excellent conductor Haitink!

[@TheGreatPerahia]

Vladimir Ashkenazy is one of the greatest pianists alive. Never fails to inspire.

[@larrymuse9625]

This concerto is so very much different than the 3 before. Ha! It is a bit 'on the edge' for the period. For me, it is almost a 'bridge' to what came after Rachmaninoff. As far as Russian composers go. LOL No dissonance, just some 'wilder than normal' melody lines. There are some absolutely gorgeous sections. Every bit as moving as anything that Rachmaninoff ever composed.

[@RobSinclaire]

Larry Muse However, I believe much work was done/re-done on this Conc at a time earlier (1920's so co-incident with better known/regarded works you mention) from when it was finally put forth as a finished work. Anyhow, knowing some of these things enhances the exp for me.

[@lindawetherby837]

It came out right after his friend George Gershwin premiered Rhapsody in Blue ‘ I hear a lot of that in this

[@TheGreatPerahia]

Almost Prokofiev in sound and feel I would say.

[@beethovensg]

This is one of the most underrated things in the world!

[@diddlebob44]

I enjoyed listening to this piece many times!

[@davidspence1404]

This is a wonderful recording, and a little warmer in sound and perspective than another big favorite of mine on this concerto, which is the one with the late Zoltan Kocsis and Edo De Waart conducting the San Francisco SO on Philips.

[@milton3204]

Absolutely gorgeous. Easily my favorite concerto of his.

[@veronicatiniakos7310]

One of my favourite piano concertos too. Great performance by Ashkenazy. Thanks a lot!

[@FARthePianist]

Absolutely wonderful. Gorgeous piano concerto, by the great master of musical emotion, who was S.V.Rachmaninoff!

[@Pakkens_Backyard]

I'm in love with the beginning of the 3rd movement

[@thomasd5076]

By far the best recording of this concerto. No one gets close to the warmth and tasteful playing which Ashkenazy achieves with flying colors.

[@RaulLopez-bu8yk]

Peter Rosel is better

[@NiPaVou]

no@@RaulLopez-bu8yk

[@thomasanderson5178]

What do you think of Michaelangeli's interpretation of the 4th?

[@aydin84000]

Magnifique! on considère que ce concerto est le" mal aimé" du public et pourtant, tout y est: la souffrance du compositeur, son extrême sensibilité et l'interprétation est superbe.

[@mariom6884]

The 4th is my favorite since I was an young piano student,but with Arturo Michelangelo interpretation.Until listen Ashkenazy's.I love him playing anything.For me,Ashkenazy is the Bernstein of piano.Their interpretation of any composer,turns out to be be best one,ever!!!I've never listen to Chopin as in Forest of Piano,the Netflix anime.It´s unbelievable how one can get the soul of a composer and take it to perfection.

[@rogernortman9219]

This is a much better concerto than it's given credit for. True, it's more brittle and jazzy than the others but it has an element of sarcasm and humor!

[@mariannedijzel3075]

"Broad", expansive, grandiose. I don't have the vocabulary to describe how I feel when I listen to Rachmaninov...I'll end off with genius :-)

[@nunyabusiness8538]

20:40 such an important moment in this concerto. amazing

[@vognorbeien]

bloody amazing

[@SCRIABINIST]

There's a sense of Russian Nostalgia, a yearning for his home, but also a welcome and embracement of the new musical idiom, jazz/blues. There are Gershwin quotations and harmonies throughout, and some rhythms are almost swing

[@yowzephyr]

0:00 is a great place to start.

[@sergiorodriguezmartinez1998]

And 18:05 a nice place to continue

[@suspenceful7426]

27:51 a fantastic place to put another Rachmaninoff piece on

[@isaacvandermerwe744]

42 likes

[@danielavedikian8223]

26 : 37 All the supreme beauty and mystery of Rachmaninoff's music is concentrated in these 7 chords ...

[@lindawetherby837]

Sadly some of Rach’’s own diehard fans wanted to keep him frozen in time churning out versions of the Concerto No 2. Poor guy got so sick of playing it for encores that he grew to hate it. The fourth is magnificent and an unprecedented fusion of titanic Late Romanticism and jazz. Reviews were sketchy and it stung. He was still rewriting it up to his death. Ashkenazy{s viewpoint after examining all the subsequent versions of the manuscript, cut and redacted, is that the original was the best. God bless him! His interpretations of Rachmaninoff are sublime

[@TheVaughan5]

Great photo at the end of the World's Finest Concert Hall. !

[@thomasbrawlinson5241]

Cameron which concert hall is it, I don`t recognise it Great recording, am going to hear this at the Liverpool Philharmonic this Friday Regards Rawls

[@TMNigel]

One of the greatest piano concertos-Pathos.

[@stomachpunch]

The open score -incredibly difficult -beautiful-love the end result-

[@davidrehak3539]

Szergej Rachmaninov:4.g-moll Zongoraverseny Op.40 1.Allegro vivace 00:00 2.Largo 10:30 3.Allegro vivace 18:05 Vladimir Ashkenazy-zongora Amszterdami Királyi Concertgebouw Zenekar Vezényel:Bernard Haitink

[@agamaz5650]

0:07 YOOOOOOOOO that trumpet triplets

[@rukashawn]

Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff - one of the rare true musicians who sets music free, unbounded by rules. i prefer the original version this concerto thou, music that is untamed, wild, and majestic. it's a shame that the commentators failed to acknowledge that during its first performance.

[@milton3204]

"unbounded by rules"? His works were still carefully structured, just as this one was.

[@rukashawn]

just as to allow us to grasp music. he tried to to make it as "comprehendable" (in a sense) as possible, by means of structure. but obviously, his attempt didn't appealed to the majorities, which was eminent in the reduction of his later works, such as his sonata no.2 and this concerto.

[@rukashawn]

im sorry, i was exaggerating... must have gotten lost in the music while i was typing then when i typed that :p XD

[@tronduick7028]

ruka quir You're not exaggerating. In fact you are right as rain. People who insist on discussing "structure" underlying this kind of gossamer magic need to try to find some ears somewhere. Emily Dickinson has "structure" too. And beautiful girls have skeletons same as I do, but we don't look exactly the same lol.

[@hollissederstrom6424]

ruka quir

[@wkehl2011]

Rachmaninoff was a genius!

[@ИсламЧ-ф7ц]

Yes, i agree

[@gustavsoler1812]

of course!! :)

[@isaacvandermerwe744]

Ah and did you know water is almost always wet?

[@wkehl2011]

Isaac van der Merwe Händel was the one who wrote the "Water Music" (not Rachmaninoff) :-)

[@wkehl2011]

Oh and Händel had been dead for 114 years before Rachmaninoff was born.

[@ljiljanastanic9076]

E n c h a n t i n g... am totally upbeat!

[@wkehl2011]

Rachmaninoff is the best! Najbolje!

[@noahgreenstein-sheppard1461]

Listened to this piece once and didn't like it, forgot about it for a while, revisited it just a few days ago, and now it's one of my favorite piano concerti (same with bartok 2 actually). Love the texture at 20:28

[@willemboone7912]

Maybe this concerto is not an absolute master piece, but Ashkenazy makes it sound like an absolute master piece! And the "support" by the RCO is superlative! Along with Michelangeli, Ashkenazy has always been my yardstick in this piece! At the end I always feel like jumping up and shout "Bravo!!" outloud.....

[@georgeappel4048]

Oh, it's a masterpiece, all right. Maybe less understood than a couple of the others. But this one has a great deal to say..

[@edwinmamo2464]

imagine volodos behind piano on rachmaninoff 4th concerto.

[@mendellabkowski7828]

One can only imagine...

[@yowzephyr]

In his Piano Concerto number 4 you can hear that Rachmaninoff is a man who has rocked enough. No longer ambitious to be the intellectual giant he was in his earlier piano concertos, he is now relaxed and intoxicated on the sunny palm tree beach, now stoned at night inside a tent in the woods. Greatness? Been there, done that. Now is the time to have fun and trip.

[@andrewpetersen5272]

In your mind perhaps.

[@tonytalks9070]

Perhaps that is what signifies true greatness, the ability to reflect and relax without worry. When one must climb up to the top they face a great many dangers. You have this sense of guilt gnawing at you, that of everybody else trying to put you down, for the moment you announce you're uppity is the moment the mob is angery. Keep them distracted by their pleasures while you seek yours and one day you are the great one. It's that simple.

[@Adhdand92]

great

[@СергійТурлак]

Sooooooooo underrated

[@fannyjemwong]

BELLÍSIMO

[@richardswift3784]

I agree with you-such a beautiful work and performance! Dorothee

[@fannyjemwong]

SALUDOS

[@marckema3147]

A very impressing masterpiece. How can they put two ads interrupting it, really ruin this brilliant conc.

[@RaymondGustavson]

+Mark Ma Have to agree with you on this. The ad degrades the beauty (and holiness) of the Rachmaninov. Additionally, there's another disruptive ad near the end of the first movement, plus several more.

[@Ravenflight104]

I realize the ads can be distracting, but they are, after all " paying for the party " . As for myself, I'm willing to put up with them as the admission price for listening to a recording such as this !

[@Ravenflight104]

The uninterrupted experience will require the purchase of a CD. That's the best solution to viewing ads.

[@urmorph]

Get AdBlock, for heaven's sake!

[@aguador67]

Maybe you are right. But, if this is so, ¿for what the hell we connect to KZbin? ¿For getting interrupted every time we listen a big piece of music? :S

[@WhildTangeredCalymondrin]

According to Wikipedia: "Still, Rachmaninoff was never fully satisfied with [his fourth piano concerto], continuing to tinker with the orchestration even in the days immediately before his recording session with Ormandy, and lamenting that he did not find the time to reorchestrate the piece to his satisfaction. Many of these changes never found their way into the printed [1941] score; however, they have made it onto recordings by other pianists who have studied the composer's own recording, including Vladimir Ashkenazy, Stephen Hough, Leonard Pennario and Earl Wild." Does anyone who has studied the score and the recordings by these pianists know what the orchestration differences between Rachmaninoff's own recorded version and the official 1941 score are?

[@fidelcastro9112]

Heng Si Kai , I don't really know, for I haven't listened to Rachmaninoff play it. I did hear Earl Wild play it, and he played it beautifully. But I have to listen Rachmaninoff to get a result of difference. I recommend listening to one of the pianists that you mentioned from Wikipedia playing the concerto, then listen to Rachmaninoff. I recommend though that you listen to the concerto about 2-4 times before listening to Rachmaninoff. The reason why is so you can have a mental structure of the concerto and the pianist's version so you can compare it with others, such as Rachmaninoff. You can also listen to the concerto while doing something, although I recommend listening to it more than twice if so. Trust me, the more you listen, the more you see how much of a masterpiece this concerto is. I hope I helped.

[@christinelucas]

How lovely is this piano concerto? I must hold my hands up and plead ignorance. I have just discovered it and after loving his piano concerto no 2 for so long! I am embarrassed.

[@tronduick7028]

It's as lovely as any piano concerto ever written Ms. Lucas; and your adjective is perfect. I'm happy for you. I think the drama of the slow movement equals anything in the repertoire from Monteverdi to Glass.

[@jhoward1957]

No matter what Rachmaninoff piece you hear there will always be a melody hidden unequaled by anyone. Don't be embarrassed just enjoy the discovery of a new and wonderful piece.

[@chrisjensen9721]

This cd is a must. His performance of no 2 is in my opinion the final performance. It cannot be done any better.

[@chrisjensen9721]

I had this cd, I think it became unplayable. I just went on to Google Play and downloaded it onto my phone! I'm so happy to have it again. It's the Concertgebau orchestra directed by Bernard Haitink. No 2 and 4. A 1986 recording. It was ten dollars on Google Play. If you listen to no 2 from this recording please have some tissues handy.

[@forresthancock1939]

Well, at least you found the best performance out there. Go in peace, child.

[@RobSinclaire]

When presented with certain works of Art (such as this Composition/Performance for ex) Humanity needs Time to let it sink in so to speak (thots borrowed fr Victor Hugo).

[@jondeere5638]

Only Rachaninov and Eugene Ormandy have the laughing horns. It reminds me of the book Cover of Ayn Rand's Anthem. A man reaching for the stars.

[@bobrob133]

Best Concerto of his in my opinion

[@jmpadronfuentes]

him*

[@bobrob133]

LOL: no offense but your grammatical correction is not correct. English is my first language, and it's obviously not yours. Best concerto of (him) makes no sense.

[@milton3204]

***** it sounds weird

[@tronduick7028]

***** I guess somebody capable of writing "your grammatical correction is not correct" sets himself up for a bad fall, what?

[@jmpadronfuentes]

Bob Rob best form to say it is: "Rachmaninov's best concerto in my opinion"

[@1964ALCOZER]

16:29 top music ever

[@pavelzuk]

16:41 🌚

[@Zaksporebrainiac]

why is there no midi for 4 and just a piano remix for 1?

[@larrybass9184]

Larry Bass / Sacramento For years I played and replayed the first three Rach concertos and enjoyed them immensely. Now I believe I have come to love the 4th above and beyond. Jazzy feels in the third movement. Sheer listening bliss. Sergei R has been a source of sanctuary for me for most my life.

[@lourivalandrade434]

Só faltou a última característica nota semibreve de fechamento

[@msotil]

Great, timeless performance by Ashkenazy. You may want to look up N. Lugansky's analysis of the themes and moods (and history) of this most beautiful concerto: v=eqW9NLHdYXQ

[@msotil]

***** I don't mean to disagree with you, but there are a few unknowns about this concerto. There are references that Rachmaninoff was working on a fourth concerto even back in 1914. After the revolution, he left Russia never to return. He built a nice house on the shores of lake Luzern (Vierwaldstättersee or lake of the Four Cantons) in Switzerland, which he named Sena (after SErgei and NAtalia, his wife) where he composed much of his music. He made his living primarily by concertizing and split his time between the US and Europe. The premiere of the concerto (Philadelphia) was poorly reviewed by some influential critic who called it dismissively "a throw back to the 19th century". Rachmaninoff was very disappointed and revised the concerto extensively in 1929 and 1930. The last revision was in 1941 when he rewrote the finale. The concerto as we know it today is quite different from the Philadelphia premiere version. Incidentally the dedicatee, his friend Nikolai Medtner, exchanged views with the composer on the structure of the concerto. As for American influences, I find it hard to discern. I don't think Rachmaninoff (unlike other composers) was much aware of jazz or any other type of American music (with the exception of Star Spangled Banner!). For all I know, he - like later on Sozhenitsyn - may not have aware of its existence.

[@Ksamp313]

+msotil I disagree with you on one small point. You say you don't think that Rachmaninoff was much aware of jazz. Actually in interviews, Rachmaninoff had said that one of his favorite jazz pianists was Art Tatum. It's just that jazz never seemed to influence his style all that much. Also remember that after 1917, he didn't compose all that much. Has last opus no. before leaving Russia was op. 39 and his opus numbers went to op. 45 (not counting transcriptions that he played as encores). So if there was a jazz influence, there wasn't much of a chance to use it.

[@EmptyVee00000]

The house was named Senar.

[@gerontius34]

'Masterpiece' seems a bit of stretch here, though if people feel that way, okay, Rachmaninov has his fans -as with Mahler- who hear profundity in every note. But essentially the big build-up to the climax in the first movement is very much a repeat of the 3rd concerto. Good on him- he knew the formula.

[@TheVaughan5]

+gerontius34 I certainly don't hear profundity in Mahler's works - quite the opposite I think he is totally over rated. I certainly hear it in Rach's "The Bells" one of the most amazing compositions of all time IMO.

[@RobSinclaire]

Revisit Mahler #8 Symph, though

[@raymondgood2359]

we should be eternally grateful that such musical geniuses as mahler and rachmaninov existed

[@fulviopolce9785]

In che anno è stato composto ? Carta di Identità di Rachmaninov ?

[@SuperPeacebreaker]

20:29

[@louisbarba8440]

Of course great piece... abit heavy and slow.. but good performace

[@PaulJones-oj4kr]

The intrusive ads at crucial places is massively obnoxious.

[@georgeappel4048]

That's exactly why I use Brave or one of the other services without ads. I don't mind ads anywhere else but NOT in music.

[@LittleGenieBaby]

9.54

[@SuperPeacebreaker]

9:15

[@холодныеполяполя]

🇷🇺🇷🇺🎶🎵👍

[@lourivalandrade434]

26 não curtiram Não é música de reptiliano...rs

[@militaryandemergencyservic3286]

this is not the great original version (with such a completely different sounding opening)

[@fulviopolce9785]

Concerto giustamente poco noto e poco rappresentato.

[@raffaelelitterio5370]

Perché giustamente?

[@fulviopolce9785]

@@raffaelelitterio5370 Mi è sfuggito.Volevo dire ingiustamente.....

[@pvonberg]

Oh no, no. I' mean Ashkenazy is good and all that. But nobody plays this like Michelangeli.

[@EmptyVee00000]

Thank God nobody plays this as anti-Rachmaninoff as Michelangeli!!

[@frankstein9982]

let's say the Michelangeli and Ashkenazy versions are complementary

[@frederickfrederikfre]

Totally agree. @pvonberg

[@calebhu6383]

14:57

[@lukelarson7762]

6:47

[@at_the_door]

9:14