Rachmaninow: Rhapsodie über ein Thema von Paganini ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ Gerstein ∙ Gardner

Sergej Rachmaninow:
Rhapsodie über ein Thema von Paganini ∙
hr-Sinfonieorchester - Frankfurt Radio Symphony ∙
Kirill Gerstein, Klavier ∙
Edward Gardner, Dirigent ∙
Alte Oper Frankfurt, 25. September 2015 ∙
Website: www.hr-sinfonie... ∙
Facebook: / hrsinfonieorchester

[@jerrera45]

The whole performance sparkled like diamonds. A real treat for the ears as well as the brain.

[@JJJRRRJJJ]

Why is Rachmaninov great? Because he was brave enough to write BEAUTIFUL and ENJOYABLE music at a time when the music industry was in open revolt against those decadent forms of the Romantic past.

[@hilarylewis7017]

Always now this awe-inspiring piece will be associated with the Film 'Somewhere In Time'. The film would never have had the following it did if this was not included! Kirill is clearly moved!! Thank you for this fantastic piece!

[@JanneSala]

I just had the pleasure of hearing Kirill performing Rachmaninoff's 3rd concerto with the Finnish Radio Symphony last week. Absolutely gorgeous. Glad to see my other favorite Rach piece performed by him too here!

[@user-kb3zl1wt9b]

Благодарю за великолепный концерт пианиста, оркестр и дирижёра! Закончилась воздушная тревога; музыка звучит особенно приятно.

[@ThePinkbarrio]

Hola. A splendid performance. Very clean and sparkling playing from Kirill with the use of very light pedal (one of the signs of a well-trained pianist). He's superb as is the orchestra and conductor. hr-Sinfonieorchester is one of my top favourites and so very interesting to watch, all of you. Thoroughly enjoyable. Muchas gracias for sharing your outstanding performances with the world. We are very fortunate. Chau.

[@colorsofsound4782]

I had the pleasure of hearing Gerstein a few months back when he replaced Pollini at a piano solo concert and it was great. I did not know him previously, but he played some contemporary mazurkas from a spanish composer wonderfully.

[@tedlassenpiano5771]

The unusual combination of flawless technique combine with supreme artistry.

[@louismastrangelo3781]

What an amazing performance,!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@hernandotobarbustamante953]

bravo, bravo que bonita interpretacion. gracias

[@susanahatam5268]

Outstanding performance!!!

[@user-xb4pu5kc5n]

15:44 Beautiful ! 🎶

[@dorfmanjones]

A real artist.

[@francinejozek5193]

MAGNIFIQUE 🤩😍🙋‍♀️

[@jacksonelmore6227]

This is fire 🔥 bops so hard

[@cosimagrundkotter906]

Very nice version! An absolutely stunning cooperation of the fabulous soloist with conductor and orchestra.

[@kirsteni.russell5903]

Brilliant! This light yet dramatic!

[@fitnessbrotherade2959]

Me encanta...

[@BlackHermit]

Very good.

[@NetReaper80]

who remembers? 15:44 - Groundhog Day. ;-)

[@aslanovaleyla80]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@notaire2]

An exhibition of all kinds of piano technique on the common theme. Nevertheless the entire performance is based on his innate lyricism. Awesome pianist!

[@adriandurand4531]

Great pianist, but the orchestra sounds a bit dull. Just too bad: this is one of Rachmaninov’s most brilliant orchestrations.

[@wesdavis7371]

Is it normal for an audience to look so unappreciative? Jesus Christ- they look terrible.

[@kennethdower7425]

I guess you missed the fact that they're German. 😉

[@wesdavis7371]

Kenneth Dower Hehe. I’m sure they appreciate it.

[@gerhardg5186]

Please leave the Lord Jesus out of this.

[@wesdavis7371]

@@gerhardg5186 Leave yourself out of it. Jesus Christ, man. Just walk away.

[@albertmuller9741]

This piece was written for the violin. The only reason it was re-composed for the piano is: To show what incredible sounds can be produced if a man hammers on a mechanical tool called piano. I can do without it. Rachmaninov wrote many beautiful pieces, but this was a fail.

[@TheJustproxy]

No it wasn't. The Theme of Paganini may be (the violinist and the basis), but this piece is from Rachmaninow, not Paganini. Rachmaninow himself played the solo piano part.

[@georgedebruin19]

Uh, no. Paganini wrote a composition for violin, and then, as many composers still do, Rachmaninoff took the theme and composed a set of variations on it for piano and orchestra. That you don't like it is your absolute right, but to have your facts wrong is unforgivable.

[@donkgated8074]

"man hammers on a mechanical tool called piano" This says it all about your musical insight - absolute shit. Anyone who thinks the piano is a percussive instrument is not a musician. Period.

[@thejils1669]

I think that what the person who started this thread, Mr. Muller, was meaning to imply in his opening statement was that the original, iconic theme was actually composed by Paganini that was included in a set of fairly to very difficult VIOLIN studies (a set of 24 "Caprises" for solo violin). They were written by Paganini, who himself was reported to be an incredibly gifted violin virtuoso, not only to show off the incredible flexibility of the violin as a solo instrument but also to showcase the artistic virtuosity of the performing violinist. What is so amazing and ingenious about this iconic theme is that you could take it and bend it, contort it, add other seemingly unrelated sub themes and musical motifs to it (note Rachmaninoff's inclusion of the also iconic "Dies Ires" sub theme interspersed here and there throughout the "Rhapsody") and in the end finish ANY variation so it ends up "smelling like a rose". That is the appeal of this incredibly simple theme in terms of why it has been used so often by composers after Paganini as a main theme off of which variations can be written. Aside from the iconic, sweetly melodic, and, I dare say, quite popular 18th variation and inclusion of the "Dies Ires" sub theme here and there, what Rachmaninoff intended to write here was a sweeping, almost "dreamlike" musical setting (hence the word in the title "Rhapsody") based on this simple Paganini theme where he could take incredible creative liberties to create an artistic, musical masterpiece that not only showcases the virtuosic talents of both orchestra and (especially) pianist (there are some really incredibly difficult piano passages throughout the work that even Rachmaninoff, the great piano virtuoso, himself found to be hard to play) but also illustrates how flexible and incredibly adaptable this theme actually was and is.