Vladimir Ashkenazy: Rachmaninoff - Variations on a theme of Corelli, Opus 42

Live recording from 1985
Vladimir Ashkenazy - piano
Sergei Rachmaninoff - Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Opus 42
0:39 - Theme. Andante
1:44 - Variation 1. Poco piu mosso
2:30 - Variation 2. L'istesso tempo
3:10 - Variation 3. Tempo di Minuetto
3:45 - Variation 4. Andante
4:41 - Variation 5. Allegro (ma non tanto)
5:04 - Variation 6. L'istesso tempo
5:23 - Variation 7. Vivace
5:51 - Variation 8. Adagio misterioso
6:46 - Variation 9. Un poco piu mosso
8:00 - Variation 10. Allegro scherzando
8:33 - Variation 11. Allegro vivace
8:56 - Variation 12. L'istesso tempo
9:33 - Variation 13. Agitato
10:05 - Intermezzo
11:31 - Variation 14. Andante (come prima)
12:41 - Variation 15. L'istesso tempo
14:29 - Variation 16. Allegro vivace
15:00 - Variation 17. Meno mosso
15:59 - Variation 18. Allegro con brio
16:32 - Variation 19. Piu mosso. Agitato
16:59 - Variation 20. Piu mosso
17:56 - Coda. Andante
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An Allegro film by Christopher Nupen

[@dlozada1]

Ashkenazy. There is a pianist who can do it all. It’s like he is first an enormous soul, and only then there is a body to it. Flawless but more. Just the perfect sense of timing, of dynamics. The sound !! Thank you for sharing this. Thank you Maestro Ashkenazy.

[@johnburniston6525]

Yes,what a great combination! A love affaire with music, joy, interpreter to give the world his reading with so much richness..His character is matchless. I will try to understand the complexity of these variations displayed here, my playing is being tested hearing these.

[@aloziecnwachukwu1515]

The MAN with Enormous Repertoire!!!!!!

[@MrHFMetz]

Very powerful; watching Mr. Ashkenazy playing is as inspiring as the music itself.

[@Gerhold102]

I'm ever grateful to Vladimir Ashkenzay for the recordings of the four concertos, the complete Preludes, these Corelli variations and the Rhapsodie (?). His playing is crystal-clear and precise, his interpretation beautiful. The defining standard for Rachmaninov's major piano works. For me the compositions themselves are never anything other than entirely absorbing. His music will always be popular precisely for that reason. To listen to it is effortless and deeply enriching.

[@pmwkiy6879]

Ashkenazy is one of my favourite pianist of the late 1970s onwards. His approach to Rachmaninov and other composers is imprinted in my mind, only because I listened them over and over. Just the way Willhelm Kemph playing Bach's 48 Preludes and Fugues and Beethoven's 32 Piano Sonatas. His biography/ autobiography (V.Ashkenazy) made excellent reading. The way he was followed by his own KGB, how the room was bugged and how he tried to dodge them, his decision to defect to the West etc. Now a brilliant conductor. Not sure if he's still with the Cleveland Orchestra. Brilliantly played.

[@la_pirata_la_perla_negra]

Amazing legendary pianist giving us a legendary interpretation here !!! Bravo 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼❤️❤️❤️✨✨

[@fatamorgana1236]

Да, это так! ❤️

[@leestamm3187]

Ashkenazy showing his immense talent as a pianist and an exceptional grasp of Rachmaninoff. Superb.

[@valerieheinderyckx4506]

Une des plus belles réalisations musicales de tous les temps.

[@orvillewrightjr9330]

Ashkenazy's performance of these 20 variations is somehow magical; as if the perfect piano is played by a true maestro, imbued with tempestuous sonority and elegance simultaneously. I know this is the benchmark for my taste and will guide me in my aspirations to perform this set of glorious piano pieces.

[@schnabelite]

Amen, Sir.

[@carlsanchious8192]

A powerfully rhythmic and lyrical set of variations by the genius Mr. Rachmaninov. Each one a clear and expressive dream...a collection of flight, repose, and moderation of melodic and harmonic richness of tones and color. He's a sure thing in this genre.

[@susanwood5523]

Let's give a little credit to the unknown composer (NOT Corelli!) who wrote the dance tune "La Folia." It has been an endless source of inspiration to composers since then, from Corelli to Rachmaninov.

[@giuseppemariaperego8937]

Semplicemente Fantastico ❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉Giuseppe Perego Monza 16.2.1962 Grazie

[@armandomorenofierros7127]

Mágico e impecable! Siempre grande Ashkenazy

[@Johannes_Brahms65]

It breathes the nostalgic Rachmaninof spirit, with that "bronse" tone color.

[@joseluisrodriguezpitarch71]

Ashkenazy one of the greatest pianists in 70's an 80,s

[@rogerhfisher]

Splendid piece brilliantly played.

[@schnabelite]

Ashkenazy is an Artist of the highest order. Just experience the immense Attention he provides to the Music itself. The freshness, novelty of the musical material is always beautifully safeguarded as if it was instantly discovered. Every musical idea is marked with sheer enthusiasm

[@prabhudhasivanson7110]

Excellent performance

[@erichetherington9314]

I read on wiki that Rachmaninoff himself wrote his friend saying that when he, Rachmaninoff" performed these, he played them badly.He also apparently said that the number of variations he actually played at any given concert depended on how much coughing emanated from the audience. "If they cough, I skip to the next variation!"

[@Orson2u]

Ah - RockyRachmaninoff grew up before instant recordings that can be instantly shared. A lack, alas! No more.

[@gabifaja6497]

Thank you post author for showing all 20 variations with time stamp. Way to post videos like this 👍

[@user-gh3it9fm4x]

Чисто и прозрачно сыграно, каждая вариация досконально продумана логически, как математически сложная задача, вообще сыграно в стиле С.В. Рахманинова, т. е. та ещё - классическая школа пианистов..Супер..👍👍🎶💞👏👏

[@ssergeyb1]

Мой любимый исполнитель Рахманинова, насколько все гармонично, уравновешенно, без лишних позерств, трюков, и при этом живо, оркестровое мышление. Не зря он еще и дирижер.

[@limoreperetzwoloshin8860]

Bellissimo! You are an angel playing the piano

[@DaveD5929]

Sublime....

[@robertwesterman922]

Vladimir Ashkenazy..., one of clever daring; related to his pinpoint reproduction of Rachmaninoff's work.

[@patrickvarney8511]

Anything that can keep your mind occupied for 20 minutes is pretty good achievement in my books

[@sEoYoON._]

realy realy...amazing

[@xavierlemblun8446]

Sublime❤

[@robertwesterman4088]

Beautiful!!

[@christianvennemann9008]

9:34 My favorite variation! It's so convulsive, phrenetic, and manic! My only issue is that it's too short, in my opinion

[@fabiannenunes473]

Divinamente maravilhoso.🙏👏🙏👏🙏👏🙏

[@michaeloleary1867]

Beautiful!

[@giuseppemariaperego8937]

Arcangelo, un tipo in gamba, Sergei, idem, Vladimir Ashkenazy, idem...... Sono incantato!!! Esecuzione da lacrime agli occhi. Giuseppe Perego Monza 16.2.1962

[@essenceproperty8981]

I have had his original disc recording for many years, but this live performance seems to be more flexible. Much more rubato.

[@inspectorraycharles]

I to have that recording and it is the standard. This is lovely but doesn't have the dynamics of the recording. I have carved many roads listening to that recording and it still wakes up my Carver sound room. For a long while there were few performances of the piece. I am enjoying the other performances now with higher quality video. Hopefully Malofee will perform it. I always wonder about Rachmaninoff writing this.

[@gabrielemartelli9780]

Great!

[@emilyhutjes]

And Rachmaninoff smiled happily from Heaven. 🌟 (2022)

[@germanchris4440]

When he is in heaven, which I very much hope, he will not look back on this place here, but will be in eternal paradisiacal happiness with the Lord Jesus Christ! I wish that for Rachmaninoff with all my heart. Everyone should end up there, but that's everyone's own decision for themselves!

[@ricp]

Could the beatles have gotten the idea for "If I fell" from this piece 11:31 - 11:42 ?? it's practicall THE chorus melody

[@FranciscoFerrerGaliana1930]

EXCELENTE

[@giuseppemariaperego8937]

Vladimir Ashkenazy, un grande artista ❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉Giuseppe Perego Monza 16.2.1962 Grazie

[@musician3824]

Magic🌞

[@germanchris4440]

How original. Every fourth comment today says "magical". That's as superfluous and hackneyed as it is annoying.

[@richardduployen6429]

Marvellous! What concert-hall did it come from? B. B. C. Radio 3 just had a broadcast from the composer's villa in Switzerland to celebrate the 150th. anniversary of his birth.

[@boulenger6]

Rachmaninoff fait une pose, plutôt que de diriger et contraindre le piano il renverse les rôles pour notre plus grande contemplation. Le génie de l'interpréte est identique, il est de disparaitre derrière le piano. La comedie, la tragédie, le receuillement, au tour du piano de le vivre : c'est lui le héro !

[@obelisk1516]

Thank you for publishing this beautiful rendition, by a Rachmaninov master of course. Surprising the work is not better known. It has all the genius of Rachmaninov and is technically not as difficult as much of his music. Anyone around Grade VIII or equivalent could play it

[@galanis38]

A beautiful rendition indeed, as you say. I would not be so disparaging of its technical difficulties, though. Its overall introspectiveness is deceptive; there are hidden, subtle difficulties in some of the variations, and some others require open Rachmaninov-type virtuosity. I would say it is overall slightly less technically difficult than i.e. the concerti, but only slightly less so. Rachmaninov himself never played the piece in its entirety in recital; he always left out a few variations, finding the total sum too taxing!

[@EmptyVee00000]

Try getting a Grade VIII pianist to play Variations 10, 19 and 20! Never mind that it also incredibly difficult to get the sound and proportions in the entire piece if you are not a top-level pianist/musician. Superb pianism alone is not at all enough the make this piece work, which is why very few, if any, can play these variations as they should be played. Maybe Ashkenazy is the only one.......

[@markenbysk4422]

John Eyers I think you’re so wrong that these aren’t difficult. This is the last solo piano music he composed and if you don’t think he’s not going to get his licks in then stay away from the keyboard.

[@PeterLunowPL]

I agree with you ,it has "hidden" difficulties so to speak . I read somewhere that Rachm himself left out variations depending on the coughing in the audience

[@essenceproperty8981]

I consider it just as difficult as his etudes tableaux. Some very tricky passages. Plus of course some big chords and stretches, played at speed. 8:20 is almost impossible to play precisely. Then you have the problem of all those thick chords, and how to balance them.

[@SaccoBelmonte]

I hear early Jazz in this piece.

[@hangvunguyen9781]

Variation XIX: is he playing original or ossia?

[@JesseDavis7373]

Probably the ossia, whichever version sounds the best! If I could find my copy, I could let you know.

[@fenriquealvarez]

variations on La Follia no?

[@ediccartman7252]

Listen to Pletnev, and you'll feel La Folia.....even in part of varations, not to talk about Theme

[@JesseDavis7373]

@@ediccartman7252 La Folia is just a hint to understanding the interpretation. A little historical research and composer thought must be taken into account. When it comes right down to it, this is the only major Spanish piano work that Rachmaninov composed!

[@orvillewrightjr9330]

@@JesseDavis7373 Actually La Folia is based on a Portuguese love ballad, if I'm not mistaken.

[@Orson2u]

@@orvillewrightjr9330 - possibly. But the Spanish Azores is possible, too. A German posting on YT says he did his Bachelor’s thesis on La Folia, says that he traced the melody back to the Middle Ages! I am stunned that, as reported on Wikipedia, over 150 composers have employed the tune - Britney Spears’ hit (1999?) “Opps! I did it Again” is perhaps the most recent instance. Incredible life in these notes!

[@EmptyVee00000]

@@ediccartman7252 Pletnev massacres this piece.

[@EmptyVee00000]

The sound is not synchronized.

[@Janaceks_Dad]

I love him, but he wasn't served well at all by the sound engineers at Decca...which is why most of his recordings suffer from this awful bass-heavy sound that makes it seem like he's banging...I just wonder if that's the way he really wanted it...

[@ericofelix2005]

Agree. I also feel the same. There were records that captured really good, like his Rachmaninov Preludes, Etudes, Moment Musicaux, Chopin Waltz. The sound of the recording was quite warm (not as warm as DG). But his recording sound got problems in Chopin Etudes & sonatas, too bright and I feel quite annoying compression (for a classical music case), what a pity ...