Rachmaninov - Romantic drivel or moving masterpieces?

Posted by: Alex S. on 10 June 2004

The 3rd piano concerto is one of my favourite pieces of music.

Alex
Posted on: 10 June 2004 by Peter C
Masterpieces

I prefer the 2nd Piano Concerto
Posted on: 10 June 2004 by Peter Litwack
Rachmaninoff's piano music is right at the top of my list, along with Chopin, Schumann, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, and Scriabin. It's true, I have the maudlin Russian gene that Nick refers to, so maybe I'm predisposed, but if you can get any of the great Russian pianists - like Berman, Richter, or Ashkenazy - playing the Preludes, Etudes Tableaux, or Moments Musicaux, check them out. Truly outstanding stuff!
BTW, ever heard the Brahms Intermezzo Op. 118, No. 6, in e-flat minor? This awesome piece goes beyond maudlin - it's downright tragic!
Posted on: 10 June 2004 by quincy
Any man that has a span of over 18" deserves respect with a capital R.
Posted on: 10 June 2004 by Peter Litwack
quote:
BTW, ever heard the Brahms Intermezzo Op. 118, No. 6, in e-flat minor? This awesome piece goes beyond maudlin - it's downright tragic


Nick-The Richter recording, or course!
Posted on: 11 June 2004 by --duncan--
Thanks to Alex who got me blowing the dust off my few Rachmaninov recordings. I still don't really 'get' him though and I certainly don't think music has to sound painful to be great. Plenty of twentieth century composers, Sibelius, Shostakovich or Britten, managed to create broadly tonal music without it sounding like a film score from some romantic melodrama. I don't think I'm just being perverse when I say that I prefer Rachmaninov's 4th PC, it's probably because it's the least charectaristic of the man. The Michelangeli version is wonderful but I'd also love to hear Pletnev record it after hearing him play it a few months ago. Both pianists have an emotional restraint and clarity that work well with music that doesn't need any overheating and Pletnev brought a Jazzy, improvisatory feel that was really magical.

The Brahms is another world: a strong candidate for a desert island disc. I confess to loving Valery Afanassiev's recording which many find over-romanticised. I can imagine Rachmaninov playing it like this!

duncan

Email: djcritchley at hotmail.com
Posted on: 11 June 2004 by Alex S.
Duncan, glad you've dusted off a few oldies - thanks to bloody Nick Lees I've been playing Simple Minds this morning! Thankfully, I've also been leafing through my Scriabin collection - I'm a big fan - Gavrilov seems up for it, some of his preludes are breathtaking.
Posted on: 11 June 2004 by herm
Can I choose both? Romantic drivel masterpieces?

I really used to like Rachmaninov a lot, with a preference for the later works: Piano Cto 4, Symphony 3 and the wonderful Symphonic Dances. There's shitloads of great miniature piano solo pieces with those seductive decadent melodies etc.

So yeah, if you're in the mood for it, it's great stuff. Bravo, too, for Ross's defense of Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky - though, obviously Tchaikovsky is one of the absolute greats.
Posted on: 12 June 2004 by Alex S.
Nick, please don't tell me that Debussy reminds you of Dire Straits.
Posted on: 15 June 2004 by Alex S.
Ross, Alberich,

Am I right in thinking that if you like Wagner then Mahler's just romantic drivel?
Posted on: 16 June 2004 by Alex S.
<< Also, hasn't the term Romanticism/romantic degenerated? >> Quite. Puts me in mind of so-called Romantic painting - I like most of that too - I guess Nick's right about my Russian gene (not that there are more than 3 good Russian painters pre 1914, romantic or not).

Ross, glad to hear it - most of the more snotty Wagner enthusiasts, of which there seem to be many, dismiss Mahler as a pale shadow of the Master. I've always thought that's bollox.