FOR THOSE OF US WHO VIRTUALLY "WORSHIP" THIS CONCERTO, it is difficult to listen to Valentina playing the piano part without hearing the orchestra in our minds. Am I right? Personally I believe the Second Movement of this Rachmaninoff 2nd Concerto to be perhaps the most beautiful and haunting music ever written. Only a true genius could have composed something so almost------ spiritual!! I challenge you who listen to this, in either version, to remember your loved ones who have passed on--do this just during this 2nd movement--and try to prevent the tears from flowing. I know that I can't. Thank you, Valentina, for sharing this beauty with us!
Well, of course it's only complete with the orchestra included. Additionally, some of the most touching themes in co. no. 2 (mov. 2 and the final in mov. 3) are played mainly by the strings, accompanied/echoed by the piano and are therefore partly missing in the solo part. I still found it very interesting and enjoyed it greatly to hear the full piano part solo. It allowed me to hear notes and sections I never consciously heared before. Now I can hear them even in the orchestra version which adds even more complexity to the dynamics for me.
Seleuce I understand your thoughts, Seleuce, and I agree completely. Over a period of 60+ years I've listened to this Rachmaninoff 2nd Concerto so often that, like much of the classical music I adore, I "play it" in my mind during my daily activities. I might miss bars here and there, but I can listen to many pieces "mentally" and still enjoy them. I agree that some of the most beautiful and haunting themes of this Rach. 2nd are played by the strings. Someone (I can't recall who or when) once said that a full symphony orchestra is the highest embodiment of civilization, in that each member, playing a different instrument, willingly yields his/her individuality (solo playing) for the greater or common "good"--i.e. beautiful music. Even Valentina, as a "soloist", is only a "part" of the whole--separately each one plays notes--but TOGETHER they all create something of fabulous beauty. Valentina, and many, many other musicians over the centuries, are doing, and have done, their best to keep that thin line of civilization intact. May it always be so!! W. H. LAMB
In all honesty this has to be the most beautiful slow movement ever writen for any piano concerto. It is simply so sweet and beautiful. I always feel like crying whenever I hear this movement. In fact this was the first piano concerto that I ever heard a little kid and it made me want to play the piano even more.
This is my all time favourite classical music piece. Have you watched the composer himself playing his own concerto here on youtube. You should check that one out. To me his own playing is the most beautiful of all.
Rachmaninoff has the power to compose such melodies that can stir the most powerful emotions in my heart, sending chills down my spine... and Lisitsa has the power to bring out the soul of Rachmaninoff through the piano!
I fully agree with you! Valentina in my opinion is the best interpreter of Rachmaninov so far: she is technically astonishing, and a strong interpreter, full of passion as required by the wonderful romantic music of Rachmaninov
The final climax at the end tugs at my emotions like none other. I' have tried so hard to make friends and others to take a shot at listening to classical, but can't seem to make them budge from their established tastes. So sad I have nobody to share this music with who will appreciate it as much as I do.
I have to admit, I've NEVER heard it without the orchestra but now that I'm hearing, I realize why it's such a divine piece of music. It's at the heart of all that is real in your soul. At the end of the day, a peaceful place where you can go and let yourself be carried away. Also, it is such a fine art form which deserves the utmost respect especially from those who can only dream of playing piano, let alone, at that level.
I've heard this concerto more times than I can count and I've loved it so much I learned to play it (at half tempo in all the numerous hard spots!!), but I never tire of it. Lisitsa is so wonderful to listen to. She has such poetry and command that I never worry that she'll miss a big moment. She really never disappoints. Brava, Valentina! I hope you get the career you want and deserve!
I love this movement so much. I can hear the orchestra playing with her in my mind. Valentina has been able to devoted her life to becoming a piano virtuoso and it shows. She can play literally anything that was ever written for the piano...and she makes it look natural and effortless.
What a magnificent and overwhelming tribute to Rachmaninoff ! Valentina, your playing here -without orchestra- is totally rewarding, it takes me to HEAVEN.
She actually recorded these to send to the maestro so he could get her tempo before doing the recordings, since they had little to no time to rehearse. That's why it's only the piano.
I think that Valentina besides being a wonderful piano virtuoso and an exquisite and passionate interpreter is the person who gave the highest contribution to classical music diffusion all over the world in the last decades. This demonstrates that social media can be much more than stupid discussions or short movies about cats or fake rich people in Dubai . Everybody should be grateful to her for that reason.
This is my prefered Rachmaninoff´s peace for sure. I´ve been looking for Valentina´s best performance of Rachmaninoff and I came to find right exactly in this genious composition. She playes it so brilliantly as if she had herself composed this masterpiece. BRAVO !!!
Ugh, Ms Lisitsa, I am a longtime fan! You are quite a remarkable player!! You are so genius to find melodic points during long, chromatic runs! Wow! And the moments where you choose to take time, and you climactic building is stellar!!! You are sooo awesome!!! You Little Red Riding Hood Rach Etude gives me chills!! :D
Valentina, you're amazing. Thank you so much for letting us hear only piano part which is showing us another, deep dimension of 2nd movement from this piano concerto. I can't stop listen to this, so incredible, so ambiental! Thank you so much:) :) :)
Good point. Yes, you can hear that giving, that generosity in his music, both his melodies and his orchestrations. He really composed straight from the heart. Which is why his music still speaks to so many around the world. It's accessible in a way that the music of many other fine composers is not.
I always thought that the old Rachmaninoff recordings by Lazaar Berman had the best playing possible.i was wrong! Your solo version of his concertos ( and Beethoven's "Hammerklavier" too) are so well played and full of fire, soul and melancholy that I'm speechless! I'm a composer guy and rarely find that performers (other than jazz players) really "get" the music they are playing. You play pieces as though you are improvising them! Thanks!
It's mad how you can 'hear' the orchestra, despite there not being an orchestra, it's somehow as beautiful, maybe even more so as you get to hear the intricate detail of the piano in solo too. Like reading a book and imagining the characters is often better than the movie they made based on the book. Bravo!
"She wandered asleep through the doors of the great and empty hall, drawn by the music of her dreams. The silk of her nightgown brushed the red of the carpet, her feet bare to the cool of the night. To the stage, alone, to where her Lover rested, dark and silent and awaiting the touch of her Lethe-blessed passion."
I always feels Rach's music reminds me of free flowing water or outer space - water in this instance - you can hear the river starting at about hr 8:20. It is all over Concerto #1 - the whole thing. Like a fountain... Separating the main instrument is such a wonderful tool to hearing what the composer really wanted to express - thank you for the downloads.
This is very exposed for any pianist - a slow movement - even with Orchestra, but it remains utterly captivating (perhaps even more so) without orchestra when Val plays it like this. It takes me on an emotional tidal wave ! Valentina is to record this concerto in Sept in London with the LSO. A landmark. At last, a great exponent - I can't wait to buy the recording and of course listen to the comments on UK Classic FM :)
Oh man - i am tingling as my mind fills in the flute and clarinet. I am not a musician but i love beautiful music. I believe i am right that the woodwind has a different time signature to the piano
Valentina: Quizá aún no entiendes lo difícil que es no declararse enamorado de ti. Tan bella y talentosa!!! Eres un don de Dios para la humanidad. Gracias!!!
Rach probably had this tendency to give and give and give.. And let others shine.. As shown by his lush orchestrations and rich piano accompaniments to every instrument..
Thanks very much for putting all three movements on here,just a joy to watch. It would be ace to see the 3rd piano in the same way,but this is just fine, thanks again.
8:14 is for me the climax, if I recall well left hand plays quintuplets, right hand the melody, you can also hear the clarinets playing triplets and the strings in the background. Rach at its best! Thank you very much for posting this piano solo version.
Well Rachmaninoff himself said that correctly identifying the climax point of a piece of music and constructing an interpretation around that point was all-important, and you have totally missed it, so it's a good job that it's not you playing.
2nd Movement: at the very end of this movement is the heart-breaking moment. When the two melodies separate. . . .I miss that little oboe turn . . . . Now I realize that it's the violin part that I wait for.
That is true.I really love 16 yr old Yevgeny Kissins account of the entire Concerto as well as the 2nd mvmnt.Then there is William Kapell with Leonard Bernstein too.But right now Valentina is my absolute favorite.
I'm still young and don't have any loved ones who have passed on so i cant really fully access the sentimental aspect of this movement , but i can feel the haunting nature of it more haha.... almost reminded me of scriabin
i noticed too!!! it sounds more like Etude op10 no3. when I hummed to Chopin’s I ended up humming to Piano Concerto No.2 2nd movement. but the feeling is different. Chopin’s sounds sad yet loved. Rach’s 2nd movement: a feeling of being understood, finally.
FOR THOSE OF US WHO VIRTUALLY "WORSHIP" THIS CONCERTO, it is difficult to listen to Valentina playing the piano part without hearing the orchestra in our minds. Am I right? Personally I believe the Second Movement of this Rachmaninoff 2nd Concerto to be perhaps the most beautiful and haunting music ever written. Only a true genius could have composed something so almost------ spiritual!!
I challenge you who listen to this, in either version, to remember your loved ones who have passed on--do this just during this 2nd movement--and try to prevent the tears from flowing. I know that I can't. Thank you, Valentina, for sharing this beauty with us!
Agree 100%
Well, of course it's only complete with the orchestra included. Additionally, some of the most touching themes in co. no. 2 (mov. 2 and the final in mov. 3) are played mainly by the strings, accompanied/echoed by the piano and are therefore partly missing in the solo part. I still found it very interesting and enjoyed it greatly to hear the full piano part solo. It allowed me to hear notes and sections I never consciously heared before. Now I can hear them even in the orchestra version which adds even more complexity to the dynamics for me.
Seleuce I understand your thoughts, Seleuce, and I agree completely. Over a period of 60+ years I've listened to this Rachmaninoff 2nd Concerto so often that, like much of the classical music I adore, I "play it" in my mind during my daily activities. I might miss bars here and there, but I can listen to many pieces "mentally" and still enjoy them.
I agree that some of the most beautiful and haunting themes of this Rach. 2nd are played by the strings. Someone (I can't recall who or when) once said that a full symphony orchestra is the highest embodiment of civilization, in that each member, playing a different instrument, willingly yields his/her individuality (solo playing) for the greater or common "good"--i.e. beautiful music. Even Valentina, as a "soloist", is only a "part" of the whole--separately each one plays notes--but TOGETHER they all create something of fabulous beauty. Valentina, and many, many other musicians over the centuries, are doing, and have done, their best to keep that thin line of civilization intact. May it always be so!!
W. H. LAMB
William Lamb
Nothing more to say. :)
I dont agree, i think the Beethoven's 9th symphony 4th mov is, but it doesnt get you as easy as this one.
For the longest time i didn't realize she posted the second and third movement of this. My life is complete!
I can totally relate to that. :)
She posted the entire 3rd concerto as well :)
In all honesty this has to be the most beautiful slow movement ever writen for any piano concerto. It is simply so sweet and beautiful. I always feel like crying whenever I hear this movement. In fact this was the first piano concerto that I ever heard a little kid and it made me want to play the piano even more.
Wow 13 years old comment
ふるーい！
Do not forget that this concerto marked Rachmaninoff's triumphant rebound from a period of deep depression.
At the age of 27 no less.
Alright I won’t forget it
Interesting. I had no idea.
people can?!?
And so What ?! 😊
No words could ever describe something as stunningly beautiful as this. Absolutely superb.
This is my all time favourite classical music piece. Have you watched the composer himself playing his own concerto here on youtube. You should check that one out. To me his own playing is the most beautiful of all.
Rachmaninoff has the power to compose such melodies that can stir the most powerful emotions in my heart, sending chills down my spine... and Lisitsa has the power to bring out the soul of Rachmaninoff through the piano!
Rach and Val go together like pancakes and syrup and I devour every delicious morsel.
I fully agree with you! Valentina in my opinion is the best interpreter of Rachmaninov so far: she is technically astonishing, and a strong interpreter, full of passion as required by the wonderful romantic music of Rachmaninov
Nino Bavaresco Лисица не плоха, но возможно вы не слышали концерт в исполнении Святослава Рихтера - это эталон
The final climax at the end tugs at my emotions like none other. I' have tried so hard to make friends and others to take a shot at listening to classical, but can't seem to make them budge from their established tastes. So sad I have nobody to share this music with who will appreciate it as much as I do.
I have to admit, I've NEVER heard it without the orchestra but now that I'm hearing, I realize why it's such a divine piece of music. It's at the heart of all that is real in your soul. At the end of the day, a peaceful place where you can go and let yourself be carried away. Also, it is such a fine art form which deserves the utmost respect especially from those who can only dream of playing piano, let alone, at that level.
such a beauty... beauty will save the world.
Laura Ciocoiu ...said the woman of beauty.
Laura Ciocoiu beauty will save the world. ;)
Why can't ugly save the world? After all.. Beauty is as beauty does.. Right?
Laura Ciocoiu - Dostoyevsky :)
@@huggybear539 ~ Yeah, right. Ugly wars, lies, misery, destruction of our planet. The list is too long....
I've heard this concerto more times than I can count and I've loved it so much I learned to play it (at half tempo in all the numerous hard spots!!), but I never tire of it. Lisitsa is so wonderful to listen to. She has such poetry and command that I never worry that she'll miss a big moment. She really never disappoints. Brava, Valentina! I hope you get the career you want and deserve!
I love this movement so much. I can hear the orchestra playing with her in my mind. Valentina has been able to devoted her life to becoming a piano virtuoso and it shows. She can play literally anything that was ever written for the piano...and she makes it look natural and effortless.
The best solo piano interpretation of the best movement by the best composer in the history of music.
Who needs an orchestra? That was amazing as a solo!! Bravo!!
one of the best Rachmaninoff No.2 in the world.
this is the most magical composition in the history of music...and I'm rock fan.
Agreed, although I prefer the 1st movement.
-hip hop fan
3rd movement 2nd theme is OP
-EDM fan
I love all the movements equally.
-Rachmaninoff fan.
Me too. I always listen to them in order
I think the best of Rachmaninoff's piece is Moments Musicaux op 16 no.4,he tells himself with every way.
Unbelievable. NO ORCHESTRA, yet no matter how hard I try I can't stop hearing the orchestra due to Valentina's playing! UNREAL!
Wonderful without the orchestra. So clean...
Love these solo performances. Allows a listener to savor the details that only the pianist really gets to enjoy.
Simply ravishing. This movement is simply quoting the cosmos. The GENIUS of Rachmaninoff done justice. 💖
What a magnificent and overwhelming tribute to Rachmaninoff ! Valentina, your playing here -without orchestra- is totally rewarding, it takes me to HEAVEN.
Incredible!! Браво!! Спасибо!!!
Волшебно! Вы научили меня слушать классическую музыку!!!БлагоДарю, Вас, Валентина! С ув. Ан Ви
She actually recorded these to send to the maestro so he could get her tempo before doing the recordings, since they had little to no time to rehearse. That's why it's only the piano.
source?
source?
I was speechless. I do not think that this performance can be overcome, at least not soon ...
... surpassed ...
That was just really badass. I could hear the orchestra in my head the whole time. Gorgeous, gorgeous piece of music.
Absolutely correct.
I think that Valentina besides being a wonderful piano virtuoso and an exquisite and passionate interpreter is the person who gave the highest contribution to classical music diffusion all over the world in the last decades. This demonstrates that social media can be much more than stupid discussions or short movies about cats or fake rich people in Dubai . Everybody should be grateful to her for that reason.
8:10 Onwards is the best bit!
So beautiful 😢😢 ;( I am really blessed to listen to this
Just incredible. Valentina has the technical skill but also the emotion she is able to put into it makes the heart want to burst.
Incredible. Her hands and fingers are walking on air
I can't stop watching this... thank you so much for posting these "minus orchestra" performances!
This is my prefered Rachmaninoff´s peace for sure. I´ve been looking for Valentina´s best performance of Rachmaninoff and I came to find right exactly in this genious composition. She playes it so brilliantly as if she had herself composed this masterpiece. BRAVO !!!
Já ouvi acompanhada de orquestra mas , solo ela é imbatível ❤🌹🌹🌹
Simply Heavenly performance thank you ❤
Valentina is indeed a great pianista. This piece is not.easy.❤
Genial interpretación!
Ugh, Ms Lisitsa, I am a longtime fan! You are quite a remarkable player!! You are so genius to find melodic points during long, chromatic runs! Wow! And the moments where you choose to take time, and you climactic building is stellar!!! You are sooo awesome!!! You Little Red Riding Hood Rach Etude gives me chills!! :D
Valentina, you're amazing. Thank you so much for letting us hear only piano part which is showing us another, deep dimension of 2nd movement from this piano concerto. I can't stop listen to this, so incredible, so ambiental! Thank you so much:) :) :)
Good point. Yes, you can hear that giving, that generosity in his music, both his melodies and his orchestrations. He really composed straight from the heart. Which is why his music still speaks to so many around the world. It's accessible in a way that the music of many other fine composers is not.
I would like to give you a BIG hug Valentina.
Beautiful😢
what a wonderful sound
Thank you so very much for this! I love this piece and come close to crying because it hits my heart. So great to hear it as piano solo!
I always thought that the old Rachmaninoff recordings by Lazaar Berman had the best playing possible.i was wrong! Your solo version of his concertos ( and Beethoven's "Hammerklavier" too) are so well played and full of fire, soul and melancholy that I'm speechless!
I'm a composer guy and rarely find that performers (other than jazz players) really "get" the music they are playing. You play pieces as though you are improvising them!
Thanks!
It's mad how you can 'hear' the orchestra, despite there not being an orchestra, it's somehow as beautiful, maybe even more so as you get to hear the intricate detail of the piano in solo too. Like reading a book and imagining the characters is often better than the movie they made based on the book. Bravo!
"She wandered asleep through the doors of the great and empty hall, drawn by the music of her dreams. The silk of her nightgown brushed the red of the carpet, her feet bare to the cool of the night. To the stage, alone, to where her Lover rested, dark and silent and awaiting the touch of her Lethe-blessed passion."
Is this from something?
@@jonatha_nbarron Im as lost as you hahaha
The phrase which begins at 8:13 is perhaps one of the most beautiful poems that I know.
Спасибо, Валентина! Это просто волшебно...
I always feels Rach's music reminds me of free flowing water or outer space - water in this instance - you can hear the river starting at about hr 8:20. It is all over Concerto #1 - the whole thing. Like a fountain... Separating the main instrument is such a wonderful tool to hearing what the composer really wanted to express - thank you for the downloads.
My absolute favorite piece of music.
This is very exposed for any pianist - a slow movement - even with Orchestra, but it remains utterly captivating (perhaps even more so) without orchestra when Val plays it like this. It takes me on an emotional tidal wave !
Valentina is to record this concerto in Sept in London with the LSO. A landmark.
At last, a great exponent - I can't wait to buy the recording and of course listen to the comments on UK Classic FM :)
i dont know which one i love more. rachmaninov for MAKING this beautiful music or her for playing it so beautifully :)
誰もやらなかった凄い試みです。益々彼女のファンになりました。
リシッツァさんの思う壺にまんまとはまりました。
The-best-romantic-and-fantastic-concert-ever-in-classical-music-history-!!!!!
Played-from-one-of-the-most-virtuos-femin-musician-from-all-the-times-too-!!!
so beautiful
Thank god.. Valentina. I have been looking forward to hearing this beautiful piece for long time. You are goddess!
My heart says Thank You Valen!!!
I love her playing, a true merging of composer and artist. To hear his music played so would be the highest complement for the composer, in my view.
i'm reminded of my childhood love. we didnt get together... but we moved on, not knowing what the other does... life happened
I am in tears
Que hermosa interpretacion, un placer poder escucharte.. saludos desde Argentina!
Oh man - i am tingling as my mind fills in the flute and clarinet. I am not a musician but i love beautiful music. I believe i am right that the woodwind has a different time signature to the piano
Masterpiece, one of the greatest movements ever written and a beautiful performance 👏🏻❤️
This is amazing, I can listen to this over and over and not get bored, I wish I could play like that.
I am in complete awe of her beautiful hand postures and wonderful touch. Damn if I had 1% of her ability I would be 99% better than I am now!
Perfeito!
Thank you Valentina, thank you very much... :)
Valentina: Quizá aún no entiendes lo difícil que es no declararse enamorado de ti. Tan bella y talentosa!!! Eres un don de Dios para la humanidad. Gracias!!!
It sounds as if the orchestra is there...such powerful music!
Perhaps our auditory places it therein.
you are my inspiration, valentina, for try to play this concert....thank you so much!
UGH MY HEART
Rach probably had this tendency to give and give and give.. And let others shine.. As shown by his lush orchestrations and rich piano accompaniments to every instrument..
What more can I say than thank you? Your performance touched me deeply
amazing!....
Damn, woman. You deserve whatever you want from this planet. It's all yours.
she needs $5. Please send her $5
Thanks very much for putting all three movements on here,just a joy to watch.
It would be ace to see the 3rd piano in the same way,but this is just fine, thanks again.
such a lovely performance :)
Like rachmaninoff... You have a heart made of pure gold...
Speechless 🤩🤩🤩
8:14 is for me the climax, if I recall well left hand plays quintuplets, right hand the melody, you can also hear the clarinets playing triplets and the strings in the background. Rach at its best! Thank you very much for posting this piano solo version.
8:14
I agree completely. The closing bars of this movement are, to me, the most beautiful music ever penned.
Well Rachmaninoff himself said that correctly identifying the climax point of a piece of music and constructing an interpretation around that point was all-important, and you have totally missed it, so it's a good job that it's not you playing.
Beautiful sound♫
2nd Movement: at the very end of this movement is the heart-breaking moment. When the two melodies separate. . . .I miss that little oboe turn . . . . Now I realize that it's the violin part that I wait for.
정말 말로 표현할 수 없는 아름다움.......
Prodigious , prodigious, i can say nothing else , only to be crying !
De verdad eres un Ángel Valentina.
Great performances, I'm a big fan.
Happy to find you on TH-cam... :-)
Valentina *************
Wonderful performance !
Antonio
That is true.I really love 16 yr old Yevgeny Kissins account of the entire Concerto as well as the 2nd mvmnt.Then there is William Kapell with Leonard Bernstein too.But right now Valentina is my absolute favorite.
I agree with you 100%
Pure magic.
8:13 emotional to the extreme.
I'm still young and don't have any loved ones who have passed on so i cant really fully access the sentimental aspect of this movement , but i can feel the haunting nature of it more haha.... almost reminded me of scriabin
Beautiful
just....wow
i just love watching this
Wonderfull, magic and outer space
I love her smooth hair so much :3
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!
Why does this movement sound so like Chopin! I almost feel I´m listening to Chopin´s sonata op58 or etude op10 no3. Stunningly emotional...
i noticed too!!! it sounds more like Etude op10 no3. when I hummed to Chopin’s I ended up humming to Piano Concerto No.2 2nd movement. but the feeling is different. Chopin’s sounds sad yet loved. Rach’s 2nd movement: a feeling of being understood, finally.
8:12 subí al cielo, esto es hremoso
Si 😢
simply lovely