Hamelin plays Rachmaninoff - Sonata No. 2, op. 36 Audio + Sheet music
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- Sergei Rachmaninoff's fiery Piano Sonata No. 2, as revised and reduced in 1931 by the composer. Played by Marc-André Hamelin, live in 2000.
1st mvt: 0:05
2nd mvt: 7:16
3rd mvt: 13:14
Check out the amazing video of Zoltán Kocsis playing the original, 1913 version of this piece as well!: • Zoltan Kocsis plays Ra...
this is probably the most orchestrous grand piano i've ever heard...
the bass register is unbelievably clear and strong.
wonderful recording, thanks for sharing!
And extremely fast 😂
It has taken me eight years to understand this sonata from top to bottom. Eight years, and that was for the 1913 version until I met the revised version. I fell asleep to this piece on the school bus. I cannot express just how much it currently resonates with me. I wish others could share the same.
P. Cosmore You are so right. Second movement is breathtaking. And people think piano concerto #2 is the most beautiful thing Rachmaninoff wrote!? He can squeeze an entire world into two bars. I find the two bars around 11:44/45 (Tempo 1) very chilling.
We do share the same. It changed my life.
Way to few people actually do with Rachmaninoff :( He is so underrated
@@MatGreen90 nah Rach 2 is still up there for me, along with his 3rd, though this is definitely on the same level regardless
Yes, it's very fast, but I think it conveys a message (perhaps different from the slower versions', though, but it's still fascinating). It is searingly intense, ardently emotional and, thus, very musical.
I have always agreed, Balint. Your posting this video changed my life for the so much better. I have never explored emotional depth as well as I have when listening to this particular performance. I am showing it to a friend now! :)
this grand piano is absolutely amazing, it sounds like a whole orchestra. wonderful and artistic.
The bass note at 17:40 is so intense! O_O
Fully Intense i can't stop hearing it again and again
No doubt it was intense, but there was quite a bit of distortion in this recording. It made it more dramatic and ear breaking.
thebrainnugget haha :D generally, i like those little distortions in this recording, it makes it more powerful
Gamma1734
No doubt. I enjoy them too.
Gamma1734 THEY ARE NOT DISTORTIONS AT ALL. THEY ARE EXPRESSIONS BASED UPON MUSICAL PRINCIPALS EACH WITH A FUNCTION. HOROWITZ DISTORTS, HAMELIN EXPRESSES.
The power of Rachmaninoff... I'm speechless.
You listen to the first few seconds and you know it's going to kick ass.
People always cry about the fast tempo. However, the only way to make those big fat chord trills and repeated chords sounds symphonic without over pedalling is SPEED!!!
In fact, Hamelin didn't rush in slow and expressive parts. Also, his legato is a killer!
Hamelin rushes the dense passages which damages the 1st mov more than the 3rd. Amazing he can maintain clarity but listeners miss some beautiful details because it flies right pass us!
Foo Tien pauh THIS IS REFERED TO AS PORTAMENTO AND IS THE ESSENTIAL PART OF EXPRESSION.
OTHERWISE, YOU CAN TURN ON A METRONOME AND LISTEN THAT TICKING AWAY.
TICK TOCK TICK TOCK ALL YOUR LIFE.
you just don´t understand portamento expression. it is too advanced for you right now. maybe in 20 years from how you will get it.
Lol. It seems you have all the experience so no need lol.
YOUR COMMENTS ILLUSTRATE YOUR LACK OF MUSICAL ESPRESSION.
GO OUT AND BUY YOUR SELF A MATRONOME AND SIT BACK AND LISTEN.
WHEN YOU ARE TIRED OF THAT, COME BACK AND LISTEN TO HAMELIN AGAIN.
Ron you just making yourself look stupid here lol.
This is one of my favorite pieces ever!
17:40 too loud for the mic lol
I love the way Rakhmaninov closes the 1st movement in this revised 1931 version (& which also occurs in the Horowitz 1913 & 1931 fused version) -- the last 2 chords are the mediant, III (D-flat major), & then the tonic, i (B-flat minor).
such delicate touch in terms of dynamics. beautiful contours. simply amazing.
I have to admit, I was expecting more applause.
Banana Hunter Pro DID YOU TUNE IN TO LISTEN TO THE MUSIC OR THE APPLAUSE?
IF NO ONE APPLAUDED, GOD WAS STILL LISTENING, WITH THE ANGELS AS WELL.
The buildup at the end of the development that leads into the recap of the first movement feels perfectly composed. I've never heard SO MUCH MUSIC in so little space. It progresses as if it's been written since the beginning of time.
In fact, the entire first movement is so structurally coherent that I frankly can't believe it. There are no words.
I agree that the development of the first movement is very densely composed and the recapitulation is very well prepared. If you like dense music I would recommend you Mahler's symphonies. For instance the first movement of the sixth symphony also features an extremely well prepared recapitulation, and I would dare to argue that the motivic density is even higher than in this sonata. The first movement of his 7th symphony is ultra-dense as a whole, there is barely any note without thematic content or relation. It is really so incredibly coherent, it's scary. However his music is really complex and you might not like it at first hearing or more general, symphonic music or Mahler's tonal language in particular.
joernbroeker I absolutely adore Mahler for exactly this reason, and know all of his works - symphonies, his song cycles, and even the piano quartet - better than perhaps any other composer's music. Very good suggestion.
+Dylan Hewlett In terms of form, the first movement might be the most astonishing composition I've ever encountered.
+Giray Duzel Beethoven's sonatas are still better.
Dylan Hewlett found you on RUclips by chance !! Waouh !
How Mr. Hamelin plays the "presto" at the end without breaking a finger, I do not know! It scarcely sounds humanly possible. And what sonorities in this sonata-almost enough to distract me from the feeling of weepiness that I always find in Rachmaninoff. (As Aaron Copeland said: "He sounds self-pitying.") But the rather astringent first movement seems to defy this, and so does this little interlude that precedes and follows the middle movement. But this is worth watching and listening to for the pianist's skill.
Marc Vincenti
For me it's good, but not amazing. I think Horowitz's is the best available on youtube. And that was when he was 80 years old. But still, this isn't bad at all.
utubuser10 Yes your right... I did't know what I was writing....
Hamelin is a genius and a great talent, and plays this exceptionally well, but still for me Horowitz was better :P
this is my favourite piano piece ever written :) so full of soul...a masterpiece...so beautiful :) i dont find it self-pitying...its full of mystery and is a journey deep into the soul :)
Eugen Stukov in my opinion, its too much of a musical masterpiece, to abuse it for techniqual performance...hamelins version is faster and more furious, and he doesnt see some nuances and just plays through them...
I'll take "self-pitying" Rachmaninov over boring banal Copeland any day.
brilliant pianist, I've heard other versions but Hamelin really puts his whole character into it, and that character is very good.
He made interpreted this piece as accurate as much as he played this piece quite with a speed. Think about how hard he must have been practicing to get this result done!
I can’t believe that colossal sound came out of a single piano.
Tough times demand tough songs. Even if I was forced to play piano every day for 20 years I still couldn't be able to capture this absolute magic. But watching the sheet music is a lot of fun!
Can you play it now? It’s been a decade
Great job of making the development of the piece meaningful, and playing in a colorful, picturesque manner. Maybe less fiery than I was hoping for, but his phrasing, color, and development made up for that. I appreciate his tenuto, and his assertive left hand voice.
less fiery??? are you kidding?It is not less fiery than Horowitz who was considered the best all times in this.Rachmaninoff himself changed many things in the Sonata after Horowitz had given him some remarks (between World's 2 greatest virtuoses!)
The best pianist ever. There are many great pianists but I think M.A.Hamelin is the greatest guy in every aspect.
Techniques, The number of pieces he can play, The ability for transcription and learning very fast, etc...
This is the first crazy not mozart or beethoven kind of classical piece I heard as a child at 10 years old. I couldn't even comprehend that it was a human playing this. It scared me in a very weird way.
What's not to love about this excellent iteration? Absolutely beautiful. :-)
13:37
one chord.
Van Cliburn returned to the USA after winning the Tchaikovsky competition in Russia. He toured the US giving recitals. He appeared at Syracuse U. (1960?) The recital was sold out but seats on the stage were sold. I sat next to the piano and could watch Mr. Cliburn's expressions as he thrilled the audience with his performances. The encore was the Rach Sonata No 2. Maybe the greatest performance of anything I've ever heard. He dramatically leaned foward, upper body across the piano @ end.
Those last chords sound like an exploding bomb :)
this reminds my so bad of my childhood😢
My mother listened it with me a lot.
I loved it as I love it right now.
But it makes me so mad about all this popular music written for money and fame.
Rachmaninoff has written it from his Heart and this is what I respect and like- music from really deep inside.
This is a masterpiece
this is the best thing I heard on internet
I like the picture of Hamelin in the end after this is xtremely difficult piece of piano music ,he is smiling .
Please call the piano ambulance the grand piano needs a 6 week rehab measure.
That audience walked away deaf that evening after that final bass note
I think it's amazing he can play so fast. I just feel like it's a bit
(A LOT) rushed in a few places.
12:05 so beautiful.. like a melody that never ends
Pardon my imperfect English. Congratulations for having proposed the superb interpretation of Hamelin. And, most of all, thank you for entering the musical score. It is my intention - hoping not to get unwelcome thing - to use it in my series "On piano. A sound, a myth. ", so that my visitors to RUclips can see the complexity of compositional writing of Rachmaninoff. I hope you don't consider this my Act abuse, but a cultural exchange. Thanks, Bálint Madlovics, by Domenico Vinicio Magris, ITALY (Maniago - Pordenone).
Domenico Vinicio Magris, Your English is perfect, also wonderful insightful comment, by a very intelligent person!!
Unbelievable performance! Hamelin joins together the intensity of the true artist with the fury of the virtuoso.
6:14 Debussy takes the wheel...
such intensity! a really intense car ride.
And thats why music is so wonderful.
Welled played, and I recognize the genius of this sonata. Although I must admit it has never done much for me in a way for example Medtner's Sonata Minacciosa or Prokofiev's 8th sonata has done. I don't know what it is about this, but no matter how many times I listen to it, it fails to really capture me in any meaningful way. Great performance though.
Recommend Boris Giltburg's performance
Interesting, as I think this sonata captured me as quite as much as the great Sonata Minacciosa or Prokofiev Sonata 8. There is a really special feeling to it, which I would have a hard time trying to describe. I don't think it gets to the level of Scriabin 8 or Medtner Sonata Night Wind though !
Very good performance. Excellent pace control. In fact this is not the most demanding of Rach's works (of course!), and not the most difficult version of this Sonata as well. This is the reduced version, reduced by Rach himself. There are two more versions, the unreduced original and the Horowitz-tailored ones.
Never judge them, Hamelin, Rach and Horowitz, as humans.
17:25 What did he do to his hands?!
Not kidding, this is the best interpretion of this piece I have ever heard! No offense, but others couldn't play as fluent and standard as this interpretion. Very well done, good job!!
9:20 That note killed me.
I always believe Hamelin is choosing very nice songs (tunes, pieces... etc.) to interprete, and it's always perfect. I especially love this piece, personally.
Pieces, they’re never called songs
@@IEEMAZ_Convoluted_14.2.8.5 Kills me every time I read that word in the context of classical solo piano lmao
An amazing sonata
Wow, once again, Rachmaninov blows my mind
Mindblowing...Captivating from beginning to finish.
Interesting. Hamlin displays the virtuosic aspect of this piece in terms of sheer velocity and control (as does Horowitz); Kocis displays another aspect of this piece by varying the tempos more dramatically and playing it more in the fashion of a piano concerto. Kocis plays the original1913 version (which I prefer) whereas Hamlin plays the shortened and revised 1931 revision; in the original, one can hear many apparent references to the concerti, especially numbers 3 and 4. There seem to be fewer such references in the revised. Does anyone know of a recording of Rachmaninoff himself playing this piece? I learned much about the man and his music after hearing him play the concertos and the Rhapsody; I would like to do the same with this marvelous sonata.
Now I get why Rachmaninoff said he felt his body mutilated when cutting off parts in his revisions of his own works. It hurts, not only because the pieces feel mutilated themselves, regarding its structure and development, but because those cuts were caused by the hostile "critics" to Rachmaninoff's music, which caused him so much insecurities in his compositional power. Good thing twitter didn't exist back then.
(maybe the only revision I agree with him is that of his First Pianoconcerto, lol. On the other hand, I crave to listen to the original 45 min version of his first sonata)
(also, he lost the opportunity to write D - Bb in the very last two notes of the very upper voice haha)
Listen to Zoltan Kocsis playing this piece - best interpretation ever!
Ashkenazy's is the best, and Kocsis's is also fantastic.
How about Pogorelich?
hamelin 2129 Pogorelich’s is a joke.
@@EmptyVee00000 wrong..... you have no idea of emotional or spiritual depth if you say that
@@user-pf3ku5ph2p Pogorelich gives a reading of profound emotional depth and kaleidoscopic color with an understanding of the melancholy never far from the surface of Rachmaninoff.
Kocsis is excellent for the original 1913 and surprisingly Cliburn also.
0:05
7:15
13:14
As a point of reference... the average performance of this work is 22-24mins... and this performance is about 17.5mins.. incredibly fast!
Extremely fast wow 😯
This is a not bad, but honestly the first version, in my opinion, was way better (it's a masterpiece). This is an overly simplified version and some passages in the second and final movements of this version can be overly sparse. This may be due to Rachmaninoff's insecurities that have grown out of, perhaps, his works having been wrongly received, including that the premiere of the first symphony was a flop (but I had grown a huge liking for the first symphony despite my favourite being the second).
@nathanscoleman Unfortunately he hasn't played the 1st Sonata, or at least it wasn't recorded. I'd love to hear him playing that one, I like that Sonata so much.
17:34 wtf how does he play that fast
He's Hamelin that's why
Just amazing
17:40: explosion
I'm a 14 year-old boy willing to play this by next year.... anyone wishing for me a good luck?
@@malek4485 I used to share this account with my brother (hence this comment), and I'm no piano player myself, but from the things I hear he plays, I've definately heard him play this!
This piece is a beast!
I like Hamelin. I think he's freaking awesome. Am I only allowed to voice my opinion if I like the performance? Can there be no differing of opinion? I'm commenting on this performance only, and if you disagree with my opinion, please offer yours.
from 16:00 to the end....unbelievable
After listening this recording with hamelin and even that with horowitz I clearly prefer the interpretation with Alexander Malofeev from 2019 (China International Music Competition). Malofeev has the perfect balance between tempo and musically expression !!
@madlovba3
The first sonata would be a perfect piece for him to record. It has an incredibly detailed score, and is so well-written.
and VERY difficult to memorize... NOTHING ever repeats for verbatim... a lot of similars... BUT nothing ever exact... and you're right... it's a wonderful work!
@@Highinsight7 I personally think that sonata no.2 is much much more difficult than sonata no.1
@@nitron7162 I play that one... the FIRST one drives my NUTS!
a touch of Debussy around 5:45
I like the energy of this interpretation, I think it helps this particular piece
unfortunately, the quality of the sound is woefully compressed
Rachmaninov was an outrageous virtuoso. There are only a few players that can have both hands routinely leaping in different directions at different time and he is one. Hamelin is another.
It took me more than a few listens to open up to this work. Intense, complex, but also lyrical and full of fascinating development. I prefer this shorter version to the earlier version (which I have on a CD). Once one loves Rachmaninoff's Preludes it's hard not to work to try to understand and appreciate, and enjoy this masterpiece.
This is indeed one of Rachmaninoff’s most profound works but he cut out too much wonderful material in the revised version. Horowitz was correct in his assessment and did a fantastic job in fusing the two versions. So, for me personally if I am going to listen o a “revised” version it will either be one of three choices-1)Horowitz 1968 2)Someone who plays a Horowitz-like revision or 3) Pogorelich -who really digs into this piece and unlocks the color, heroism and melancholy....besides the recent studio recording of his, there is a great 1991 live recording as well as an emotionally shattering one from the early 2000s from Greece-not sure if its 2003 or 2005.
Otherwise I’ll take the 1913 version
16:25 it is now TIME for harmonic CONVERGENCE
spinal COLLAPSE imminent
He makes less mistakes than Horowitz and can even play faster ! OMG! But: I still prefer Horowitz ;-)
From 17:34, a typical Rachmaninov ending. Very similar to those used in Rach 2, 3rd movement, and Rach 1, 3rd movement as well.
I would question anything wikipedia has to say... however, I'll be clearer. The average performance for the original is closer to 25 mins, and for the revised edition closer to 21 mins. I think Horowitz played his version in like 22 mins or so.
Hamelin is brilliant and thank god this is V2 of the the Sonata. The more I listen to V1, the more I understand why Rach revised it.
@MrStrav81 I agree. His recording of it would be just as superlative and awe-inspiring as his Medtner Sonatas, I believe.
No worries. I could offer more of an analysis based on my view of the piece, but suffice it to say, it's really not necessary. He plays this incredibly well technically, with great ease and command. I just think he could "stop and smell the roses", or in this case, slow down a bit so we can hear more of the drama. :)
I want that score! Love the design on the front page 😍
from 0:35 to 0:41 is a passage from one his piano concertos, don't remember which one.
Really like this version. Comparing to Van Cliburn and Horowitz I would call this version 'clean'. No 'special effects' from the performer, just pure transfer of original idea.
mavzolej LISTEN AGAIN PLEASE, IT´S FULL OF ORIGINAL IDEAS.
This is an extremely impure version, hardly "clean," and full of cheap, kitsch phrasing that shows such disrespect towards Rachmaninoff. All Hamelin does is show off his superb piano technique, and does not care a whit about the music, which is extremely noble and sincere; perhaps these are qualities Hamelin does not possess. This is musical nightmare.
Prelude in E Minor is my favorite Alkan but there are many others that come close. There are only a few pianists alive that can play them..
i wish Rachmaninoff would have the opportunity to compose together with Shostakovich...that would be an firework for the ears^^
It's amazing that some one can play that fast. It doesn't mean one has to. Horowitz remains the gold standard for this sonata.
His rushing interpretation makes me difficult to understand rach's profound meaning.
Right, its perfect
@@deciph_7563 yes perfectly rushed. Hamelin is an excellent pianist especially in the “supervirtuoso” repertoire but here he misfires. As well aa in the live recording from Moscow with the two Preludes.
@@jimkost2002 I partly agree with you here but parts like the beginning here and the ending were marvellous. But at certain points he just plays it so fast and chaotically that i can't really understand it, if you know what I mean.
@@jimkost2002 oh and btw if you have a better Version please share😄
Listen to a one like lugansky first, then one you understand the meaning, go back to this, it's very profound actually!
At least in the 3rd movement, hamelin's speed perfectly matches with this piece among all!
He doesn't teach, but you can catch him live in concert nowadays if you live in the USA. Check out his tour dates at his website, marcandrehamelin(dot)com/tours.php. Good luck on meeting him! :)
if you dont understand it then look at what he was thinking when he made that or, learn it, I tend to find a musics true beauty when im learning it.
To be honest, i can't believe that the score sounds like that, really! 15:57
If and when Mr Hamelin puts out a CD of the Rachmanioff Etudes, Preludes, or complete Sonatas it would positively be a best seller! That also would go for a Scriabin CD of Etudes or Preludes.
0:51
I want whatever MAH was smoking when he played this
Yes, Mr Hamelin always seems to be in a class of his own. His playing of Godowsky is really the best possible...
que dificil pieza para tocar.pero esta es una de la mejores version que he oido,ahi te va
Watch 1913 version of this sonata. 1913 version is much more difficult than Scarbo in my opinion.
I've played around with my laptop volume settings but can't seem to be rid of the horrible compression (volume pulls back) that occurs on this recording in the louder sections.
As for the performance itself, I still prefer the Simon Trpceski's recording that is considerably clearer and more sensitive.
love that opening
The rhythm of the beginning recalls Medtner's second piano concerto (the first movement) :) They were very good friends too and Rachmaninov considered him as his greatest contemporary composer!
Hamelin is amazing !
Jan
I found a High Quality recording of this on Hamelin's Spotify. It has only 7000 playings so. Such a shame :(
And on that hq recording he's playing a little more patient than here.
Please send me the link or the name! I can't find it anywhere on spotify aaa
I think that the 3rd movement could be a little bit slower to enhance some of the performance qualities other than being "fiery", but still a really great performance.
Also 17:04....... he comes back and play the important last part and is thrown off stage again at 17:40.
Very uncharacteristic of him lose control of the tempo, more than once. I never heard him bang before either.
I'll always have the Ogden recording in my head as the gold standard.
Mirrors the perfect performance by Ponti; and somewhat proves that the pounding of Horowitz was not needed to make an impact.
I uploaded an amateur attempt of the original version of this sonata but I was butchered by the critics. What do they know.