Having a favorite composer, or two, or a dozen – is one thing. But even the most well-known and widely-recognized music masterpieces can be performed in so diverse ways. Thus having your favorite performer, I believe, can say a lot about a person. It’s all in the small nuances, and colors, and mood, and energy that are present in a certain performing style.
Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini is no doubt among my unchanging all-time favorites and I’ve listened to quite of a lot interpretations of this almost-piano-concerto. Those include the original performance of the master Rachmaninoff himself (as we know he often played his own works), the version of Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Rubinstein at the piano, of course, and my favorite perhaps – Valentina Lisitsa’s performance. Here she plays on piano Variation 18 from the Rhapsody. Isn’t it wonderful? It’s definitely one of Valentina’s brightest performances of Rachmaninoff to me. Just listen and enjoy.
Who’s your favorite performer now?
Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini is no doubt among my unchanging all-time favorites and I’ve listened to quite of a lot interpretations of this almost-piano-concerto. Those include the original performance of the master Rachmaninoff himself (as we know he often played his own works), the version of Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Rubinstein at the piano, of course, and my favorite perhaps – Valentina Lisitsa’s performance. Here she plays on piano Variation 18 from the Rhapsody. Isn’t it wonderful? It’s definitely one of Valentina’s brightest performances of Rachmaninoff to me. Just listen and enjoy.
Who’s your favorite performer now?
