Rachmaninoff No. 2 is the best piano concerto: change my mind

Rach 2 is overrated. It is full of very schmaltzy, heart on sleeve melodies. Rachmaninoff was one of the best composers for the piano. He was a bona fide virtuoso on the piano and had a big reach. So, his concerti are some of the most challenging in the repertoire. But he was a very flawed composer for the orchestra who was always in the shadows of Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev. Rhapsody on a them of Paganini is far more interesting musically than Rach 2.

Prokofiev 2 is a much better piece of music while still being a huge challenge for the pianist. Bartok 2 is probably the hardest piano concerto in the repertoire and the most interesting musically. But it is pretty rare to find a pianist who can pull it off with an orchestra willing to spend the rehearsal time to get it right. So, it is a very underperformed and underrated piece.

Prelude in C minor is better from Rachmaninoff.

Rach 2 is like Floyd's Dark Side OTM. It's so good, people play it all the time and then get so sick of it they diss it. Then it becomes fashionable to say (insert more obscure piece here) is much better.

Of it's type, Rach 2 is almost perfect ( for the listener). I've heard several pianists say they prefer playing the excellent Rach 3, but it's just not quite as incisive as 2. Again like Floyd's Wish you were here vs DSM.

I was a classically trained pianist, and I now pretty much can't stand all classical piano music. Just never did anything for me.

I realize music is subjective, but I'm listening to this right now as I type this, and I think it just sucks.

Might help a bit if classical piano players quit having an orgasm while playing. But, no, the music would still suck.

Give me some Jon Lord or any great Hammond B3 or rock keyboard player over classical music any day.

Unwavering confudence stems from ignorance

Listen to:

Beethoven’s 5 in E flat and 3 in C minor

Chopin 1 in E minor

Tchaikovsky’s 1 in B flat

Mozart 21 in C major, 20 in D minor

Grieg A minor

Then report back here

Too many wrote:

Unwavering confudence stems from ignorance

I prefer *naive*. Asking naive questions can often lead to good conversation.

I've always been partial to that them from Ragtime (or was it that Scott Joplin thing from The Sting?)and the piano stuff from Peanuts. And wasn't that Rockmanenough guy a Ruskie? Hard to root for.

I always felt that you were a complete moran. I must say that validation feels great.

fendall wrote:

Too many wrote:

Unwavering confudence stems from ignorance

I prefer *naive*. Asking naive questions can often lead to good conversation.

True. What did you think of the other concertos? Mozart 11 in A minor is another favorite of mine. I can see Mozart playing this to his first love Marie Antoinette at court in Vienna (the light hearted feel of this composition reminds me of the frivolity of the times).

Isn't his 3rd concerto considered to be the most difficult piece the standard piano repertoire?

Loki wrote:

I always felt that you were a complete moran. I must say that validation feels great.

So, not liking classical music makes one a moron? Interesting.

I have always enjoyed all sorts of classical music and i play a few instruments, but i have never warmed to the piano concerto.

Unlike a violin or especially clarinet concerto, i don’t feel as though the blend between solo and orchestra is effective or pleasing.

Bartok 2, sure, but he was an intellectual musician’s composer.

The Paganini Rhapsody by Rachmaninoff is better, IMO. I also slightly prefer his 3rd (all four are worth listening to, of course). Among 20th century piano concerti I prefer Prokofiev nr 2 to any Rachmaninoff. Also all three of Bartok's.

Among older ones my favs are both of Brahms, Beethoven Nr 4 and several of Mozart's, especially the G major K 453, the c minor K 491 and also the early K 271 E flat major.

Rach 3 is more enjoyable than 2 IMO.

Beethoven 4 is godly tho.

A number of classical compositions get played to death, including the Rach concertos.

I never get tired of listening to Richter playing the The Well-Tempered Clavier, books 1 and 2. My favorite:

No. 4 in c sharp minor BWV 849 (Richter): (Love the fugue, which starts at about 3:07. )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdD_QygwRuY&list=RDzdD_QygwRuY&start_radio=1

In the jazz world, the pianist Bill Evans has always been my favorite. I've recently started working on "Maxine" and "Quiet Now." Sad story with Bill Evans. For those interested, look for the 5-part interview with his last girlfriend, Laurie Verchomin.

Like Flagpole, I like that Hammond B3 sound, too. Flag, have you ever heard Tony Monaco play?

Johann Christian Bach

Busoni

Ravel left hand

Bartok

Medtner

Prokofiev

Tveitt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4o5WhtkdJ8