Rach 3’s finale octaves: ''Who’s the best?''

Pianists:
0:01 Vladimir Horowitz
0:24 Nikolaj Lugansky
0:52 Martha Argerich
1:16 Daniil Trifonov
1:43 Aleksandr Malofeev
2:07 Yunchan Lim
2:43 Anna Federova
3:07 Lang Lang
3:35 Van Cliburn
4:02 Alexander Gavrylyuk
4:41 Yuja Wang
5:07 Denis Matsuev

[RachFanatic]

Who’s the best?

Write down your suggestions for the next “Who's the best?”

[emilianopizana]

So many espectacular performances, but yunchan and Horowitz for me. Also gavrylyuk is so underrated.

[kimg]

Argerich, Horowitz, , Yuja, Matsuev! ….as far as the question goes (final octaves) These 4 for me relish it! Argerich stands out with her precision, power and pulse of attack, like she was totally fresh and like a spectacular firework finale! Just look at how relaxed her arms, wrist etc are! All the firepower coming from within, no need to lift the hands in personal “triumph”, just serve the music with perfect technique! I do love Yunchan’s reading and delivery of the concerto as a whole and would definitely rate it amongst my top 3

[HB-MrCatLover]

And the winner is ... Sergueï Rachmaninov for composing such powerful piece of music. I always get very emotional when I listen to this concerto and reach the finale. Thank you for this brilliant video. The idea is brilliant. 🙏👏👍

[Darth_JarJar]

It’s so hard to decide!!! They’re all so good!!! I might have to say yunchan, but seriously, everyone is so amazing!!!

[DaleHubbard]

My goodness, what a fabulous treat compilation! Thank you so much. I'd have to go with Van Cliburn.

[stillstanding]

They're all marvelous of course, but I was surprised how taken I taken with Cliburn: Magesterial cadence. Very elegant and he even got all the notes.

[scottkirby]

All marvelous performances of a very difficult finale. I'm partial to Horowitz and Argerich, but Yunchan Lim got my attention. There was a release of tension that doesn't always come through in this piece. He nailed it. Thanks, RachmaninoffFanatic!

[edwardseymour]

Of all these, Horowitz’s performance etches out the octaves very clearly. He never obscures them with the pedal, nor does he slow the tempo very much - all of which makes his presentation astonishing here.

[Oakrider]

How wonderful all of them. Yunchan is for sure very classic itself and storm in the calmness. :)

[dennispearson]

The "Winner " is the wonderful Person who took the time to put this All-Star Dream Team of Brilliant Pianist Together For the Millions of Utube Enthusiasts to choose From 😀 !!!..Thanks A Million

[liamnevilleviolist]

2:39 - I don't know if he got lucky with the orchestra... but his part was basically perfectly/ awesomely in sync with the orchestra. That was amazing and beautiful to listen to!!

[frankbacon]

All are superb and they look and sound as if they are doing their utmost to make it all work. Except Yunchan Lim. He seems to just toss it off as if it were as easy as a Clementi sonatina. His playing of Liszt's Feux Follets is equally astonishing.

[danielfylstra]

Loved these comparative performances - can't wait to hear Yunchan Lim live on July 26 at Bravo!Vail.

[dionysus]

I'm partial to Yunchan Lim,
But this is not a fair comparison at all, when some are recorded with quality audios, while others are old or recorded in inferior quality audios.
And Yunchan Lim is one of those with inferior audio as we know the Cliburn Competition did not have the best audio.
While Horowitz can crank out the best Rach 3, that particular concert was not his best. His performance in his heyday younger version should have been posted.
Yunchan Lim was amazing on that Rach 3, but he was just out of this world at the Lincoln Center in NYC when he played with the NYPhil last May. It was so fresh, and I heard some of the things I haven't heard with the conventional Rach 3. I can't exactly pinpoint, but he was improvising the Ossia, which was incredible, that it literally gave me goosebumps.
You listen to Rach 3. And you listen to Yunchan Lim's Rach 3.
It was one of those incredible moments in my life.

[ddestiny]

Personally Yunchan, but wow everyone is so amazing. Great respect for all musicians!

[patiargi]

After Horowitz and Argerich comes a new generation of young pianists...for me the one and only exiting young pianist is ALEXANDER MALOFEEV !!! Heared him live a few days ago, still speechless

[avohill]

One is cautious to proclaim a winner here but that would be, with no equivocation, Mr. Lim. His Rach 3 is/was, in every way, the finest performance ever done.

[mcd]

Alexander Malofeev.! He's only 17 here.  
His best was last year at the Musikverein. It was hailed as a:" piano world revolution". Heart stopping! ..

[sheana]

All of them are fabulous..each giving their own unique signature to this marvelous music.