Rachmaninoff Concerto No.3 'Solo' Version 1st mov. (with ossia Cadenza ) Valentina Lisitsa

If you think this is fun, I can't wait for you to hear the
REAL DEAL :-) With Orchestra ! With London Symphony :-)
It is released today in digital. Be the first to hear it !

A message in a bottle for anybody who worried it's too fast, please check Rachmaninoff playing his own 3rd Concerto :
Admittedly he was supposed to know which tempos he wanted for this piece :-)

[baubacksafa]

Brilliant.
Also, when you hear the "solo" version, you realize the genius of Rachmaninoff's orchestration.

[lamorlayefrance]

It appears she is playing on a Bosendorfer Imperial, the 9'6 masterpiece of the piano world. It has 9 extra keys in the bass, all colored black. This allows the bass bridge and lowest standard notes to be nearer to center of soundboard, creates more soundboard area and allows for more coloring due to 9 very long bass strings ringing sympathetically when pedal is in use.

[hl]

9:33 is the beginning of the ossia cadenza for anyone who is trying to jump to there! this performance is amazing

[PointyTailofSatan]

LOL. My mind is adding the orchestra!!!! I can't stop it!

[raoulvanheuverzwyn]

It's like this playing is cleaning my brain of all kinds of pollution. As fresh water running through.

[IvanEDaza]

11:41 those added sub-bass keys send chills down my spine...that’s impressively powerful

[sibelvio]

Her version of the cadenza is unfathomably better than any other pianist. My god, this is the definition of perfection.

[mjutteau]

Your ossia cadenza is the most powerful thing I've ever heard on the piano

[sweeannteo]

thanks valentina! now the orchestra has some piano recordings to practice along. :_p

[jean_mollycutpurse_winchester]

Number three is my favourite and to my unmusical ears, I like her playing more than other pianists. Just my opinion. To me, her interpretation sounds like water; flowing effortlessly.

[craigadam]

I have been listening to Rachmaninov all my life. Listening to your performance brought me to tears. A performance has not done this for quite some time. Thank you. I shall be listening again and again.

[digitalsketchguy]

I'm sure i could hear strings and Oboe at some sections, but it must be the mind playing tricks. 

[davejones]

Valentina is definitely at the top of my list for one of the few top pianists in the world, solo or concerto. She deserves more recognition !

[bumbo]

The cadenza is honestly one of the best I ever heard. An absolute hurricane. And this is where the Bosendorfer makes a difference. The sound is so rich

[stille-bilder]

I wonder if Rachmaninoff was moved to tears as well by the passage he composed starting at 3:00

[evaFanFuruba]

Only Lisitsa could play a single melody in bare octaves so amazing beautiful! 

[Cobieshadow]

just wow!!! I cried and realised the vastness and complexity of the Universe and of the human mind. Thank you thank you

[pegrueneis]

great - she is using the contra octave keys Boesendorfer offers..rare!

[ryanpeplinski]

These solo versions are wonderful to hear. Sometimes it’s tough to hear all the notes in live orchestral recordings on YouTube. Thanks for sharing, great performance!

[qusayqasim]

ما هذا السحر ما هذا الإبداع ما هذه الرومانسية يا فالنتينا وانت تاخذيني إلى عالم آخر عندما استمع الى عزفك وانظر إلى اناملك الرقيقة إنك رائععععععععة