Rachmaninov: Prelude in G minor - Evgeny Kissin at the Proms

At the First Night of the 2000 Promenade Concerts in London's Royal Albert Hall, Evgeny Kissin played Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto and followed it with this stunning encore, the same composer's Prelude in G minor. It is No. 5 in Rachmaninov's Opus 23 set of 10 Preludes, dating from 1901. Please see additional note below.

In view of the numerous comments about Kissin's tempo, I'd like to repeat what I said in another reply here two years ago. This encore came at the end of a first half of a concert in which Kissin had just played the Rachmaninov 2nd Piano Concerto. Before that, the orchestra had played Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" and Stokowski's arrangement of the Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor. It was a hot July evening and the Royal Albert Hall was packed with a 5,000-strong audience. In addition, the BBC was televising it 'live' as well broadcasting it on the radio. Doubtless Kissin had the broadcasting schedules at the back of his mind, as well as the fact that the bars were now open for the interval and the audience were ready to get to them! ... Still, they wouldn't let him go, so he gave them some more music. I just think that the circumstances of the evening, plus the adrenaline of a "First Night of the Proms," helped to dictate his tempo and that it shouldn't necessarily be compared to a recorded studio performance.

[kwakker]

Guys he has reached day 4 of Simply Piano...

[clairdelune]

I disagree with everyone who dislikes or makes comments about it being too fast. This is brilliant, genius, virtuoso playing. Unmatched, superb technique and musicality at its highest, ( I could see in the end his face looked like he was having a hard time coming out of the magic this masterpiece brings you into), which is very hard to do in a piece like this...and mind you, after having played a whole Rachmaninoff No. 2 concerto.

[richardfeynman]

How can 253 people not like this. The man is one of the best in the world.

[bernhardhoedjes]

I´m happy and proud that I was there and will NEVER EVER forget the joy and entlightment of that evening. Thank you Kisin

[adamxx]

I think it's worth pointing out to those who don't know about the Proms that the Albert Hall holds about 5, 000 people and from about 2 minutes in you see a shot of the audience. Immediately in front of the platform are all the the Promenaders who stand, not sit, throughout the entire concert. It was a hot July evening and this Prelude was an encore, having been preceded in the first half by Copland's "Fanfare to the Common Man, " Stokowski's orchestration of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor and Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto. It's possible that Kissin was aware that as the concert was being transmitted live on TV and he had a schedule to consider, and that as the audience was probably anxious to get to the bars or toilets in the interval, he duly took the piece at a rattling pace. However, Rachmaninov himself in his own performances was no slouch, so under the circumstances I think Kissin deserves the nearly 9 thousand "thumbs ups" he's so far received!

[SymphonyBrahms]

Brilliant! Evgeny Kissin is the greatest pianist in the world.

[anthonyfernandez]

This is honestly the best and will always be the best performance of Prelude in G Minor. Evgeny Kissin has never disappointed me. All of his performances are always so perfect.

[nancybaldoni]

He played this amazing prelude at his May 20th performance at Carnegie Hall; it was electrifying. We couldn't jump to our feet right after it because it was one of nine other preludes he played, but as soon as he finished the last one, the audience couldn't shout, whistle, and clap enough to show how thrilled we were. There was a standing ovation after every piece. And, he played his fantastic toccata as one of the encores. He will be at Carnegie Hall again in May 2019; tickets go on sale in August.

[tudornicolae]

His true talent consists in making us feeling like he will soon brake that piano into pieces!
Great interpretation and great movements! Spectacular!

[TheCaithleen]

Rachmaninov would himself be proud of this delivery

[norahdealmeida]

How touched feels our heart with the  extremely roundness of the middle part. Little by little comes the first tempo: mysterious staccatos, preserved pedal and fantastic octaves.

[sebastianbaynes]

The middle section is one of my all time favourite piano melodies. So effortlessly beautiful and powerful, especially in this performance

[ourlordlrh]

I love his interpretation. His loud dynamics at the beginning allow him to perfectly contrast the middle, softer, section, and makes the transition to the end of the piece so much better.

[jakedogears]

I personally don't like the fast tempo on this piece of music. But, Kissen made the defference here.
With all his techniques, And the most important thing in music, He expresses his feelings through this masterpiece perfectly.
So glorious. Bravo.

[tpiskor]

Amazing. This piece is so difficult. Very humbling to hear him play it with such command.

[RHV-]

No matter how many times i watch this, it seriously horrifies me like it's giving me nightmares but at the same it's so good and beautiful. Kissin is a crazy man.

[robins]

Impressive that he can play it this fast and still make it sound musical.

[ПавелВаров-зр]

Absolutely brilliant performance. Sharp, precise, powerful, focused. Bravo!!!

[noponn]

I have stopped keeping count of how many times I have watched this video. I think it is close to 200 now. I like this piece and Kissin

[jalbiindolcheey]

It's like hearing diamonds. He cares about every sound. I can't express what he does.