Sean Chen / Rachmaninoff's Adagio from Symphony No. 2, Op. 27

RACHMANINOFF - Symphony No. 2, Op. 27
III. Adagio

Recording and broadcast by Public Media Network
Audio engineering by Doug Decker

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[willkinney]

It's absolutely outrageous how good this is- the arrangement is perfect and his execution is flawless. This piece is so beautiful, so synchronized, and so intricate- but he captures it perfectly. I love how he maintains the triplet feel in the background.
On another YouTube video of this movement- the full symphony version- someone commented that this piece is like hearing someone fall in love. I think Sean's version captures that perfectly. Absolutely gorgeous.

[winston]

Perhaps the only piano version of this movement that actually keeps the lyricism of the orchestral sound and avoids the trap of the percussive properties of the piano. I always find something new when listening to a piano transcription of an orchestral work: a fleeting harmony or a trick of rhythm that was hidden in a wash of strings. Sean Chen is a remarkably talented pianist Thank you for the best piano transcription of this work ever!.

[polenho]

A divine and stunning transcription with sensitive performance from Sean Chen. Absolutely mesmerizing!!!

[douglasanderson]

Undoubtedly the best solo piano recording of this piece on YouTube!

[kenelliott]

This guy does a FANTASTIC job!!! Very impressive!

[jessicakespohl]

I hesitated to listen to piano only since Rach's polyphony of multiple instruments taking melodic line in turn is so powerful, but I have to admit Sean Chen has done an incredibly beautiful job!

[karlgreenall]

An amazing performance by a very fine pianist indeed. He clearly knows both the instrument and that extraordinary, beautiful piece, inside out.

[evelynn_teoh]

Sound even more complex than the symphony itself. Such rare talent!

[karenistalking]

That is a powerful piano piece. His arrangement made things more than even the symphony itself. I could hear where the climax points are. His playing is excellent and powerful.

[stealthninja]

Absolutely stunning. Transported to the first time I heard this performed live at the Chicago Symphony Hall.

[jacobsherk]

A truly brilliant arrangement. I don't doubt that Rachmaninoff himself would admire it

[matthewfisher]

A truly stunning performance! May it go down in the glorious history of reductions for pianoforte!

[peedubu]

Such a beautiful arrangement, but more than this is Sean's superb playing. Sean has such a lyrical and light touch, without pretentious embellishment that is absolutely beautiful to listen to (no extra kitsch). Having said that - I will not need the music score, because there is no hope of me improving on this. This is a diamond of a musical arrangement that should go into the musical archives for history

[keatoncloherty]

This is such a stunning, incredible arrangement of a symphony movement that I thought would be really hard to transcribe/arrange well. Sean, you've done an amazing job, I'm blown away with the beauty that you've captured in the music.

[garysandiego]

Oh my gosh! Beautiful. Very sensitive arrangement.

[mxmin.b]

I find myself listening to this beautiful interpretation every now and then. Really impressive, thanks a lot for uploading.

[theguitarsofmatthewgrasso]

You have my stunned admiration! Great arrangement and performance. Best wishes Sean.

[DAVEDIKIAN]

Transcription d'une grande beauté et qui rend magistralement toute la complexité polyphonique de la pièce. Merci, merci !

[stringendo]

I was listening with tearful eyes, after I bought the sheet, I was playing with tearful eyes...thank you so much Sean Chen.

[Kouszr]

In the first moment the Grand seems to sound like through some water, but soon I‘ve been excited by this wonderful arrangement and playing - Rach as I love it ❤️😍❤️.