Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3 CBS Great Performances

I am a bit of a fanatic about finding the "best" recording of a given piece of music before selecting one for purchase. So, I have listened to many performances of this concerto (Argerich, Horowitz, Cliburn in the USA, Gutierrez, Andsnes, Glazinov, Bronfman, Ashkenazy, Rachmaninoff himself, and others) on YouTube. When I heard this one, I stopped looking any further. Berman is very impressive, a true professional, and this is one of the two best performances that I have ever heard of this concerto, the other being Cliburn in the USSR at the 1958 Competition (available on a Testament CD). When power and speed are called for, he provides it. When delicacy is needed, he provides it. His sense of rhythm and timing is excellent. And the first movement cadenza (he plays the longer and more difficult one) is just phenomenal.The recording is crystal clear, with no tape hiss or extraneous noise whatsoever. Every piano note is completely audible (in part because of Berman's clarity and in part because of the excellence of the recording itself), and orchestral detail is remarkable. The fine sound is especially noteworthy because this is an AAD release. If I have one quibble, it is that treble dominates and bass is subdued, an unfortunate thing, but one which does not lessen the impact of the performance.At first, though, I thought that the sound, despite the clarity, was maybe a little "thin". But eventually I realized that it was actually just a little distant because this was a live concert recording (1976, Carnegie Hall). It is the way it would sound if you were sitting in the mezzanine, and nothing wrong with that.This CD, long out of print, was reissued and is currently (August 2012) available new at arkivmusic.com.All told, it is truly a "Great Performance" as it says on the CD cover. Berman was more than a fine pianist, he was a musician. Highly recommended.

For several years, I have sought a recording of this work performed by Lazar Berman. I heard him live with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (LAPO) in the mid-to-late 1970s. I had heard Bronfman about the same time and remember thinking that he was a brute compared with this other Russian, Berman. As the years passed, Bronfman appeared with the LAPO frequently but I heard nothing more of Berman and eventually wondered if I had somehow morphed a Bronfman performance into one by Berman. Now I know that the Soviet Union kept him mostly for themselves.Suffice it to say, no, Bronfman is no Berman. Like others who have reviewed this recording, I have sought the "definitive" recording of this work and have many recordings and seek live performances each concert season. I'm sure that Abbado and the LSO, and the British recording engiineers' magic contributed much to the success of this reissue. It is as close to "definitive" as I expect to hear on a recording.I am now looking forward to hearing Daniil Trifonov's live performance next December with the LAPO conducted by Dudamel in the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Movement I begins slowly and I wondered if we were in for a bit of a trudge. That was not the case. For while Abbado sets a spacious tempo at first, plenty of space is created for Berman to do his thing. His is a hot, virtuoso performance that dazzles with powerful points of emphasis even as it enchants with its poetry. The piano sound could be warmer, but the overall level of excitement trumps all. If you love Rachmaninoff, you won't want to miss this.

I have many versions of this great concerto. My first ever exposure to this work was a recording by Witold Malcuzynski that I have now acquired on CD. Since the 1960s I have collected recordings by many great pianists including Bronfman, Glemser, Ashkenazy (*2), Janis, Gilels, Vasary, Horowitz (*2), Lympany, Gieseking, Helfgott, de Larrocha, Rachmaninoff, Wild, Kapell, Bolet, Argerich, Malcuzynski - and just when I thought I'd heard all the Rach 3 had to say, along comes this sublime recording by the late great Lazar Berman. The playing is clear, romantic, musically intelligent, exciting and enjoyable and satisfying in every way. Claudio Abbado and the LSO accompany Berman in a sensitive and balanced manner. All in all this is simply a magnificent performance and I would recommend it to all those who love the music of Rachmaninoff and this wonderful concerto in particular. Five stars from me!

Berman is consistently underrated, and it is puzzling. The Rachmaninov 3rd as played here dazzles with fire, and at the same time moves you with its lyricism. I find it a perfect balance between the exciting Argerich and the contemplative Ashkenazy. I have more than a dozen versions of this concerto, and there is always something that i didn't enjoy about them. E.g. I have always preferred the ossia cadenza, but the both Argerich and Horowitz played the shorter one. Many others played the concerto 'safe' and i found no excitement. But this version offered everything which I have looked for in the Rach 3. This is how Rachmaninov should be played! This dethrones my previous favourite by Volodos.

Lazar Berman owns this piece. I have listened to many recordings of this work over the years, and I have never heard another that even comes close to this performance. Berman takes the real cadenza in the first movement (something few ever do, including Rachmaninov himself), and the effect is just riveting. Abbado and the LSO provide a perfect accompaniment to this concerto of concertos. This is probably my desert island recording.

This is by far the best rendition of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No.3- listening to it is pure heaven!

I am a Berman fan since 1985. This is a hard to find CD at a reasonable price. $22 is a good price for this wonderful performance. Wonderful !! Thank you. Thank you.