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Hi all - just wondering who around here has tried either of the Rachmaninov Piano Sonatas.

I've learned nearly all of the first and must say that it is particularly difficult, though not quite as demanding as some of his Etudes-Tableaux which rank up alongside La Campanella (Paganini/Liszt) in my opinion.

P.S. Hear about Kissin's bad reviews anyone?

I haven't worked on either, but I think it's cool that you're looking into the first instead of the second that is so overly played. I personally enjoy the first one, and it's one of the pieces that I feel is really neglected.

Kissin's bad reviews?

I do not really like Rachmaninoff's original version, or his edited one too much. I do love Horowitz's arrangement of it though, it has more bombast but it is better overall in some areas also. The first sonata is a fine work, but I think the 2nd is more rewarding.

Yes, Kissin's recent tour over here in England received very bad reviews indeed: he has been labelled as trying to retain onto his "child prodigy" image for too long and that his seeming over-reliance upon technique has gotten him as far as is possible - now he must mature and become a proper musician. According to some anyway...

I like his playing personally...loved his recent Mussorgsky "Pictures..." - they were brilliant!

Happy playing,

Nath