How Rachmaninov played The Star-Spangled Banner
mainThe New York Philharmonic, which has a Rachmaninov season coming up, has reminded us of the existence of a recording of the great composer playing the US national anthem.
It’s an unusual performance, completely without bombast and with more than a trace of melancholic yearning.
The Russian culture minister should listen to it before he tries to repatriate the composer’s remains.
Compare and contrast with the Horowitz interpretation.
Is that from a piano roll?
It has to be, and certainly sounds like it. Every shellack recording of Rachmaninoff has long been accounted for, as he meticulously destroyed everything he did not want published. Thanks to SD for posting this.
No.
Norman, with his magical powers, has resurrected him.
I think Horowitz has got something against that piano!!
Crikey yes. Bangtastic.
Nice to see there is one piece I can probably play better than Horowitz, though…!