I think that the chromatic ending of the 17th evolving into a 5th and then resolving into the 18th is one of the most beautiful moments in the history of classical music

This is the first piece of music I ever remember hearing. It brings back to me an apartment on Bloor Street East in Toronto, in the late 1940's, greenish yellow light streaming into the sunroom through the trees in the Rosedale Ravine, and being played by my mother on a 78 RPM phonograph. It wasn't until many years later that I recognized it when I heard it again. In any case, it is the piece I want played at whatever celebration takes place at the end of my life. It escorted me, in a sense, into my life; I would like it to escort me out. Rachmaninoff was my mother's favourite composer, and either therefore or coincidentally, mine too. She actually saw him perform live in Toronto in the 1930's.

This has to be the most beautiful piece of music that Rachmaninoff ever composed.

I am 84 years old and this has been my favourite piece of music since I was 15 years old .just love it ❤️

Why do I cry when listening to this? The emotional response this gorgeous piece of music, not to mention the exquisite playing, evokes in me such a reaction that I simply burst into tears, and I'm not making this up. Just dazzlingly beautiful !

You nailed the tempo and dynamics. I can hear the orchestra mentally. Well done!

This is the music of my childhood. It is my memory of my mother who played it often. My friends think I play piano; they just don't know how crappy I am. Thanks for the inspiration. I'll keep at it.

Just reaches deep down into my soul ....

Best version and best performance on KZfaq! Congratulations!

Utterly phenomenal piece of music. You play so beautifully, in my next life this is going to be me...🤍

Just marvelous...thank you so much. It is my favorite piece, and the one I hope to be able to play for my darling wife...someday.

I’m glad you started with the 17th. Not that it’s the version I’m used to but it just has a different feel when the Rhapsody is started off. It’s like “get ready for a rollercoaster of emotion” especially when it resolves into the 18th Rhapsody. It just makes it even more beautiful and elegant but sentimental

Beautifully played just perfect bravo

Love the richness of the sound. Thanks for sharing.

Magnificent playing and love Yamaha. Thank you so much for your wonderful talent.

Perfect! Exactly what I was looking for!

This is absolutely beautiful. Bravo. I’ll be learning this piece next for sure. I hope to see more from you sir!

Somewhere in time...Thank you for the perfect performance!

Beautiful !!! This piece reach my emotions ! I'm crying. You play it beautifully. 🥰

This performance was absolutely stunning. Thank you for sharing.

Amazing and sounds so beautiful

So glad to hear something - but especially this - played on the N1. Nice interpretation.

Just lovely! It stirred up deep feelings believed forgotten. Thank you!

Przepiękne wykonanie! Dzięki.

just simply beautiful: playing and the piano itself

Bravo. Thank you for the inspiration.

Breathtaking. Awesome playing. Huge fan since i’ve seen the Nier covers like peaceful sleep. Keep it up!

Beautiful playing. Pretty spot on.

Incredible performance. Thank you for bringing this joy into the world

Beautifully played x

I can't find words for this... Beautiful. Simply beautiful.

Absolutely amazing! Superb playing, this is one of my favorite pieces. Your interpretation is sublime. I recently got back into playing after an 8 year hiatus, used to be really good but quit when I started playing the guitar. My dream is to one day play this.

Great clear rendition of this music.

Your digital grand piano has amazing high quality sounds. It sounds just like a real concert full grand piano!!🎵🎹🌹

STUNNING !

Beautifully performed!

Beautiful, well played!

Lovely rendition of this romantic classical music....... so beautiful.

Of all the interpretations of this on KZfaq, I think yours is the best.

beautiful piece!

Superb 🎹 arrangement.. Kudos! 🎼

Wow - you're insanely good! A rach master indeed

I cannot tell you how moving a performance this is. I am awe struck at the technical command and romantic and poetic insight you give to this piece. It reminds me of Cecile Ousset's beautiful rendition of the 18th variation with the CBSO under the direction of Sir Simon Rattle.

superb! bravo! great sound!

Very good. Soft in the right times, stronger in the right places, you gave it life.

Beautiful!

i first heard this in the movie his majesty okeef which the the movie i saw with my first love 63 years ago. i didn’t know what the piece was until many years later but every time i hear this i am transited back to the arms of my first love in 1961

Beautiful 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼💓

how humans can be inspire to reach for the sublime and beautiful melodies to forget at least for a moment the ugliness we all carry inside the way GOD meant for us to BE how BEAUTIFUL.

Wow Absolutely wonderfoul music 🎹👏

Wow this transcription and performance are amazing! Brb going to learn this, thanks for the inspiration!

Outstanding!!!!

A Truly beautiful performance. I'm working on this one and you inspire me with the natural romantic arch of this performance. I can't believe I've never really listened to and embraced the amazing harmonic colors towards the end of this variation. I just recently worked up the C# mi Prelude and this is the one I'm working on now. Thank you for sharing your obvious love for this timeless music. Rachmaninoff has left a genius body of work for the ages.

Just lovely..! Love this..! One of the most melodic pieces of music..!

This is so good!

Loved playing it. It's beautiful

My absolutely favorite piece of music.

breathtaking.

Well played! And very good!

Wonderful!

Incredible job

Lovely! Thank you!

this is he best version of the variation I found, amazing

The most beautiful music

Adorei!!! Muito linda execução!!! 😍😍😍👏👏👏👏👏

Perfection in Sound

Wow. Your piano and vst sound amazing. Nice playing!

Congrats, very nice interpretation 👍🏻

Очень профессиональное исполнение! Браво!

thank you for your music and for your other uploads. There are so many talented musicians here on KZfaq that it is always a surprise to discover a new outstanding pianist. You play beautifully! I wish you many visits and likes you deserve it. Please work on your marketing, people also want to read something about you, your biography where you studied, a photo of you, etc. etc......

Fabulous!

Beautiful

Love it!

Amazing Performance

That was a nice little dopamine boost for me thanks dude!

Very nice touch my friend.

Ack!! I thought I lost this! Your performance is my FAVORITE to this day, and one day your channel was gone. I just searched again today and you're back! Several music channels had gotten hacked, was yours one of those? SO glad you are back. Have premium now, and I'm downloading this. Yay, Rach is back! 😊

Beautifully played and nice piano 😊

very nice, I like this piece played with just the piano

I love this!!!

Bellísima interpretación!!!!!!

Потрясающе!!!!!

Lindo, bela interpretação. Bravíssimo

Me casei há 33 anos ao som desta música, que continua me emocionando até hoje. A sutileza, romantismo e criatividade de Rachmaninoff, o tornaram atemporal . 🥰

Wonderful

Very nice performance. I also use the Garritan CFX Full. Really like it and have used it on the last 5 or 6 videos on my channel. I use the default grand and set the reverb to a medium concert hall, string resonance to 30 and dynamic range about 85. Sometimes I will switch to "performer" instead of "audience"

Just beautiful, I've got to the bottom of the first page, only another couple of months of hard slog then

This is one of my favourite piano pieces.

Really lovely vunderbar

Excellent

Bravissimo!

Best “piano only” var 18 on KZfaq

Bravo !!!

Belíssima interpretação ! B r a v o ! 👏👏👏👏👏👏🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷 Maria Helena ( Florianópolis/ SC/ BRASIL. 🇧🇷 🇧🇷 🇧🇷 🇧🇷 🇧🇷 🇧🇷 🇧🇷 )

this is my favorite piece... i always loved racing games, and Gran Turismo 6 Ayrton Senna tribute, had this song, i love this piece

Nailed it.

5 star performance!

Muy bonito!

This is the way how R. Schulz transcription should be played. Absolutely fantastic. Thank you for this performance. You are teaching me how to play it.

Sounds absolutely amazing 😍