David Helfgott Plays Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 3; Four Preludes; Sonata No. 2

This is perhaps the most famous recording ever made of Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto, and probably the worst. Poor David Helfgott, who may have been a great virtuoso before his well-publicized mental breakdown, can barely hack his way through this concerto. Perhaps the cruel practice of issuing a live performance recording spares the expense of endless retakes, but it also exposes the pianist's severe deficiencies. The studio-recorded solo pieces are played accurately, perhaps due to endless retakes, but they are so devoid of musical impulse that Helfgott sounds as though he's on heavy tranquilizers. Try Alexis Weissenberg's version of the Rach 3 (RCA Victor Gold Seal 09026-61693-2), or anybody's. --Leslie Gerber Amazon.com

Passionate Performance

David Helfgott plays Rachmaninov with a level of feeling and passion that I deeply appreciate. His playing has off-notes and sometimes you can hear him breathing or singing along, but such 'nuances' are commonly appreciated in jazz music, and add to the personality of the recording. Am I a neophyte for appreciating the same 'nuances' in classical music?

Copenhagen Philharmonic together with David Helfgott have created an excellent recording which I appreciate hearing over and over. I highly recommend it to anyone. October 8, 2008

a total disaster

i'll make this brief because it's all pretty much been said and i don't want to pile on...

the movie shine, which i thought was quite well done (although horribly unfair to david's father), inspired me to check out david helfgott's works. thank god i borrowed this from my library instead of wasting the money (yes, i know it's being sold for .01 here) purchasing it.

this poor man is not fit to record hot cross buns, let alone the immeasurably deep and difficult rach3. i haven't heard any of helfgott's other performances and after hearing this, i pray to god that i never will. this album is simply a disaster.

if you're looking for helfgott, i don't know what to tell you. perhaps his other recordings are not so bad? i can't imagine them being good by any stretch, but this HAS to be as bad as it gets.

if you're looking for rachmaninov's piano concerto no. 3, then i recommend martha argerich's philips release with the berlin radio symphony orchestra, riccardo chailly conducting. a unique performance that unlike helfgott's "unique" performance, is simply a joy to listen to. if you're looking for what i consider a perfect example of this masterpiece, go with vladimir horowitz's performance with the new york philharmonic symphony orchestra, sir john barbirolli conducting. this is as good as it gets and even rachmaninov said that horowitz played it better than himself. this recording is often called "the rachminanov third to end all rachmaninov thirds".

actually, just get any rach3 but this one. please.

ok, that wasn't so brief, but this exploitation of a sick, perhaps at one point quite talented, man fills me with anger.
August 12, 2008

The Florence Foster Jenkins of the piano

I didn't buy this album--I was subjected to the concerto at a "friend's" home. I'd already seen the movie and knew what I was in for.

The very least reponsibility a performer has to his public and to the profession is to play the majority of the right notes. Helfgott plays 50% of them wrong. At what percentage does a performance cease to be an accurate representation of the work at hand and become a mere "paraphrase?" An "academically correct" performance is the last thing I want to hear, but I do expect someone tackling this concerto should demonstrate professional competence, which Helfgott does not.

The person I feel sorriest for in all this is Helfgott. I can't imagine why he allowed this travesty to be released. Yes, I've seen the film, and I truly feel outrage over the abuse he suffered, but the fact remains that as a pianist he is an empty shell. I'm sure he's enjoying himself and laughing all the way to the bank.

As for those who like this recording, I am not unaware of a certain "epatez le classical establishment" syndrome. Is this really a great recording or do you merely want to bait your piano teacher?

In conclusion, I must can't resist pointing out that this wildly aberrant performance sells within an appropriately aberrant price range--take a look--anywhere from $0.11 (that's right, eleven cents!) to over $110.00! WAIT! I've got a great idea for an even bigger "supermarket classic."! Helfgott accompanies Boccelli in the Rachmaninoff songs!--and throw in Charlotte Church for good measure. August 6, 2008

Garbage

This is without question the worst performance of these works you could possible own. The piano playing is immeasurably poor and the sound isn't much better for 1995. I actually laughed out loud during the cadenza at the end of the 1st movement. Rent it from the library (like I did) or steal it from some "Shine" fan for a good laugh but don't waste your money on such garbage.

July 23, 2008

Better than Agerich

What other dismiss as undisciplined and error prone I actually find to be full of verve and pinache (much like many of Gould's recordings); I think this live recording is much better than the Agerich's which I find to be academic and stiff in comparison. November 22, 2007

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