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My Ruth Laredo tickets just arrived by mail! Rachmaninoff Concerto No.2.

I have to admit, that I have not listened to Ms Laredo before & curious to hear from those who have. I have never seen the score to this piece, but have always assumed you had to have pretty big hands to pull it off. From the pictures of her on the internet, she does not appear to be a very large woman at all. Does anyone know if you have to have Rach's reach of a "12th" to play this piece? (BTW,What is the biggest stretch in this piece?)

Not a lot of artists make it to Oklahoma, so I have to take what I can get!
_Brad

Stuck!
Is this at the OK-Mozart fest in Bartlesville, by any chance? That week-long program has had some VERY good performers in the past years and should be of pride to you folks stuck betwixt Texas and Kansas.

BeenThere,GoingBack,
Bob

.. not this one. This will be at the Tulsa Perfoming Arts Center Feb 23rd.

BTW, do you know where there is any info on the B'ville, OK Mozart fest?
-Brad

Stuck!

That Saxy Marsalis brother is there this year.

www.okmozart.com

Maybe Ill see ya there.
Bob

Biggest stretch is a 10th, and it can be rolled. If you've got pretty comfortable octaves, it's all manageable.

RKVS/JS:
Thanks for the info!

I may have lucked out with the timing of the OK Mozart Festival. I checked my calendar & that was the week that I originally was supposed to be in Houston. That, however, has been cancelled
The Festival looks very promising this year!
-Brad

I grew up in Bartlesville. After I moved away, they began the OK-Mozart Festival. Coincidence? Did I leave an artistic vacuum in Bartlesville? (Or did they even notice I left?) They have some nice venues in B'ville, including the Civic Center. During a reuninon at the Civic Center, I found my way into the auditorium and played the grand on the stage, until the janitor ran me out. I think he was tone-deaf.

Stuck_Key, I can answer a few of your questions. I have heard and met Ms. Laredo and yes, she is not a very big person. I'm 5.5 and she's shorter than I. Don't know what span he reaches. I like her playing; it is clear and she gets a tremendous sound with that small body when she needs it. Her pedaling, when I saw her, was a bit unusual. At one point she looked like she was pedaling a bicycle and I half expected her, the piano and bench to start lifting off the stage. I've never seen quite such aggressive pedal technique before. Enjoy the concert and please let us know what you think.

Bernard:

Your comment on Laredo's pedal technique reminds me of the legendary Rudolph Serkin who was notorious for "stomping" or "stamping" the damper pedal when he really "got going." I'll always remember a performance of the Beethoven "Emperor" (with Ormandy and the Philadelphia) where his pedal stomping was the prime distraction of the evening. I don't even remember the quality of the performance but given that it was Serkin, pere, and Beethoven it had to have been pretty good.

P.S. I've probably mentioned this performance before, on this forum.

Regards,

Yes, I have attended her recitals on several occasion. I was more than impressed each time. Once I shook her hands after the recital. She is around 5'2". As you can imagine her hands are about average. What things these average hands can do will amaze and stun you!

On the other hand I still prefer pianists with larger hands to do the Rachmaninov 2. I learnt this concerto myself. I need to roll the left-hand opening chords like many other students/pianists. This opening is so unique and majestic it's best delivered without the roll. Listen to this opening by S. Richter, A. Weissenberg or G. Olhsson(sp?) you'll know what I'm talking about. Don't get me wrong. Hand size should not deter any pianist to attempt this great composition. V. Ashkenazy did an outstanding job in the recording made in the early '60s coupled with a super-duper Rach 3 conducted by Fistoulari. The young Ashkenazy is beyond belief!