This cadenza in my opinion puts all of the other Cadenzas in shame. The difficulty of it....I cant even begin to imagine. Are there any other cadenzas that can beat this one in difficulty? And who in your opinion plays this cadenza without mistakes? I have looked at several versions and so far Ashkenazy's stand out...

Why such a concern with mistakes? Personally, I don't mind missing notes as long as the spirit is there... but in any case check the ones, which IMO, stand out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n89wSS3YpdI&feature=fvw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_mDG2TRv5I

Best, M

Gutierrez indeed gives an absolutely awesome rendition of this cadenza. He seems to bring more nuance and poetry into it than many others. Maybe it's just a tad too smooth and effortless.... no sense of a titanic struggle, which I think is essential to gargantuan cadenzas like this one and the one in Rach 3.
I remember watching Abdel Rahman-El-Bacha's heroic performance on TV, which won him the Queen Elizabeth 1st prize medal, many moons ago. That was awesome too, IIRC. He sweated like a pig

I don't know that concerto well and I don't like the young pianist Yuja Wang, either. But a few days ago I watched her performance with Dutoit on the first day of the Verbier Festival of this year and was very surprised at her playing that cadence in the first movement. She plays it so effortless, no sweat at all. And I enjoyed the performance of the first and the second movement a lot. This VOD is still available on [url]medici.tv[/url].

This one?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhxDUChb9Zc

I agree about Guttierrez. It is very slick (as his Rachmaninov 3rd from Tchaikovsky Competition) and ultimately, misses some real drama/pain/struggle... but still, I like it. IMO, Bolet actually has that drama and internal "devil". I think his version has to be the earliest Prokofiev 2nd ever recorded, is it?

Today I read through the 1st movement of this Concerto. I am not sure at my age I would be able to learn all those notes--I wish I did it when I was 20 years old... The text looks much worse than Rachmaninov 3rd.

Best, M

P.S. I watched Yuja Wang on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rooWLGBm ... re=related

I was not impressed. Anything she does, to me all sounds the same and reminds a typewriter. Sad, considering so many by far superior musicians remain unknown...

I personally think the performance from a few days ago is much better than this YT version. At least she became a few years older I totally agree to you that so many superior masters stay unknown behind this young and good-looking "stars" and it's a great pity. However, from these ones a masters of the future could be made. Who knows?
Anyway I'll check the other YT videos you guys recommended, since I'm very ignorant about this concerto.

Ha, yes ! Thanks for digging that up, good to see it again. It's lost none of its impact for me. Truly colossal playing from a 19-year old. I have always wondered why this insanely gifted pianist has not become a household name.

Well yeah, he was young and had quite a bit of power. His later recordings of Rachmaninov on youtube are quite disappointing and do not show that talent he promised then.

Best, M

I recall there being something of a furore surrounding Severin von Eckardstein's playing of this in a competition nearly ten years ago. I can't remember if it was the Leeds or the Queen Elisabeth? In any case here's a clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OF4iWrMK ... re=related

That is aasum too Thought it doesn't seem to quite pack the punch that El Bacha's does.
It must be exhilarating when you can ride this mighty crest - kinda like surfing a 6m high wave. I love that moment at the end where the orchestra surges in and sweeps all before it. One of the most remarkable moments in all piano concertos.

I agree. The D minor section that the orchestra plays takes my breath away!