Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 3

On 22 November 1963, at Idil Biret’s US debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by Erich Leinsdorf, she played Rachmaninoff’s 3rd Concerto. The concert was scheduled for 2:00 p.m. The tragic death of President Kennedy was announced during the concert. Despite the electrified atmosphere, which can be sensed in the recording, the audience—many in tears—then heard a stunning performance of the concerto, which was broadcast live to the nation from Boston and rebroadcast the next day from New York. “There was a buoyant quality to Idil Biret’s playing; a great warmth of tone was in no way dispelled by her technical skill… she gave us power without a bang, emotion without a sentimental tear. There is no question that Miss Biret is one of the most extraordinary musicians, and many of her listeners testified to her artistry by giving her a standing ovation.”