I'm a huge fan of Rachmaninoff. Moody & ghostly Rachmaninoff. & I take my Rachmaninoff straight; plain old piano. Often our generation gets then wants things fast. fast food, movies before reading the books, instant information online...the idea of classical music being a complete entity can put people off. We've grown accustomed to having someone throw the lyrics in, and we don't really have to think too much. Rachmaninoff changes things. And yeah, I do wonder what he was thinking when he wrote some of these songs, but that's what imagination's for.

Watch Valentina Lisitsa's hands go at around 1:12. Love her interpretation- She's got mad skills!!!