Etudes-tableaux

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Written in 1940, the Symphonic Dances represent Rachmaninov at the peak of his powers as an orchestral composer. Less lush than his earlier works, free of sentimentality, imaginatively orchestrated, and full of lively rhythms, the piece is red meat for a virtuoso orchestra. The Minnesotans rise to the challenge with superb ensemble and countless solo turns done to perfection. Oue's interpretation, flexible and pointed, lets the dance rhythms drive the three movements and consistently strikes the right mood; just listen to the frigid trumpets that open the second movement and the swirling winds that alternate with them. The Vocalise gets a lovely reading, followed by Respighi's arrangement of five Études-Tableaux that turn those virtuoso piano pieces into deliciously orchestrated tone poems. Kick the volume control up and you get state-of-the-art sonics--solid bass, overwhelming climaxes, and dynamics as wide as a Kansas sky. --Dan Davis

Tracks:

Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14
Piano Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18: III. Allegro scherzando
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: 18th Variation
Symphony No. 2 In E Minor, Op. 27: III. Adagio
Prelude In G Minor, Op. 23, No. 5
Prelude In G-Sharp Minor, Op. 32, No. 12
Prelude in C-sharp minor, Op. 3, No. 2
Cello Sonata In G Minor, Op. 19: II. Allegro scherzando
Etude-tableau In D Major, Op. 39, No. 9
Six Pieces, Op. 11: Scherzo
Six Pieces, Op. 11: Slava
Symphonic Dances, Op. 45: III. Lento assai

Customer Reviews:

Yes.......2003-04-03

This is a marvelous collection. There were a few pieces I wish that it would include, such as the rest of his Piano Concerto No.2, or perhaps The Rock, but the fact that the performances are generally great and the recording quality is near-perfect makes up for that.

I would recommend this to anyone who is just starting to become interested in the works of Sergei Rachmaninov.

A decent introduction to the music of Rachmaninoff.......2001-08-12

Sergi Rachmaninoff was the last of the great Romantic composers, especially since the Romantic period had ended for European artists when he was at his height. Although a composer and a conductor, Rachmaninoff was also a virtuoso pianist, which explains why his best compositions feature the piano, either in solo work or with an orchestra. His "Prelude in C-Sharp Minor," which he wrote when he was 20, made him famous throughout the world. This collection also includes several other preludes, "Vocalise," and the famous 18th Variation (Andnate cantible) from Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. My only serious complaint about this collection as an introduction to Rachmaninoff is that it only has one movement from his Second Piano Concerto and I have other CDs that include the entire work, which I thing is a good idea.

Great Collection of "Hits".......2000-06-22

This is actually not a bad collection of Greatest Hits. Usually the problem with collections like these is that they have bad recordings and not very good performances but some of these ones are actually okay, and it features performances by Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax among others. In general these are the works of art you think of when you think of Rachmaninoff and so these pieces are a perfect representation of his style.

One of the best CD I own.......1999-12-30

This is one of the best I own. The music is so great, hard to explain...so moving, especially the first track. It reminds me of Russia a lot. I listen to it everyday while driving to work. I highly recommend it.

Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances/ Vocalise/ Etudes-tableaux

Average customer rating:

Yum! A Rachmaninoff Encore
Good Supplemental CD
Thank You
A sound engineer's dream
Turn up the volume and hang on!

Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances/ Vocalise/ Etudes-tableaux

Manufacturer: Reference Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Reveries
Copland: Fanfare; Symphony No3
Respighi: Belkis, Queen of Sheba
Exotic Dances from the Opera
Igor Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite/Nightingale/Rite of Spring

ASIN: B00005QD5Z
Release Date: 2001-10-02

Tracks:

Symphonic Dances: Non Allegro
Symphonic Dances: Andante Con Moto (Tempo Di Valse)
Symphonic Dances: Lento Assai
Vocalise
Etudes-Tableaux: The Sea And The Seagulls
Etudes-Tableaux: The Fair
Etudes-Tableaux: Funeral March
Etudes-Tableaux: Little Red Riding Hood And The Wolf
Etudes-Tableaux: March

Amazon.com

Written in 1940, the Symphonic Dances represent Rachmaninov at the peak of his powers as an orchestral composer. Less lush than his earlier works, free of sentimentality, imaginatively orchestrated, and full of lively rhythms, the piece is red meat for a virtuoso orchestra. The Minnesotans rise to the challenge with superb ensemble and countless solo turns done to perfection. Oue's interpretation, flexible and pointed, lets the dance rhythms drive the three movements and consistently strikes the right mood; just listen to the frigid trumpets that open the second movement and the swirling winds that alternate with them. The Vocalise gets a lovely reading, followed by Respighi's arrangement of five Études-Tableaux that turn those virtuoso piano pieces into deliciously orchestrated tone poems. Kick the volume control up and you get state-of-the-art sonics--solid bass, overwhelming climaxes, and dynamics as wide as a Kansas sky. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Yum! A Rachmaninoff Encore.......2006-08-08

The Symphonic Dances aren't programmed as often as they should be in the concert hall, so they amount to an extra treat. Rachmaninoff, while writing with typical brilliance, avoided repeating himself and offering another "Symphony No. 2" by choosing daring orchestration, especially the breathtaking use of the alto sax as the solo instrument in the first dance and the piano as tuned percussion. The effect is dazzling. This is a top-notch recording and makes one wonder why Eiji Oue didn't hit the big time at one of America's major orchestras instead of returning to Japan. A beautiful program expertly recorded.

Good Supplemental CD.......2005-05-09

I'll start by saying I own every cd the Minnesota Orchestra has recorded in the past 10 years. I love them all, but some stand out more than others as a definitive recording of a specific work. While I enjoy this cd, a couple of small items keep the recording of Symphonic Dances by Ashkenazy and the Concertgebouw Orchestra as my top pick. First, I am unimpressed with the principal oboe in the Minnesota Orchestra version - particularly in the first movement. The tone is harsh and sounds uncontrolled, and the intonation isn't great in the oboe/clarinet exchange halfway through the first movement. I also prefer the saxophone solo much more in the Concertgebouw recording - in the MN version the solo sounds slightly under pitch the entire time, and the phrasing lacks direction. I think the first movement of the MN recording is too slow, and the strings don't sound as rich and full as the Concertgebouw, which is strange, as I have heard both orchestras live and have always preferred the MN Orchestra string section over most any orchestra out there. With these comments said, the recording quality of the MN cd is crystal clear and it is a very solid recording - any Rachmaninov/Symphonic Dances lover will find this a good companion cd to the Concertgebouw.

Thank You.......2003-02-13

*
I agree that the quality and clarity of this recording is as good as it gets.

The Rachmaninov music is a bit different from other romantic music I've listened to. Not "bad" different. No weird stuff
here. The music changes moods. From thunderous percussion to the announcements of the trumpets, to the glassy
strings, and softer woodwinds, everything gets wrapped up into a neat package. This music has energy, imagination,
thoughtfulness, quiet action, and beauty. All of the pieces on this CD are well worth it.

I thank the reviewers here. This is one of my favorite CD's.
*

A sound engineer's dream.......2002-07-10

Let's be clear from the beginning: if there is a better-sounding CD than this one, let's hear it. Even if you don't particularly care for Rachmaninoff, or conductor Eiji Oue, or the Minnesota Orchestra, you owe to yourself to experience their work - especially when captured by one of the finest recording companies around.

I'll state right away that the "Symphonic Dances," the composer's last orchestral piece, is my favorite Rachmaninoff work. The version I treasure is (still) with Vladimir Ashkenazy conducting the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra on an outstanding Decca recording from the early 1980's (now back in print, and at a budget price, too). Ashkenazy's crisp tempi and the orchestra's dark colors suit the piece perfectly, generating a huge amount of excitement.

But even this magnificent project is trumped by this CD from Reference Recordings, a small but superb label based in San Francisco. After just one hearing, I was shaking my head in disbelief and wanting to hear more examples of the company's work.

The "Symphonic Dances" is easily worth the entire disc, with powerful rhythms and glittering orchestrations that showcase what a great orchestra can do. The "Vocalise" is lovely, and the Respighi version of the "Etudes-Tableaux" is even more fascinating if you are familiar with Rachmaninoff's original for solo piano. Throughout the program, Eiji Oue and the Minnesota Orchestra do a terrific job; great artists make this music sound easy to play. Some of Oue's tempi are slightly slower than I prefer, but there is no denying the conductor's abilities, not to mention the orchestra's virtuosity.

But it is the amazingly vivid, present, crystal-clear sound here that will make you go "wow." Some of the percussion effects, particularly from the triangle and cymbals, are breathtaking in their realism. For anyone with a state-of-the-art music system, a recording like this would probably be near-essential, if only to show off to your friends. Highly recommended, and of course begs the question, "Why can't all recordings sound like this?"

Turn up the volume and hang on!.......2002-03-09

I don't at all care for "demonstration" recordings. Whether a recording sounds just like a train, thunder or even cannon shots (1821 Overture) means nothing to me. I'm after realism in music. This disc is clearly one of the best recordings of classical music ever. The performances are really great, but I'm talking quality of recorded sound here. Up until now I would have said that either the Shaham or Carmignola versions of The Four Seasons set the standard (with perhaps the latest Sony choral version of Night On A Bare Mountain thrown in for good measure), but this recording is unbelievable. I doubt whether those without a HDCD feature on their CD player will get the full benefit of it, though. I would say out of thousands of classical CDs that I have bought this one is the one I would want to have around when I show someone the speakers I'm trying to sell them just how good those speakers can sound. I agree completely with the in-house Amazon review of how lovely the music sounds, too.