Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 1, Etudes-tableaux

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The great music teacher and composer Alexander Glazunov influenced several generations of Russian (then, Soviet) composers, and one of the most popular to emerge in the early years of the 20th century was Serge Rachmaninov. Nearly all of Rachmaninov's music bears Glazunov's distinctive stamp. This is particularly true in the youthful Symphony No. 1. Valeri Polyansky and the Russian State Symphony here capture the essence of Rachmaninov's Russian Romanticism (including a dab of Rimsky-Korsakov's Orientalism). Later Rachmaninov works veer away from Glazunov's influence, becoming a bit darker. Italian composer Ottorino Respighi transcribed five of these works for piano--Cinq Etudes-tableaux--into five small, Scriabinesque tone poems. Add to the mix the extraordinarily robust Chandos sound and you have an absolute winner. Don't pass this one by. --Paul Cook

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: Concerto No. 2; Etudes-Tableaux

Average customer rating:

Young pianists should avoid Rachmaninoff No. 2
mediocre C-minor
Powerful Rachmaninoff
Kissin & Rachmaninoff
Fantastic

Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 2; Etudes-Tableaux

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000003EUT
Release Date: 1993-08-10

Tracks:

Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 In C Minor: Moderato; Allegro
Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 In C Minor: Adagio sostenuto
Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 In C Minor: Allegro scherzando
Etudes-Tableaux, Op.39: No. 1 In C Minor
Etudes-Tableaux, Op.39: No. 2 In A Minor
Etudes-Tableaux, Op.39: No. 4 In B Minor
Etudes-Tableaux, Op.39: No. 5 In E-Flat Minor
Etudes-Tableaux, Op.39: No. 6 In A Minor
Etudes-Tableaux, Op.39: No. 9 In D

Customer Reviews:

Young pianists should avoid Rachmaninoff No. 2.......2007-06-29

Even keyboard supermen, if at a tender age (like 16), should avoid some repertoire that require more depth and life experience.
A typical piece of such sort is Rachmaninoff's No. 2 Piano Concerto. Don't think that it is so well known that even jazz players improvise on it that a kid could bring the music out alright.
I am not a diehard fan of Kissin, or of any pianist.
Honestly, the showmanship of young Kissin is rather inapt for this piece, demonstrating his lack of technical control, plus the fact that he and Gergiev are scarcely in sync in this recording.
I regret that people do not have the guts to say this straight out (except the only honest reviewer of March 2006).

mediocre C-minor.......2006-03-27

To put this streight Kissin doesn't understand Rachmaninov's music at all. He makes mistakes high-school students at Moscow conservatoire are tought to avoid at a very early age. I don't mean that my understanding is inevitably right, tastes are different in the end.
However some pieces sound so bad, you can't help feeling sorry for the pianist. His rubatos lack elementary taste. His pedal is a disgrace and at times a disaster! In the end amazing second concerto sounds cheap and pitiful.
If you want to listen to a beautiful interpitation, get Richter's.

Powerful Rachmaninoff.......2005-09-24

Because Rachmaninoff's music mirrors the Russian culture, I have often noted that no one plays Rachmaninoff like a Russian. Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 and Etudes-Tableaux, played by the Russian Evgeny Kissin, is unparalleled in mastery, beauty, and power. The album begins with one of the most sensitive interpretations of Rachmaninoff's second piano concerto that I have heard (on par with Vladimir Ashkenazy's, a fellow Russian). Kissin understands the flow of the piece from beginning to end. As a result, he builds the tension by accentuating the rich chord progressions that fill the piece. He then resolves that tension with the precision of a story-teller and the sensitivity of a master artist. Though the music stretches the ability of even the greatest pianists, Kissin plays through the difficulty in order to paint a landscape of musical progression. He hears and invites his audience to hear the intricate sub-plots that recur all throughout the work. Perhaps Rachmaninoff's most famous composition is married with a true master artist.

The album ends with six powerful Etudes-Tableaux. Once again, Kissin hears and emphasizes both the predominant theme as well as the innumerable sub-themes, often overlooked by lesser musicians. My favorite is Etude-Tableau No. 5 in E-flat minor. This extremely difficult piece builds tension through increased dissonance until a lofty climax. That dissonance almost becomes unpleasant to the ears, creating an atmosphere of extreme melancholy. I imagine that tension mirroring the inner turmoil that an individual experiences through a difficult time of life. But when that tension and internal cacophony can get no greater and the person is at the point of breaking, grace comes! The beauty of the resolution is far more beautiful against such a dark backdrop. And any person who has been through difficulties can fully enter into the emotion of the music. And anybody who is currently experiencing pain and suffering can take hope, even from this music, that resolution will come.

Kissin & Rachmaninoff.......2005-03-14

If one asks what the most striking reality in this CD is, I would without a doubt show the recording date (1988) and the year (1971) Kissin was born in. This interpretation of Rachmaninoff's 2nd concerto is just "too much" for a young man at his 17s. Apart from the technical brilliancy, Kissin shows us that he feels the music in his soul. The Etudes-tableaux are unique in their own way, and Kissin's recordings are among the best. Notice the savagery in No. 1, the beauty in No. 2, and the melancholy in No. 5. Brilliant performances. Highly recommended.

Fantastic.......2004-08-10

Kissin has outdone himself here. The clarity of the solo piano passages are absolutely fantastic. This is pure Rachmaninoff. It's to bad that the booming force of the orchestra seems to sometimes drown out the piano in some places (e.g. climax of the 1st movement). Anyway this is not a recording to miss, I highly recommend it. One of the top recordings of the Rachmaninoff 2.

Average customer rating:

Moving and Inspiring, A must Buy!
A Reflective Seat of Passions
Almost Great
The Only Rachmaninoff Piano Music CD's You'll Ever Need!
Impress your friends! Put these CDs on when they visit!

Favourite Rachmaninov

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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Tchaikovsky: Symphonies no 4, 5, & 6 / Karajan, Berlin PO

ASIN: B00000420Q
Release Date: 1993-01-19

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18: Moderato
Piano Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18: Adagio sostenuto
Piano Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18: Allegro scherzando
Prelude In C Sharp Minor, Op. 3 No. 2
Prelude In B Flat Major, Op. 23 No. 2
Prelude In G Minor, Op. 23 No. 5
Prelude In B Minor, Op. 32 No. 10
Prelude In D Flat Major, Op. 32 No. 13
Etude-tableau In C Minor, Op. 39 No. 1
Etude-tableau In A Minor, Op. 39 No. 2
Etude-tableau In E Flat Minor, Op. 39 No. 5

Tracks:

Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43 - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Piano Concerto No. 3 In D Minor, Op. 30: Allegro ma non tanto - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Piano Concerto No. 3 In D Minor, Op. 30: Intermezzo: Adagio - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Piano Concerto No. 3 In D Minor, Op. 30: Finale: Alla breve - Vladimir Ashkenazy

Customer Reviews:

Moving and Inspiring, A must Buy!.......2003-01-09

It has occured to me that many of the reviewers complain about the slow tempo taken by Ashkenazy when he performed the Rach's 3rd. Indeed, they do seem slower than the norm, but when it is slowed down, much more can be brought into the piece that you wouldn't normally hear such as the increadiable dymanic range, artulation and the sheer power of some of his chords. The cadanza (the harder version) of the first movement is especially moving (many pianists also slow down to his tempo or even slower when attempting the candanza). Ashkenazy kept a steady cresendo throughout and truely produced some very breathtaking chords (way better than David Heffgots in Shine), one could say that the piano roared at some places and whispered at others. An increadiable recording.

Nevertheless, if you want to hear the "definative" recording of the Rach' 3rd try the Horowitz/Reiner/RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra recording of the Rach's 3rd.

By the way, the 2nd Piano Concerto was also amazingly recorded, along with the Rhapsody and the Preludes.

Buy this if you are a Rachmaninov lover or a Romantic... its a great price for 2 CDs.

A Reflective Seat of Passions.......2001-08-17

I first became aware of Rachmaninov from the 1980 film SOMEWHERE IN TIME with Christopher Reeve. So far this is the best rendition of Rachmaninov's works in compilation I have listened to. Rachmaninov really knew how to reach your heart with unbridled passion. This music and Andre Previn's rendering of it with the London Symphony Orchestra is unbelievably and fervently moving.

Almost Great.......2001-08-01

Although I've always loved and idolized Ashkenzay, I must say I was a little (not enough to shatter my love for him) disappointed with his interpretation of Rach. 3rd Concerto. I have heard so many fine recordings of the concerto, especially since the "Shine" craze, and this is not one of them. Ashkenazy has a distinctively emotional style which is perfect for Chopin and Beethoven, but it seems to be too much for this piece. The rolled opening chords took me by surprise a little, that I had to remind myself that I was listening to Rachmaninov and not Chopin or Lizst. If it were possible, I would give this CD a 4.5, with the deduction only for the third concerto. The "Variations on the Theme of Paganini" is SUPERB!!!! Ashkenazy really lets his technique shine, and his phrasing is flawless. I have rarely heard such flowing lines. It seems that Ashkenazy really enjoyed playing this music. The attention to detail comes out in every single note. Bravo.

The Only Rachmaninoff Piano Music CD's You'll Ever Need!.......2001-01-13

If you want to buy Rachmaninoff's great piano hits, but you have not bought it, this is probably the only thing you'll ever need! Good thing it is double-decked. I guarantee you that you should really buy this CD if you want to hear the beauty of piano by Rachy! Ashkenazy's brilliant performance will amaze and satisfy you!

Out of other recordings by other pianist playing Rachmaninoff, I love Ashkenazy the best. And Previn with the orchestra is truly fine. A definite Must-Buy for Askenazeans! (unless you don't like Rachmaninoff's music)

Impress your friends! Put these CDs on when they visit!.......2000-05-14

The Rachmaninov repertoire has always been renowned for its thrilling technical difficulty. With Rach, every piece is a showpiece, and Ashkenazy illustrates this to the fullest extent. Blistering runs and ten-finger chords are nicely balanced by delicate and subtle melodies. Perhaps this 2-CD set should have been labeled as "The Only Rachmaninov You'll Ever Need!" because it really presents the composer in a nutshell. Two concertos, one concert piece, and several solo piano works -- who could ask for anything more? Okay, okay, so maybe a symphony would have been nice, but here we're talking about Rachmaninov the piano composer.

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No.3 In D Minor, Op.30: 1. Allegro ma non tanto
Piano Concerto No.3 In D Minor, Op.30: 2. Intermezzo. Adagio
Piano Concerto No.3 In D Minor, Op.30: 3. Finale Alla breve
Piano Sonata No.2 In B-flat Minor, Op.36: 1. Allegro agitata
Piano Sonata No.2 In B-flat Minor, Op.36: 2. Non allegro
Piano Sonata No.2 In B-flat Minor, Op.36: 3. Allegro molto

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No.1 In B-Flat Minor, Op.23: 1. Allegro con sprito
Piano Concerto No.1 In B-Flat Minor, Op.23: 2. Adantino semplice
Piano Concerto No.1 In B-Flat Minor, Op.23: 3. Allegro con fuoco
Prelude In D, Op.23 No.4
Prelude In G Minor, Op.23 No.5
Prelude In E-Flat, Op.23 No.6
Prelude In C Minor, Op. 23 No. 7
Etude-Tableau In E-Flat Minor, Op.39 No.5
Prelude In C-sharp Minor, Op.3 No.2
Prelude In G, Op.32 No.5
Prelide In G-Sharp Minor, Op.32 No.12
'Les saisons,' Op.37b: Juin - Barcarolle
'Les saisons,' Op.37b: Mars - Chant de l'alouette

Customer Reviews:

The best recording.......2004-05-30

The Rachmaninoff Third Concerto performance is one of the most musically satisfying recordings of anything! It is the most moving and the most beautiful Rachmaninoff 3rd I've ever heard.

Every Rachmaninov lover must own this disc.......1999-05-03

This collection contains two of the greatest Rachmaninov recordings ever made: Cliburn's versions of the Third Concerto and the Second Sonata. Both readings have similar qualities. Cliburn takes a broader, deeper, more Russian view than virtually any other pianist. In doing so he makes musical sense where so many other virtuosos merely make a lot of noise. I would go so far as to say that only Rachmaninov himself comes close to Cliburn in the Concerto, while he is on his own in the (almost) original version of the Sonata.

Customer Reviews:

A thousand carats album!.......2006-07-31

This fabulous set gives us a fabulous and complete selection from Richter's oeuvre that spans the years 1958-1976; it includes a kaleidoscopic variety of composers, a wide range of musical styles. The famed pianist Glenn Gould once affirmed : "There are musicians who try to bypass the whole question of the performing mechanism, to create the illusion, at any rate, of a direct link between themselves and a particular musical score, helping therefore the listener to achieve a sensation of involvement, not with the performance per se, but rather, with the music itself." And that is absolutely valid in the case of Richer.

For many Beethoven purists, Richer may result quite propulsive and even unaware. But that is just an illusion. It's a question of temperament. Richter uses to explore directly without reflexive pauses the soul of Beethoven. In fact, you may feel Richter plays as a huge mirror that reflects the multiple facets of any composer as a whole. In this superb compilation Beethoven occupies two and a quarter CD' s . His Variations & Fugue for piano Op. 35 are even much more emotive and volcanic respect the famous performance given in Carnegie Hall of 1965. (I just have this recording and have compared them one each other.). The Sonata Op. 10 is extraordinary. The Sonata Op. 4 is an excellent performance that denotes the multiplicity of vision (listen to Benedetti Michelangeli and Schnabel, for instance). The Sonata 32 is memorable although it's far to reach the unbeatable version of Paul Badura Skoda ` s version of 1973.

Believe or not the impressive performance of Richter around Pictures at exhibition is not so far respect to the well known and best acclaimed version of Sofia. You may realize this recital in Budapest was made just a week after Sofia' s performance and the most notable feature is how different is. If it's true the overall texture is visibly lighter and less dark respect Sophie, in certain passages I find it wildest, aggressive and even volcanic. The Catacombs and the Great Gate of Kiev are to my mind, much reposed analytical and colder but better performed. In my case, I have another additional Pictures of Richter and I use to compare between themselves.

Tchaikovsky pieces are quite sensitive and beautifully phrased. Scriabin' s Ninth Sonata has always been a personal trademark of this formidable pianist, although I rather his mesmerizing Warsaw live version of 1972. Prokoviev' s Fourth Sonata has constituted for Richter another treasured battle horse in most of his recitals. He possesses that required intensity, black humor and bitter cynicism that nestles along the score, because of the fact nobody like him knew about the nature of the monster and the oppressive atmosphere in those years. In sum, this is a very remarkable musical document for treasure and enjoy it over and over.

Highly recommended for those Richter' s hard fans and even you don' t.

Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 1, Etudes-tableaux

Average customer rating:

Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 1, Etudes-tableaux
Valeri Polyansky
Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Tracks:

Symphony No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 13: Grave-Allegro ma non troppo-Moderato-Allegro vivace-L'istesso tempo-Allegro molto
Symphony No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 13: Allegro animato-Meno mosso-Tempo I
Symphony No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 13: Larghetto-Piu mosso-Largo un poco-Con moto-Tempo I
Symphony No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 13: Allegro con fuoco, Marciale (sempre marcato)-Con animo-Allegro mosso-Allegro con fuoco-Presto-Largo
Cinq Etudes-tableux, Op. 160: The Sea and Seagulls
Cinq Etudes-tableux, Op. 160: Fair Scene
Cinq Etudes-tableux, Op. 160: Funeral March
Cinq Etudes-tableux, Op. 160: Red Riding Hood And The Wolf
Cinq Etudes-tableux, Op. 160: Oriental March

Amazon.com

The great music teacher and composer Alexander Glazunov influenced several generations of Russian (then, Soviet) composers, and one of the most popular to emerge in the early years of the 20th century was Serge Rachmaninov. Nearly all of Rachmaninov's music bears Glazunov's distinctive stamp. This is particularly true in the youthful Symphony No. 1. Valeri Polyansky and the Russian State Symphony here capture the essence of Rachmaninov's Russian Romanticism (including a dab of Rimsky-Korsakov's Orientalism). Later Rachmaninov works veer away from Glazunov's influence, becoming a bit darker. Italian composer Ottorino Respighi transcribed five of these works for piano--Cinq Etudes-tableaux--into five small, Scriabinesque tone poems. Add to the mix the extraordinarily robust Chandos sound and you have an absolute winner. Don't pass this one by. --Paul Cook

Average customer rating:

What worked was great

The Very Best of Rachmaninov

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000B6N65E
Release Date: 2005-10-18

Tracks:

Allegro Mon Tanto
Bless The Lord, O My Soul
Allegro
Vocalise
Elege
Variation 18
Variation 19
Variation 20
Variation 21
Variation 22
Variation 23
Variation 24
Non Allegro
Allegro Moderato
Andante

Tracks:

Adagio Sostenuto
Humoresque In G Major
Maestoso
Francesca's Aria
Andante Cantabile
Prelude In C Sharp Minor
Troparion For The Virgin Mary
Alla Marcia
Daisies
The Young Gypsy's Romance
Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.36
Moderato
Adagio

Customer Reviews:

What worked was great.......2007-05-29

I'm not really reviewing Rachmaninov... I think the titles of the music listed speak for themselves if you know any Rachmaninov. If you don't know any Rachmaninov, I'd suggest you do so pretty quick.

Anyway, I got my CD in the mail promptly, but it was buggy. It comes in two CDs... first problem came when trying to copy the music to my computer; the names and data of each song are not loaded onto my CD properly... all the song names on the second disk were the the same as the first, so my computer just overwrote them if that makes any sense, so I had a jumble of pieces and had to end up recopying, etc., yada yada.

Second problem is that on some tracks the piece would stop in the middle, unfinished, and go on to the next track. For example, it would be listed as being 4:45 minutes long, but would stop at say, 2:24 in mid-piece and go onto the next track. Bummer.

But I don't really know much about CDs, it could just be my copy, who knows. Other than that, what I did get is gorgeous.

Average customer rating:

Wake me when it's over...
Discover a Gem

Leif Ove Andsnes: A Portrait

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00005QHVZ
Release Date: 2002-01-08

Tracks:

I. Allegro Molto Moderato
Pno Con in a, Op.16: II. Adagio
Pno Con in a, Op.16: III. Allegro Moderato Molto E Marcato - Andante Maestoso
Fant in C, Op.17: III. Langsam Getragen - Durchweg Leise Zu Halten
Mephisto-Walzer Nr.1, S.514: 'Der Tanz In Der Dorfschenke' (Lenau's 'Faust')
Intermezzo in B flat, Op.117 No.2
Pno Con in D, Hob.XVIII:11: I. Vivace
Pno Con in D, Hob.XVIII:11: II. Un Poco Adagio
Pno Con in D, Hob.XVIII:11: III. Rondo All'ungherese

Tracks:

Wedding Day At Troldhaugen, Op.65 No.6
Butterfly, Op.43 No.1
To Spring, Op.43 No.6
Humoreske-Bagateller, Op.11 Fs 22: I. Good Morning! Good Morning!
Humoreske-Bagateller, Op.11 Fs 22: II. Spinning Top
Humoreske-Bagateller, Op.11 Fs 22: III. A Little Slow Waltz
Humoreske-Bagateller, Op.11 Fs 22: IV. Jumping Jack
Humoreske-Bagateller, Op.11 Fs 22: V. Doll's March
Humoreske-Bagateller, Op.11 Fs 22: VI. Musical Clock
Fifty Folk Tunes From Hardanger, Op.150: III. A-Wooing
Fifty Folk Tunes From Hardanger, Op.150: XXVII. Langelik Tune
Fifty Folk Tunes From Hardanger, Op.150: XXXVII. The Long, Long Winter Night
Pictures From Nordland, Ste No.1 Op.5: II. The Little Stone God
Pictures From Nordland, Ste No.1 Op.5: III. Reindeer
Pictures From Nordland, Ste No.1 Op.5: IV. Towards The Mountains Of My Forefathers
Tunes And Dances From 'Siljustol: V. Book 2: Ballad Of Revolt, Op.22
'Son' 1.X.1905, From The Street: I. Presentiment (Con Moto)
'Son' 1.X.1905, From The Street: II. Death (Adagio)
Etude-Tableau in C, Op.33 No.2
Con in c, Op.35: I. Allegro Moderato - Allegro Vivace - Moderato -
Con in c, Op.35: II. Lento -
Con in c, Op.35: III. Moderato -
Con in c, Op.35: IV. Allegro Con Brio - Presto - Allegretto Poco Moderato - Allergro Con Brio
Pno Son in b, Hob.XVI:32: II. Menuet
Pno Son in b, Hob.XVI:32: III. Finale: Presto

Customer Reviews:

Wake me when it's over..........2005-08-03

Naida Cole. Leif Ove Andsnes. Yundi Li. Lang Lang. My neighbor's 17-year-old kid. Classical piano is getting more faceless than ever. Where are the big names, the people who play five bars and you say, "Why, that's....!" I can tell Arrau or Horowitz or Cziffra or Gilels in fifteen seconds. With the present pianist, I'm lucky if I'm still awake after fifteen seconds.

I don't get all the fuss about Andsnes. I really think most of today's classical "stars" are PR-driven creations. This one is, at any rate. He plays almost all the works in these two discs the same, with zero color, zero phrasing, zero individuality. The piano sounds pretty much the same, whether the work be Haydn or Shostakovich. (Listen to Glenn Gould playing works by Byrd, Gibbons and Sweelinck and hear how he manages to suggest the sonority of a harpsichord on a piano. Amazing!) Andsnes avoids contrasts, he avoids abrupt changes in tempo, he avoids inserting his personality into the works, he avoids finding personality--charm, irony, detachment, amusement, even just simple joy--in the works. Admittedly, some of the compositions here are so obscure I cannot really comment on them, because I've never heard them before, am unfamiliar with the composers and don't have comparisons for listening. But for the works that I have heard, you can get a more interesting Grieg Concerto by Zimerman/Karajan (But who'd want to? It's a pretty vapid piece.), a far better Haydn Concerto by Richter if you can find it (it's a shame this witty work--and believe me, in better hands it is witty and it's not amateurishly *rushed*--isn't better-known), a more charming Haydn B minor sonata by Ax--by AX, for crying out loud!, and with him you get the whole thing and not just the second and third movements--and a better Janacek sonata by Firkusny. A better Grieg Op. 43 No.1 can be found by Gilels. A better Brahms Intermezzo, the disc's biggest joke, can be found anywhere--try behind the sofa. The Rachmaninoff is one of the better moments--here, recordings by Demidenko, Horowitz and Rachmaninoff himself didn't exactly blow me away in comparison. (If I have others I can't find them right now.) The Shostakovich Trumpet thingie is surpassed by Jansons and the Berlin Philharmonic, for just one. Some of the smaller works I don't know, but if they have their Norwegian charm, Andsnes doesn't bring it out here. Listen to this disc, and you'll go away with the very popular myth that classical music is this ultra-polished, tidy stuff that's good to have on in your car for your morning commute when you can't get NPR. But you won't have the sound of a thinking pianist, or one who seems to understand the music he's playing.

Discover a Gem.......2003-02-26

The Wedding Day At Troldhaugen, Op.65 No.6 - Leif Ove Andsnes' playing is magical! This CD is an exceptional value! I have purchased this CD as a gift and have received positive reviews from the recipients as well!

Rachmaninov: Concerto for piano in Cm; Concerto for piano in F#m

Average customer rating:

Virile romanticism!

Rachmaninov: Concerto for piano in Cm; Concerto for piano in F#m

Manufacturer: Russian Revelation
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

From the Archives: Sviatoslav Richter Plays Chopin

ASIN: B000006BAD
Release Date: 1998-04-21

Tracks:

Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 1 In F Sharp Minor, Op. 1: I. Vivace
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 1 In F Sharp Minor, Op. 1: II. Andante
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 1 In F Sharp Minor, Op. 1: III. Allegro vivace
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18: I. Moderato
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18: II. Allegro sostenuto
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18: III. Allegro scherzando
Etudes-Tableaux Op. 33 No. 6 In E Flat Minor: Non allegro - Presto
Etudes-Tableaux Op. 39 No. 3 In F Sharp Minor: Allegro molto
Etudes-Tableaux Op. 39 No. 4 In B Minor: Allegro assai
Etudes-Tableaux Op. 39 No. 9 In D: Allegro moderato, Tempo di Marcia

Customer Reviews:

Virile romanticism!.......2005-09-20

There is a mistaken conception around the full significance of the romanticism. Many people consider it simply as sickly anima state. That is not true at all. The romanticism goes far beyond.

In the particular case of Rachmaninov many performers with previous prejudices tend to play him with an excessive doses of self indulgence. To play him with fruition demands to understand totally the profile and very special character of the Russian people. The religious aspect, the incommensurable landscapes, the perpetual clouds, the water in its three states are a constant in the soul of this nation. A major approach can be done reading Gogol and Dostoievsky, reviewing the history we will get some clues that indicates with major clarity a lot of accepted issues for us that not necessarily mean the same in his lexicon.

Sviatoslav Richter knew extract the artistic vein of both concerts, remarking the nostalgia, the nuance and Russian character with absolute domain of the musical form. The fevered phrasing harmonizes with an exultant playing where passion and a special humor coexist without losing character and temperament.

This is an amazing CD that brings us a portrait of Richter in his early forties (1955 and 1959) respectively. The profound admiration and transcendence aroused by Richter join to the craft of the distinguished conductor. Kurt Sanderling (who recorded, by the way, a magnificent version of Rachmaninov ' s Second Symphony.)

To my mind this version of the Second Concerto remains to date the best achievement made in any age about it. William Kapell in his two commercial recordings is very close in spirit, nerve, intensity and passion but Richter was enraptured this night of February 18 1959.

The First Concert is above the average but there are better options. Thanks to the infinite kindness of friend of mine, could obtain a non commercial register of Kapell under the conduction of Thomas Schippers and New York Philharmonic that I value it as a real musical treasure.

The Four Etudes tableaux are fabulous with special emphasis in the three last ones from the Op. 39, No. 3, 4 and 9, recorded 3 March 1966.

Rakhmaninov: Piano Concertos 1-4; Symphonies 1-3; Orchestral Works

Average customer rating:

At this price, you can't go wrong

Rakhmaninov: Piano Concertos 1-4; Symphonies 1-3; Orchestral Works
Sergei Rachmaninov , Tadaaki Otaka , and BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Manufacturer: Nimbus Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Tracks:

Pno Con No.2 in c, Op.18: I. Moderato
Pno Con No.2 in c, Op.18: II. Adagio Sostenuto
Pno Con No.2 in c, Op.18: III. Allegro Scherzando
Pno Con No.1 in f#, Op.12: I. Vivace
Pno Con No.1 in f#, Op.12: II. Andante
Pno Con No.1 in f#, Op.12: III. Allegro Vivace

Tracks:

Pno Son No.2 in b flat, Op.36: I. Allegro Agitato
Pno Son No.2 in b flat, Op.36: II. Non Allegro-Lento
Pno Son No.2 in b flat, Op.36: III. Allegro Molto
Pno Con No.3 in d, Op.30: I. Allegro Ma Non Tanto
Pno Con No.3 in d, Op.30: II. Intermezzo: Adagio
Pno Con No.3 in d, Op.30: III. Finale (Alla Breve)

Tracks:

Pno Con No.4 in g, Op.40: Allegro Vivace
Pno Con No.4 in g, Op.40: Largo
Pno Con No.4 in g, Op.40: Allegro Vivace
Vars On A Theme Of Corelli, Op.42: Them Andante/Var I: Poco Piu Moso/Var II: L'istesso Tempo...
Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Intro: Allegro Vivace/Var I: (Precedente)/Tema: L'istesso Tempo.

Tracks:

Sym No.1 in d, Op.13: Grave-Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Sym No.1 in d, Op.13: Allegro Animato
Sym No.1 in d, Op.13: Larghetto
Sym No.1 in d, Op.13: Allegro Con Fuoco-Grave
4 Etudes-Tableaux, Op.39: The Sea And Seagulls, Op.39 No.2
4 Etudes-Tableaux, Op.39: Red Riding Hood And The Wolf, Op.39 No.6
4 Etudes-Tableaux, Op.39: Funeral March, Op.39 No.7
4 Etudes-tableaux, Op.39: March, Op.39 No.9

Tracks:

Sym No.2 in e, Op.27: I. Largo-Allegro Moderato
Sym No.2 in e, Op.27: II. Allegro Molto
Sym No.2 in e, Op.27: III. Adagio
Sym No.2 in e, Op.27: IV. Allegro Vivace
Vocalise, Op.34 No.14

Tracks:

The Isle Of The Dead, Op.29
Sym No.3 in a, Op.44: I. Lento-Allegro Moderato
Sym No.3 in a, Op.44: II. Adagio Ma Non Troppo-Allegro Vivace-Tempo Come Prima
Sym No.3 in a, Op.44: III. Allegro

Customer Reviews:

At this price, you can't go wrong.......1999-03-02

Six CDs for under $30, all in glorious Nimbus digital sound, with a couple of really good performances.... you cannot go wrong. No, this set will not displace Ashkenazy, Previn, Argerich, Stokowski and other famous artists who've recorded these works in more definitive performances. However, it's a great way to get to know this music, and several of the performances (the 3rd piano concerto and 3rd Symphony) are competitive. At a higher price, I'd have given it 4 stars, but it earned an extra star for excellent value.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Frantic City [Import]

Mussorgsky/Ravel: Pictures at an Exhibition

Live at the Electric Ballroom, 1974 [Live]

Go See The World

Quiet Zone/Pleasure Dome [Import] [Original recording remastered]

Mastercuts Presents

Marilyn: The Essential Marilyn Monroe

Leonid Kuzmin plays Schubert: Sonata in D, D. 850; Fantasia in C, D 760 "Wanderer Fantasy"; Soiree De Vienne: Valse Caprice No.6

Melodies / Improvisations

Legends in Jazz

Nude & Rude: The Best of Iggy Pop

Las Preciosas del Ayer Disco, Vol. 1

Lei E' [Enhanced]

The Blues Brothers: Original Soundtrack Recording

Left Coast Life