Piano Concerto 4

Rachmaninoff (Artist), Thibaudet (Artist), Ashkenazy (Artist), Cleveland O (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 24, 1998)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B0000042I8
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #385,909 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Piano Concerto No. 4 In G Minor, Op. 40: I Allegro vivace

2. Piano Concerto No. 4 In G Minor, Op. 40: II Largo

3. Piano Concerto No. 4 In G Minor, Op. 40: III Allegro vivace

4. Variiations On A Theme Of Corelli, Op. 42: Variations On A Theme Of Corelli, Op. 42

5. Piano Sonata No. 2 In B Flat Minor, Op. 36: I Allegro agitato

6. Piano Sonata No. 2 In B Flat Minor, Op. 36: II Non allegro - Lento

7. Piano Sonata No. 2 In B Flat Minor, Op. 36: III L'istesso tempo - Allegro molto

8. Prelude In C Sharp Minor, Op. 3, No. 2

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favourite recording of my favourite concerto... BY FAR, July 12, 2000

By 

"euni" (Seoul, Korea) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Piano Concerto 4 (Audio CD)

Surprisingly, I like the fouth piano concerto much more than the other three concerti by Rachmaninoff. This recording is the fifth(!) one I bought, and I absolutely cherish it. I cannot explain why I think it is superb. I just feel it. The first movement of the concerto is the most "most" (This is what my friend obsessed with Rachmaninoff used to say about Prelude in g minor!)... I feel that Ashkenazy "somehow" knows how to bring out the best(?) in Rachmaninoff's music. Thibaudet is excellent as the soloist. I have all my envy and respect for him.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another disc of Rachmaninov. . . BUT WAIT!, August 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Piano Concerto 4 (Audio CD)

The Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor of Rachmaninov lives unfortunately in the shadows of its two immediate predecessors: the ubiquitous No. 2 in C minor and the No. 3 in D minor played by both the silver and gold-medal winners of the 1997 Cliburn Competition. While the fourth concerto's oblivion is not entirely deserved, it IS a bit less impressive as a whole concept, especially in the third movement: Where are the singable tunes that are crucial to the finales of the Concerto No. 2 and No. 3 of the same composer? Anyway, Thibaudet's dynamics and expression are flawless; the Corelli Variations are a study in skips, subtle pianissimos and chord-shouting fortissimos. The Sonata in B-flat minor is played with an equal range of sound. If you don't own a copy of any of the three major works presented on this disc, buy it for sure. The c-sharp minor prelude is merely filler; I hardly ever listen to that piece anymore. . . .

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Recording, October 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Piano Concerto 4 (Audio CD)

This is a great recording of two lesser works and a major one. The Rachmaninov 2nd Sonata is played with as much sonority as Horowitz, but the usual 1931 revised edition is used instead of the Horowitz conglomeration. The Sonata comes off as being a monumental work worthy of the attention it gets. It isn't banged, the fortissimos are played with a velvety sound that is tittilating to the ear. The Corelli variations are played extremely well, as is the Fourth Concerto, even though the sound quality puts the piano in the background. Beautiful recording, Mr. Thibaudet, and brilliant Rachmaninov playing from a wonderful French pianist.