Rachmaninoff Plays Rachmaninoff: Zenph Re-performance

Sergei Rachmaninoff (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 22, 2009)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B002BFIN6K
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,005 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #21 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Lullabies & Berceuse

Track Listings

1. Liebesleid

2. Prelude, Op. 3, No. 2 in C-Sharp Minor

3. The Flight Of The Bumblebee

4. Scherzo from A Midsummer Night's Dream

5. Etude Tableau, Op. 33, No. 2 in C Major

6. Etude Tableau, Op. 33, No. 7 in E-Flat Major

7. Moment Musical, Op. 16, No. 2 in E-Flat Minor

8. Daisies, Op. 38, No. 3

9. Lullaby, Op. 16, No. 1

10. Violin Partita No. 3, BWV 1006; Prelude

11. Violin Partita No. 3, BWV 1006; Gavotte

12. Violin Partita No. 3, BWV 1006; Gigue

13. Liebesfreud

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sitting in the room as Rachmaninoff plays., September 25, 2009

By 

Randal Leistikow (Windsor, CO USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rachmaninoff Plays Rachmaninoff: Zenph Re-performance (Audio CD)

As a software engineer at Zenph Studios, I am especially proud of the work our production team did on this album. Rachmaninoff's compositions are well known, but this album brings to light his amazing artistry as a pianist. Listen, for example, to this performance of his famous C-sharp minor prelude; he plays it with much more subtlety than most modern interpretations, using dynamic contrast to establish a captivating dialog between one voice tolling the opening three-note motif and other distinctly-softer voices answering it.

The other pieces on the album are also pianistic treats. Rachmaninoff's transcriptions of "Flight of the Bumblebee" and "Scherzo from a Midsummer Night's Dream" showcase his dexterity, and are great fun to hear. The intricacy of voicing and rubato in Rachmaninoff's performances of his original works is astounding, and each track is packed full of little musical surprises.

This album was re-performed on a 1909 Steinway model D on which Rachmaninoff may have very well played. Thanks to recording engineer Richard King and everyone involved in the preparation of the piano, the sound of that wonderful instrument comes through beautifully in this album. This disc presents each piece from two perspectives: an exceptional stereo version places you near the front of the audience while Rachmaninoff plays, and an intimate binaural stereo version seats you on the bench next to him. The binaural version was recorded using a special dummy head with a microphone in each ear, carefully positioned so that when the tracks are played back through headphones, each note comes from its correct place in space (lower notes toward the left, higher notes toward the right). This may be one of the best sounding piano albums ever made.

The first two posted reviews warn that this is not a SACD like our first two releases. We would have loved to issue this in SACD surround, and Sony Masterworks recorded the masters necessary to do so (so, they exist), but Sony has since closed its SACD pressing facilities in the USA.

22 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating re-creation, December 27, 2009

By 

Alan Lekan (Boulder, CO) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rachmaninoff Plays Rachmaninoff: Zenph Re-performance (Audio CD)

In addition to being one of the most important composers of the early 20th century to emerge out of Russia, Sergei Rachmaninoff was also one of the great pianists in the history of the instrument. Famous for his large hands that spaned a twelfth interval, capivating and nuanced melodic textures and complex figurations, Rachmaninoff's playing has always fascinated pianists and music lovers.

This modern recreation - using softwear analyzing his playing dynamics (touch, pedeling, speed etc) that is then fed to a Steineway Grand - seeks to recreate Rachmaninoff's exact style (minus missed notes, good or bad) in modern, quality stereo sound. Whether one agrees to its relevance and authenticity in the scheme of things, it is a totally fascinating approach from sound science and engineering.

First of all this is a rich collection of Rachmaninoff's solo piano compositions and transcriptions. I was not so familiar with Rachmaninoff's solo works until this disc and was transfixed to hear each piece over and over. It became clear why this pianist is so admired.

What I found most striking listening to this disc with no expectations was the exceedingly nuanced and beautiful pianism. There is a smoothness and a fresh, organic nature to the playing that shows no unnecessary/excessive elaboration, rubato, over pedaling. Its hard to decribe the effect - the music just seeems to flow effortlessly like a clear stream of water through a tranquil forest. You don't hear mushed-over textures from excess pedaling (which the composer was known not to engage in) but nice, clear sonorities and distinctiveness of the notes.

Not sure why so much negative press on the sound quality. From my ears, it sounds equal or better than any of the other 1000 classical discs. Of course SACD would have been ideal and that is a disappointment (but apparently not technically possible at time of recording - see first review). The bottom line for this reviewer was that I appreciated this project which has really pulled me into the world of Rachmaninoff - both as a fascinating composer and a supreme pianist. Compositions - 5 stars; Performance - 5 stars; Sound quality - 4.5 stars.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worthy CD for the collection, December 31, 2009

By 

Michael Lepp (Saugus, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rachmaninoff Plays Rachmaninoff: Zenph Re-performance (Audio CD)

This is a very well done recording. Too often, CD sound is overly compressed but the dynamic range of this is wonderful. I tend to increase the volume when playing this CD since the overall average volume is lower - this really enhances the enjoyment and emotional power of the music.

I know people may have trouble with the Zenph concept, but I find the concept intriguing and the execution on this CD is very well done. Until there is time travel, this is a real treat.

Be aware that there are 13 tracks on this CD: 1 - 13 are recorded in standard stereo and then repeated as 14 - 26 in binaural stereo for headphones. I would rather have thius split into 2 separate discs but that is a nit.