Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3 [Original recording remastered]

Sergey Rachmaninov (Artist), Esa-Pekka Salonen (Artist), Philharmonia Orchestra of London (Artist), Yefim Bronfman (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 11, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00005NWO2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,069 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Full-Price Re-Issue!, May 17, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3 (Audio CD)

Don't be fooled by the "Essential Classics" and budget price on this disc; as recently as 3 - 4 years ago this was a full-price recording made in the early 1990s. Sony deserves much praise for making this very competitive recording available in a re-issue.

I concur with other reviewers. This disc is a compelling issue among the crowded field of these two concertos. The recording of the 2nd, in my view, is the best I have heard (easily standing among those of Ashkenazy, LSO or Andrei Gavrilov, Philadelphia).

The recording of the 3rd has the most striking conclusion of any version I have heard. Bronfman has a weighty and powerful approach to the music in both recordings.

It was heartening to see in the early 90s, when this recording, was issued, that Bronfman and Salonen forged a pianist-conductor team reminiscent of some of the previous great duos (Previn-Ashkenazy, Horenstein-Wild, etc.) who recorded these pieces over the years.

I strongly recommend this disc.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It doesn't get much better than this, January 25, 2004

By 

A. Fondacaro "NiaTonyF" (Silverdale, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3 (Audio CD)

Bronfman is one of my absolute favorite contemporary pianists, and this album is the main reason why, the other reason was his visit to Cincinnati Symphony a year ago with an absolutely flawless performance.

This recording does every bit of the "Rach three" justice and then some. Bronfman handles the transitions in the first movement between the fortissimo and pianissimo parts with the most natural expressionism I think I've heard. I've heard a lot of criticism from others that his choice to use the alternate cadenzas (written by Rachmaninoff after the fact) sort of cheapens the recording, as the only real "Rach three" is the original composition with the original cadenzas (incidentally, I have a Telarc recording of Rachmaninoff plays Rachmaninoff with him playing the original cadenzas, and I like the alternate). The problem I have with that criticism is that Bronfman unleashes some wicked wrath on the piano when he gets to the cadenzas that you can't help but lose every thought in your head. And then, with seemingly no strain, he goes from "fff" to "ppp" like he was born to do it.

He pulls off the same prodigiousness on the 2nd concerto, setting the brooding mood early and typically acting like a genius throughout.

I guess I just too many good things to say about Bronfman. He's coming back to Cincy in May, and you'll bet I'll be in the front row.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic performance, February 6, 2004

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3 (Audio CD)

I first heard this recording on WOUS's classical music station. It is one of the best recordings of the "Rach 3" I have heard....strong and masterful with a wonderful orchestra. I had the pleasure of hearing Rachmaninoff play his 2nd Piano Concerto in 1939 and what I remember impressing me was his great strength. This has that same strength. The initial chords project a pathos that is very moving.