Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos ~ Anievas

Rachmaninov (Composer), Anievas (Conductor), New Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: New Philharmonia Orchestra
• Conductor: Anievas
• Composer: Rachmaninov
• Audio CD (June 25, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000002SCS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #432,354 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprised by the Quality!, November 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos ~ Anievas (Audio CD)

This one really surprised me. I have recordings of Argerich playing the 3rd, and Richter playing the 2nd (still one of my favorites), and an old Horowitz (on the 3rd), and an Ashkenazy. But when I decide I want to listen to the 2nd or 3rd, most of the time my hand reaches for this one. I frankly had never even heard of Anievas, but I love the spaciousness of his playing, the sheer lustre of it. And the New Philharmonia is on the same page too, which is more than I can saw of the Concertebouw (for the Argerich).

Really a fine set.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heavenly performance of Rachmoninov's piano concertos., September 21, 1999

By 

Mandana Sheybani ([e-mail]) (Boca Raton, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos ~ Anievas (Audio CD)

This is a performance beyond any other. The orchestra sounds great, the pianist, Agustin Anievas, is incredible. There is so much harmony amongst the music, the piano and the orchestra. Rachmaninov's piano concertos(2 &3 specially) touch the soul, Agustin's amazing and the orchestra is no less, together they make this performance so fulfilling that you cannot wish anything was any different.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Joy from Beginning to End, July 5, 2004

By 

J Scott Morrison (Middlebury VT, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos ~ Anievas (Audio CD)

I was asked recently by a young man just discovering the joys of classical music if I knew of any recordings of the Rachmaninov concerti that I would recommend. It didn't take me a second to reply, 'Why, yes! Agustin Anievas.' Of course, this is not a name that most people would come up with. But I've been a fan of Anievas ever since perhaps forty years ago when I heard him play, in recital, a transcendent Chopin Op. 10 Études set. And he has recorded those, along with the Op. 25 set, brilliantly (and they're available here at Amazon, too, for a budget price). Anievas, an American pianist who has been the long-time chairman of the piano department at Brooklyn College, is noted for his musical insight coupled with brilliant technique. No matter what he plays he mixes Dionysian energy with Apollonian balance with utter clarity. This, for me, is the perfect combination for the Rachmaninov concerti and Rhapsody. And that's what we get here. Add to that the superb support of the New Philharmonia (as it was then called) at a time in its history when one of its most compelling characteristics was its rich, luscious playing. Perfect.

Of course, another plus for this set is its budget price. I supposed that's because these performances were recorded about thirty-five years ago, but they are in sterling sound. There are three conductors: Frühbeck de Burgos for Concertos 1 & 4, Moshe Atzmon for Concerto 2 and the Rhapsody, and Aldo Ceccato for Concerto 3. There is really nothing to choose between them; they are all quite good. I have, frankly, never heard better recordings of Nos. 1 and 4, those unfortunately rarely-played stepchildren in Rachmaninov's concerto output. And the Third is easily one of the top three, in my book.

An easy recommendation.

Scott Morrison