Customer Reviews

Rachmaninov: Symphonies 1 - 3

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In my years of buying classical CDs I would consider these two discs to stand among the most truly distinctive and excellent recordings that I have ever owned. I have heard very few recordings of any composer's music that rival this set on combined criteria of recording engineering, artistic interpretation, and sheer listening excitement. In addtion, I would place these recordings among the very finest I have ever heard conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy and of the London/Decca recording company.

The First Symphony, whose traumatic premiere still seems to haunt Rachmaninoff by the very writing of it by 20th century commentators, is thoroughly vindicated in this recording. Ashkenazy manages to produce high drama and a peerless musical response from the Concertgebouw Orchestra. You will find it a superb alternative to other recordings available.

The Second Symphony, in which the highest degree of competition exists among other outstanding recordings, Ashkenazy elicits a first-rate recording and interpretation. The first movement allows the listener to hear with great detail the full dimension and scale of the great Concertgebouw Orchestra. The early 1980s recording quality of this--and the other two--symphony are of the highest demonstration quality.

The Third Symphony is my favorite. Ashkenazy brings out the Slavic qualities intended by the composer. In the exposition, which is repeated in the first movement--something not found in all recordings, caution--the bells of the orchestra show the Russian Orthodox overtones to this work. The second and third movements are full of emotion and energy. You will find passages that offer sublime drama, a strong understanding of the composer's intentions, and window-rattling sound reproduction.

These are beautiful recordings. I offer an unqualified recommendation to anyone interested. And as a two-for-the-price-of-one these recordings are of unparalleled value.

These set the modern standard for the Rachmaninov symphonies. Ashkenazy shows a remarkable affinity for the music. The little known 1st is given a performance that justifies its revival in the repertory. The uncut 2nd is breathtakingly beautiful. Ashkenazy allows it all its "heavenly length" - the complex textures of the first movement, the stunningly energetic scherzo, the beautifully languorous adagio, the delightful cascading "bells" of the last movement. My favorite, however, is the underrated 3rd, for which Ashkenazy displays uncannily "right" tempi throughout. Many conductors luxuriate in the lovely, diving violin solo in the second movement, and no exception here, but how many capture the logic of the final minutes of the symphony? Ashkenazy and the Concertgebouw get it just right - the late, nostalgic revery, and then, quietly at first, the build up to an exhilerating, final frenzy. With other conductors this can seem confused or forced, but here the denouement is perfectly paced and has an inevitable logic that is wonderfully satisfying. Every time I listen to this, I feel a glow of pleasure at having bought these recordings.

All symphonies. As far as I am concerned, particularly symphonie 1 is very allright. The others are good too, but this one number one is really brilliant. Warm music. Picture a group of Chossacs preparing for battle on horse with horns for this music. Absolute. Almost evrything this Ashkenazy does with Rach music is great.

Well, Ashkenazy's Rachmaninov here is my favorite version! I've had many years of LP, CD and radio listening to Rachy, and this recording never once stops being the most expressive, dashing and beautiful orchestra for Rachmaninov's symphonies. I think Rachmaninov's music needs always to have a haunting quality - that some performers leave out. During his life, critics said that he was a romantic, but - they're wrong. He's modern - and needed a psychiatrist to cure his depression before he could write his second piano concerto. And no romantic composer had the haunting quality of Rachmaninov. Plus, when I played his music on the piano, some of it had several sharps in the key signature - no romantic wrote that way. Enuf said.

Friends, I cannot possibly tell you how pleased I am with this disc. I like my Rachmaninov done with tremendous zest and spirit, with soul-piercing sadness and beauty. But I don't like it exaggerated or turned into a sentimentality bath, which can easily happen with this music. When Rachmaninov is exaggerated, all the beauty leaves and the listener is left with vulgar emotion that is entirely dispensable. But, thank God, Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Concertgebouw have taken what I consider the superior former route.

Don't get me wrong. While our musicians don't overstate the music, they're doing anything but sitting still. This is Rachmaninov that shines for its daring, with the fleetest of orchestras delving into their music. Every page has something new, something special. I hope my enthusiasm has been contagious enough to make you want to buy this CD, but I do want to go into a bit more detail on the individual performances of the symphonies.

The Symphony No. 1 is one that was a total failure at its first performance. Admittedly, this symphony pales in comparison to the succeeding 2nd. But Ashkenazy's insight here leaves me wondering why we don't hear it more often. It's a fresh, youthful work. The Concertgebouw thrives; the music is full of drama and punch that disguises the fact that Rachmaninov still hasn't reached his maturity. If there's going to be a recording that helps this symphony gain recognition, this just might be it.

No matter what you'll think of this performance of the 1st symphony, there's no denying that the 2nd provides a richer musical experience. I thought Ashkenazy was in shape in the 1st symphony, but he surpasses himself here. I doubt I'll ever hear the opening of 1st movement played so achingly beautifully again. It is passionate, yet unburdened. Ashkenazy conducts in a way that makes the music sound as if though we're hearing it for the first time. He skillfully maneuvers through all the tosses and turns of the symphony, but he doesn't smooth things out either. Ashkenazy never seems lost in the complexity of the piece, staying control in the most climatic of moments while never inhibiting the orchestra. In the Adagio, Ashkenazy maintains a feeling of breadth, ingeniously building up to the climax. And prepare to be swept of your feet in the finale; could the music be more exhilarating?

The 3rd symphony, like the 1st, has received undeserved neglect. The Concertgebouw's recording of it is consistently interesting. It's actually a great piece, even if it doesn't have all the wonderful melodies of the 2nd. It's certainly more mature than the 1st symphony. Buying this recording, I was quite pleasantly surprised at how ingenious the material is. In this work, Rachmaninov comes closer to modernism than in any other work I've heard by him, particularly in the opening movement. But he never loses his famed passion and melancholy. Ashkenazy brings the music out in a touching way that can only help this symphony's chances of receiving greater recognition.

In closing, this is a winner. Buy yourself the disc, whether you're a Rachmaninov connoisseur or a new to the composer. There are few chances of disappointment.

Decca long ago positioned Vladimir Ashkenazy as a splashy conductor worthy of top-flight orchestras and gorgeous sonics (i.e., a kind of Russian Andre Previn). He's never been an inspired interpreter, however, and once you get past the extravert manner and the Royal Concertgebouw's ravishing playing, ideas are thin on the ground here. Arguably, Rachmaninov doesn't need ideas -- his lush music plays itself as easily as a Korngold film score, with all the swoon and a touch of the sleaziness -- but every composer deserves inspiration.

Here the three symphonies are played vigorously, with lots of splashy effects but not much soul or sensitivity. David Hurwitz can always be counted on for a laugh, and his point that the First Sym. is "closely argued" is like saying that Milton's 'Paradise Lost' is terse. Rachmaninov wrote only one masterpiece in the genre, the Second Sym., and that's the one that Ashkenazy needs to prove his mettle by. I don't think he does. His good friend Previn plays the score with twice the excitement and conviciton (EMI), and any number of Russians -- Temirkanov, Bychkov, Jansons, Svetlanov -- find more to say in this music beyond Technicolor melodies.

Rachmaninov's rambling, discursive style needs lots of advocacy from the podium to get us over long stretches of dog paddling, and Ashkenazy doesn't do that. I am giving four stars msotly for sound and orchestra, both of which are superb.

RECEIVED THE DISC WITHIN 5 DAYS OF ORDERING VIA FIRST CLASS MAIL.EXCELLENT SERVICE GREAT RECORDING AND GREAT EXTERIOR QUALITY OF C/D.
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SINCERELY.
ROBERT G. BROWN.

Ashkenazy is the best interpreter of Rachmaninov's music, be it piano or symphonic works. This set is incredible, and I would heartily recommend it to anyone!

This significan work of Rachmaninov I think is the beginning of his career as a compositor. The perfect match of sounds, and the use of exact mottos to create this masterpiece of the classical music during the beginning of the last century. It take him about five months to compose the second symphony, three months to get the first movement and two months to get the other two movements, time enough to improve and perform every single detail of this magnificent symphony covered by a tiny and complex cape of armonic sounds, a rich variety of inventions. This "music designer" deservers our time to enjoy this masterpiece, and I think He wish us to take our time to taste every note and every sound of this entire structure, this righorously compose structure, appealing and affecting. The transformation of the mottos in every symphony give us an example of Rachmaninov's essence and give the sharp of the symphony. I feel very good when I listen to it, it's a beautiful masterpiece that everyone should listen.