Customer Reviews

Rachmaninov: The Symphonies

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This particular collection of Rachmaninov's symphonies is my personal favorite. In particular, the 2nd symphony stands out as being not only the highlight of the set but my favorite performance to date. Andre Previn's recording of the 2nd is a good one as well, but when you compare the playing of the Concertgebouw with the orchestra on Previn's recording, you can immediately tell there is a different level of ability in the orchestras. There is a strong cohesiveness in the playing that is not evident in the Previn performance. Also, Ashkenazy is more convincing in how he builds the Adagio (3rd movement).

The first and third symphonies are also very well played and are great performances. Although, neither have attained the status of popularity as that of the second, both are important pieces of music in the Rachmaninov repetoire. Ashkenazy brings as much attention to detail and feeling on these two symphonies as he does on Symphony No. 2.

The 'filler' pieces actually are some of the true highlights of the set. For example, you'll be hard pressed to find a better performance of "Isle of the Dead". First of all, it's not an often-recorded work, and second, Ashkenazy has a full sense of how this piece is supposed to work. Filled with darkness, the listener is sure to hear what Rachmaninov was trying to convey. The playing again is crisp, detailed, and full (due to the excellent recording of London/Decca)

Vladimir Ashkenazy's love of Rachmaninov's music is evident not only on the keyboard, but also at the podium. His conducting of Rachmaninov's music is absolutely first rate, with an ample mix of passion and precision. I am certain that these fine recordings undoubtedly helped raise his stature as a noteworthy conductor. Under his direction, Bernard Haitink's Concertgebouw Orchestra gives distinguished, technically perfect performances steeped in emotion. Their level of playing is superior to the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra's under Lorin Maazel's baton (Maazel and the BPO recorded a set of Rachmaninov's symphonies for Deutsche Grammophon around the time of Ashkenazy's recordings.). The best performance of Ashkenazy's Rachmaninov cycle has to be that of the Second Symphony, but the others, especially those of the tone poems, are almost as good too. Of course, Decca's sound engineers did a wonderful job capturing the Concertgebouw's (the orchestra's hall, that is) warm acoustics. If these aren't the definitive recordings of Rachmaniov's symphonies, then they ought to be.

Three cd's, affordable price, quality recordings and most importantly beautiful music. All of the discs are worth your time but the best is the second one.The Isle of the Dead is entrancing. Its dark, foreboding theme builds and crashes time and time again. The second symphony can leave me in tears. The 3rd movement to me is what it sounds like to fall in love. A note played near the end of the piece breaks my heart everytime I hear it. The 4th movement ends with such an explosion that I sometimes laugh due to being overwhelmed by the pounding sounds of triumph!This is very powerful music. If you like lush orchestral works I can't think of a better set to own.

Wow. I have always loved Rachmaninov, and Ashkenazy has never disappointed with his interpretations, so I was willing to give him a shot as a conductor. I was not very familiar with Rachamninov's symphonic works before I bought this set, but my love for him has only increased as I see his abilities as a symphonist. The second symphony is the most easily understood, and is one of the most beautiful pieces written in the twentieth century. For those who still consider Rachmaninov purely romantic I encourage them to listen to the First Symphony and the Symphonic Dances. They have elements of Rachmaninov's lyrical romantic style, but possess an edginess and a dark fire that is lacking in any comparable Romantic composer's (Tchaikovsky?) work. His choral symphony is a marvel to listen to, and chilling in its ability to convey action through music (if you buy this set I encourage you to read the words along with the music). The Isle of the Dead is similarly chilling and icily beautiful. Did I mention you can get this whole miraculous set for (dollar amount)? If you are a fan of Rachmaninov you can't pass this set up.

Different people have different tastes. Without wishing to malign those who don't care as much (or at all) for this set, I'll dare say that this set is an absolute classic. [Why go only for the 2-disc set of just the symphonies instead of getting also Ostróv Mjórtvïkh (The Isle of the Dead), the Symphonic Dances and Kolokóla (The Bells) that come automatically as part of this 3-disc set?]

It was the Ashkenazy recording of Ostróv Mjórtvïkh that introduced me to what has since become my favourite symphonic poem ever (roll over Richard Strauss - this one together with Schönberg's "Pelléas et Mélisande" take the cake!) as well as the Symphonic Dances - and also Kolokóla as well as the 1st & 3rd Symphonies. [Prévin did as much for the 2nd Symphony in my case and his recording is a more than worthy competitor - his and this one are as good as tied for top spot in my honest opinion - get them BOTH if possible!!!!] At all times, these interpretations proved Sjergjéy Vassíljevich Rakhmáñinov as one of the greatest composers of the 1850-1950 period, even if he wasn't the most prolific (my biggest regret is that death stopped him from benefitting us organists with an Organ Concerto meant for Charles Courboin). [He was the type that could only concentrate on one thing at a time - be it composition, piano concertising, or conducting, at all of which he was outstanding; however, when he went into exile after the Russian Revolutions, he found himself mainly working as one of the greatest pianists of all time in order to secure his future and feed his family.] Obviously his mentor Pjótr Iljích Chaykóvskiy was a powerful influence on him; however, Rakhmáñinov never loses his individuality at any point!

Certainly his symphonic output is uniformly high: his 1st Symphony, while not always the most cohesive at times, still deserved a heck of a lot better fate than it received at the hands of Glazunóv - it's extremely inspired and there's no question that it deserves a high place in the repertoire. The 3rd Symphony - and the Symphonic Dances - not only proved that Rakhmáñinov had lost none of his mastery or inspiration in exile; they're both absolute masterpieces in their own right! [As to the 2nd, it would be my 2nd-favourite symphony, period, right behind Chaykóvskiy's 6th (Pathétique). The 3rd movement, if a question of falling in love for some, is for me a point of grieving for a lost love (which is very much still in my life after many years - I still cry bitterly on hearing this and the 1st movement!) and letting gradually go, though with greatest pain...] Finally, Kolokóla: another great masterpiece (the 2nd movement is especially moving and wonderful!).

Most definitely, Ashkenazy does full justice to all of these works. Of course, one can disagree with this or that aspect or instant in this or that work (e.g., I could have wished a slower accelerando in the 2nd movement of the Symphonic Dances from the waltz tempo - that way one misses the otherwise obvious allusion to Chaykóvskiy's "Flowers' Waltz" from Shchjeljkúnchik {Nutcracker}); however, the overall merits of these recordings truly deserve the fullest 5 stars possible - I'd myself go for 6! Go get it in all events!!!!

This album contains all of Rachmaninov's major orchestral works, which includes his three symphonies, the tone poem Isle of the Dead, the Bells (based on a Russian translation of the Edgar Allen Poe poem) and the Symphonic Dances, his final work. The performances are all among the finest available, combining as they do Ashkenazy's deep affinity for the idiom, first rate orchestral playing, and excellent sound of considerable clarity, bass extension and dynamic range. Furthermore, you get all this for a superbudget price. End of story.

This is an outstanding set, with the exception of the Symphonic Dances, where Ashkenazy conveys some of the passion in this work but doesn't attain nearly the same level of emotional intensity as Kondrashin's or Temirkanov's versions.

The rest of this 3-CD set, consisting of the three symphonies and the Isle of the Dead, is outstanding. In the symphonies, the balance and the dynamic interplay between the strings, horns, and winds are brought out beautifully and the sound quality is crystal clear. The Isle of the Dead is very movingly performed, from the opening passage, where Ashkenazy establishes a somber ominous mood, to the sweeping majesty of the most powerful moments.

For The Symphonic Dances, however, a fantastically passionate performance of this work is the 1963 recording by the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, with Kiril Kondrashin as conductor (RCA; Catalog # 32046; ASIN: B000003ETI). With Kondrashin, the power and passion of The Symphonic Dances sweeps the listener away and takes him to an inspirational level. The performance is so burning hot that it throws off sparks. However, this CD may be out-of-print.

Another passionate interpretation of The Symphonic Dances is the 1992 recording by Yuri Temirkanov and the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra (RCA; Catalog Number 62710; ASIN: B000003FRT). The Temirkanov CD also has a beautiful and moving performance of the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, with the pianist Dmitri Alexeev.

The CD booklet for this box set with Ashkenazy conducting has a well-written, detailed, and informative essay on all of the compositions. The full text of The Bells, based on a reinterpretation of Edgar Allan Poe's verses by the Russian symbolist poet Konstantin Balmont (1867 - 1943), is also included in Russian, English, French, and German.

Highly recommended, with the additional recommendation of supplementing this set with Kondrashin's or Temirkanov's recording of The Symphonic Dances.

These were outstanding recordings when they were released individually in the 1980's, and as a complete set they make quite a bargain. Ashkenazy finds just the right tempi in most cases, particularly in the spectacular Symphonic Dances, one of the best versions of this piece ever recorded. Somehow he manages to combine his no-nonsense approach while still letting Rachmaninov's long melodic lines glow.

The dark Concertgebouw tone suits this program perfectly. If the First and Third Symphonies aren't exactly the composer at his most inspired (don't get me wrong -- not bad, just not his best), you are not likely to hear either one performed as dazzlingly as they are here. Many listeners will already have a recording of the Second Symphony, probably the composer's most popular work, and I'm not convinced that Ashkenazy's is the one and only, but you may want it just for the quality of the playing from the orchestra. And there is no shortage of good recordings of the Isle of the Dead, either, but again, the mood conjured up here is considerable.

In short, this is an excellent set -- gorgeously played, and spectacularly recorded. And now it's at a price that makes it hard to beat.

Vladimir Ashkenazy can now be considered "The Compleat Rachmaninov Performer," having performed and recorded his countryman's concertante works, solo piano music, chamber music, choral music--and the major symphonic works, which are gathered in a generously filled and enticingly low-priced 3-CD box. The Russian soulfulness and emotionality (often bordering on melancholy) and nervous energy that drove Rachmaninov's music come to the fore here, especially by comparison to the more lush and langorous approach of Andre Previn (whose EMI set containing almost all the same works included here, except for "The Bells," is a fine achievement in its own right). Unlike another very Russian-sounding complete set--the Evgeny Svetlanov cycle from the early 1960s, reissued on CD some years back on Melodiya--the recorded sound is easy on the ear, showing that some early-digital productions hold up well today.

The one slightly weak item here is the "Symphonic Dances," Rachmaninov's last completed major work, which in Ashkenazy's hands is merely a stunning showcase for a virtuoso orchestra (but what a showcase, and what an orchestra). Other conductors, including Previn and the late Kyrill Kondrashin, found more depth in this enigmatic triptych. However, this set's "weak link" is stronger than some other sets' highlights. The three numbered symphonies could hardly be bettered, but for me the high watermark is the choral symphony "The Bells," which Rachmaninov considered his own finest work. In this performance, it's easy to understand why.

Rachmaninov was the last romantic composer, and he was heavily influenced by his idol, Tchaikovsky. However, his music has a certain texturing and flair that is unique to Rachmaninov. His first symphony was a spectacular failure, which, upon hearing the piece, was an absolute shock to me. The only logical reason for this disaster would have to be that its premiere conductor (Glazunov) arrived at the podium tanked up on vodka. Damn you Glazunov. Symphony number one in D minor is a spectacular piece, though its inner movements do contain some rather dull moments. All of the previous reviewers have commented on the second symphony, so all I'm going to say about it is that it's a breathtaking piece, and Askenazy does it a great justice, most outstandingly in the second and third movements.

The Isle of Dead is (in my personal opinion) one of the, if not THE, greatest pieces ever written. It opens with a foreboding timpani beat accompanied by the orchestra, shortly followed by a brilliant 5/4 motif that is steadily repeated over and over with subtle variations. Soon, another simple motif is introduced the horns. From here the music builds, incorporating new themes and ingeniously colored orchestration until it reaches a climatic recapitulation. Over the course of the piece (last over 20 minutes) one goes though an assortment of emotions that are all overshadowed by a terrible aura of gloom. I became so entranced by this piece that I bought a reproduction of the painting Rachmaninov was inspired by. A link to a site were the painting can be bought is as follows:

...

In looking at this magnificent piece of art, I could interpret for myself what Rachmaninov had written in his music. The 5/4 repeated motif is meant to represent the slow paddling of oars in dark water. In my mind, the boat in the painting is a vessel traveling to hell, and the music depicts the collection of feelings one might have when knowing they are doomed to hell: regret, anger, fear, reminiscence, foreboding to name a few. There are some more bright themes in the piece, however Rachmaninov is sure never to let the pieces mood of overwhelming eeriness be lifted. The piece in ends the perfect cadence, as if a doomed soul on the way to hell has accepted his fate.

I recommend this CD most strongly to anyone who likes Tchaikovsky, Rimsky Korsakov, or Debussy, however anyone can enjoy such beautiful music.