Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27

Detroit Symphony Orchestra (Artist, Orchestra), Rachmaninov (Composer), Leonard Slatkin (Conductor) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Detroit Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Leonard Slatkin
• Composer: Rachmaninov
• Audio CD (January 26, 2010)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B002WEC73K
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #110,440 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The Washington Post, Mark J. Estren, March 24, 2010

Leonard Slatkin was known in his 12 years at the National Symphony Orchestra for championing less-played 20th-century American music. But on his first EDITED TO ADD: Naxos recording as music director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, he conducts works so tried-and-true that they could easily become tiresome. They don't, thanks to the skill of the Detroit musicians, but these are still performances that have more visceral appeal than staying power.

The quality of the string and brass playing in Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2 is the CD's strongest point. The orchestra stays together at all speeds and in all rhythms: In this live recording, there is none of the under-rehearsal that often marred Slatkin's NSO performances. The Detroit Symphony's polished sound is not ideal for Russian romanticism, but its evenness is attractive, especially at Slatkin's often-speedy tempos. Some fast sections seem almost perfunctory, as it Slatkin wants to get through them to wallow in the symphony's broadly expansive themes. This is most noticeable in the scherzo, whose opening is so heady as to sound breathless. But it is also apparent in the sprawling first movement, whose beginning is more menacing than melancholy and whose second theme is slowed to the point of ponderousness. (And Slatkin omits the first-movement exposition repeat.)

Yet this reading as a whole has considerable dramatic power, with an effective first-movement climax and some beautiful clarinet playing in the slow movement. Its perfunctory conclusion, though, is a disappointment, as if the finale builds to nothing.

The CD also includes Rachmaninoff's famous Vocalise, which is played with beauty but a slight overdose of swooning expressiveness.

Product Description

In the wake of his First Symphony's catastrophic première, Rachmaninov took a decade
before commencing his Second, painstakingly revising it before conducting the triumphant
première in 1908. Although haunted, like his First, by the Dies irae chant melody, the
Second Symphony brims with Rachmaninov's revitalised assurance as a composer, from
its brooding opening to the vigorous grandeur of its conclusion. Eric Carmen borrowed
the third movement's poignant theme for his popular song Never Gonna Fall In Love
Again, a tribute to the enduring power of Rachmaninov's Romantic genius.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They're back!, January 26, 2010

By 

Ryan Richards "reb77" (Midland, MI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27 (Audio CD)

What a coup for Naxos to land Slatkin and the Detroit Symphony in their roster! And how nice it is to hear my home-state orchestra recording again, starting things off the right way with a killer Rach 2.

I've heard two other recordings of this symphony: The echt-Russian Temirkanov reading that impressed me with its intensity, and the Ashkenazy recording that was notable for the way it caressed individual moments within the larger framework. Slatkin charts a third course, focusing on generating an unwavering forward momentum in each movement. This doesn't necessarily mean he's faster than the rest (though he does shave a minute off Temirkanov's already quick timing in the Scherzo); he just keeps his focus on the long line of each movement and refuses to let the symphony bog down in its own weight. Playing snippets of this new recording against either of the other two recordings above doesn't work to the newcomer's advantage; played straight through, however, Slatkin's reading ends up being more compelling than either of them. He manages to weave this sometimes sprawling work into a coherent whole, and the "rightness" and confidence of his vision, coupled with the top-shelf playing of the DSO, make this warhorse symphony sound new again. That's as good a definition of a classical-music success as I can think of, and I'm proud to add this recording to my shelf alongside the other two.

(This is a live recording, but the well-behaved audience is virtually silent until they explode after the last note. It's the perfect cap to a wonderful performance.)

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Performance - Must Have!, January 26, 2010

By 

Thomas Kukla (Grand Rapids, MI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27 (Audio CD)

Being a DSO supporter, listener, and follower since the 1950's, I must admit the rejuvenated Maestro Slatkin (recently recovered from a heart attack) has turned in a winning performance of the Rachmaninov 2nd symphony with beautiful playing by, I believe, one of the finest American orchestras today, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra! The 3rd movement, in particular, is played with wonderful phrasing and sonority.
Bravo! to this performance, one that I MUST give only the highest recommendation of hearing and owning if Rachmaninov is your "cup of tea".

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Detroit Symphony & Slatkin, November 4, 2010

By 

Samuel D. Thomas "sd thomas" (Charleston, SC) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27 (Audio CD)

I lived in Michigan when Paray was conductor of the Detroit Symphony. I was too dumb then to know how good it was. This recording with the new conductor, Slatkin, in their old Symphony Hall is really good and won't disappoint anyone. At the same time, the Previn/Royal Philharmonic recording won't either. The sonics of the Telarc eclipse those of this Naxos.