Customer Reviews

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2/Vocalise

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Rachmaninoff is the height of lyrical beauty among romantic composers. His melodies are sophisticated yet never esoteric. His phrases never dead end; they weave into each other with purposeful continuity. His transitions are seamless. The first movement sends the listener skimming across a bright, sometimes brooding landscape at a leisurely glide. After the free-falling second movement, the adagio settles into one of the most beautiful melodies ever penned. Just when you have been lulled into a satisfied stupor the finale lets loose with fourteen minutes of unbridled joy. The Vocalise that follows provides the perfect denouement. Sylvia McNair deftly sings the part of the wordless siren, seductive and alluring. The orchestral balance is perfect, moving underneath as if she herself controlled it with her voice. Zinman and Telarc capture the best of the Baltimore Symphony and the depth of the recording is incredible. This is a top-notch performance.

As an admirer of all things Rachmaninoff, I am terminally biased. I am also rather uncritical of anyone talented enough to perform his work. The second symphony is a great joy to hear, but Sylvia McNair's singular performance of the Vocalise is what sends me on this recording. The subtle power of her voice is beyond compare and smoothly lifts the Vocalise securely into stellar territory, where it most certainly belongs.

It doesn't matter why you buy this recording. It will quickly get the better of you-and so will your fondness for Rachmaninoff.

David Zinnman and the Baltimore Symphony, with a little help from the Telarc Engineers deliver a performance full of sizzle and electricity. There is none of the heavy handed Russian style here. Nor is the smaltzy, syrupy style heard here. Rachmoninov's music gets to speak for itself! All the eloquence is here and Sylvia McMair's performance of "Vocalise" is just stunning. Icing on the cake, or the bubbles in the champaigne.

A great recording of the 2nd symphony adorns this disc, but the real star is the vocalise. Too often is this gorgeous piece arranged with a violin solo instead. But McNair's beautiful interpretation makes this one far superior to anything else. Buy it, if only for the vocalise.

The quote from Rachmaninoff in the booklet says it all: music "is love", and this tremendous recording does great justice to the musical intent of the great master. If aliens from another galaxy came to planet Earth and wanted to understand what music is, I would first play them the third movement from the second symphony. It is ravishing, it is nearly beyond human comprehension. I simply cannot listen to it without having a box of tissues handy. With the super budget price, stop everything and purchase this recording now.