Symphonies 1-3 / Vocalise

Rachmaninoff (Artist), Ormandy (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 18, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000029YU
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #237,832 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27: 1. Largo. Allegro molto

2. Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27: 2. Allegro molto

3. Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27: 3. Adagio

4. Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27: 4. Allegro vivace

5. Symphony No. 1 in D minor, Op. 13 (lost; reconstructed from piano duets and orch. fragments): 1. Grave. Allegro ma non troppo

6. Symphony No. 1 in D minor, Op. 13 (lost; reconstructed from piano duets and orch. fragments): 2. Allegro animato

Disc: 2

1. Symphony No. 1 in D minor, Op. 13 (lost; reconstructed from piano duets and orch. fragments): 3. Larghetto

2. Symphony No. 1 in D minor, Op. 13 (lost; reconstructed from piano duets and orch. fragments): 4. Allegro con fuoco

3. Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 44: 1. Lento. Allegro molto

4. Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 44: 2. Adagio ma non troppo

5. Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 44: 3. Allegro

6. Vocalise, transcription for orchestra, Op. 34/14

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Old-world magic, June 14, 2000

By 

"jrhee_99" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Symphonies 1-3 / Vocalise (Audio CD)

All the pieces on this set are well played and nicely recorded for a recording of its age. The most outstanding to me, however, is the piece with which I have had the most experience, both as a musician and a record collector-- The 2nd Symphony.

And what a performance it is! The strings singing out in the lyrical passages, while in the fast ones, Ormandy takes us on a wild rollercoaster. So much has been made of Kurt Sanderling's version on DG. And truly his is a wonderful reading, very passionate and sincere. Compared to Ormandy's, however, it is very straightfoward, and may even sound a little square. Indeed, having lived with both versions for a while, the old-fashioned quirks of Ormandy's reading have made it my favorite version to listen to for both fascination and enjoyment. (For a most telling example, sample the third movement, midway through, and you will hear the violins pull back, then enter into what surely must be the boldest, most unashamed glissando one could hear in a performance of this work... and I've heard quite a few!) This is old-world subjectivism and romanticism at its best! And the recording, while certainly not crystal clear as today's modern recordings go, only adds to the old-fashioned charm and magic. What else could be expected from the orchestra and conductor that pioneered Rachmaninov's work for so many years? A great first choice for these works, and a must-buy at this bargain price!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Magnificent Set Despite the Cuts, September 18, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Symphonies 1-3 / Vocalise (Audio CD)

I purchased this set with some hesitation knowing that the 2nd and 3rd Symphonies are cut. Nevertheless, once I was able to get past the cuts did I realize and fully appreciate the sheer beauty of this music.
Ormandy elicits a powerful performance from his Philadelphia Orchestra in this piece. In these recordings one will hear the most riveting heights of the string section of the Philadelphia Orchestra. The sheer power of the string section is most evident in the riveting finale of the 2nd Symphony. Despite, the fact that this is the most heavily cut of all the works in this set, its conclusion has no equal in any other recordings I have heard. You will hear evocative surges of power and all the contemplative mystery that one would expect to hear from this orchestra. I strongly recommend this set, though equally strongly I would encourage the listener not to neglect the comparably great set of these symphonies recorded by Ashkenazy and the Concertgebouw Orchestra.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A sentimental favorite, March 4, 2003

By 

J Scott Morrison (Middlebury VT, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Symphonies 1-3 / Vocalise (Audio CD)

I'm delighted to see that these recordings are still available; indeed they've never been out of the catalog since their issue in the 1950s. Although Ormandy went back to the studio in the 1970s to re-record the Second (and possibly the Third - I honestly don't recall having owned it, but maybe he did) I continue to love these. In fact, I just spent a cold and rainy afternoon curled up with them. If any composer can warm you up, it's Rachmaninov, don't you agree?

Other reviewers have complained that these recordings have cuts, and that's true, particularly in the Second. But I must issue a minority report and say that I don't think it cripples the symphonies at all. And if I'm not mistaken Rachmaninov authorized the cuts himself (although one remembers that he was pretty easygoing when it came to that sort of thing).

The main reason for recommending these performances is that Ormandy has the rich, expressive sound of the Philadelphia Orchestra, particularly in the lush strings, that is perfect for Rachmaninov and, further, he was a masterful interpreter of this music.

Particularly considering the price, I don't think you can go wrong here. I wouldn't want to be without, say, Sanderling, or Ashkenazy, or the Gergiev/Kirov Second but these are my first loves.