|
12tone
|
 |
« on: July 01, 2006, 02:30:38 PM » |
|
I guess first I'll ask what you folks think of Rachmaninoff's symphonies in general. Second, although the picture is small, what do you think of these recordings on Decca? Worth getting?  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
DavidW
Guest
|
|
« Reply #1 on: July 01, 2006, 03:49:50 PM » |
|
Yes SteveN, that's a good cycle.  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
M forever
|
|
« Reply #2 on: July 01, 2006, 09:03:42 PM » |
|
I think Rachmaninoff's symphonies, and a lot of his other music, are phenomenal compositions. R was one of the composers with the most advanced and complex harmonic thinking. He had his very own unmistakebale musical language and sound world. Ashkenazy's deeply felt recordings of the symphonies are very nice. The orchestral contribution, rich and dark playing from the Concertgebouworkest, is captured in good sound by Decca. The box also contains Island of the Dead, Symphonic Dances, and The Bells. I personally slightly prefer the recordings of the symphonies by the StPetersburg Philharmonic under Jansons which have a little more "bite" and "edge". They come in this box which also contains Symphonic Dances and Island, but no Bells. Instead, it has the four piano concertos played by Rudy in a rather poetic, laid back way which some find too "unspectacular", though. OTOH, Rachmaninov himself played his music in a rather unshowy, lyrical way, so I think Rudy's approach has its merits, too.  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
david johnson
|
|
« Reply #3 on: July 02, 2006, 02:37:14 AM » |
|
the ones i have, i like.
#1, ashkenazy/concertgebouw
#2, bychkov/orch de paris
#3. dutioit/philly
dj
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
James
|
|
« Reply #4 on: July 02, 2006, 04:41:49 AM » |
|
not the best sound quality but the 3rd conducted by the composer himself is also IMO a very good account...
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
The aim of music is not to express feelings but to express music. It is not a vessel into which the composer distills his soul drop by drop, but a labyrinth with no beginning and no end, full of new paths to discover, where mystery remains eternal. - Pierre Boulez
|
|
|
|
bhodges
|
|
« Reply #5 on: July 02, 2006, 07:09:37 AM » |
|
I guess first I'll ask what you folks think of Rachmaninoff's symphonies in general. Second, although the picture is small, what do you think of these recordings on Decca? Worth getting? Love the composer's work, and yes, that Decca set is terrific. The chemistry of Ashkenazy and the orchestra makes for some sparkling, very satisfying readings, and the sound quality is excellent. --Bruce |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
"Why tonality as such should be thrown out for good I can't see. Why it should always be present I can't see." -- Charles Ives, Essays
Monotonous Forest |
|
|
|
SonicMan
|
|
« Reply #6 on: July 02, 2006, 07:27:10 AM » |
|
Also love Rach's music -  Own the 2-CD symphony set below w/ Ashkenazy (guess the box was not out) - excellent interpretations & recordings; also, have him on another disc doing Island of the Dead & Symphonic Dances; so, I guess own most of what is in the box - for the choral works, including The Bells, have the Dutoit CD, which is quite good.    |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
brian_rein
|
|
« Reply #7 on: July 03, 2006, 06:13:51 AM » |
|
I think Rachmaninoff's symphonies, and a lot of his other music, are phenomenal compositions. R was one of the composers with the most advanced and complex harmonic thinking. He had his very own unmistakebale musical language and sound world.
Ashkenazy's deeply felt recordings of the symphonies are very nice. The orchestral contribution, rich and dark playing from the Concertgebouworkest, is captured in good sound by Decca. The box also contains Island of the Dead, Symphonic Dances, and The Bells.
I personally slightly prefer the recordings of the symphonies by the StPetersburg Philharmonic under Jansons which have a little more "bite" and "edge". They come in this box which also contains Symphonic Dances and Island, but no Bells. Instead, it has the four piano concertos played by Rudy in a rather poetic, laid back way which some find too "unspectacular", though. OTOH, Rachmaninov himself played his music in a rather unshowy, lyrical way, so I think Rudy's approach has its merits, too.
Who is Rudy?  Firkusny? |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
My favorite CDs of 2006:
Kalliwoda: Symphonies Nos. 5 and 7; Das Neue Orchester, Christoph Spering (CPO)
Stamitz: Orchestral Quartets; New Zealand Chamber Orchestra, Donald Armstrong (Naxos)
Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos. 5 and 6; Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Lovro von Matacic (Supraphon)
|
|
|
|
M forever
|
|
« Reply #8 on: July 03, 2006, 06:17:20 AM » |
|
Mikhail Rudy.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
npwilkinson
Guest
|
|
« Reply #9 on: July 03, 2006, 05:10:26 PM » |
|
The last time we had this thread it seemed to point, overall, to Ormandy so I bought him. This time, nobody mentions him. There's a lesson in there somewhere about recommendations on GMG...
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Herman
|
|
« Reply #10 on: July 03, 2006, 06:47:15 PM » |
|
I think Rachmaninoff's symphonies, and a lot of his other music, are phenomenal compositions. R was one of the composers with the most advanced and complex harmonic thinking. He had his very own unmistakebale musical language and sound world.
Really? I think Rachmaninov is just fine, but there is a kind of gloopiness to his stuff to would prevent me from praising him this way. And about the originality of his sound world. If you listen to Glazunov's Raymonda, for instance, you'll hear pretty much the same sonorities, with the added advantage that Glazunov does not habitually get stuck in these weird ruts Rachmaninov is prone to. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
"You have nothing, absolutely nothing positive to contribute to this forum." Diegobueno
|
|
|
|
Harry
|
|
« Reply #11 on: July 03, 2006, 08:54:22 PM » |
|
The early EMI recordings with Previn is still high on my list for insight and precision. He really digs deep into the emotional soundworld of Rach. And the recording is still first rate!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
From your lips darts loveliness, flowers from your face,
Love fires from both your eyes, your hands shoot music's grace,
With your looks you rob their sight, their ears you stop with song,
Poor men! Pursued from every side, the hunt will not last long.
*******
"SONIC STEAMROLLER BY CHOICE"
|
|
|
|
M forever
|
|
« Reply #12 on: July 03, 2006, 09:09:45 PM » |
|
Really?
Yes, really. Brilliant ideas, brilliant development, incredible harmonic language. We analyzed his music a lot in music theory studies at the academy, that opened my eyes - I had always liked his music, since I learned to understand at least some aspects of it better, I have nothing but the highest admiration for Rachmaninoff. Glazunov is nice, too, but not nearly as complex and compelling as Rachmaninoff. Of course, there are superficial similarities between composers, especially of very roughly the same time and from the same sphere, but these don't go very deep. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
