Rachmaninoff Orchestral & Favorite Symphony Cycles

[Roasted Swan]

Sanderling/Philharmonia on the Apex series uses almost 27 minutes for the 1st movement of the 2nd Symphony, most recordings up to 10 minutes less. Gergiev/LSO close to 23 minutes.

I don't know the Sanderling recording but that will (almost certainly) be because he takes the exposition repeat which a lot of conductors don't.  Rach 2 is just about the last big symphony to be written with this kind of optional repeat.  Personally, if the composer wrote it, I think you should observe it.

On a tangent - fairly recently I was surprised and impressed by this Rach 3;



available in various incarnations but very exciting and Mackerras getting the RLPO strings to use portamenti (slides between notes) to gloriously Romantic effect......

[vandermolen]

I don't know the Sanderling recording but that will (almost certainly) be because he takes the exposition repeat which a lot of conductors don't.  Rach 2 is just about the last big symphony to be written with this kind of optional repeat.  Personally, if the composer wrote it, I think you should observe it.

On a tangent - fairly recently I was surprised and impressed by this Rach 3;



available in various incarnations but very exciting and Mackerras getting the RLPO strings to use portamenti (slides between notes) to gloriously Romantic effect......

Very much agree about Mackerras - who was a fine conductor.

[DavidW]

This thread inspired me to listen to the Gergiev cycle, I'm not done yet with it but some of his tempo choices are not my favorite.  Too slow or too fast, never just right.  I then listened to the Litton 2nd on BIS.  Good, and I like it better than Gergiev, but not great.

My favorite second is Previn, and my favorite third is Stokowski.  I don't have a favorite first but I really like the symphony.

[Daverz]

This thread inspired me to listen to the Gergiev cycle, I'm not done yet with it but some of his tempo choices are not my favorite.  Too slow or too fast, never just right.  I then listened to the Litton 2nd on BIS.  Good, and I like it better than Gergiev, but not great.

My favorite second is Previn, .

Previn recorded it 3 times (RCA (with cuts), EMI and Telarc).

[Brian]

Previn recorded it 3 times (RCA (with cuts), EMI and Telarc).

Previn Telarc is the one I grew up with, but Previn EMI is my favorite now for being just as rich and a tiny bit faster. The cut versions are unacceptable to me.

[DavidW]

Previn recorded it 3 times (RCA (with cuts), EMI and Telarc).

Didn't know that.  EMI is the only one I listen to.