Product description

Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-4

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Average customer rating: 4.0

Binding : Audio CD
EAN : 0028944483925
Label : Universal Classics
Manufacturer : Universal Classics
Publisher : Universal Classics
Release date : 1995-09-18
Title : Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-4
Format : Box set
Original release date : 1995-10
Running time : 135
Studio : Universal Classics
MPN : 444839
Number of discs : 2

Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
If you don't already have the complete Rachmaninov concertos, you can buy this version with total confidence. There may be better recordings of the individual works (such as the legendary Michelangeli in No. 4 or Argerich in No. 3) but this remains the finest complete recording, unrivalled since it was made in the early 1970s. Only the boxy sound (in itself not bad enough to lessen the recommendation) and the tuning of the piano in the first movement of the First Concerto counts against it. Vladimir Ashkenazy is one of Rachmaninov's most sympathetic interpreters, both as pianist and latterly as conductor. He never ladles on the sugar in the way some interpreters do and the music sounds all the greater for it. Previn is a superb ally, and his relationship with the LSO was one of the most distinguished in the orchestra's history. The highlights are too numerous to number: by far the best thing is to buy it and hear it for yourself. I--Harriet Smith/I

Customer reviews

review by: In the words of the Bonzos : NONO PLEEEEASE! NOT THE LEG!!!! date: 2009-06-29 rating:

An excellent recording from the best composer of piano music ever.
When it comes to the award for the best piano composer of all time, Sergei Rachmaninov takes the prize every time, and this CD tells you why. First and foremost, the music itself is superb, second to none, so incredibly moving, and the piano work is just genius. The quality of this recording is, to my mind, very good, and though i know this will be disagreed, I do think that Ashkenazy plays this very well indeed, repeated virtuoistic performances, and the orchestra is of a very high quality as well. I would strongly recommend this to anyone, as this really is music by possibly the best composer of the 20th Century, especially of piano music, in my view.

review by: Ben date: 2009-05-10 rating:

Sparkling playing vivid recording - a must have
The first sentence of The Gramophone Classical Music Guide 2008 review of this set states "Despite the recording dates, the sound and balance are superb, and there's nothing to cloud your sense of Ashkenazy's greatness in all these works." Little more need be said about this highly recommended pair of CDs. br / br /Now almost forty years old the performances and recordings are vivid and detailed. The first concerto (Rachmaninov's opus 1) deserves to be heard more often. From the strikingly martial opening to the delicacy of the triangle's playing in the final movement this is a stunning work. The romantic second and third concertos are equally impressive and Ashkenazy's rendering of the grander of Rachmaninov's cadenzas in the first movement of the third concerto is breathtaking. br / br /This is fine Russian music played by the finest pianist of his generation. br /

review by: Wellreadamateur date: 2008-11-29 rating:

Very good
To my ears this was a very good recording of the great composer's piano concertos.

review by: date: 2007-04-14 rating:

Reality check
No question that Ashkenazy, Argerich, Michelangeli are geat pianists and that their Rach recordings are among the best. But two interpreters are so outstanding that their recordings are...what can one say...transcendent ? br / br /The recordings by Rachmaninov himself are benchmarks and beyond reproach. Unfortunately he lived at a time when recording technology was primitive, although modern restoration specialists have made a wonderful job of bringing his recordings to life on the Naxos Historical label. If one cannot put up with the shortcomings of restored mechanical/electric recording technology, then the next best option is Horowitz, on whom Rachmaninov himself had conferred his blessing. But the technical quality of the Horowitz recordings falls short of what we expect today. What to do? br / br /There is a great modern pianist who plays the Rachmaninov concertos and the Paganini Variations with all the technical brilliance and interpretive skill of the composer himself, to my mind superior to all the well-known pianists named so far. In many places he has forsworn flashy displays of technique to revert strictly to Rachmaninov's score, especially with respect to tempi. He has been well served with a first-rate modern recording - Stephen Hough, with the Dallas Symphony under Andrew Litton. You will not be disappointed. br / br /P.S. For some reason this site will not accept my rating of five stars! It insists on only giving it three - I would give it ten stars if I could.

review by: pesagio date: 2006-02-21 rating:

The best collection of the 4concertos
Although it is possible that some prefer the playing of Michelangi for these recordings, i believe they are being short-sighted. On this record Ashkenazy demonstrates his Russian training and interpretation, thus getting much closer to the style that befits Rachmaninov! I recommend this album strongly if you strive to hear these well known concertos in the Russian style they were composed! But if you strive for a western style of interpretation then don't buy this! Ashkenazy performs all of the four concertos with his typicall musicalaty that never fails to provoke thought, but his performane of the 2nd deserves special mention! And not forgetting the fine LSO playing throughout, admirally conducted By Andre Previn!

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