Rachmaninov: The Symphonies

Rachmaninov Symphonies and more, Ashkenazy/Concertgebouw

Excellent playing guided by a Russian master, beautifully recorded by Polygram engineers. The little-played 1st Symphony was a surprise to me - after hearing it a few times, I don't feel it deserves the deep obscurity that history has relegated it to. The famous 2nd Symphony gets a lush, deeply emotional reading from Ashkenazy and the Amsterdamers, and the Symphonic Dances are as perfectly played as you will ever hear them. The bargain basement price of this set is a little disturbing - is no one interested in paying real money for outstanding recordings of great music anymore? June 23, 2008

The Best Rachmaninov Orchestral Music on the Market

These set the modern standard for the Rachmaninov symphonies. Ashkenazy shows a remarkable affinity for the music. The little known 1st is given a performance that justifies its revival in the repertory. The uncut 2nd is breathtakingly beautiful. Ashkenazy allows it all its "heavenly length" - the complex textures of the first movement, the stunningly energetic scherzo, the beautifully languorous adagio, the delightful cascading "bells" of the last movement. My favorite, however, is the underrated 3rd, for which Ashkenazy displays uncannily "right" tempi throughout. Many conductors luxuriate in the lovely, diving violin solo in the second movement, and no exception here, but how many capture the logic of the final minutes of the symphony? Ashkenazy and the Concertgebouw get it just right - the late, nostalgic revery, and then, quietly at first, the build up to an exhilerating, final frenzy. With other conductors this can seem confused or forced, but here the denouement is perfectly paced and has an inevitable logic that is wonderfully satisfying. Every time I listen to this, I feel a glow of pleasure at having bought these recordings.

The filler pieces here are also delightful. Ashkenazy captures the proper, slow-paced moodiness of the Isle of the Dead. The Bells is effective, and the great Symphonic Dances have a beautiful and exotic Slavic flavor. The three disc version is thus an excellent bargain. February 13, 2008

This is your one-stop for the symphonies and The Bells

The advantages of this set are obvious. The best reason to get this set is the bringing together of superb --all of them-- performances. You simply aren't going to get this level of quality in any other set. Over three well-filled discs we get the 3 Symphonies, the cantata The Bells, the Symphonic Dances, and the tone poem Isle of the Dead.

So what of the quality of the music? Must you ask? This is Rachmaninov! Symphony No.1 obviously has some problems, but with each new listen it grows on you. Symphony No.2 is luscious and beautiful, and Symphony No.3 is strong and powerful. In many ways, Symphony No.3 is the real gem among the symphonies.
The Bells is so interesting and wonderful that you'll be hooked on it for a long time. It's four movements of the tone of bells, each representing a stage in life. Poe's idea was just the right subject for Rachmaninov, and it's no wonder that Rach loved this work--along with the Vespers--above all others. Makes you wonder why he didn't try his hand again at choral music.
Isle of the Dead is a slowly moving, patient tone poem that stuns you with it's big crashes of brass in the middle of it. Don't be put off by the word "slow" in thise case, because this is stunning music.
Last but not least, the Symphonic Dances. They were Rachmaninov's last major work, and it's a lot of people's favorite Rachmaninov work. For good reason; they're just darned thrilling, moving, and a pure joy to listen to.

Ashkenazy is on a high level above most other Rachmaninov conductors, along with Andre Previn. He brings real zest to this music, keeps things flowing. His conducting style is that of shaping the music, rather than stamping it with personal interpretations. While some composers require such an interpreter, Rachmaninov's music is already very individualistic, and works best when conducted straight-laced. In that regard, there's nothing to complain about here!

Buy and enjoy. This would also be a great Christmas gift! November 28, 2007

Excellent recordings, all worth getting at any price!!!

Different people have different tastes. Without wishing to malign those who don't care as much (or at all) for this set, I'll dare say that this set is an absolute classic. [Why go only for the 2-disc set of just the symphonies instead of getting also Ostróv Mjórtvïkh (The Isle of the Dead), the Symphonic Dances and Kolokóla (The Bells) that come automatically as part of this 3-disc set?]

It was the Ashkenazy recording of Ostróv Mjórtvïkh that introduced me to what has since become my favourite symphonic poem ever (roll over Richard Strauss - this one together with Schönberg's "Pelléas et Mélisande" take the cake!) as well as the Symphonic Dances - and also Kolokóla as well as the 1st & 3rd Symphonies. [Prévin did as much for the 2nd Symphony in my case and his recording is a more than worthy competitor - his and this one are as good as tied for top spot in my honest opinion - get them BOTH if possible!!!!] At all times, these interpretations proved Sjergjéy Vassíljevich Rakhmáñinov as one of the greatest composers of the 1850-1950 period, even if he wasn't the most prolific (my biggest regret is that death stopped him from benefitting us organists with an Organ Concerto meant for Charles Courboin). [He was the type that could only concentrate on one thing at a time - be it composition, piano concertising, or conducting, at all of which he was outstanding; however, when he went into exile after the Russian Revolutions, he found himself mainly working as one of the greatest pianists of all time in order to secure his future and feed his family.] Obviously his mentor Pjótr Iljích Chaykóvskiy was a powerful influence on him; however, Rakhmáñinov never loses his individuality at any point!

Certainly his symphonic output is uniformly high: his 1st Symphony, while not always the most cohesive at times, still deserved a heck of a lot better fate than it received at the hands of Glazunóv - it's extremely inspired and there's no question that it deserves a high place in the repertoire. The 3rd Symphony - and the Symphonic Dances - not only proved that Rakhmáñinov had lost none of his mastery or inspiration in exile; they're both absolute masterpieces in their own right! [As to the 2nd, it would be my 2nd-favourite symphony, period, right behind Chaykóvskiy's 6th (Pathétique). The 3rd movement, if a question of falling in love for some, is for me a point of grieving for a lost love (which is very much still in my life after many years - I still cry bitterly on hearing this and the 1st movement!) and letting gradually go, though with greatest pain...] Finally, Kolokóla: another great masterpiece (the 2nd movement is especially moving and wonderful!).

Most definitely, Ashkenazy does full justice to all of these works. Of course, one can disagree with this or that aspect or instant in this or that work (e.g., I could have wished a slower accelerando in the 2nd movement of the Symphonic Dances from the waltz tempo - that way one misses the otherwise obvious allusion to Chaykóvskiy's "Flowers' Waltz" from Shchjeljkúnchik {Nutcracker}); however, the overall merits of these recordings truly deserve the fullest 5 stars possible - I'd myself go for 6! Go get it in all events!!!! April 1, 2005

Outstanding Set, But Get Temirkanov for The Symphonic Dances

This is an outstanding set, with the exception of the Symphonic Dances, where Ashkenazy conveys some of the passion in this work but doesn't attain nearly the same level of emotional intensity as Kondrashin's or Temirkanov's versions.

The rest of this 3-CD set, consisting of the three symphonies and the Isle of the Dead, is outstanding. In the symphonies, the balance and the dynamic interplay between the strings, horns, and winds are brought out beautifully and the sound quality is crystal clear. The Isle of the Dead is very movingly performed, from the opening passage, where Ashkenazy establishes a somber ominous mood, to the sweeping majesty of the most powerful moments.

For The Symphonic Dances, however, a fantastically passionate performance of this work is the 1963 recording by the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, with Kiril Kondrashin as conductor (RCA; Catalog # 32046; ASIN: B000003ETI). With Kondrashin, the power and passion of The Symphonic Dances sweeps the listener away and takes him to an inspirational level. The performance is so burning hot that it throws off sparks. However, this CD may be out-of-print.

Another passionate interpretation of The Symphonic Dances is the 1992 recording by Yuri Temirkanov and the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra (RCA; Catalog Number 62710; ASIN: B000003FRT). The Temirkanov CD also has a beautiful and moving performance of the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, with the pianist Dmitri Alexeev.

The CD booklet for this box set with Ashkenazy conducting has a well-written, detailed, and informative essay on all of the compositions. The full text of The Bells, based on a reinterpretation of Edgar Allan Poe's verses by the Russian symbolist poet Konstantin Balmont (1867 - 1943), is also included in Russian, English, French, and German.

Highly recommended, with the additional recommendation of supplementing this set with Kondrashin's or Temirkanov's recording of The Symphonic Dances. August 7, 2004

More reviews at Amazon.com ...