| biography |
| Rachmaninov
(1873-1943) was one of the all-time great pianists, and it's for
that instrument that he wrote some of his most beloved compositions,
including solo works and some of the most challenging concertos
in the repertory. Rachmaninov's gift for romantically yearning melodies
also permeates his symphonies and songs. |
| recommended
recordings |
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Rachmaninov,
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concertos / Richter |
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Composer:
Sergei
Rachmaninov, Peter
Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Conductor: Stanislaw
Wislocki, Herbert
von Karajan
Performer: Sviatoslav
Richter
Ensemble: Warsaw
Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna
Symphony Orchestra
Uni/Deutsche Grammophon - #47420 / February 13, 1996
Click
here for more information
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Although the late Sviatoslav Richter spent his later years
concentrating on Bach, Beethoven, and Haydn, he never completely
abandoned the music of his native country. His reading of
Rachmaninov's most popular concerto, captured in fine late-'50s
stereo, is one of the most glorious ever recorded. Richter's
amazing technique is completely up to the demands of Rachmaninov's
difficult writing, and he plays the heart-on-sleeve melodies
with such refined intensity that they never sound sentimental....Read
more
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Rachmaninov,
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concertos / Martha Argerich
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Composer:
Sergei
Rachmaninov, Peter
Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Conductor: Riccardo
Chailly, Kiril
Kondrashin
Performer: Martha
Argerich
Ensemble: Berlin
Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bavarian
Radio Symphony Orchestra
Uni/Philips - #46673 / August 15, 1995
Click
here for more information
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This is madness in action. Martha Argerich's Rachmaninoff
Third is the fastest and most physically exciting you'll ever
hear. She's recorded live, and the balances are a little strange
as a result. You can also tell that Riccardo Chailly and his
orchestra are having a hell of time trying to keep up with
her, while anticipating what she's about to do next--but so
what? This is as close as you can come to an experience of
spontaneous combustion, and survive. The Tchaikovsky is, if
possible, even...Read
more
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Rachmaninoff:
Piano Concertos nos 2 & 3 / Janis, Munch et al
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Composer:
Sergei
Rachmaninov
Conductor: Enrique
Jorda, Charles
Munch
Performer: Alexander
Brailowsky, Byron
Janis
Ensemble: San
Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Boston
Symphony Orchestra
Bmg/Rca Victor - #60540 / April 9, 1991
Click
here for more information |
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| Over the years, I have listened to numerous renditions
of the Rachmininoff 3rd Piano Concerto, Op. 30, such as, Horowitz,
Van Cliburn, Ashkenazy, Kapell (my favorite) and Rachmaninoff,
himself. And despite the changes in fashion and recognition
of artists who performed this concerto, I sincerely find the
1957 performance with Byron Janis and Charles Munch conducting
the Boston Symphony Orchestra to be one of the most beautiful
and compellingly passionate of them all. Sadly, there are
no liner notes with this cd, nor is it even mentioned in current
Penguin and Gramophone Guide books. Neverthless, I would buy
this cd, even if it were in plain, brown paper. In addition,
the 1958 performance of the Rachmaninoff, 2nd Piano Concerto,
Op. 18 with Enrique Jorda conducting the San Francisco Symphony
Orchestra is also superb.
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Rachmaninov:
Vespers / Chernushenko, St. Petersburg Cappella
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Composer:
Sergei
Rachmaninov
Conductor: Vladislav
Tchernushenko
Ensemble: St.
Petersburg Capella
Russian Season (Fra) - #788050 / February 10, 1998
Click
here for more information |
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Magical.
The choral singing in this recording is *the* finest I have
ever heard. And this is very challenging music - in fact,
any a capella singing is difficult. This choir has a very
long and distinguished history - five hundred years old, sang
the first complete performance of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis,
had Glinka as a choir director, etc - and an entire school
of singing built around it. Every single note in this recording
is full of rapt intensity - there are incredible harmonics,
solidity - and...Read
more
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Rachmaninov:
Symphony no 2 / Sanderling, Leningrad PO |
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Composer:
Sergei
Rachmaninov
Conductor: Kurt
Sanderling
Ensemble: Leningrad
Philharmonic Orchestra
Uni/Deutsche Grammophon - #449767 / January 27, 1998
Click
here for more information
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This powerful, subjective reading, recorded in Berlin in 1956
when Sanderling and the Leningrad Philharmonic were on tour,
has long been one of the classics of the catalog. It harks
back to a different era both in its expressive urgency and
in the notably flexible manner in which tempo is treated:
an era in which passionate, spontaneous, all-out playing was
a characteristic of many of the world's greatest musicians,
nowhere more than in Russia. Sanderling and the Leningraders
impart a high...Read
more
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Rachmaninov:
Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini / Ashkenazy, Previn
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Composer:
Sergei
Rachmaninov
Conductor: André
Previn
Performer: Vladimir
Ashkenazy
Ensemble: London
Symphony Orchestra
Uni/Penguin Classics - #460632 / July 27, 1999
Click
here for more information
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Wonderfully lush and thrilling, this is the definitive performance
of the 2nd concerto and the variations. The recording that
made me abandon my petty disdain for performers who arpeggioed
the chords at the beginning of the concerto rather than play
them as solid, block chords.:) Ashkenazy has nothing but the
deepest love for Rachmaninoff's music, and it can be thoroughly
heard and felt throughout this entire recording. |
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| works
& recordings |
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- Chamber
Music
Trios, Quartets, Quintets
- Choral
Secular and sacred choral music. Oratorios, Masses, Partsongs,
Hymns, Carols
- Instrumental
Sonatas, Suites, Overtures, Minuets, Variations, Transcriptions,
Dance Music
- Orchestra
Concertos, Symphonies
- Theatrical
Works
Ballet, Stage, Incidental Music, Film Scores
- Vocal
and Opera
Opera, Operetta, Song, Lieder, Musical Theater
Complete
List of Works and Recordings
|
| resources |
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Rachmaninoff
Society - [open membership] Articles; contact info.
Rachmaninoff
Archives - [summary of holdings; contact info] at the
Library of Congress
The
Sergei Rachmaninoff Web Pages - Links, reviews, recommended
recordings, celebratory essay.
Life
and Works of Rachmaninov - Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov
(1873-1943) - includes information on recordings, performances,
and quite a lot of other stuff.
Rakhmaninov
Works List - Downloadable database by category, opus,
component number, year, title, instruments.
Sergei
Vasilyevich Rachmaninov Page - MIDI files.
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