SERGEY RACHMANINOV
Piano Concerto no.2 in C minor op.18
Sviatoslav Richter Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra Stanislaw Wislocki
Vocalise op.34 no.14
Berlin Philharmonic Lorin Maazel
The Bells op.35
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Vladimir Ashkenazy
Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra op.43
Vladimir Ashkenazy London Symphony Orchestra André Previn
Symphony no.2 in E minor op.27
Berlin Philharmonic Lorin Maazel
DG Panorama 469-178-2
157m
Crotchet
Panorama appears to be another melting pot for several labels as this compilation
includes recordings from Philips, Decca and DG. Richter's legendary recording
of the Second Piano Concerto is indeed a bargain at this price and it is
really a wonderful version of this oft recorded work that should sail to
the top of the pile of recommendations. The same goes for Ashkenazy's brooding
recording of 'The Bells', probably the best available at present, this is
indeed vintage Concertegebouw. The second disc is slightly disappointing.
I felt that Kovachevich's version of the Rhapsody does not take off in the
way other memorable ones such as Katchen and Rubinstein do. And Maazel's
cut mid 80's Second Symphony is certainly not the right proposition here,
indeed Previn's superbly structured EMI recording remains the benchmark recording
for this sadly abused symphony. A mixed bag then, but worth investigating
especially for the Richter 2nd Concerto.
Gerald Fenech
