Anissimov's blistering yet highly sympathetic reading
of Rachmaninov's youthful and tempestuous First Symphony rivals any
other recording of this greatly underrated work. Rachmaninov wrote it
in 1895. It was performed badly and it was received so poorly that Rachmaninov
felt humiliated and dispirited, and promptly withdrew it. The symphony
was not performed again in his lifetime. The score was lost, but in
1945 it was reconstructed from surviving orchestral parts. It is probably
best known today for the assertive and virile tune at the beginning
of the finale which was used some years ago to introduce Panorama,
the BBC TV current affairs programme.
Anissimov draws playing of great passion and excitement
from his Irish players. The strings are especially beautiful; their
playing of their often complex and exacting parts is both precise and
eloquent. The taut-spring tension inherent in the score is heightened
with the odd exception of the first big climax about eight minutes into
the first movement where more of a whip-lash response would have raised
the temperature; but this is a relatively minor carp in such an overall
rivetting performance. In contrast to all the bombast there is Rachmaninov's
Slavic melancholy which is most movingly conveyed; Anissimov lovingly
shapes that long-breathed yearning melody which is the highlight of
the slow movement.
Rachmaninov began his less well-known Caprice Bohémien
in 1892. It is a substantial 20 minute piece but less assured. It
dwells in dark, melancholy places for rather too long without a memorable
theme but things look up when the tempo quickens and becomes more exciting
true gypsy dance rhythms emerge. The music suggests sunny Spain as well
as Eastern Europe. Again Anissimov delivers a convincing reading.
I do not hesitate in recommending this version of
Rachmaninov's thrilling First Symphony