Sergei RACHMANINOV (1873 - 1943)
Symphonic Fantasy: The Rock, op.7 (1893) [14:18]
Symphony No.2 in E minor, op.27 (1906/1907) [60:19]
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra/Gianandrea Noseda
rec. 24 November 2008 (The Rock); 11-12 November 2009 (Symphony), Studio 7,
New Broadcasting House, Manchester, DDD
CHANDOS CHAN 10589 [74:52]
Arnold Bax might have called himself a brazen romantic, but he never created
a work quite as brazenly romantic as Rachmaninov’s Second Symphony
- a work for which the word ‘brazen’ might have been invented.
Certainly here is a piece which seethes with emotion in every bar, is designed
to tug at the heartstrings, and give a general feeling of satisfaction by
the end.
All Rachmaninov does in this Symphony is write his own music and that’s
enough to captivate us. Korngold has exactly the same effect. I am always
happy when a new recording of this work appears for in our contemporary world
of calamities and disasters it’s good to have something one can rely
on to keep one sane. This new version of the work has, perhaps, the best recorded
sound I have ever heard. This disk has allowed me to hear touches of orchestration
which have passed me by in other recordings, and some even in the concert
hall, and the sound is clear and bright, very alive and full-bodied. However,
even with stunning orchestral playing from the BBC Philharmonic, the interpretation
doesn’t complement the sound.
Noseda is a fine conductor, we’ve heard his performances often on the
radio and in the concert hall, and he has impressed me with his clear thinking
and ability to carry the musical argument even in the biggest pieces - I remember
a performance of Mahler’s Sixth Symphony at last year’s
Proms where, although his tempi were questionable, he understood how the music
worked and where it was going. He shows the same musical intelligence in this
performance but I cannot help feeling that he isn’t really in sympathy
with the music.
Without a strong hand at the helm, Rachmaninov’s Second Symphony
can lose its way - and make one understand why it was performed for so many
years in a version which was brutally cut - and that is what happens here.
No movement has one set tempo, the pace fluctuates as the various sections
reveal themselves and on several occasions Noseda’s decision to simply,
and abruptly, change tempo, instead of creating a relaxation - it was almost
always from faster to slower music where this happened - jolted the flow.
Noseda is at his best in the second half of the slow movement where Rachmaninov
spends some time reflecting on what has gone before - the climax coming early
in this movement - and Noseda enjoys its romantic warmth. Elsewhere, I found
a lack of tension and real fire, the three fast movements being fast, but
failing to grab one by the shoulders and give one a good emotional kicking.
By the end I want to be gasping for having been put through the wringer not
just pleasantly entertained.
The early Symphonic Fantasy: The Rock is a very generous filler - well
done Chandos for sensibly placing it first for you don’t want anything
to follow this Symphony - and Noseda is more at home here, for the
music causes no problems. It can simply be played without worries for it is
a simple piece and it’s here played as such.
For the Symphony my recommendation remains with the fabulous three
CD set of Rachmaninov’s orchestral works by Mariss Jansons and the St
Petersburg Philharmonic (EMI
500885) and although The Rock isn’t in this set, a magnificent
Isle of the Dead is.
Bob Briggs
see also review by Raymond
Walker