Rachmaninov (all repertoire)

[richardfinegold]

I'm quite taken with Rachmaninov's complete preludes (oppi 23 and 32) but I'm torn between Azhkenazy and Katin. If Richter had done all of 'em, I'd have gone for his recording. Friendly advice please (as it always is, btw!) and please don't say "get both" My pocket is not endless....
Thanks to all, in advance. Much appreciated.

Agree with you about Richter. Pity that he never recorded a complete anything.
I have lived happily with Azhkenazy for years, and it has to be available second hand in multiple formats for very little, if you are really watching the pennies. I haven't heard Katin.

[LeMartinPecheur]

One from left-field and (I think) not so far mentioned, the Three Russian Songs Op 41 for chorus and orchestra. If you have delicate feminist principles don't read the words of the third, 'Powder and Paint', too closely but the tune, choral writing and orchestration are quite brilliant. I even got a free 'Bells' on my CD (Ashkenazy) I think it was the very first CD I bought, even before I had a player - it was reduced in a long-gone Winchester music shop and I couldn't resist.

[Ferretfancy]

Agree with you about Richter. Pity that he never recorded a complete anything.
I have lived happily with Azhkenazy for years, and it has to be available second hand in multiple formats for very little, if you are really watching the pennies. I haven't heard Katin.

I have the Katin set on a rather old Olympia CD, the performances are superb. The only drawback is the rather upfront sound, but it does suit Katin's muscular playing in the more dramatic preludes. If there is a more recent re-mastering, I'd like to know.

[BBMmk2]

Anything that Ashkenazy does in Rachmaninov is self recomending, imo.

[Parry1912]

Agreed. Including his recordings of the concertos with Thibaudet as soloist. Unloved by the critics, but not by me.

[Barbirollians]

Not sure about that . His Rachmaninov symphony recordings are good but trumped by Previn in all three to my ears ( like the Isle of the Dead and Symphic Dances more ) and I would have Pletnev in 1 Richter in 2 Argerich in 3 and Michelangeli in 4 over him .

The Rachmaninov 2 and Rhapsody coupling with Previn , however, is a much loved disc and his earlier 3 with Fistoulari is very good too .

I really like Steven osborne's Preludes on Hyperion .

[BBMmk2]

Having reread my post, i would have to agree wioth you there barbirollians! The recordings I have are PC No.1- 3(Previn/Ashkenazy); Argerich in PC3, that young Japanese pianists(name escapes me!!); symphonies no.Previn 1-3Ashkenazy and Litton; piano music complete Ashkenazy; with Osborne playing the preludes.

[Barbirollians]

Having reread my post, i would have to agree wioth you there barbirollians! The recordings I have are PC No.1- 3(Previn/Ashkenazy); Argerich in PC3, that young Japanese pianists(name escapes me!!); symphonies no.Previn 1-3Ashkenazy and Litton; piano music complete Ashkenazy; with Osborne playing the preludes.

Then again - I see your point I cannot think of an Ashkenazy performance that isn't at least good in this repertoire even if there are others I prefer and I also rather like the Thibaudet 1 and 3 on Decca.

[Suffolkcoastal]

I have all the songs, and there are some real gems amongst them. We perhaps don't hear them enough, if we do it is often in transcriptions, some by Rachmaninov himself, for solo piano.

[gradus]

Mentioned earlier in the thread, the Vespers are extraordinary music, utterly compelling and best I think in performances by Russian/Slavic choirs - its the sound of the voices, not just the notes but Russian basses are rightly celebrated for their power and sonority at the very bottom of the bass range. Personal favourite performance is Polyansky conducting the USSR Chamber Choir.

[richardfinegold]

Mentioned earlier in the thread, the Vespers are extraordinary music, utterly compelling and best I think in performances by Russian/Slavic choirs - its the sound of the voices, not just the notes but Russian basses are rightly celebrated for their power and sonority at the very bottom of the bass range. Personal favourite performance is Polyansky conducting the USSR Chamber Choir.

It is a very moving work. The best recordings have the deepest Russian bases with voices that seem to have ascended from the depths of the underworld, preferably after a long night of vodka and cigarettes.

[Lateralthinking1]

Thanks to a couple of charity shop bargains, I've been listening-in to Rachmaninov and find it to be georgeous and tuneful music. Any Supporters?

Yes, he has my vote.

One of my Five (Vaughan Williams, Copland, Delius, Debussy, Rachmaninov) but I'm currently dipping in more to 395 others.