BaL 29.12.18 - Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto no. 2 in C minor Op. 18

[Barbirollians]

The one I always turn to is the Ashkenazy/Moscow PO/Kondrashin which I see was the BaL choice in 2004. It'll take something special to shift it this time round too in my opinion. It's a great recording. I've several others in my collection but am not in the market for another.

Richter/Wislocki by a mile IMO apart from the composer .

[LeMartinPecheur]

Has anyone taken the Hough round here?

I've had it on my shelves for ages but not spun it. It has a few to grapple with there: Rackers himself, Ashkenazy/ Previn, Glemser/ Wit, Katchen/ Solti, Lympany/ Sargent, Richter/ Wislocki at least.

[cloughie]

I cut my teeth on this one on Decca Ace of Clubs.

...and there was his equally good Ace of Diamonds with LSO and Solti mentioned below by LMP.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

...and there was his equally good Ace of Diamonds with LSO and Solti mentioned below by LMP.

I thought Fistoulari was better, though obviously the recorded sound quality of the Solti was better.

[richardfinegold]

When I do turn to this piece, it's either the composer 's recording or Wild/Horenstein, which combines a swift and relatively dry eyed view but not without feeling and with great sound

[BBMmk2]

I have Marc-Andre Hamelin, Vladimir Ashkenazy(LSO/Previn), Mikhail Rudy. My favourite is the Ashkenazy.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

When I do turn to this piece, it's either the composer 's recording or Wild/Horenstein, which combines a swift and relatively dry eyed view but not without feeling and with great sound

I'm very fond of the new Trifinov/PhdO/YN-S, too. (The preformance & recording, that is - the packaging is dire-issimo)

[BBMmk2]

I'm very fond of the new Trifinov/PhdO/YN-S, too. (The preformance & recording, that is - the packaging is dire-issimo)

Yes, I heard that on Spotify Premium. Love it!

[silvestrione]

Is there really a Richter/Karajan version from Warsaw!!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Is there really a Richter/Karajan version from Warsaw!!

No.

(There is/was a coupling of the Rach #2 (Richter/WPO/Wislocki) with the Tchaik #1 (Richter/VSO/Karajan) - which might be a possible source of this misunderstanding?)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Corrected

[Barbirollians]

Interesting to hear this tomorrow . The last time they did it - Lucy Parham was the reviewer and dismissed Richter in a few words.

The version she chose Ashkenazy’s first is rather good but not a patch on Richter .

Andsnes and Zimerman are very good - obviously the composer’screcording is essential and the Ashkenazy/Previn remains a classic .

I am also very fond of the Ousset/CBSO/Rattle - with a very good accompaniment too from Rattle and a very lovely slow movement.

Richter still head and shoulders above the rest though for me.

[CallMePaul]

Has anyone taken the Hough round here?:

I found his set in a charity shop in Leeds for 99p earlier this year. I am not a great fan of Rakhmaninov's music but couldn't resist the set at such a low price! I cannot compare it with other recordings but I suspect that, on past form, Marina F-W may ignore it in favour of elderly recordings (I'm thinking of her BAL on Tchaikovsky's Pathétique a couple of years ago).

[Master Jacques]

I bet Ms Frolova doesn't mention my naughtily favourite version - namely, Joyce Hatto (that's right, a genuine example!) with George Hurst and Hamburg Pro Musica. All the lush sweep and power you could want, with an OTT sense of romantic agony. It is a terrific performance.

[Bryn]

I bet Ms Frolova doesn't mention my naughtily favourite version - namely, Joyce Hatto (that's right, a genuine example!) with George Hurst and Hamburg Pro Musica. All the lush sweep and power you could want, with an OTT sense of romantic agony. It is a terrific performance.

I think I used to have that. I certainly grabbed what I could of the Fidelio/Saga etc. issues featuring George Hurst.