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

[teamsaint]

... and, did you notice, ts: a woman reviewing a Late Romantic work?

i did, as it goes, but didn’t want to labour the point.



Or destroy my own argument

Although..........

( Currently enjoying the Lang Lang)

[Master Jacques]

PS So Joyce Hatto really could play the piano!

Yes, she really could! Her genuine, early recordings include this exciting Rachmaninov 2nd Concerto with Hurst, and a very decent Rhapsody in Blue. Her Bax recordings are the highlight of her select discography. The solo sonatas (1 and 4) are dispatched with bravura if comparatively little subtlety; but her ground-breaking premiere recording of the huge Symphonic Variations, with Vernon Handley and the Guildford Philharmonic, still makes thrilling listening and in some ways has not been surpassed. Though that's going off topic, for sure.

[Nick Armstrong]

I felt that the favourable mentions of the recordings by Rachmaninoff, Moiseiwitsch, Joyce, and Richter made clear her great appreciation of the many recordings that she illustrated (as well as the many she mentioned having enjoyed that couldn't be included in the programme for time reasons).

I thought it was an excellent survey, of a piece I've known pretty well for forty-plus years (I got a kick out of listening to the LP we had at home, the Rachmaninov/Stokowsky recording - seemed magical to me even at a tender age to be able to hear the composer playing his own piece). I was especially glad the recordings with the wilful 'hiccup' pauses in phrasing were left on the sidelines - bogus rubato has become a real bugbear with me in performances of Rachmaninov. The "winner" seems to me to be an excellent choice - I've been delightedly discovering the whole Andsnes/Pappano set of concertos on Qobuz, including the 2nd which sounds tremendous to me. Fantastic that it's a live recording.

[BBMmk2]

I thought it was an excellent survey, of a piece I've known pretty well for forty-plus years (I got a kick out of listening to the LP we had at home, the Rachmaninov/Stokowsky recording - seemed magical to me even at a tender age to be able to hear the composer playing his own piece). I was especially glad the recordings with the wilful 'hiccup' pauses in phrasing were left on the sidelines - bogus rubato has become a real bugbear with me in performances of Rachmaninov. The "winner" seems to me to be an excellent choice - I've been delightedly discovering the whole Andsnes/Pappano set of concertos on Qobuz, including the 2nd which sounds tremendous to me. Fantastic that it's a live recording.

That’s another set to listen too! Thanks Cali!

[Pianorak]

Spotted the Andsnes Rach 2 Used-V Good for £3.63 which I ordered. Just received notification that order "has been cancelled" without explanation. It's now back on Amazon at £7.35. Hmmm.

[Mal]

Spotted the Andsnes Rach 2 Used-V Good for £3.63 which I ordered. Just received notification that order "has been cancelled" without explanation. It's now back on Amazon at £7.35. Hmmm.

Rachmaninov : Piano Concertos Nos 2 & 4 Lugansky going for £1.48, and I much prefer his #2 to the winner! The Andsnes set arrived today and I was slightly disappointed with his #2; too much Norwegian cool, Lugansky is on fire compared to him. Some great sounds from the BPO, but not convincing overall, a bit showboaty, as ferney suggested. Then again, I really liked Andsnes' #1, much preferred it to Lugansky's! So I'm happy with my purchase...

[Barbirollians]

Pleased to have bought the Janis/Dorati which whilst being very good is also coupled with a great recording of the Third Concerto.

[Mal]

Pleased to have bought the Janis/Dorati which whilst being very good is also coupled with a great recording of the Third Concerto.

Thanks Barb, I'm looking for a great recording of the third. I pulled out my old favourite for #2, Ashkenazy, with trepidation, as Andsnes didn't really work for me, wondering if I'd gone off the piece. But Ashkenazy was as beautiful and warm as ever; it's a terrific, committed, performance from him, Previn and the LSO. Lugansky runs him close, but Ashkenazy would still be the one I'd grab as they cart me off to the desert island. (Need to listen to Richter, though...)

[cloughie]

Thanks Barb, I'm looking for a great recording of the third. I pulled out my old favourite for #2, Ashkenazy, with trepidation, as Andsnes didn't really work for me, wondering if I'd gone off the piece. But Ashkenazy was as beautiful and warm as ever; it's a terrific, committed, performance from him, Previn and the LSO. Lugansky runs him close, but Ashkenazy would still be the one I'd grab as they cart me off to the desert island. (Need to listen to Richter, though...)

There are two other Ashkenazy 3 worth a mention LSO Fistoulari and PhO Ormandy.

[Barbirollians]

There are two other Ashkenazy 3 worth a mention LSO Fistoulari and PhO Ormandy.

Other incandescent Thirds include - Argerich live with Chailly and Horowitz/Barbirolli live on APR in the early 1940s - a quite extraordinary performance from both pianist and , orchestra and conductor .

[cloughie]

Other incandescent Thirds include - Argerich live with Chailly and Horowitz/Barbirolli live on APR in the early 1940s - a quite extraordinary performance from both pianist and , orchestra and conductor .

There is also Lazar Berman with Cladio Abbado which appears to command an astonishingly high price on Sony!

[Mal]

There are two other Ashkenazy 3 worth a mention LSO Fistoulari and PhO Ormandy.

Note, I was talking about Ashkenazy/Previn/LSO 2, I didn't like Ashkenazy/Previn/LSO 3. The "Third Ear" guide also mentions LSO Fistoulari and PhO Ormandy as being rather good, so I may try and search them out. But Horowitz/Reiner seems to get the most nods from "the usual" critics so I'll try that first - especially as I just spotted it going for a song on ebay!

[Barbirollians]

There is also Lazar Berman with Cladio Abbado which appears to command an astonishingly high price on Sony!

It’s excellent and was my first recording of the piece. Can be found for less than £12 in the Sony box of his recordings.

[cloughie]

It’s excellent and was my first recording of the piece. Can be found for less than £12 in the Sony box of his recordings.

[Mal]

Horowitz/Reiner arrived and it is a wonderful 3 (at last!) Excellent Piano Sonata 2 as well... and fillers... best purchase of the year so far.