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

[Barbirollians]

I find the Horowitz Reiner good but a bit hectoring compared to the live wartime Barbirolli .

[Mal]

I find the Horowitz Reiner good but a bit hectoring compared to the live wartime Barbirolli .

Which one did you listen to last? :) (Check the Penguin guide to get this joke - they have three different performances by Horowitz identified as "key" recordings! And that doesn't include Barbirolli ... must have been out of print at the time...) Listening to Barb II on youtube, the musicality is glorious, but the sound quality is off putting to me (poppy radio broadcast). Also, I'd call Reiner more dynamic than hectoring, Rough Guide makes it their top choice calling it "thrilling percussive", which I agree with, so I'll stick with it as my benchmark for the moment. Argerich seems to get a lot of love... might explore that next... (So many recordings so little time...)