BaL 31.12.22 - Rachmaninov: 24 Preludes

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

10.30 a.m.
Building a Library
Lucy Parham chooses her favourite recording of Rachmaninov’s piano preludes

Rachmaninov’s 24 piano preludes in all the 24 major and minor keys are a glorious treasure trove of different pianistic styles from lyrical to barn-storming. He wrote and published them at different times, and didn’t regard them as a unified set. Unlike the keyboard preludes of Bach and Chopin they are not organized according to their keys either. But for a feast of piano playing, they are an essential thing for your library. And some of the titans of the keyboard have recorded their interpretations, including the composer himself who recorded a selection of them.


Available versions:-


Vladimir Ashkenazy

Idil Biret

Peter Donohoe

Sergio Fiorentino I

Megumi Fujita *

Lukas Geniu�as

Boris Giltburg

Hélène Grimaud

Nino Gvetadze

Eileen Joyce

Peter Katin

Ruth Laredo *

Leon McCawley

Eldar Nebolsin

Artur Pizarro

Anne Queffélec

Sergei Rachmaninov *

Sviatoslav Richter *

Howard Shelley *

Ruth Slenczynska

Guillaume Vincent *

Alexis Weissenberg


(* = download only)

[richardfinegold]

10.30 a.m.
Building a Library
Lucy Parham chooses her favourite recording of Rachmaninov’s piano preludes

Rachmaninov’s 24 piano preludes in all the 24 major and minor keys are a glorious treasure trove of different pianistic styles from lyrical to barn-storming. He wrote and published them at different times, and didn’t regard them as a unified set. Unlike the keyboard preludes of Bach and Chopin they are not organized according to their keys either. But for a feast of piano playing, they are an essential thing for your library. And some of the titans of the keyboard have recorded their interpretations, including the composer himself who recorded a selection of them.


Available versions:-


Vladimir Ashkenazy

Idil Biret

Peter Donohoe

Sergio Fiorentino I

Megumi Fujita *

Lukas Geniu�as

Hélène Grimaud

Nino Gvetadze

Eileen Joyce

Peter Katin

Ruth Laredo *

Leon McCawley

Eldar Nebolsin

Artur Pizarro

Anne Queffélec

Sergei Rachmaninov *

Sviatoslav Richter *

Howard Shelley *

Ruth Slenczynska

Guillaume Vincent *

Alexis Weissenberg


(* = download only)

Didn't the recently deceased Michael Ponti have a go at these on Vox? I haven't made these frequent listening. I have a handful by Richter the get spun occasionally

[Rolmill]

I also have the Dmitri Alexeev's set for Virgin - not sure if it's available on CD still, but it's certainly downloadable. Not the most exciting playing, but consistently satisfying and well recorded.

[rauschwerk]

Moura Lympany's earliest versions (78 rpm and mono LP) are available on Eloquence. Last time this set was reviewed, the recommendation was for Rustem Hayroudinoff's version (Chandos - still available). I bought it and listened, score in hand, I was so aghast at the many violations of the composer's directions that I got rid of the CD immediately.

[mikealdren]

Boris Giltburg is available as CD and download and well worth it too.

[BBMmk2]

So dot see! I have Ashkenazy, playing these.

[Barbirollians]

So dot see! I have Ashkenazy, playing these.

I am sure we had these on BAL not all that long ago ?

[smittims]

I've always preferred Fiorentino to Ashkenazy in these works, as a performance if not recording: more dramatic.

[gurnemanz]

I am sure we had these on BAL not all that long ago ?

Sarah Walker May 2005. First Choice: Howard Shelley (Hyperion)

I have Santiago Rodriguez on the recommendable Brilliant Classics Complete Rachmaninov Box , now seems to be only available second hand.

I very much like Lukas Geniušas - a live recording of a single concert in Moscow in 2013, an impressive achievement.

It's also on this Rachmaninov complete solo piano set from Brilliant Classics, which contains many other worthwhile contributions. The well-priced download with nine hours of music costs the same as the single recording above. A snip.

[Barbirollians]

Sarah Walker May 2005. First Choice: Howard Shelley (Hyperion)

I have Santiago Rodriguez on the recommendable Brilliant Classics Complete Rachmaninov Box , now seems to be only available second hand.

I very much like Lukas Geniušas - a live recording of a single concert in Moscow in 2013, an impressive achievement.

It's also on this Rachmaninov complete solo piano set from Brilliant Classics, which contains many other worthwhile contributions. The well-priced download with nine hours of music costs the same as the single recording above. A snip.

Heavens that long ago ! I recall the reviewer putting the boot into Moura Lympany's late set.

[silvestrione]

Steven Osborne has done them, relatively recently, surely still available?

[Darloboy]

Sarah Walker May 2005. First Choice: Howard Shelley (Hyperion)

Shelley was also Bryce Morrison's first choice in June 1991.

[akiralx]

Steven Osborne has done them, relatively recently, surely still available?

.

Yes it must be, as is Rustem Hayroudinoff on Chandos as mentioned above.

[BBMmk2]

I am sure we had these on BAL not all that long ago ?

I think your right. Are Building a Library, running out of ideas?

NB I also have, besides Ashkenazy, Steven Osborne.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Rachmaninov “an accomplished pianist” says Hannah French . One of the greatest pianists in history might be a better description .His playing of the C# minor is peerless.