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Post by maitani on Apr 1, 2005 5:59:34 GMT 7
One of my favorite composers. Many pop singers have adapted his melodies in their songs. His piano concertos 2 & 3 are concert favorites of major players. Anyone trying to get into classical music should sample these works.
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Post by sandawa on Apr 1, 2005 7:24:15 GMT 7
yes, 2 and 3 piano concertos are his most known works and i also like his 2nd symphony. i understand Rachmaninoff was influenced by Gustav Mahler whose 5th symphony got me hooked in rediscovering chamber music.
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Post by maitani on Apr 1, 2005 7:34:17 GMT 7
I think his most known work is the 18th Variation of the "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini". This was used in the "Somewhere in Time" soundtrack and I'm old enough to remember that own own "Gulong on Palad" used it, too.
If you're into chamber music try his cello sonata released by Sony Classical with Yo-Yo Ma on cello and Emanuel Ax on piano.
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Post by sandawa on Apr 1, 2005 7:55:41 GMT 7
you're right, i forgot about the Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini. i got several Sony classical CDs but i don't remember having a Rachmaninoff on that label. anyway, i got some Yo-Yo Mas too on CD and vinyl (Masterworks). except for the previously mentioned titles, however, i'm not deep into Rachmaninoff. but thanks, i'll check out that title, when i visit Manila. the problem with shops here in Davao is they don't stock classical titles except the "chop suey" types of Laserlight and other minor labels.
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Post by avphile on Apr 1, 2005 12:42:42 GMT 7
Happy Birthday!!! ;D
Anyone still has the MONO RCA recording of his 2nd Piano Concerto with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orch? With Sergei Rachmaninoff himself on the piano? Saw a CD of this together with a Bruno Walter at Odyssey a few years back. I am sure they're the most definitive readings with Vladimir Horowitz's as second. Happy listening!!
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Post by maitani on Apr 1, 2005 16:14:41 GMT 7
Anyone still has the MONO RCA recording of his 2nd Piano Concerto with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orch? With Sergei Rachmaninoff himself on the piano? Saw a CD of this together with a Bruno Walter at Odyssey a few years back. I am sure they're the most definitive readings with Vladimir Horowitz's as second. Happy listening!! I have Rachmaninoff's "The Complete Recordings", a 10-CD set of Rachmaninoff's recorded legacy released by RCA Victor Gold Seal. Both versions of his 2nd piano concerto were recorded with Leopold Stokowski conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra. Yes they are the definitive readings although I have not heard any of the recent recordings. |
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Post by avphile on Apr 6, 2005 10:56:48 GMT 7
Good for you Maitani. In this crazy hobby of ours, it's very rare that someone still has the actual recording of the artist who composed them so you have a reading of a work the way the artist intended them to be performed. Then you can listen and compare the newer releases from modern artists. Sometimes, the newer releases have more subtleties thanks to the better mic placement techniques and better recording technologies. Also, the stereo field can enhance the listening experience. Then again, the solid readings of Rachmaninoff himself is the standard against which all these subsequent performances are compared. The performance is one thing, the recording is another. Just for your info, some modern pianists not blessed with the large hands of Rach could not play some of the notes on a rachmaninoff concerto. It is said that only Vladimir Horowitz was able to play them all. Even Van Cliburn had to truncate some of the notes. ;D
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Post by maitani on Apr 6, 2005 19:01:05 GMT 7
In fact, the 3rd concerto was dedicated to Josef Hoffman, the other great pianist of the day. Hoffman never played it because he did not have huge hands needed to play it.
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