Rachmaninoff Piano Concertos
Posted by: mikeeschman on 15 January 2011
I have been listening to Stephen Hough and Dallas do these. It's not a satisfactory experience.
The recording perspective is too distant.
The orchestra is sometimes too "stiff" with the rhythms.
They rush.
Hough sometimes "glosses over" the shape of a phrase, when you might like him to milk a phrase. This is also a sign of too stiff a beat.
Any recommendations for a second try?
My favorites are the 2nd and the 3rd.
The recording perspective is too distant.
The orchestra is sometimes too "stiff" with the rhythms.
They rush.
Hough sometimes "glosses over" the shape of a phrase, when you might like him to milk a phrase. This is also a sign of too stiff a beat.
Any recommendations for a second try?
My favorites are the 2nd and the 3rd.
Mike,
The key for me in the 2nd Piano Concerto is the 8 swings of the pendulum in the opening bars. For this in particular, I agree with you Mike. It is too fast;way too fast in fact for my pre-concieved image of how this piece should start. To be fair though, the Hough recording has much to marvel too and it makes an interesting contrast to most others out there. As George already has stated, there is the Rachmaninov recording itself to compare to and in fact this recording itself is even somewhat quicker still if you go by timings but then I don't know if the cadenzas played in either case are the same which might account for a difference. I also don't know the circumstances that Rachmaninov may have been under while making this recording.
I'm not 100% convinced that we have to or should always stick with a composers recording (in this case a 1924 recording) as the gospel. It represents one day in the life of a great composer and pianist. Music always has some room for latitude and longitude.
The reason I hold the opening of the 2nd so dear is that I have imagined that, as the story goes, that this really represents a pocket watch, perhaps, of a hypnotherapist, swinging just prior to working with Rachmaninov. The piece then goes on to unlock what lies beyond.
The Hough recording actually claims that Rachmaninov's purpose for going to see this Doctor was actually because of his secret interest in his daughter. To me, either way, it is hard to imagine that Rachmaninov himself wouldn't be leaning toward the more emotional and romantic rendering. Any of Rachmaninov's music will portray this deep, soulful Russian characteristics.
Ayway, it looks like you have a good recommendation already in the Richter. No shortage of good recordings, but if you need more try:
The key for me in the 2nd Piano Concerto is the 8 swings of the pendulum in the opening bars. For this in particular, I agree with you Mike. It is too fast;way too fast in fact for my pre-concieved image of how this piece should start. To be fair though, the Hough recording has much to marvel too and it makes an interesting contrast to most others out there. As George already has stated, there is the Rachmaninov recording itself to compare to and in fact this recording itself is even somewhat quicker still if you go by timings but then I don't know if the cadenzas played in either case are the same which might account for a difference. I also don't know the circumstances that Rachmaninov may have been under while making this recording.
I'm not 100% convinced that we have to or should always stick with a composers recording (in this case a 1924 recording) as the gospel. It represents one day in the life of a great composer and pianist. Music always has some room for latitude and longitude.
The reason I hold the opening of the 2nd so dear is that I have imagined that, as the story goes, that this really represents a pocket watch, perhaps, of a hypnotherapist, swinging just prior to working with Rachmaninov. The piece then goes on to unlock what lies beyond.
The Hough recording actually claims that Rachmaninov's purpose for going to see this Doctor was actually because of his secret interest in his daughter. To me, either way, it is hard to imagine that Rachmaninov himself wouldn't be leaning toward the more emotional and romantic rendering. Any of Rachmaninov's music will portray this deep, soulful Russian characteristics.
Ayway, it looks like you have a good recommendation already in the Richter. No shortage of good recordings, but if you need more try:
ANother legendary candidate
quote:Originally posted by Aleg:
ANother legendary candidate
I do have Earl Wild doing the Variations on a Theme by Paginini, on an LP I had completely forgotten about. For a whild, I listened to it a good bit. Fantastic as I remember. I'll have to dig it out and give it a few more listens.
Some good recommendations here already. Other noteworthy performances include Ashkenazy, who made several recordings of which the set with Haitink is the best recorded, and Grimaud for #2.
Regards,
EJ