Search - Rachmaninoff, Gavrilov, Mutti :: Piano Concerto 2 / Paganini Rhapsody

Slightly below average

J. Buxton | Waltham, MA United States | 06/08/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"EMI has put out some really fine recording as part of their "Red Line" series. This isn't one of the better ones. While Gavrilov has all the talent to pull these works off, he isn't helped by poor sound quality. The orchestra sounds unclear and some of the piano passages are muffled. The opening movement is taken at a quick pace (about the same as Rachmaninov himself on RCA), but the second movement really slows to a crawl and Gavrilov almost seems too deliberate. The sense of flow is lost. I don't get the sense that Muti and the Philadelphians are really that involved or that they even care a great deal. The Rhapsody comes off better, more together, but it is almost a consolation prize. On the other hand, perhaps you get what you pay for in this case. There are other excellent Rach 2's at mid price including Ashkenazy/Previn on Decca, Van Cliburn/Reiner on RCA, and Richter/Wistocki on DG, and for a budget price there is a fine performance by Rubinstein/Reiner on RCA."

Undistinguished Rach 2 in a Crowded Field

Classicalfan | Reston, VA USA | 12/22/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I am a fan of Ricardo Mutti and especially of Andrei Gavrilov and consider them both to be highly talented. That is why I bought this CD in spite of having read a less-than-favorable Amazon review of it. However, having now listened to this Cd in its entirety, I must agree with the prior reviewer and cannot, in good conscience, give this recording more than two and a half stars for two reasons: (1) Sound quality - the orchestra and piano both sound a bit distant on this recording, as if the microphone had been placed too far away. One still hears everything, but without a sense of freshness or immediacy; (2) Nothing particularly striking about the performance from the pianist. Even if the performance is by no means bad, there is nothing about it that stands out as exceptional in a very crowded field. I actually found many of the orchestral passages were strikingly beautiful and moving. But once again, the sound quality on this recording left something to be desired.



With respect to my second reason, since this is a crowded field and so many great pianists, including Rachmaninoff himself, have recorded the Second Piano Concerto, any new performance should try to offer something fresh, different, and exciting in comparison to so many other recordings of this work that have appeared before. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be the case here.



My favorite version of the Rach 2 is the one recorded by Gavrilov's mentor, Sviatoslav Richter, in 1960. Even though this recording with Gavrilov is digital and the recording by Richter was analog, and made at the relative beginning of the stereo era, I actually find the sound quality of the Richter recording to be better. Most importantly, Richter's performance is more dynamic and offers more passion and conviction. In this recording, Gavrilov, the student, does not surpass, or for that matter rise to the same level as that of his mentor, Richter. After Richter's version, I would, in all honesty, prefer either the Rubinstein/Reiner or Rubinstein/Ormandy version to this one. Both of these Rubinstein versions, although they are different from Gavrilov's, are also beautifully nuance, polished, and have depth and passion.



Although I would not call this recording made by Gavrilov and Mutti particularly bad, I also find nothing particularly noteworthy about it and find the quality of the sound to be a sub-standard; hence the lower-part-of-the-middle-of-the-road rating of 2.5 (noted as two stars, above), which, after 30 reviews, is the first time I have given any CD such a low ranking. Not recommended."