Search - Sergey Rachmaninov, Edo de Waart, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra :: Rachmaninov: The 3 Symphonies; The Rock

Nicely balanced contrasts and tunefully alive

Jeffrey Lee | Asheville area, NC USA | 06/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My guess is that if out of the clear blue one was given a choice between Ashkenazy/Concertgebouw or de Waart/Rotterdam performing the Rachmaninoff Symphonies, most respondents would not hesitate to pick the former which, after all, has been praised highly. One fellow, in a currently popular book dealing with reviewed recordings even refers to de Waart's readings as 'ordinary'. Well, I don't agree with him, and after listening to both sets, my conclusion is that de Waart/Rotterdam accomplishes a better job of holding my interest throughout and leaving me more pleasantly fulfilled. Ashkenazy's Rachmaninoff is painted with a slightly darker, thicker brush than deWaart's. His tempos seem to be a bit slower as well. Perhaps, the denser sound of the Concertgebouw contributes to this impression, which some might prefer. But what I get more frequently with de Waart/Rotterdam is greater radiance, and it is radiance which I consider to be one of the most salient features promoting the enjoyment of Rachmaninoff's music. I am not implying de Waart downplays or suppresses the composer's darker or brooding moments. He should not and he does not. But he seems to be in greater touch with Rachmaninoff's somewhat Rembrandt-like tonal contrasts. Further, I find his style more scintillating, and, during more romantic moments, more warmly expressive. Finally, under de Waart, passages sing more openly. If you are interested in acquiring a set of these symphonies, before you make a decision based on either what I have said or anyone else has said, take the opportunity to listen to audio samples offered by those in the business of selling this music on cd. Good luck with your choices."

The Best Recording Ever!

Geoffrey S. Hamlyn | El Paso, Texas United States | 08/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Rotterdam Philharmonic is truly spectacular in this recording. Each Rachmaninoff symphony is a uniqe gem and this orchestra adds a special touch of class and beauty which I have never grown tired of. The complexity of Rachmaninoff's music is clearly articulated yet never overpowers the beautiful themes and melodies that are inherent in this music. The most notable movement of Symphony 2 is the scherzo, which is played in a beautiful yet precise manner. The often misunderstood first symphony is played with an agility and finesse that relives this classic. The third symphony's modern charm is really brought out through the RDP's soaring crescendoes and diminuendos. Finally, the mystery of "The Rock" is not revealed in this majical and provocative recording. This is truly and amazing collection and a best buy for a two CD set."

Gorgeous!

Charles T. Neal | Globe, AZ, United States | 12/21/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the collection of Rachmaninoff's symphonies I listen to a couple times a week, as well as the one I send as a present to my closest friends. Its only weaknessess are (1) the inclusion of "the Rock" to fill out the second disk -- it's an early work of no great note, and (2) Rachmaninoff's own departures from his best style in the development section of the opening movement of the third, where for a few bars it seems he's trying to sound more like an impressionist than the late romantic throwback he really was. Still, the rendition of the second symphony, most people's favorite, is consistently beautiful; the third symphony is so well done in spite of Rachmaninoff's own weaknesses that the second theme of the 1st movement, welling up out of the cello section, is a good candidate for "most beautiful lyric melody of all time," and the rendition of the youthful first symphony is a real "Ring the Bells of Moscow" war horse in the first and fourth movements. The Rotterdam Phil has the requisite lush, romantic string section, very good solo woodwinds, and a rock-solid brass section which gives the impression of a brass pipe organ in the tutti sections, a remarkably well-blended mix of the cylindrical trumpets and trombones with the conical horns and tubas, somehow achieving the consistency of attack and articulation across the spectrum which is so hard for many brass sections to achieve. They make the opening of the finale of the first one of those things you use to crank up the volume and roll down the car windows to get back at the kid who drives up alongside you bumping rap! I can't imagine my life without this collection!"