Search - Sergey Rachmaninov, Dmitry Liss, Orchestre Philharmonique de l'Oural :: Rachmaninov: Concertos pour piano 2 & 3

For Berezovsky collectors mostly

th | west coast of Norway | 06/17/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Those who remember Berezovskys first recording of Rachmaninovs 3. concerto have been waiting for this. He is probably one of the worlds most underrated pianists, and the old recording of the 3. concerto is a treasure - everything so relaxed and so delicately wrought out. His new recording of both 2. and 3. concertos is, to my ears, not on the same level. The Ural orchestra is not of the highest rank. We could have lived with that. Berezovskys playing is as always concentrated and relaxed - a wonderful combination. But it lacks the intensity and perfect balance of the old recording. His version of the second concerto, long awaited by his admirers, is not a bad recording. He deals with the musics threatening sentimentality with a very strong sense of presence. The playing seems nevertheless somewhat straight forward and never on the level of the old 3. or some of the preludes. If you are interested in Berezovsky you probably know his complete recording of Rachmaninovs preludes. If not, try it. He has also released the 1. and 4. concertos with the same orchestra. I havn't bought it. I have the impression he was not quite at ease in this setting."