Search - Sergey Rachmaninov, Anatole Fistoulari, Kiril Kondrashin :: Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos 2 & 3 / Ashkenazy, Kondrashin

Classic Rachmaninoff

Robert L. Berkowitz | Natick, MA United States | 01/26/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ashkenazy recorded the Rachmaninoff piano concerto no. 3 at different points in his career. This recording, the one with Fistoulari, was his first, and in my estimation his best. He had just shared first prize with John Ogdon at the 1960 Tchaikovsky competition, and was at his technical peak.I owned this recording of the Rachmaninoff 3rd when it first came out on LP. I grew to love this concerto through it, though in my estimation the recording by Cliburn and Kiril Kondrashin surpasses it. The cover of the LP indicated that Ashkenazy recorded this performance in one cut without edits. It seems all the more special for that reason.These recordings of the Rachmaninoff concertos nos. 2 and 3 are marked by nobility and some restraint. Ashkenazy takes an almost "classical" approach to these concertos. Some might call him reserved, but it would be equally appropriate to say that he chose to dignify Rachmaninoff and protect him from what can be a tendency to overly romanticize this music. For me, the third concerto comes off more successfully with this approach.Consistent with this more reserved approach, Ashkenazy plays the shorter, less showy, cadenza in the first movement of the Rachmaninoff 3rd. This recording will always have a special place in my collection. It is beautifully remastered and worthy of its placement in the Legends series."

Cool, but engaging

hjonkers | The Netherlands | 12/22/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This really is a great disc. It's the first recording Ashkenazy made of the two concertos, and he was only 26 at the time. From a youthful pianist, you would expect a forceful, emotionally driven performance, but not so here. It's quite amazing to hear a 26-year old pianist play these concertos with this level of maturity, in an emotionally cool, but very engaging performance. I mean, just compare it to the excessive assaults you get from the likes of Argerich, and this one is extremely delighting. There's no excess anywhere to be found on this disc. Ashkenazy's accounts are extremely relaxed and calm. But the music doesn't suffer from it: not at all! Rach. 3 in particular blossoms under Ashkenazy's fingers. Pianist and orchestra are a unity, and their playing is spell-binding. For a greater drive, get Richter in the Second and Ashkenazy's later recording for the Third. This recording, however, always invites me to listen to it again, and it's one of the few in my collection that is able to do so."

The best recording of Rach. 3 ever made

Mr. Alex S. Went | Shrewsbury, Shropshire UK | 08/06/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There's no question about this. Ashkenazy's April 1963 performance is equalled only by the superb technical skill of both orchestra and recording engineers. I heartily endorse the previous reviewer's comments and urge everyone to add this to their shopping basket"