Search - Sergey Rachmaninov, Simon Rattle, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra :: Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2

Another LA Phil Masterpiece from the early 1980s

J. Randolph | Orange County, CA USA | 07/26/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a reissue of an Angel "Digital LP", and this recording captures the Los Angeles Philharmonic (LAPO), especially the string section, at their finest. At the time this recording was made, Simon Rattle was co-principal guest conductor of LAPO (with Michael Tilson Thomas), with the orchestra under the direction of Carlo Maria Giulini.



I prefer this recording, or Previn's 1970s analog LSO recording, over his "updated" RPO recording.



The first movement is slower and more expansive, compared to either Previn version, which provides an audible contrast to the second movement.



Recorded in the much-maligned Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Music Center, the orchestra sound is remarkably clear and balanced. The recorded sound was remarkably close to what you heard in concert. The brass/wind/percussion sections (the strong suit of the orchestra dating back to Zubin Mehta) were solid, especially in the 2nd and 4th movments. Unlike Previn's LSO version, the brass took a back seat to the strings.



To hear more of the LAPO sound at that time, check out the Tilson-Thomas Gershwin recording with LAPO, recorded at about the same time, for CBS (now Sony). Carlo Maria Giulini/LAPO recorded their Brahms Symph #1 and #2 at about the same time for DGG."