Search - Sergey Rachmaninov, Howard Shelley :: Rachmaninov: Ten Preludes, Op. 23; Morceaux de Fantaisie, Op. 3

Highly qualified work

Michael Rindt | 08/14/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"(Regrettably, Amazon doesn't seem to allow two separate reviews for Howard Shelley's two volumes of Rachmaninov preludes, posting the same review under both items. This review, therefore, addresses two separate discs.)



Howard Shelley is a very gifted pianist, possessing great technical and interpretive abilities. His contributions to the catalog of Rachmaninov recordings are a boon for all lovers of Romantic piano music.



Although, Howard Shelley's sensitivity and technique are continually on display on the opus 23 disc, the results are not as completely satisfying as his performance of opus 32. There are, however, some good things here. Shelley's best performances of opus 23 come on the warhorses in Bb Major, C minor, and Eb minor, all of which are played with a wonderful fluidity, power, and dexterity. He is generally quite good on the rest of the preludes, although he takes an extreme interpretive risk that, to me, fails in the G minor prelude (return of the A section). Shelley is throughout sensitive, thoughtful, and energetic. Fans of the Morceaux de Fantasie will certainly be pleased as well, I'm sure, but my preference is for the preludes.



The particular recording containing Opus 32 was the first of his that I owned, as well as the first of Rachmaninov's preludes. I therefore have Shelley to thank for my complete enthusiasm for these pieces. As with all things, my opinion is now colored by the many subsequent exposures I have had to this music since. Shelley's performances of preludes 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 are still, however, some of the best I've heard. Particularly, preludes 1, 2, 9, and 13 are exemplary, achieving a status as "definitive" for me. Preludes 4, 5, and 7 are accomplished as well, but I now prefer the interpretations of other pianists. The 2 bonus preludes on this disc are quite interesting and contrasting, particularly as they relate to the different stages of Rachmaninov's career. Amazon, at this writing, has them incorrectly labeled in the queue. The 14th track should read as "Prelude in F Major (1891)," and the 15th track should read as "Prelude in D Minor op. post. (1917)."



I recommend these recordings, certainly to anyone seeking a "nearly definitive" recording of the preludes as well as to those wanting to add to their collections. As regards "definitive," it clearly ranks above Weissenberg, Biret, and Alexeev for me, although those are not without value. Aside from Shelley, Ashkenazy has recorded the only other complete preludes I would recommend as an introductory or "definitive" set. The only caveat I will give regarding Howard Shelley's recordings is that the expense of having to buy two Hyperion discs to get the complete 24 preludes of opus 23 and opus 32 may be off-putting to some. Look for used or discounted copies if cost is an issue.

"

Perhaps the best recording of the Op. 23 Preludes

John R. Blackburn Jr. | Santa Clara, CA USA | 02/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While some might argue that Weissenberg provides a slightly superior version of the Op. 23 and Op. 32 Preludes, Shelley renders these early but still technically challenging Rachmaninov masterpieces with amazing precision and seemingly effortless skill. Shelley's performance sets the standard that no one but Weissenberg can approach. And the audio quality is quite good. Shelley's renditions of the Morceaux de Fantaisie are likewise marvelous."