Search - Rachmaninoff, Davis, Royal Stockholm Phil Orch :: Symphonic Dances / Rock / Isle of the Dead

Suprise CD

Brett A. Kniess | Madison, WI | 04/24/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This thematically dark and brooding CD is a tremendous success, in both performance and sound as well as programming. This recording, bought on a whim, has proven to be a delightful suprise to my own CD collection.The tie between the works on this CD are as follows: each represents one of Rachmaninov's periods of writing (there were three). Each contain references to death (some quote the famous Dies Irae sequence, while others have literary ties to life's defeat). These themes are uniquely colored in a way beyond Tchaikovsky, with a true Romantic fervor, with a classical flair of Russian.All the selections are played exceptionally by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic under the baton of Andrew Davis (another suprise). The music is presented as dark and moody with finely timed climaxes and a deep full tone. Those of you who are not familiar with the Tone Poems of Rachmaninov, will find a treasure in this CD. It is an expressive and robust taste of the colorful and vivid imagination of lush and dark music."