Search - Rachmaninoff, Ormandy :: Symphonies 1-3 / Vocalise

Old-world magic

jrhee_99 | New York, NY USA | 06/15/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"All the pieces on this set are well played and nicely recorded for a recording of its age. The most outstanding to me, however, is the piece with which I have had the most experience, both as a musician and a record collector-- The 2nd Symphony.And what a performance it is! The strings singing out in the lyrical passages, while in the fast ones, Ormandy takes us on a wild rollercoaster. So much has been made of Kurt Sanderling's version on DG. And truly his is a wonderful reading, very passionate and sincere. Compared to Ormandy's, however, it is very straightfoward, and may even sound a little square. Indeed, having lived with both versions for a while, the old-fashioned quirks of Ormandy's reading have made it my favorite version to listen to for both fascination and enjoyment. (For a most telling example, sample the third movement, midway through, and you will hear the violins pull back, then enter into what surely must be the boldest, most unashamed glissando one could hear in a performance of this work... and I've heard quite a few!) This is old-world subjectivism and romanticism at its best! And the recording, while certainly not crystal clear as today's modern recordings go, only adds to the old-fashioned charm and magic. What else could be expected from the orchestra and conductor that pioneered Rachmaninov's work for so many years? A great first choice for these works, and a must-buy at this bargain price!"

A sentimental favorite

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 03/04/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm delighted to see that these recordings are still available; indeed they've never been out of the catalog since their issue in the 1950s. Although Ormandy went back to the studio in the 1970s to re-record the Second (and possibly the Third - I honestly don't recall having owned it, but maybe he did) I continue to love these. In fact, I just spent a cold and rainy afternoon curled up with them. If any composer can warm you up, it's Rachmaninov, don't you agree?Other reviewers have complained that these recordings have cuts, and that's true, particularly in the Second. But I must issue a minority report and say that I don't think it cripples the symphonies at all. And if I'm not mistaken Rachmaninov authorized the cuts himself (although one remembers that he was pretty easygoing when it came to that sort of thing). The main reason for recommending these performances is that Ormandy has the rich, expressive sound of the Philadelphia Orchestra, particularly in the lush strings, that is perfect for Rachmaninov and, further, he was a masterful interpreter of this music. Particularly considering the price, I don't think you can go wrong here. I wouldn't want to be without, say, Sanderling, or Ashkenazy, or the Gergiev/Kirov Second but these are my first loves."

Great set, but the Second Symphony is heavily cut

Anonymous | California USA | 01/25/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The playing, conducting and recording on this set are nothing less than great. The Philadelphia Orchestra was Rachmaninov's own ensemble, with which the composer himself recorded all his piano concertos (some of them with Ormandy on the podium), together with an unforgettable reading of his Third Symphony. That experience was still with the ensemble when these late 50s-60s recordings were made. The orchestral playing is unsurpassable for this repertoire. In Rachmaninov's "big tunes" the Philadelphia strings wipe the floor with every other orchestra in the world. The sound (including the 1959 stereo for the Second Symphony) is amazingly good, comparingly favorably to many 1990s digital recordings. The version of the First Symphony presented here (unfortunately split over the CDs) is probably still the most successful recorded performance of this great work. The Third, while lacking the subtlety of Rachmaninov's own Philadelphia recording, is still excellent. Unfortunately, the Second Symphony is so heavily cut in every movement that what we have here is more like a highlights package than a complete performance. This is nothing less than a tragedy, since the bits Ormandy does choose to play rank at or near the top of all recorded renditions. It is also quite inexcusable: three years earlier, in 1956, Kurt Sanderling and the Leningrad PO had recorded an almost-complete version of the Second (with just one cut in the Finale). I would still choose the Sanderling/Leningrad performance as my desert-island recording of the Second, but Ormandy and the Philadelphians also need to be heard, particularly for what is the most exhilirating account of the Finale ever. And also for all those great tunes, of course :) You should also hear what the *uncut* Second Symphony sounds like: for that, I'd recommend Ashkenazy/Concertgebouw."