Rachmaninov: Aleko

Aleko, opera, TN ii/70
Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performed by Donetsk Philharmonic Orchestra
with Samson Isoumov, Oleg Koulko, Leonid Tischenko, Marina Lapina
Conducted by Roman Kofman

Rachmaninov: Aleko,Samson Isoumov,Leonid Tischenko,Sergey Rachmaninov,Roman Kofman,Donetsk Philharmonic Orchestra,Marina Lapina,Oleg Koulko,Verdi,Classical,Classical Music,Opera,Opera / Operetta / Oratorio,Russian 20th/21st Century Opera

Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2 / Vocalise / Aleko: Intermezzo & Women's Dance (EMI Great Recordings of the Century)

Average customer rating:

A lone voice...
Well, a slip into greatness
One of the great performances of all time
M A G N I F I C E N T !!!
A rightful classic reading of one of the great symphonies

Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2 / Vocalise / Aleko: Intermezzo & Women's Dance (EMI Great Recordings of the Century)
Sergei Rachmaninov , André Previn , and London Symphony Orchestra
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Grieg: Peer Gynt Op23; Symphonic Dances Op64
Chopin: Waltzes Nos. 1-14
Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem [A German Requiem]

ASIN: B00000K4FI
Release Date: 1999-09-14

Tracks:

Symphony No. 2 In E Minor, Op. 27: I. Largo - Allegro moderato
Symphony No. 2 In E Minor, Op. 27: II. Scherzo (Allegro molto)
Symphony No. 2 In E Minor, Op. 27: III. Adagio
Symphony No. 2 In E Minor, Op. 27: IV. Finale (Allegro vivace)
Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14
Aleko: Intermezzo
Aleko: Women's Dance

Customer Reviews:

A lone voice..........2006-09-15

I seem to be the only dissenting voice here, but I have to give my opinion on this rendition of Rachmaninov's 2nd. The main reason that I don't think this is a great version is the tempo, it is too slow. For my taste, the Ashkenazy with the Concertgebouw Orchestra on London is better suited to this symphony. Ashkenazy's pace seems to bring this work to life, whereas Previn and other conductors seem to think a slower pace is better. If you like slower tempos you will love this Previn rendition. But if you prefer a quicker (but not rushed or hurried) tempo, go with the Ashkenazy.

Well, a slip into greatness.......2005-09-24

Andre Previn is the master of the fair-to-middling performance, and a prime example of not getting better with age. But here he pulls off a great performance in demonstration-quality sound. I was floored after so many disppointments. His early Seventies period with the LSO may just be Previn's best, worth exploring for other unexpected gems. In any event, the British critics who perennially sing the praises of this Rachmaninov Second are surely right.

One of the great performances of all time.......2004-12-23

This is one of my favourite recordings. It captures the emotion of a live performance and is a tribute to the tour Previn and the orchestra made of Russia two years before. The string playing is superb, and the clarinet solo in the 3rd movement (Jack Brymer) a revelation. Amazing!

M A G N I F I C E N T !!!.......2004-08-02

ANDRE PREVIN's wondrous recording of Rachmaninoff's Second Symphony for EMI is, justifiably, one of the treasures from the EMI catalog. This edition also includes a famous version of the Vocalise (though not ultimately as good as the Stokowski-EMI), plus Aleko -- the latter is more than just a filler track. On the technical side, this transfer is as close as possible to the old LP in terms of sonics and integrity. A nice job from the buddies at EMI. Among the 'competitors' to the Previn you'll find significant accounts by Edo de Waart (Philips), the excellent Anissimov (Naxos), Lopez-Cobos (Telarc), Ashkenazy (Decca), Jansons (EMI), the illuminating Temirkanov (RCA) and the exquisite Svetlanov (Moscow Studio). In my opinion, none of them can clearly surpass (or let alone equal) the Previn-EMI. The Previn-RPO on Telarc is no competition to the earlier LSO session : If the RPO is a 'very good' recording, then the LSO is a 'great' recording -- there's also a huge difference in term of interpretation that clearly makes the EMI disc a winner on all counts.

A rightful classic reading of one of the great symphonies.......2004-06-09

Other than Vladimir Ashkenazy's performance of Rachmaninov's Second Symphony with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (I believe), this classic reading with Andre Previn leading the London Symphony Orchestra---the first fully uncut performance of the piece---is the only performance of this wonderful work that I've heard, and frankly I'd be just fine having only this recording in my library to represent the work. Previn's tempos in all four movements may be deliberate, but still the reading as a whole never fails to convince. What matters most with this piece is that Rachmaninov's great melodies and soaring emotion are not shortchanged by either conductor or orchestra, and on that level the LSO and Previn do not disappoint. They are masterful in all four movements, but it is the third movement Adagio that a listener will most likely remember most. It may be slow (Ashkenazy was slightly brisker here, while Mikhail Pletnev, in his more recent DG recording, even more brisk and unsentimental) but it still packs an emotional wallop.

Amazon.com

Its irresistible melodies and lush orchestration account for Rachmaninoff's Second being the most popular of his three symphonies. The yearning string themes and the long, exquisite Adagio with its gorgeous clarinet solo overcome even resistance from diehard anti-Romanticists. Here, Järvi and his outstanding orchestra give full due to the work's melodic richness, clothing the themes in a velvet blanket of string and woodwind sound while spinning Rachmaninoff's long lines with a sure hand. Without excessive lingering, Järvi brings out many details buried in other versions and the faster movements, the Scherzo and the Finale, have plenty of dash and color. The fillers are delightful too, especially the pair of dances from Rachmaninoff's opera Aleko, the first sinuous, the second zestful. Telarc lavishes its usual excellent sonics on the band, placing it in a realistic dynamic frame. There have been numerous fine versions of Rachmaninoff's Second from the likes of Svetlanov, Ormandy, Temirkanov and Previn, but Järvi's belongs in their company and benefits from superior sound. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Heart on the Sleeve: Paavo Järvi's Passionate Rachmaninov.......2007-04-14

'Rachmaninov is a composer whose time will come - for the symphonies' stated Paavo Järvi on the local classical music station interview. It is a statement that may make some people scoff when they evaluate the number of recordings and performances of the piano concerti that load the catalogs and shelves of personal libraries. But Järvi was addressing the three symphonies of Rachmaninov and while the Second Symphony is heard with some regularity, the total symphonic output is not. It is refreshing to hear a conductor shed light on the very Romantic music of a 20th century composer, but listening to this recent release of his performance of the Rachmaninov 2nd Symphony (in tandem with the far less well known dances from Aleko and the Scherzo) with his Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra shows why some conductors fail to find the importance.

Paavo Järvi molds the rich melodic lines of this very beautiful work with nothing short of passion. His sweeping string lines supported from the bottom up (and captured with enormous live feeling by Telarc) carry a theme from the opening measures through the various shifts that always return to the core line. At times some of the lesser supporting roles by other sections in the orchestra are passed over a bit too hastily, but that is his choice and not the flaw of the orchestra choirs. In the end his vision of the work is purely from the heart and the degree of commitment to the seemingly endless melodies feels endless.

Other listeners may be solid supporters of the 'bigger name' conductor versions (Previn, Svetlanov, Ormandy, Temirkanov, Slatkin as per the editorial stance) and that is not to say this recording supercedes those. It is just the honesty of conviction and the commitment to Rachmaninov's passionate side that Järvi that is an ear-opener and deserves wide attention. And the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is growing in importance under his baton! Grady Harp, April 07

Rachmaninov/Jarvi Sym 2.......2007-04-07

Great sound, but the performance has no grandeur-certainly no match for
Temirkanov or Previn. The American Record Guide muffed this one.

Dmitri Hvorostovsky - Songs and Dances of Death / Gergiev

Average customer rating:

ravishing !
Russia's Best!
The best russian performer
Dmitri at his darkest and most compelling
Breathtaking!

Dmitri Hvorostovsky - Songs and Dances of Death / Gergiev
Sergei Rachmaninov , Alexander Borodin , Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov , Sergey Rachmaninov , Anton Rubinstein , Valery Gergiev , and Dmitri Hvorostovsky
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000418A
Release Date: 1994-03-15

Tracks:

Sadko: 'Gorat kamennyj'; 'Gorat prekrasnyj'
Kashei The Immortal: 'Gluhaja noch'
Snow Maiden: 'Na t'oplam sinem more'
The Tsar's Bride: 'S uma nejdot krasvitsa!'
Prince Igor: 'Ni sna, ni otdyha izmuchennaj dushe'
The Demon: 'Ne plach dit'a'
The Demon: 'Na vazdushnam akeane'
The Demon: 'Ja tot, katoramu vnimala'
The Demon - Nero: ''Paju tebe, Boh Gimenej!'
Aleko: 'Ves' tabar spit'
Songs And Dances Of Death: Lulluaby
Songs And Dances Of Death: Serenade
Songs And Dances Of Death: 'Trepak'
Songs And Dances Of Death: The Field Marshal

Amazon.com essential recording

Mussorgsky's four songs known collectively as Songs and Dances of Death make up 20 minutes of the most intense storytelling in 19th-century song. At first, Hvorostovsky's voice seems almost too beautiful, his sound almost too youthful to fill out these narratives, but his concentration and breath control are so sensational that we realize what he's up to. He's spinning us seductively into the spooky world of these songs, where Death converses in turn with the mother of a dying child, a young girl, an old peasant, and dying soldiers; Hvorostovsky nicely changes his tone for each song. The rest of the CD is equally fine, with two arias from Anton Rubinstein's The Demon particularly compelling. Quite an adventure! --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

ravishing !.......2003-04-27

Out of my ever growing (15 recordings so far) Dmitri collection, this is one of the best, a cream of the crop CD, with a terrific selection of music, and the fabulous Siberian at his most intense and dramatic.
Recorded 9 years ago when he was 31, it is one of his earliest CDs, but from the start (listen to his amazing "Russian Romances" !), he sang with incredible maturity and vocal richness.

Valery Gergiev and the Kirov Orchestra provide perfect backing, with a good balance between orchestra and singer, lovely and lyrical for the melodious Tsar's Bride aria (my current favorite track), and with plenty of dazzle and muscle for the Moussorgsky pieces.
This is one of those CDs (and both Dmitri and Gergiev have a few of them), that captures the heart and soul of Russian music.

Russia's Best!.......2002-10-29

This is by far the most breathtaking interpretation of the Songs and Dances of Death by Mussorgsky you will ever hear! I have seen Hvorostovsky in concert twice and always yearn for more. His voice is just as incredible live. Every single aria on this disc is a jewell. You can feel the pathos and the agony of the Demon, the heartwrenching jelousy of Aleko, and the joyous abandonment of the singer in Nero. Hvorostovsky's voice is just as outstanding as Ghiurov's in his prime.
The choice of repertoire and Dmitri's interpretation makes this CD a must for those wishing to explore Russian opera. His impressive range allows him to sing at ease in both the baritone and bass tessitura. He will no doubt make an exciting Scarpia and an unforgettable Mephistophele (both Gounod's and Boito's)someday. I hope he considers these roles in the future!

The best russian performer.......2002-05-10

I want to say this: Dmitri is the best baritone in our days, but he is the best russian performer ever lived. You can hear all the fellings the song expresses, a beatiful, coloured voice with a magnificent sound. He is simply superb. The orchestra and the conductor are correct. Again, Dmitri is the most important presence in this Cd.

Dmitri at his darkest and most compelling.......2001-10-12

I couldn't agree more with Robert Levine and Stephen Ettinger's most informative reviews. Prior to purchasing this CD, I had read elsewhere that Hvorostovsky's upper register was in trouble on this album. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Having now heard the album I can happily report that Dmitri's upper, middle AND lower registers are perfectly equalized, and I strongly urge any doubting critics to retire gracefully. For this is a magnificent album from one of the most exciting baritones of the last 25 years. It ranks alongside Hvorostovsky's CD of the Sviridov song cycle, Russia Cast Adrift, as a celebration of sheer individualism in singing. Both albums display the hallmarks of this wonderful singer - the dark and intensely concentrated sound, the extraordinary breath control and superb attention to the phrasing. Just 31 when he recorded the present CD, Hvorostovsky brings such insight to his singing that he puts most of his contemporaries to shame. This album demonstrates everything that great singing should be: dazzling vocalism combined with innate feeling for the words.

Always at his best in the Russian repertoire, Hvorostovsky has chosen this programme wisely. He covers a wide range of moods, starting out with the joyous Venetian's Song from Rimsky-Korsakov's Sadko, and moving through some highly melodic works from Borodin and Rubinstein before arriving at Rachmaninov's darkly compelling Ves' Tabar Spit from the opera Aleko. For the latter he employs a more sombre style than the lustier approach favoured by, say, Ghiaurov, but this sets the scene well for the Songs and Dances of Death that follow.

These are the showpieces of the album, and I have never heard them more memorably performed. The variety of colours in Hvorostovsky's voice are a revelation, but what makes these songs stand out is the way he manages to convey so many different characters and moods. I loved the humour of his drunken peasant in the Trepak, and at the same time was thrilled by the terrifying power of his Field Marshall in the final song. These are truly astonishing performances.

As always, Hvorostovsky is provided with great support from conductor Valery Gergiev, and the sound quality is remarkably warm and vibrant. An unforgettable release and a must-have for anyone who loves great singing.

Breathtaking!.......1999-11-24

This is my favorite Dmitri Hvorostovsky CD. Not only he included the famous Russian opera arias for baritone, but he also added the magnificent "Songs and Dances of Death" by Modeste Mussorgsky brilliantly arranged for orchestra by Dmitri Shostakovich. Originally, Mussorgsky composed this terrifying masterpiece for different voices singing each piece, i.e. one for bass, one for tenor, one for contralto. Shostakovich decided to arrange it for orchestra for the Prima Donna of Bolshoi and his good friend Galina Vishnevskaya. He also made the pieces grimmer, so to speak, with his booming rhythmic percussion and "ticking clock" strings. In her book, Galina Vishnevskaya contrasts Shostakovich's terror of death to Mussorgsky's faithful acceptance of it.

Hearing Dmitri sing "Songs and Dances" in his baritone key is somewhat of a revelation. Not having the benefit of soprano's flying vocal pyrotechnics, Dmitri chose to put all the terror he could muster in his singing. On "Trepak" he resorts to folk song's vivacity and in "Field Marchall" he sings the voice of Death with suffocating anger towards the living. The "Serenade" sparkles with warm seductive sound and "Lullaby" sounds as it is sang by two different voices. It is indeed spine-chilling.

The rest of the album is just as impressive. The Rimsky-Korsakov and Borodin selections are a part of Russian traditional baritone repertoire; Hvoristovsky approaches them with utmost seriousness and dedication. The Rubinstein and Rachmaninov arias are rare, the ones from "Demon" and "Aleko" used to be sang by basses or bass/baritones, for example Nicolai Ghiaurov and George London. But Dmitri is able to hit the low notes just fine, thereby fending off some critic's preposterous remarks about his lower range. Actually he manages to sound like a lyric basso, which is quite an accomplishment. And the breath control on "Na Vozdushnom Okeane" is nothing short of remarkable. Valery Gergiev brings his trademark intensity and imaginative reading to the music and the Kirov Orchestra is in top shape. Somehow I think that transposing the Mussorgsky selections for the baritone was his idea. Btw, Dmitri's singing idol, the great Fyodor Chaliapin recorded only "Trepak" out of the whole song cycle. Thus Dmitri's is, in a sense, finishing what Chaliapin had started. As always, the Philips sound is wonderful and spacious. The booklet is informative, but a serious listener may want to do some more research. Personally I longed for Cyrillic texts, but the translations are pretty accurate, so that those unfamiliar with Russian could get an overall understanding, which is absolutely essential for this fascinating material.

Rachmaninov: Complete Operas (Aleko, The Miserly Knight, Francesca di Rimini)
Average customer rating:

A Very Different Rachamninoff!!!

Outstanding Rachmaninov operas, though a libretto would've helped

Rachmaninov: Complete Operas (Aleko, The Miserly Knight, Francesca di Rimini)

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0001Y4JI4
Release Date: 2004-06-15

Customer Reviews:

A Very Different Rachamninoff!!!.......2006-06-20

The great Sergei Rachmaninoff was not primarily known as an opera composer. However, his three operas have an important place in the music history books.
This three-disc set includes all three of Rachamninoff's operas in their entirety (one per disc) and are presented in jaw-dropping performances under the baton of conductor Neeme Jarvi. The orchestra as well as the soloists and choirs truly deliver emotionally-drenched performances on all three operas.
Musically, these operas may be overwhelming to some. There is a definite darker approach heard in these works which is a drastic departure from Rachmaninoff's romantic-styled Piano Concertos and Symphonies. There is also a definite Tchaikovsky influence heard in this music as well. Depsite the darker atmosphere of these operas, the power of this music is emmense and dynamic while never losing momentum. In other words, this is some great stuff here.
While the CD booklet includes synopsises of each opera, there are no libretti included which is a shame because the opera's are sung in Russian. To have the full set of lyrics printed out both in Russian and English would have been fantastic to follow along with while listening. No so here, though.
Despite this, this set of Rachmaninoff's complete operas is essential to any diehard Rachmaninoff fan. Even though these operas weren't as successful as his other works, his genius comes through loud and clear here and are just as good as anything else he has done.
Definitely Essential Rachmaninoff Operas!!!!

Outstanding Rachmaninov operas, though a libretto would've helped.......2006-02-03

Neeme Jarvi and the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra (Goteborgs Symfoniker) have done an excellent job with Sergei Rachmaninov's three influential operas. The sound quality is amazing, and the soloists sing their heart out...WAY out.

Aleko: This is the story of love, deception, and sorrow between an old man, who is now a gypsy, and his unbalanced family. The ending is as tragic as the ending to "Boris Godunov" by Modest Mussorgsky.

The Miserly Knight: Albert is a man who finds himself in an inheritance crisis, while his father is a man who can't get enough of his own greed. The two confront each other, through words, and through violence.

Francesca da Rimini: The darkest of the three, it tells of how Francesca da Rimini & Paolo Malatesta were sent to hell with their atrocious love affair.

I'm giving this box set only four stars, clearly because of lack of the librettos by Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko and Modest Tchaikovsky. All in all, this is for those who are interested in Rachmaninov's lesser works.

I give this an A-

Average customer rating:

A Wonderful Voice From The Past
Chaliapin - Prima Voce

Prima Voce: Chaliapin

Manufacturer: Nimbus Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000037JO
Release Date: 1992-12-02

Tracks:

Boris Godounov, Pimens Narration
The Demon, Do Not Weep, Child
Mashenka
Sapphische Ode
The Song Of The Flea
Oh, Could I In Song Tell My Sorrow
Boris Godounov, Varlaams Song
Don Carlos, Dormiro Sol
Sadko, The Varangians Merchant's Song
The Son Of The Volga Boatman
Prince Igor, Galitzky's Song
Boris Godounov, Boris' Monologue
Faust, Vous Qui Faites L' endormie
Don Giovanni, Madamina
A Life For The Tsar, Susanin' s Recitative & Aria
La Boheme, Vecchia Zimarra
Pilgrim's Song
Mefistofele, Ave Signor
Mefistofele, Son Spirito Che Nega
Don Quichotte, Death Scene

Tracks:

Boris Godounov, Boris' Monologue
Boris Godounov, Clock Scene
Boris Godounov, Farewell Prayer And Death
In Questa Tomba Oscura
Prince Igor, Khan Kontchak' s Aria
Folk Song, Down The Petersky
Aleko, Aleko's Cavatina
Faust, Un, Rat...Le Reau D'or
Nochen' ka
Rusalka, The Miller' s Aria
Persian Love Song
Russlan And Ludmilla, Farlaf's Rondo
Elegie
Twofold Litany
Chanson De La Mort De Don Quichotte
The Song Of The Flea

Customer Reviews:

A Wonderful Voice From The Past.......2006-07-27

This two-disc set gives a good overview of the great Russian Bass singer. It has a total of 36 selections, and covers the years 1911 to 1936.

With a voice of tremendous range and power, Chaliapin could also sing softly and with feeling. A very flexible instrument that comes through the old recording technology of the 78 record era. A good example of the pure physical gifts of his voice is 'Farlaf's Rondo' by Glinka. A 'patter' song, with words and syllables sung rapidly and seemingly without taking a breath. As if the performance wasn't difficult enough, Chaliapin speeds up the tempo at the ending of the rondo! It shows the breath control he had, and while the singer seems to be none of the worst for wear, I was left breathless just listening!

Two selections, Boris' Monologue from 'Boris Godounov' and 'Song of The Flea', by Mussorgsky, are represented by two different performances. This gives a good idea of the breadth of Chaliapin's art, as each performance of the same work is full of nuance and artistry. It is hard for me to pick which performance I like best. As with any great artist, each time a work is performed it is not just a repitition, but a unique recreation.

The transfers naturally have much surface noise, as all are from the 78 rpm record era. I have most of these recordings on transfers to LP's and the noise is much more apparant than on the CD transfers. With older recordings such as these, any transfers and 'cleaning up' of the sound can only go so far. If too much of the noise from the originals is 'cleaned up', the recording can lose presence. Whomever engineered the transfers to CD has hit a happy middle ground. The background noise is still there, but not so annoying as on LP, while the sound of the actual music and Chaliapin's voice seems much more alive.

What I have read about Chaliapin says that he was not only a great singer, but a great actor also. The two do not always go together, for a great voice in opera can make up for a lack of acting ability. To have both talents rolled into one is rare. Contemporary accounts of Chaliapin's operatic performances comment as much on his acting as his singing. There arevideos of his film performance in Ibert's Don Quichotte, which I want to see when I have the chance.

If you're passion is the human voice, you must hear Chaliapin. It is not possible to say he or anyone else was the best. But these recordings show he was a consummate artist, and are well worth exploring.

Recommended.

Chaliapin - Prima Voce.......2006-03-18

The recordings are old but the only way one can hear a legend!

The selections are excellent and the quality is as one would expect from this vintage recording.

I enjoy going back to hear these voices and this is the only way to understand the history

Average customer rating:

Idil amazing
Essential Rachmaninoff at a good price.

Rachmaninov: Piano Music (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Canons | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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Chopin: Complete Piano Music
Brahms: Works for Solo Piano
Sergei Prokofiev - 50th Anniversary Edition
Works for Solo Piano
Liszt: Piano Works

ASIN: B00004W54X
Release Date: 2000-08-15

Tracks:

Vivace
Andante
Allegro Vivace - Andante Ma Non Troppo - Tempo Primo
Allegro Vivace
Largo
Allegro Vivace
Introduction
Variation 1
Theme
Variation 2
Variation 3
Variation 4
Variation 5
Variation 6
Variation 7
Variation 8
Variation 9
Variation 10
Variation 11
Variation 12
Variation 13
Variation 14
Variation 15
Variation 16
Variation 17
Variation 18
Variation 19
Variation 20
Variation 21
Variation 22
Variation 23
Variation 24

Tracks:

Moderato
Adagio Sostenuto
Allegro Scherzando
Allegro Ma Non Tanto
Intermezzo: Adagio
Finale: Alla Breve

Tracks:

No. 1 In F Minor: Allegro Non Troppo
No. 2 In C Major: Allegro
No. 3 In C Minor: Grave
No. 4 In D Minor: Moderato
No. 5 In E Flat Minor: Non Allegro
No. 6 In E Flat Major: Allegro Con Fuoco
No. 7 In G Minor: Moderato
No. 8 In C Sharp Minor: Grave
No. 1 In C Minor: Allegro Agitato
No. 2 In A Minor: Lento Assai
No. 3 In F Sharp Minor: Allegro Molto
No. 4 In B Minor: Allegro Assai
No. 5 In E Flat Minor: Appassionata
No. 6 In A Minor: Allegro
No. 7 In C Minor: Lento
No. 8 In D Minor: Allegro Moderato
No. 9 In D Major: Allegro Moderato

Tracks:

No. 1 In F Sharp Minor
No. 2 In F Major
No. 3 In C Minor - E Flat Minor
I. Romance In F Sharp Minor
II. Prelude In E Flat Minor
III. Melodie In E Major
IV. Gavotte In D Major
I. Nocturne In A Minor
II. Valse In A Major
III. Barcarolle In G Minor
IV. Melodie In E Minor
V. Humoresque In G Major
VI. Romance In F Minor
VII. Mazurka In D Flat Major

Tracks:

No. 1 In F Sharp Minor: Largo
No. 2 In B Major: Maestoso
No. 3 In D Minor: Tempo Di Minuetto
No. 4 In D Major: Andante Cantabile
No. 5 In G Minor: Alla Marcia
No. 6 In E Flat Major: Andante
No. 7 In C Minor: Allegro
No. 8 In A Flat Major: Allegro Vivace
No. 9 In E Flat Minor: Presto
No. 10 In G Flat Major: Largo
No. 1: Elegie In E Flat Minor
No. 2: Prelude In C Sharp Minor
No. 3: Melodie In E Major
No. 4: Polichinelle In F Sharp Minor
No. 5: Serenade In B Flat Minor

Tracks:

No. 1 In C Major: Allegro Vivace
No. 2 In B Flat Minor: Allegretto
No. 3 In E Major: Allegro Vivace
No. 4 In E Minor: Allegro Con Brio
No. 5 In G Major: Moderato
No. 6 In F Minor: Allegro Appassionato
No. 7 In F Major: Moderato
No. 8 In A Minor: Vivo
No. 9 In A Major: Allegro Moderato
No. 10 In B Minor: Lento
No. 11 In B Major: Allegretto
No. 12 In G Sharp Minor: Allegro
No. 13 In D Flat Major: Grave - Allegro
Liebesleid
Liebesfreud

Tracks:

Allegro Moderato
Lento
Allegro Molto
Allegro Agitato
Non Allegro - Lento - L'istesso Tempo
Allegro Molto

Tracks:

Allegro Agitato
Non Allegro
Allegro Molto
Theme: Andante
Var. I: Poco Piu Mosso
Var. II: L'istesso Tempo
Var. III: Tempo Di Menuetto
Var. IV: Andante
Var. V: Allegro (Ma Non Tanto)
Var. VI: L'istesso Tempo
Var. VII: Vivace
Var. VIII: Adagio Misterioso
Var. IX: Un Poco Piu Mosso
Var. X: Allegro Scherzando
Var. XI: Allegro Vivace
Var. XII: L'istesso Tempo
Var. XIII: Agitato
Intermezzo
Var. XIV: Andante (Come Prima)
Var. XV: L'istesso Tempo
Var. XVI: Allegro Vivace
Var. XVII: Meno Mosso
Var. XVIII: Allegro Con Brio
Var. XIX: Piu Mosso, Agitato
Var. XX: Piu Mosso
Coda: Andante
No. 1: Andantino
No. 2: Allegretto
No. 3: Andante Cantabile
No. 4: Presto
No. 5: Adagio Sostenuto
No. 6: Maestoso

Tracks:

Prelude
Gavotte
Gigue
Wohin
Scherzo
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2
Gopak
L'Arlesienne - Minuetto
Flight Of The Bumble-Bee
Lullaby
Daisies
Lilacs
Dance Of The Young Gypsy Maidens
Liebesleid
Liebesfreud
Polka W.R.
The Star Spangled Banner

Tracks:

Theme: Largo
Var. I: Moderato
Var. II: Allegro
Var. III (Allegro)
Var. IV: (Allegro)
Var. V: Meno Mosso
Var. VI: Meno Mosso
Var. VII: Allegro
Var. VIII (Allegro)
Var. IX (Allegro)
Var. X: Piu Vivo
Var. XI: Lento
Var. XII: Moderato
Var. XIII: Largo
Var. XIV: Moderato
Var. XV: Allegro Scherzando
Var. XVI: Lento
Var. XVII: Grave
Var. XVIII: Piu Mosso
Var. XIX: Allegro Vivace
Var. XX: Presto
Var. XXI: Andante - Piu Vivo
Var. XXII: Maestoso - Presto
Moment musical, Op. 16, No. 2
Lento In D Minor
Canon In E Minor
Fughetta In F Major
Morceau de fantaisie In G Minor
Piece In D Minor
Fragments
Oriental Sketch
Prelude In F Major
Andante ma non troppo In D Minor

Customer Reviews:

Idil amazing.......2006-07-19

No other performer compares to idil. HANDS down. HEr unique and individual style sets her apart from every other performer past and present.

Her recording of Rachmaninov's prelude in C sharp minor can only be topped by rachmaninov himself.

Every time i hear i new song from her, i feel i grow as a pianist.

Essential Rachmaninoff at a good price........2002-07-10

Buy this box set. Biret is great. She plays Rachmaninoff straight up and doesn't taint the compositions with any wild "interpretations." And the recording quality is five star, too. I bought this in order to snag some lesser known Rachmaninoff that I loved (Cinq Morceaux, Moments Musicaux, etc.) and I really got what I paid for. Take a look at the huge tracklist - this is the Rachmaninoff you've been missing out on.

Average customer rating:

Egils Silins: Opera Airs

Manufacturer: Riga Recording
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000006DHL
Release Date: 1999-05-18

Tracks:

Vi ravviso, o loughi ameni
La callunia e un venticello
Sia quelunque delle Figlie
Chemai veggio
Bella giomo
Uldino, uldin
Madamina! Il cata logo questo
Son lo spirito
Le veau d'or
Vous qui faites l'endormie
Ves tabor spit

Average customer rating:

What worked was great

The Very Best of Rachmaninov

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

$9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
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The Very Best of Tchaikovsky
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The Very Best of Puccini
The Very Best of Bach

ASIN: B000B6N65E
Release Date: 2005-10-18

Tracks:

Allegro Mon Tanto
Bless The Lord, O My Soul
Allegro
Vocalise
Elege
Variation 18
Variation 19
Variation 20
Variation 21
Variation 22
Variation 23
Variation 24
Non Allegro
Allegro Moderato
Andante

Tracks:

Adagio Sostenuto
Humoresque In G Major
Maestoso
Francesca's Aria
Andante Cantabile
Prelude In C Sharp Minor
Troparion For The Virgin Mary
Alla Marcia
Daisies
The Young Gypsy's Romance
Piano Sonata No.2 In B Flat Minor, Op.36
Moderato
Adagio

Customer Reviews:

What worked was great.......2007-05-29

I'm not really reviewing Rachmaninov... I think the titles of the music listed speak for themselves if you know any Rachmaninov. If you don't know any Rachmaninov, I'd suggest you do so pretty quick.

Anyway, I got my CD in the mail promptly, but it was buggy. It comes in two CDs... first problem came when trying to copy the music to my computer; the names and data of each song are not loaded onto my CD properly... all the song names on the second disk were the the same as the first, so my computer just overwrote them if that makes any sense, so I had a jumble of pieces and had to end up recopying, etc., yada yada.

Second problem is that on some tracks the piece would stop in the middle, unfinished, and go on to the next track. For example, it would be listed as being 4:45 minutes long, but would stop at say, 2:24 in mid-piece and go onto the next track. Bummer.

But I don't really know much about CDs, it could just be my copy, who knows. Other than that, what I did get is gorgeous.

Nicolai Gedda - French and Russian Arias & Songs

Average customer rating:

Gedda in 60's and early 70's
A recording that does Gedda justice
It is the voice of destiny.
This is some of the finest singing ever recorded
What a master singer!!!

Nicolai Gedda - French and Russian Arias & Songs

Manufacturer: Gala
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B000001XMK
Release Date: 2000-06-06

Tracks:

La Dame Blanche: Viens, gentille Dame
Faust: Quel trouble inconnu me penetre! - Salut! demeure chaste et pure
Romeo et Juliette: Ah! leve- toi, soleil
Les Huguenots: Non loin des vieilles tour- Plus blanche que la blanche hermine
Carmen: La fleur que tu m'avais jetee
Lakme: Prendre le dessin- Fantasie aux divins mensonges
La Damnation de Faust: Merci, doux crepuscule!
Les Troyens: Inutiles regrets!- Ah! quand viendra l'instant des supremes adieux
Prince Igor: Is it thou, Vladimir? (in Russian)
Jevgeny Onegin: Kuda, kuda, kuda vi udalilis (Where, Oh Where Have You Gone?)
Where Are You, Little Star?
The Garden By The Don
The He-Goat
In This Moonlit Night
At The Ball
Legend
Don Juan's Serenade
The Song Of The Young Gypsy
How Fair This Spot Or Hill Is Beauty

Customer Reviews:

Gedda in 60's and early 70's.......2003-08-21

Nicolai Gedda, a vocal wonder of the post-WWII Europe is in great form in live selections presented on this CD.
The French opera arias, particularly Berlioz and Gounod, required stellar high B's and C's plus ability to shift the registers seemlessly. Well, Gedda dispite his accent, was indeed perfect for this material. He will make you hold your breath every time he hits those high notes and each of these notes is crystal clear and dead-center on pitch.
For me personally, the best part of the disc is a 1971 recital of Russian art songs by Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov. Gedda sings with a lot of feeling and is not afraid to "invent" -- check out the messa voce, or rubato that he adds. "Where art thou, little star" is heart-gripping in its beauty.
Unfortunately, the recital is clearly not presented in its entirety. I just hope Gala will release the full version some time soon.
Of course, all the selections are "live". But that's not a serious problem here (unlike many other Gala CDs made almost unlistenable by caughs and other noises). Yes, there are a few distractions, but not enough to take away from pure joy of Gedda's singing.

A recording that does Gedda justice.......2003-04-05

This compilation disc from Gala presents the artistry and musicianship of Nicolai Gedda. He is a great tenor. His voice may not be the most beautiful, but it certainly is pleasant to hear. He has an excellent top register; no high note is beyond his reach. His pianissimos, not really given their due here with Gala's selections of songs and arias, are really top-rate and extremely beautiful. If you want to hear his lovely pianissimos, get the hard-to-find "Opera Arias: Nicolai Gedda". The selection of arias and songs here is wonderful. Also included is a wonderful duet from "Prince Igor" sung in Russian and several Russian songs by Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, and Rachmaninoff. I didn't care much for the Russian songs, but Gedda performed them very well with perfect Russian diction. The French arias are amazingly well done. If you have been left unmoved by his versions of Don José's Flower Song from his two studio recordings of "Carmen", you will not be disappointed with the version included here. This version is sung with great emotional involvement. It comes from the 1954 live recording of "Carmen" with Giulietta Simionato and Herbert von Karajan. Gedda has the flexibility and the high D for the "Les Huguenots" aria. His renditions of the two Gounod arias are wonderful and his high notes are superb. Énée's aria from "Les Troyens" is very well done. He even attempts a trill in it. A recently released live recording of a performance of "Les Troyens" with Gedda, Horne, and Verrett is available. Check it out. Gedda may be too light of voice for such a heavy role as Énée, but who could resist such stylish, superb singing and French diction? He also can scale all the dangerous heights and dramatic demands of the fiendishly difficult role. The sound of this compilation is surprisingly good. There is some static, but it never becomes distracting. Audience noise is minimal to nonexistent. Applause is found only on a few tracks and is always appropriate. All in all, a worthwhile purchase at a remarkably low price!

It is the voice of destiny........2002-09-01

If I say that it is nice I'll say nothing. Gedda's voice is really juicy and romantic and vocalize school is enormously mastered. When you hear to it, the first thought is that such voice cannot to be belonged to real, live person. It is for angel's not for real man.

This is some of the finest singing ever recorded.......1999-05-12

Although strangely forgotten by the opera world and overshadowed by the overwhelming publicity surrounding the three tenors (Carreras, Domingo, and Pavoroti), Gedda ought to be recognized as the greatest living tenor. His artistry, technique, musicianship, and individuality are second to none. Buy this CD and delight in some of his best work. There are presently no singers that even approach the mastery of the repetoire recorded on this album which Gedda sings perfectly and easily.His refinement and power are unexcelled. (No, the three tenors don't hold a candle to him. In fact, comparing Gedda to them is a bit like comparing a halogen bulb to a candle. Very nice candles, yes, but no match for an artist of his caliber.)

What a master singer!!!.......1999-01-20

This is a truly wonderful recording of the tenor, who I feel, is the greatest in the second half of the 20th Century. Maestro Gedda sings repetoire from the lyric Gerrard in Lakme to the dramatic Raoul in Les Hugeunots all with stylish ease and elan. Gedda had the most beautiful high notes in the business. These are all live performances and the span of time is from 1954 (Carmen, with von Karajan) to 1972 (Les Hugeunots). Finally, on CD, one gets to hear Maestro Gedda sing Lenski's Aria from Eugene Onegin, more beautiful and sumptuous than any other Tenor before or since. Also the last 9 tracks are Russian songs and this is some of the most beautiful singing heard anywhere (also done live).

Rachmaninov: Isle of the Dead Op29; Songs Op34

Average customer rating:

Excellent set
Accept No Substitutes- This is It !
Review of the second symphony only
Competent, slow, steady but uninspired 2nd
buy for 2nd symphony

Rachmaninov: Isle of the Dead Op29; Songs Op34

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000002S4C
Release Date: 1993-04-13

Tracks:

Symphony No. 1 In D Minor, Op 13: I. Grave
Symphony No. 1 In D Minor, Op 13: II. Allegro Animato
Symphony No. 1 In D Minor, Op 13: III. Larghetto
Symphony No. 1 In D Minor, Op 13: IV. Allegro con fuoco
The isle Of The Dead, Op.29: The Isle Of The Dead, Op. 29

Tracks:

Symphony No.2 In E Minor, Op.27: Largo - Allegro moderato
Symphony No.2 In E Minor, Op.27: Scherzo (Allegro molto)
Symphony No.2 In E Minor, Op.27: Adagio
Symphony No. 2 In E Minor, Op. 27: Finale (Allegro vivace)
Vocalise, Op.34 No.14
Aleko: Intermezzo
Aleko: Women's Dance

Tracks:

Symphony No.3 In A Minor, Op.44: Lento - Allegro moderato - Allegro
Symphony No.3 In A Minor, Op.44: Adagio ma non troppo - Allegro vivace
Symphony No.3 In A Minor, Op.44: Allegro - Allegro vivace
Symphonic Dances, Op.45: Non allegro
Symphonic Dances, Op.45: Andante con moto (Tempo di valse)
Symphonic Dances, Op.45: Lento assai - Allegro vivace

Customer Reviews:

Excellent set.......2005-02-22

An excellent set.

Sym 1, Isle of the Dead and Symphonic Dances are all done extremely well, which is all that matters, since these are Rachmaninov's orchestral works of sheer genius (plus the Bells), in my view.

Pletnev's Rach Sym 1 on DG is pretty good too, but you can't go wrong with this set.

Accept No Substitutes- This is It !.......2005-01-09

Sir Andre and the 1970s LSO had a unique, symbiotic relationship. Together with their Decca Rachmaninov Piano Concertos & Paganini Rhapsody (with Vladimir Ashkenazy), this cycle of the Symphonies (and the other major orchestral pieces) just may be their greatest work ever. The fantastic LSO strings, admittedly lacking the famous post-war Ormandy/Philly gloss, make it easier to take these works more seriously than before. (Granted, R's symphonies are not the Brahms FOURTH, or the Bruckner EIGHTH, but they deserve better than "pops-concert" condescension.) Everything runs deeper.

First off, a respectful nod to all the other reviewers here and a small, salient fact: RACHMANINOV COMPOSED MORE THAN THE SECOND SYMPHONY !!! (And yes, this SECOND is stupendous in its breadth and commitment.)

This FIRST SYMPHONY is pungent, exotic, at times even barbaric...The VOCALISE is bittersweet, not merely sweet. And Sir Andre actually takes the repeat !... The ALEKO fragments are tantalizing. The ISLE OF THE DEAD is no-holds barred and heady...But the real glories of this set are the THIRD and the SYMPHONIC DANCES...They pick up where Ormandy left off, great as Ormandy undoubtedly was with these works (after all, he DID prepare the THIRD's premiere for Stokowski, and conducted the premiere of the DANCES himself- and both under R's supervision).

Throughout the THIRD, you get a whiff of both the Russian countyside AND the American plains, with a Deliusian "sensuous heartbreak." Play the beginning of the THIRD's second movement and be instructed by its ontological sadness; marvel at the sly, compassionate humor of R's sticking a scherzo within an adagio and how this humor plays out at the end of the movement; be uplifted by the gamut of moods which Sir Andre holds together so beautifully in the last movement.

The SYMPHONIC DANCES were originally titled FANTASTIC DANCES- which is a better description of this music...It was to have been a three-movement ballet depicting Noon, Twilight and Midnight. The Noon of the first movement is restless and adolescent in mood (culminating with a regretful quote from the FIRST SYMPHONY, whose undeservedly failed premiere scarred R for life). The second movement (described in several places as a "haunted ballroom") is elfin & ghostly. The final movement of the DANCES is frighteningly deep and modern (in parts of this movement you'll think of Bartok !). By its very end, the DIES IRAE motiv (ever present in R's music) morphs into a kind of phrygian-mode, death-tinged "flamenco-gone-nuts"...But not before all kinds of ethereal encounters with lost youth, regret & sensuality (some faint, swaying echoes of the THE BELLS' 2nd movement: the "golden bells of happiness"), and adoration of God (a pentultimate, jazzed-up quote from R's VESPERS: "Blagosloven Yesi, Gospodi" - "Blessed Art Thou, O Lord").

Sir Andre & his band plunge into all this with a shattering, "total immersion" which will show you why R called the DANCES "my last spark."

Review of the second symphony only.......2001-04-02

Haven't played it for several months. I turned it on to do the review and from the other room I hear "I haven't heard that for awhile, I could listen to that all day". It was Rachmaninov who elevated my musical appreciation to not only appreciate classical music but to become passionate about it. The second symphony is a hypnotic, stirring sojourn into the ether of some nether world of inner peace and symphonic harmony. There is a deliberate slowness throughout, which I thoroughly enjoy. At times you're swept into the whirlwind of strings swirling around you. The first two movements are lovely but compared to the third movement, all falls short. The third movement, one of the finest moments in orchestration and aesthetics, is a melodic and lovely romance between you and the music. The delicate textures weaving in and out are some of the most sensuous and irresistible notes ever created. Then, to your discomfort, comes the fourth movement's tempo which snaps you out of your lull and dreamy easy chair and back into the auditorium. It's was probably necessary for Rachmaninov to bring you back to reality as who could dare wake from this state of symphonic bliss on their own, let alone leave the auditorium. I highly recommend this second symphony for its quality in both it's performance and sound (I suggest you skip the fourth movement and let the ocean's gentle waves wash over you as the sun sets tangerine in the evening sky and all seems right and faraway from the daily grind).

Competent, slow, steady but uninspired 2nd.......2001-03-18

I have only heard the 2nd symphony from this set (in EMI's Great Recordings of the Century remastering, which seems not to be available yet...) so my comments are restricted to that work. Looking at the reviews below, it appears that some people really like this performance. I respect their opinions, but I can only report my own honest reaction to this performance, which is that is is too slow, too uninflected, and ultimately too boring for my taste.

As a reviewer states below, this performance was taped after a successful tour by Previn and the London Symphony Orchestra which showcased the Second. However, the notes in the Great Recordings edition report that the taping took place over a year after the tour ended (although the players wanted it taped immediately). This delay may explain what I hear as a routineness about the performance. There is certainly nothing wrong with the quality of the orchestral playing or the sound engineering (although neither approaches what Ormandy and the Philadelphia achieved in the Sony version of 1959, 12 years earlier). But I just don't hear anything special here.

In all four movements, tempos are consistently on the slow side. What is more, Previn takes a very straightforward interpretative approach, when I feel that this music cries out for the little touches of magic, such as Rachmaninov shows in his own recording of the Third Symphony. Compare with the earlier Ormandy recording: although Ormandy takes similarly steady tempos in the first three movements, his orchestra, especially the strings, knows how to put a little rubato here, a little portamento there, to bring this large work to life. With Previn it just sounds like a play through by a very competent orchestra and conductor.

The one really distinctive feature of this recording is the account of the slow movement. I find it repellent, but others may like it. Previn takes a very slow, gentle, soft-focused approach which reminds me of film music for a Hollywood romance. I yearn for a more passionate and intense approach here, but Previn's way is an interesting alternative.

An important issue in considering any recording of this symphony is that of cuts. Many recordings (particularly older ones) excise large amounts of Rachmaninov's music (up to 25%). The older Ormandy I mentioned above is a tragic example of this. This recording is complete and uncut (with the exception of the first movement repeat). Good for Previn, then. Some British critics get very excited by the fact that before this recording was made, most recordings were cut, and that after it, they tended to be complete -- as if Previn had somehow single-handedly changed the climate for Rachmaninov's music. However, there are older uncut recordings --- for example, Leopold Stokowski's 1946 live performance with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and Paul Kletzki's Suisse Romande account. In fact, listening to Previn's performance somethimes made me think that the cuts were a good thing after all.

I would recommend against this account of the 2nd symphony. My favorite account -- by Dmitri Kitaenko (Kitayenko) with the Moscow Philharmonic -- is hard to find. The aforementioned Ormandy is magnificent but heavily cut. Given this, I also suggest Ashkenazy with the Concertgebouw Orchestra or Pletnev with the Russian National Orchestra.

buy for 2nd symphony.......2001-03-10

never mind nos. 1 & 3 -- this is worth buying for no. 2 alone. this is the second digital remastering emi have done of no.2: the first (mid-80's) was horrible -- avoid. this one is much closer to the original 1973 lp. as far as i know, this second remastering of no.2 is only available as part of this set, i.e. not available separately.

previn/lso made this recording shortly after returning from a tour of the soviet union where they performed the work several times. 27 years later, it is still one of the finest recordings of any orchestral work available on record.

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