Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2; The Rock

On this CD:

1. Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27
Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performed by Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra (Bratislava)
Conducted by Stephen Gunzenhauser

2. The Rock, symphonic poem for orchestra (or piano, 4 hands), Op. 7
Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performed by Czecho-Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra (Bratislava)
Conducted by Stephen Gunzenhauser

Tracks:

Symphony No. 2 In E Minor, Op. 27: 1. Largo - Allegro moderato
Symphony No. 2 In E Minor, Op. 27: 2. Allegro molto
Symphony No. 2 In E Minor, Op. 27: 3. Adagio
Symphony No. 2 In E Minor, Op. 27: 4. Allegro vivace
Symphony No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 13: 1. Grave - Allegro ma non troppo
Symphony No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 13: 2. Allegro animato

Tracks:

Symphony No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 13: 3. Larghetto
Symphony No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 13: 4. Allegro con fuoco
Symphony No. 3 In A Minor, Op. 44: 1. Lento - Allegro moderato
Symphony No. 3 In A Minor, Op. 44: 2. Adagio ma non troppo
Symphony No. 3 In A Minor, Op. 44: 3. Allegro
The Rock, Op. 7: Fantasy For Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

Nicely balanced contrasts and tunefully alive.......2004-06-06

My guess is that if out of the clear blue one was given a choice between Ashkenazy/Concertgebouw or de Waart/Rotterdam performing the Rachmaninoff Symphonies, most respondents would not hesitate to pick the former which, after all, has been praised highly. One fellow, in a currently popular book dealing with reviewed recordings even refers to de Waart's readings as 'ordinary'. Well, I don't agree with him, and after listening to both sets, my conclusion is that de Waart/Rotterdam accomplishes a better job of holding my interest throughout and leaving me more pleasantly fulfilled. Ashkenazy's Rachmaninoff is painted with a slightly darker, thicker brush than deWaart's. His tempos seem to be a bit slower as well. Perhaps, the denser sound of the Concertgebouw contributes to this impression, which some might prefer. But what I get more frequently with de Waart/Rotterdam is greater radiance, and it is radiance which I consider to be one of the most salient features promoting the enjoyment of Rachmaninoff's music. I am not implying de Waart downplays or suppresses the composer's darker or brooding moments. He should not and he does not. But he seems to be in greater touch with Rachmaninoff's somewhat Rembrandt-like tonal contrasts. Further, I find his style more scintillating, and, during more romantic moments, more warmly expressive. Finally, under de Waart, passages sing more openly. If you are interested in acquiring a set of these symphonies, before you make a decision based on either what I have said or anyone else has said, take the opportunity to listen to audio samples offered by those in the business of selling this music on cd. Good luck with your choices.

Rarely played orchestral works.......2003-05-13

The Rachmaninoff concertos are well-known. The symphonies are not. One is a youth work (The First, heavily edited later by Rachmaninoff, possibly to remove too much Tschaikovsky influence) and the other two are magnificent. If you love rich orchestration, Russian-style, this is for you.

The Seagull and the Rock is a minor symphonic poem, not my favorite, but with some pretty string and flute sounds imitating a bird floating around a crag in the ocean--not major music but always pleasant.

If you love the Rachmaninoff concertos, you might like the symphonies, too.

Gorgeous!.......2002-12-21

This is the collection of Rachmaninoff's symphonies I listen to a couple times a week, as well as the one I send as a present to my closest friends. Its only weaknessess are (1) the inclusion of "the Rock" to fill out the second disk -- it's an early work of no great note, and (2) Rachmaninoff's own departures from his best style in the development section of the opening movement of the third, where for a few bars it seems he's trying to sound more like an impressionist than the late romantic throwback he really was. Still, the rendition of the second symphony, most people's favorite, is consistently beautiful; the third symphony is so well done in spite of Rachmaninoff's own weaknesses that the second theme of the 1st movement, welling up out of the cello section, is a good candidate for "most beautiful lyric melody of all time," and the rendition of the youthful first symphony is a real "Ring the Bells of Moscow" war horse in the first and fourth movements. The Rotterdam Phil has the requisite lush, romantic string section, very good solo woodwinds, and a rock-solid brass section which gives the impression of a brass pipe organ in the tutti sections, a remarkably well-blended mix of the cylindrical trumpets and trombones with the conical horns and tubas, somehow achieving the consistency of attack and articulation across the spectrum which is so hard for many brass sections to achieve. They make the opening of the finale of the first one of those things you use to crank up the volume and roll down the car windows to get back at the kid who drives up alongside you bumping rap! I can't imagine my life without this collection!

The Best Recording Ever!.......2001-08-08

The Rotterdam Philharmonic is truly spectacular in this recording. Each Rachmaninoff symphony is a uniqe gem and this orchestra adds a special touch of class and beauty which I have never grown tired of. The complexity of Rachmaninoff's music is clearly articulated yet never overpowers the beautiful themes and melodies that are inherent in this music. The most notable movement of Symphony 2 is the scherzo, which is played in a beautiful yet precise manner. The often misunderstood first symphony is played with an agility and finesse that relives this classic. The third symphony's modern charm is really brought out through the RDP's soaring crescendoes and diminuendos. Finally, the mystery of "The Rock" is not revealed in this majical and provocative recording. This is truly and amazing collection and a best buy for a two CD set.

Average customer rating:

Rachmaninov-Symphony No. 2/The Rock

Manufacturer: Moscow Studio
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Rachmaninov-Symphony No. 3 in a/Isle of the Dead/Scherzo
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Scriabin-Symphony No. 2/Poem of Ecstasy
Scriabin: Symphony No. 1

ASIN: B0001EFTJM
Release Date: 2004-03-02

Tracks:

I. Largo. Allegro Moderato
II. Scherzo: Allegro Molto
III. Adagio
IV. Finale: Allegro Vivace
The Rock

Average customer rating:

recommended by me and Gramophone
Almost perfect

Rachmaninov: Symphony No2; Rock Op7
Sergey Rachmaninov , Mikhail Pletnev , and Russian National Orchestra
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances Op45; Symphony No3
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Mendelssohn: 5 Symphonies; 7 Overtures
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Claude Debussy: Préludes

ASIN: B000001GLZ
Release Date: 1994-06-14

Tracks:

Symphony No. 2 In E Minor, Op. 27: 1. Largo - Allegro moderato
Symphony No. 2 In E Minor, Op. 27: 2. Allegro molto - Meno mosso - Tempo I
Symphony No. 2 In E Minor, Op. 27: 3. Adagio
Symphony No. 2 In E Minor, Op. 27: 4. Allegro vivace - Adagio - Tempo precedente
The Rock - Fantasy Op.7

Customer Reviews:

recommended by me and Gramophone.......2003-10-02

this is an excellent recording in every respects... a thoroughly russian interpretation from a superb orchestra

Almost perfect.......2000-05-17

I love the sound of this orchestra! The strings retain the weight and expressive power traditionally found in Russian orchestras, and the wind and brass, while still distinctive, have become more integrated into the overall sound.

Listen to "The Rock", a beautiful early miniature, and we hear orchestra and conductor at their best. Both the delicacy of the early woodwind solos and the wonderful, trombone-heavy climax are perfectly realized. The sound here is exemplary.

In the symphony, Pletnev emphasizes the cogency of Rachmaninov's symphonic argument. Like the previous reviewer, I especially enjoyed the unsentimental but moving performance of the Adagio. The very fast tempo for the finale is amazing.

Taken on its own terms this CD will give much pleasure. However, listen to the recording of the symphony by Sanderling with the Leningrad PO on DG Originals and you hear, expecially in the first movement, a depth of emotion and a spontaneity which is missing here. And although that recording is in mono, it offers clearer, less congested sound than DG gives us here in the symphony.

Tracks:

Symphony No.3 In A Minor, Op.44
The Rock, Op.7
Isle Of The Dead, Op.29
Prelude In C Sharp Minor, Op.3 No.2
Preludes, Op.23 No.1-10
Preludes, Op.32 No.1-13

Average customer rating:

101 Strings play Rachmaninov...

Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2; The Rock

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tracks:

Sym No.2 in e, Op.27: Largo-Allegro Moderato
Sym No.2 in e, Op.27: Allegro Molto
Sym No.2 in e, Op.27: Adagio
Sym No.2 in e, Op.27: Allegro Vivace
The Rock, Fant, Op.7

Customer Reviews:

101 Strings play Rachmaninov..........2001-01-09

Okay, there's good sonics and fine playing but why so much 1st violin?? I've conducted bands most of my life and would never let a recording like this get by. If you truly love Rachmaninov's 2nd symphony, Previn's old disc with the LSO is quite good as well as Geoffrey Simon's with the Scottish National Orchestra. If you want to know what this work would sound like played by the infamous 101 Strings, buy this disc.

Average customer rating:

Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances, etc.

Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tracks:

Symphonic Dances, Op.45: I. Non Allegro - Sir Andrew Davis
Symphonic Dances, Op.45: II. Andante Con Moto (Tempo Di Valse) - Sir Andrew Davis
Symphonic Dances, Op.45: III. Lento Assai - Sir Andrew Davis
The Isle Of The Dead, Symphonic Poem, Op.29 - Sir Andrew Davis
The Rock, Fantasy, Op.7 - Sir Andrew Davis

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No.4, Op.40: I. Allegro Vivace - Alexei Lubimov
Piano Concerto No.4, Op.40: II. Largo - Alexei Lubimov
Piano Concerto No.4, Op.40: III. Allegro Vivace - Alexei Lubimov
Sonata For Piano And Cello In G Minor, Op.19: Lento - Allegro Moderato - Arto Noras
Sonata For Piano And Cello In G Minor, Op.19: Allegro Scherzando - Arto Noras
Sonata For Piano And Cello In G Minor, Op.19: Andante - Arto Noras
Sonata For Piano And Cello In G Minor, Op.19: Allegro Mosso - Arto Noras
Vocalise - Arto Noras

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Symphony No.2, Op.27 In E Minor/Fantasy For Orchestra, Op.7

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Sergei Rachmaninoff: Symphony No.2, Op.27 In E Minor/Fantasy For Orchestra, Op.7

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000003F4S
Release Date: 1991-07-05

Rachmaninov - Symphony No.2, The Rock - Evgeny Svetlanov

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Rachmaninov - Symphony No.2, The Rock - Evgeny Svetlanov

Manufacturer: Yedang Entertainment
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B0002DKELA

Product Description

RACHMANINOV, Sergei (1873-1943) Symphony No.2 in e minor, op.27 1. Largo. Allegro moderato 2. Scherzo. Allegro molto 3. Adagio 4. Finale. Allegro vivace Recording 1968 5. The Rock, Fantasia for Large Symphony Orchestra, Op.7 Recording 1973 Conductor: Evgeny Svetlanov The USSR State Symphony Orchestra TOtal time 69:07 STEREO