Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 1 (recorded 1990); Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in A minor (recorded 1959) / Halffter: Tiento del premer tono y Batalla Imperial (recorded 1990)

On this CD:

1. Symphony No. 1 in D minor, Op. 13 (lost; reconstructed from piano duets and orch. fragments)
Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov

Conducted by Gennady Rozhdestvensky

2. Tiento del premer tono y Batalla Imperia, for orchestra
Composed by Cristobal Halffter

Conducted by Gennady Rozhdestvensky

3. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Introduction and 24 Variations), in A minor for piano & orchestra, Op. 43
Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov

Conducted by Gennady Rozhdestvensky

Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 1 (recorded 1990); Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in A minor (recorded 1959) / Halffter: Tiento del premer tono y Batalla Imperial (recorded 1990), Music, Sergey Rachmaninov, Cristobal Halffter, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Victor Merzanov (piano), Grand Symphony Orchestra of the State Radio and Television (USSR, Classical, Concerto, Orchestral, Orchestral Music, Piano Concerto, Romantic Symphony, Symphonic
25 Classical Favorites
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • classic music CD
  • Good for beginners
  • Great mix
  • Good for first-timer
  • 25 Classical Favorites cd
25 Classical Favorites

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000058HT
Release Date: 1996-01-23

Tracks:

  1. Eine Klein Nachtmusik: (I. Allegro)
  2. Nutcracker Suite: (Russian Dance)
  3. The Four Seasons, Op. 8: (Spring: I. Allegro)
  4. Hungarian Dance No. 5 In G Minor
  5. Symphony in D, K. 161 - 163: (III. Presto)
  6. Waltz In D-Flat Major, Op. 64, No. 1
  7. Tritsch-Tratsch Polka, Op. 214
  8. Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G, S. 1048: (III. Allegro)
  9. Swan Lake: (Dance Of The Swans)
  10. Carmen Suite No. 2: (Habanera)
  11. Messiah: (Overture)
  12. Wind Serenade 'The Marriage Of Figaro': Overture
  13. Violin Concerto No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 12: (III. Allegro)
  14. Water Music: (Overture)
  15. Sleeping Beauty Ballet Suite, Op. 66: (Panorama)
  16. Symphony No. 26 In E-flat Major, K. 184: (III. Allegro)
  17. Waltz No. 10 In B Minor, Op. 69 No. 2
  18. Violin Concerto No. 1 In A Minor, S. 1041: (III. Allegro)
  19. Water Music: (Lentement)
  20. Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G Major, S. 1049: (II. Andante)
  21. Habanera
  22. Horn Concerto No. 3 In E-Flat Major, K. 447: (II. Romanza)
  23. Rhapsody On A Theme By Paganini, Op. 43: (Variation No. 18)
  24. Thunder And Lightning Polka, Op. 324
  25. Stars And Stripes Forever

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars classic music CD.......2007-06-27

The CD was well represented by the clips on the Amazon website and came in time for our event. We did have a problem with the charge but that was taken care of promptly. Great service.

4 out of 5 stars Good for beginners.......2007-02-15

It is an excellent collection of classical music. I would recommend this CD if you have a friend who don't like classical music, since it has the most beautiful overtures and portions of famous artists. If you are a Classic Music Savvy you probably will not be impressed by it, unless you want to play the CD as background music in a friends gathering.

4 out of 5 stars Great mix.......2007-02-14

All the best composers! Over an hour of music. A samble of the greatest pieces.

5 out of 5 stars Good for first-timer.......2007-01-22

This is the first time I have ever bought a classical music CD and I was very pleased with this one. It has a good variety of selections. I would buy it again.

5 out of 5 stars 25 Classical Favorites cd.......2007-01-06

This CD has so many of my favorite, lively classical music -- love it!!
The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World...Ever!
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Lives Up To The Title, Fine Variety Of Genre's.
  • Good for relaxing pregnant women
  • Too much opera
  • Does what it set out to do, very well
  • TRULY The most relaxing and beautiful music ever written.
The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World...Ever!
Johann Sebastian Bach , Léo Delibes , Gabriel Fauré , Erik Satie , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Edvard Grieg , Johann Pachelbel , Claude Debussy , Felix Mendelssohn , Camille Saint-Saens , Henryk Gorecki , Antonio Vivaldi , Edward Elgar , Jocelyn Pook , Sergey Rachmaninov , Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni , Luigi Boccherini , Jules Massenet , Ludwig van Beethoven , Jacques Offenbach , Pietro Mascagni , Antonin Dvorak , Giacomo Puccini , Ralph Vaughan Williams , Alexander Borodin , Joaquin Rodrigo , and Samuel Barber
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000I93Z
Release Date: 1999-03-30

Tracks:

  1. Air 'On the G String' - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
  2. Morning - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
  3. Canon In D - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
  4. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
  5. Gymnopedie No.1 - City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
  6. II. Andante - Stephen Hough
  7. Viens, Mallika - Mady Mesple
  8. In Paradisum - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
  9. Clair De Lune - Dame Moura Lympany
  10. II. Andate - Yehudi Menuhin
  11. The Swan - Osian Ellis
  12. II. Lento E Largo - Tranquillissimo - Zofia Kilanowicz
  13. II. Andantino - James Galway
  14. II. Largo - Yehudi Menuhin
  15. Nimrod - London Symphony Orchestra
  16. Blow the Wind - Pie Jesu - Jocelyn Pook
  17. Variation 18 - Cecile Ousset
  18. Pavane Op.50 - Gareth Morris

Tracks:

  1. Zion Hort Die Wachter Singen - South German Madrigal Choir
  2. Adagio In G Minor - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
  3. Minuet - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
  4. II. Largo - Andrei Gavrilov
  5. Meditation - Hans Kalafusz
  6. I. Adagio Sostenuto - Dame Moura Lympany
  7. Belle Nuit, O Nuit D'amour (Barcarolle) - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
  8. II. Andante - Nigel North
  9. II. Adagio - Jack Brymer
  10. Intermezzo - Philharmonia Orchestra
  11. I. Moderato - London Chamber Orchestra
  12. O Mio Babbino Caro - Montserrat Caballe
  13. Fantasia On 'Greensleeves' - Sinfonia Of London
  14. II. Adagio Sostenuto (Opening) - Cecile Ousset
  15. Nocturne - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
  16. II. Adagio (Opening) - Julian Bream
  17. Adagio For Strings Op.11a - The Philadelphia Orchestra
  18. Entr'acte To Act III - Orchestre National De France

Amazon.com

You want relaxing classical music that'll soothe your soul but won't lull you into sleep? Here's a double CD for you. The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World ... Ever! does its best to cover both well-worn classical favorites (Bach's "Air on the G String," Pachelbel's "Cannon," Debussy's "Clair de Lune") and some eclectic left-field choices (an excerpt from Górecki's Symphony No. 3, Jocelyn Pook's "Blow the Wind," and Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings. The performances of most of these excerpts are top-notch--artists include Sir Neville Marriner, James Galway, Jacqueline du Pré and the Philadelphia Orchestra--and there's enough variety here for everyone. --Edward Garabedian

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Lives Up To The Title, Fine Variety Of Genre's........2007-02-04

This CD is a great way to enjoy a large variety of Classical Composers & many of their best known pieces. Vivaldi's "Four Seasons," is an all time favorite. There are vocals, Piano pieces, & some fine Violins. I found the latter the most enjoyable. Here you can find Rodrigo & Pachelbell. Samuel Barber's haunting Adagio will make your skin tingle. This may not be to everyones taste, but if you wish to relax? Give this a couple of listens.

5 out of 5 stars Good for relaxing pregnant women.......2007-01-17

I stumbled onto this album whilst searching bit torrent websites for classical music. I don't normally listen to classical music but thought it might be relaxing for my pregnant wife. After hearing the quality of the performances, the arrangement, and the recording I decided to buy the album from amazon. All the songs you would expect from a "best album in the world" are there and they are not boring to listen to like a lot of other classical albums. I now play this album in the car constantly and the wife requested it be played at the hospital during the birth.

3 out of 5 stars Too much opera.......2007-01-10

If it wasn't for the opera this would be a great CD.

5 out of 5 stars Does what it set out to do, very well.......2006-11-15

So i'm a classical music veteran, someone who prefers to collect a complete work, rather than classical compilations. I probably would not have listened to this album at all if my dad didnt buy it for me as a gift. By now, i own the complete works that over half of the excepts on this disc come from. I am a purist if ever there was one.

That said, i totally adore this set because i have learned to take it on its own terms. These discs weren't meant for expert classical listeners, so a review from that sort of mindset is useless. This set was meant for pure, easy listening, and for a basic starters kit for classical newbies. Most of all, it was just meant to do what the title says, to relax the average human being. classical expert or not.

Yes, some of these pieces have been altered or shortened, like Mozart's Flute and Harp Concerto Andantino, but they have been edited for a good enough reason: the full versions would have been too long to flow with the rest of the album. And also, the full versions contain so much development that they don't become easy listening anymore. The shortened versions work in the context of the album. Most essentially, the shortened versions on the discs still convey the main flavor the composers were going for. The melodies and themes remain unchanged.

To sum up, it is true that when i want to actually listen deeply to classical music, this album would never be a choice. I would want to hear the complete works like the composers intended. But at certain times when i simply don't mind about that stuff, when i just need to loosen up and free my mind of stress with some nice melodies, this set does the job well enough.

Last but not least: being a purist and a classical buff, i am very particular about performance quality. I was very glad to find that EMI did not get lazy about this. All the artists are world-class, and all the performances are at least exceptional. Some performances are even quite excellent, like the Clair De Lune, which is one of the best i've heard. (Credit to Dame Lympany, the pianist.)

So once again, recommended for its stated purpose, to relax. I am a purist, a classical buff, and i still enjoy this disc. That says something.

5 out of 5 stars TRULY The most relaxing and beautiful music ever written........2006-11-10

This album along with Volume 2 are now the two most valued albums in my music collection. I have all of the songs contained on these two albums but they are scattered through at least a dozen different albums and several are not performed by artists such as those that recorded this album and Volume 2.
SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL !!!!!!!!!!
Sarah Brightman Classics
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Sarah's Best Easy Listening CD
  • Best Brightman CD
  • Sarah Brightman is a Classic
  • Not The Best - Not the Worst - From Sarah Brightman
  • Nice Cover
Sarah Brightman Classics
Sarah Brightman , Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni , Francisco Tarrega , George Frideric Handel , Fryderyk Chopin , Sergey Rachmaninov , Giacomo Puccini , Antonin Dvorak , Andrew Lloyd Webber , Ludwig van Beethoven , Joseph Marie Canteloube , Francesco Sartori , and Paul Bateman
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Time to Say Goodbye
  2. The Andrew Lloyd Webber Collection
  3. Eden (US Release - 16 tracks)
  4. Diva: The Singles Collection
  5. La Luna

ASIN: B00005RD78
Release Date: 2001-11-20

Tracks:

  1. Ave Maria (new recording)
  2. La Wally (from Time To Say Goodbye)
  3. Winter Light (new recording)
  4. Anytime, Anywhere (from Eden)
  5. Alhambra (new recording)
  6. Lascia Ch'io Pianga (from Eden)
  7. Dans La Nuit (new recording)
  8. Serenade/How Fair This Place (from La Luna)
  9. O Mio Babbino Caro (new recording)
  10. La Luna (from La Luna)
  11. Pie Jesu (new recording)
  12. Figlio Perduto (from La Luna)
  13. Nessun Dorma (new recording)
  14. Bailero (from Eden)
  15. Time To Say Goodbye (New solo version--previously unavailable)

Amazon.com

Sarah Brightman Photos

More from Sarah Brightman

Time to Say Goodbye

Diva: The Singles Collection

Eden

Diva: The Video Collection

Live from Las Vegas

La Luna (Live in Concert)

Amazon.com

Have some friends who still haven't discovered what the Sarah Brightman fuss is all about? You'll find the perfect introduction to make converts of them all in Classics, so they'll have no more excuses to remain clueless. Sporting a Botticelli-inspired image of the platinum-selling soprano on the cover, Classics is a classy anthology including highlights from three of Brightman's chart-topping releases along with seven new tracks. Songs personally selected by the diva as her favorite classical interpretations are culled from her previous blockbusters: Time To Say Goodbye, Eden, and La Luna. And whether you're a fan already in the fold or one in the making, the new material here shows the diva at the top of her form, in new renderings of "O Mio Babbino Caro" and "Nessun Dorma" (accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic)--fascinating displays of the operatic confidence she's developed over her career. Other new offerings include a touching version of Schubert's "Ave Maria,' "Winter Light," a fresh take on her signature song "Pie Jesu" (from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requiem). "Alhambra" and "Dans La Nuit"--a real treat, bathing the listener in Brightman's silky, sensuous vocalism--add two original titles to her famous adaptations of classical melodies to new lyrics (using Chopin's haunting E major Etude in the latter case). All told, a lovely affirmation of the directions Brightman has boldly taken in her career to date. -Sarah Chin

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Sarah's Best Easy Listening CD.......2007-03-15

Sarah Brightman's talent is limitless. Her soprano and/or alto voice is among the best and she lets it show in 'CLASSICS'. CLASSICS is a beautiful, easy listening, and peaceful CD. CLASSICS is one to listen to in tranquil or relaxing moments. "CLASICS" is a collection of great pieces of music written by great composers (Shuburt, Handel, Chopin, Puccini, and the like). I have listened to CLASSICS about 15 times now and it always puts me in a quiet and peaceful mood (I am ~50 years old).

5 out of 5 stars Best Brightman CD.......2007-02-07

A classical composition which showcases the beautiful voice of Sarah Brightman. A timeless CD which will continue to be a favourite over the years.

5 out of 5 stars Sarah Brightman is a Classic.......2007-01-02

Sarah Brightman is at her best in "Classics." From Dvorak's "Rusalka" (Opera B.203) to Beethoven's haunting Op 52, slow movement (Symphony #7), Brightman's voice and lyrical style are a joy. I particularly enjoy her performances of Schubert's Ave Maria and Andrew Lloyd Weber's Pie Jesu. This is a great add to my collection of serious music.

5 out of 5 stars Not The Best - Not the Worst - From Sarah Brightman.......2006-12-30

After purchasing this CD for my iPod for iTunes, I must say that I'm a little bit dissapointed. 7 new recordings and 8 old ones, ones that I already happen to have. I do like the fact that they're all on one CD! Some of her new recordings, including, "Ave Maria", "Winter Light", "Alhambra", "Dans La Nuit", and the new recording of "Pie Jesu" are just too breathy for my taste. It seems as with every changing CD, Sarah's voice changes. I'm not saying that the result is bad; it actually gives the songs more of a dream like quality, but I'm used to the younger, more Andrew Lloyd-Webber integrated Sarah. Scooping continually occurs in new recordings of "O Mio Babbino Caro", and "Nessun Dorma". In some tracks from La Luna, like "Figlio Perduto", Sarah's voice is TOTALLY dominated by harmonizing recordings that sound almost mechanical.

OVERALLY - The new songs sound O.K. and the old recordings are just as good as they were back then. This album is still a great buy!

3 out of 5 stars Nice Cover.......2006-12-27


I'm a heterosexual guy who's not an opera aficionado - I only mention these facts because I seem to be right in the bull's-eye of the target market for this product. Sarah B. has a nice voice and she's pretty. Both of these are featured prominently on this CD. The cover and several pages in the insert are devoted to what must have been a very long and expensive photo shoot (and Photoshop) of a semi-clad Sarah looking marvelous. (The CD also comes with a flyer so you can buy various Brightman "Classics" apparel - perhaps not for the heterosexual male).

As far as the music goes: not bad, not great. I don't claim to have the most discerning ears for this sort of music, but everything was OK by me. However, the pieces on the CD with which I'm somewhat familiar, such as "O Mio Babbino Caro," didn't sound quite as good as other versions I've heard (and that includes by Charlotte Church, not just opera stars). Also, the solo version of "Time to Say Goodbye" didn't sound nearly as good to me as the duet with Bocelli.

In sum, there were 3-4 songs I liked enough to rip to MP3s - which is enough so that I didn't feel ripped myself...

Rostropovich, Master Cellist
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Rostropovich stands out like a dazzling star
  • The flight of no return!
  • Rostropovich at 75 - A Look Back
Rostropovich, Master Cellist

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Schubert, Debussy / Rostropovich, Britten
  2. Bach: Cello Suites Nos. 1-6
  3. Dvorak & Saint-Saens: Cello Concertos
  4. Brahms: The Cello Sonatas
  5. Great Recordings Of The Century - Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Brahms: Double Concerto / Oistrakh, Rostropovich, Richter

ASIN: B000062R5A
Release Date: 2002-04-02

Tracks:

  1. Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In B Minor Op. 104: Allegro
  2. Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In B Minor Op. 104: Adagio Ma Non Troppo
  3. Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In B Minor Op. 104: Finale. Allegro Moderato
  4. Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In A Minor: Nicht Zu Schnell
  5. Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In A Minor: Langsam
  6. Concerto For Cello And Orchestra In A Minor: Sehr Lebhaft
  7. Andante Cantabile Op. Posth. For Cello And String Orchestra: Andante Cantabile Op. Posth.
  8. Chand Du Menstrel Op. 71 For Cello And Orchestra: Chant Du Menestrel

Tracks:

  1. Sonata For Piano And Cello In G Minor Op.19: Lento - Allegro Moderato
  2. Sonata For Piano And Cello In G Minor Op.19: Allegro Scherzando
  3. Sonata For Piano And Cello In G Minor Op.19: Andante
  4. Sonata For Piano And Cello In G Minor Op.19: Allegro Mosso
  5. Introduction And Polonaise Brillante For Cello And Piano In C Major Op.3: Introduction And Polonaise Brillante For Cello And Piano In C Major
  6. Vocalise Op.34 No.14: Vocalise
  7. Impromptu In G Flat Major D 899 No.3: Impromptu In G Flat Major
  8. Kinderszenen Op.5 No.7 Scenes From Childhood: Traumerei - Dreaming

Amazon.com

Mstislav Rostropovich's 75th birthday is the occasion for this two-disc set of prime recordings by the protean artist. The Dvorák Concerto with Karajan's overrefined conducting, one of the better of the cellist's five recordings of this masterpiece, is not as lively as his version with Ozawa or as idiomatic as his early recording with Talich and the Czech Philharmonic in monophonic sound. The Schumann Concerto, here with Rozhdestvensky and the Leningrad Philharmonic, is incisively Romantic, but disciplined and done with a ravishing tone, vividly recorded. It's superior to his later, indulgent version with Bernstein. The charming short pieces by Tchaikovsky and Glazunov are also irresistible for Rostropovich's gorgeous playing. Disc two partners him in solo pieces with pianist Alexander Dedyukhin, the centerpiece being Rachmaninov's Sonata, overflowing with lovely melodies played to the hilt by the cellist. The shorter works include transcriptions, perfect encore fare perfectly played. This set is a feast for Rostropovich's fans. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Rostropovich stands out like a dazzling star.......2007-05-20

As difficult a period as the 20th century was ... and all the more so in the soviet union -- Rostropovich stands out like a dazzling star. He represented some the finest levels of musical art that man can achieve -- a triumph of the human spirit.

In the 21st century in the western world, we are witness to the decline of the art form known as "classical music"... with nothing comparable or better on the horizon to replace it. As the 6 billion people of the earth, soon to be 9 billion, struggle for light and space ... there are ominous reverberations in the arts.

Thank God the few of us left who love this music have recordings of men like Rostopovitch ... always with the hope that the fire will be passed on to new generations of performers and composers who will catch the spirit and breath new life into the world.

5 out of 5 stars The flight of no return!.......2007-05-02


This genius of the cello left us April 27th. For the recent music newcomers this name is synonymous of a talented musician, but Rostropovich meant for the music much more than a privileged and sheer artist. His multiple activities as soloist performer and conductor ranked such historical achievements that hardly could be resumed in this little note.

His loss is extremely significant, due he embodied the goal of a total artist. Reader, thinker, and always worried by his country, he knew about so many unsaid details of the missed U.R.S.S, and his narrow collaboration with Dimitri Shostakovich make of him a essential part of the musical History of the last Century With his departure a cycle ends. Fortunately his enormous musical bequeath stand out through the years to come, as striking evidence of his egregious talent.

Hail and farewell!

5 out of 5 stars Rostropovich at 75 - A Look Back.......2003-09-19

To celebrate the 75th year of the birth of cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, the various labels he recorded with over his illustrious career have issued several excellent collections. EMI outdid themselves by issuing, among other sets, the breathtaking 13-CD box set "The Russian Years," featuring rare recordings and numerous premieres made by Rostropovich during his tenure behind the Iron Curtain. That set's a hard one to match, but the two-disc "Master Cellist: Legendary Recordings 1956-78" comes close. What it lacks in quantity, "Master Cellist" makes up for in quality. It contains arguably the single best recording ever made of the Dvorak Cello Concerto (with von Karajan), an excellent Schumann Concerto, and stunning shorter works for cello and orchestra by Tchaikovsky and Glazunov. These are legendary accounts for sure, but no big deal to most serious collectors because they are, or have been, previously available on CD. But what made me trade in my DG Originals disc of the Dvorak Concerto, and get "Master Cellist" was disc two of this set. It features four glorious works for cello and piano, never before released on CD, with Slava's long-time collaborator, pianist Alexander Dedyukhin. They are all, along with the Rach Sonata, quite simply sublime. Rostropovich will sadly not live another 75 years, but his legacy will live on for at least that long thanks to magical recordings like these.
Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 - 4
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • This is the one to buy!
  • An easy first choice
  • The champion of Rachmaninov's music.
  • Thoughtful but passionate interpretations
  • Very good
Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 - 4

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Rachmaninov: The Symphonies
  2. Rachmaninov: 24 Preludes/Piano Sonata No.2
  3. Rachmaninoff plays Rachmaninoff
  4. Tchaikovsky: Symphonies no 4, 5, & 6 / Karajan, Berlin PO
  5. Prokofiev: The Five Piano Concertos

ASIN: B00000427L
Release Date: 1996-02-13

Tracks:

  1. Piano Concerto No. 1 In F Sharp Minor, Op.1: I Vivace
  2. Piano Concerto No. 1 In F Sharp Minor, Op.1: II Andante
  3. Piano Concerto No. 1 In F Sharp Minor, Op.1: III Allegro vivace
  4. Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op.18: I Moderato
  5. Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op.18: II Adagio sostenuto
  6. Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op.18: III Allegro scherzando

Tracks:

  1. Piano Concerto No.3 In D Minor, Op.30: I Allegro ma non tanto
  2. Piano Concerto No.3 In D Minor, Op.30: II Intermezzo: Adagio
  3. Piano Concerto No.3 In D Minor, Op.30: III Finale (Alla breve)
  4. Piano Concerto No.4 In D Minor, Op.40: I Allegro vivace (Alla breve)
  5. Piano Concerto No.4 In D Minor, Op.40: II Largo
  6. Piano Concerto No.4 In D Minor, Op.40: III Allegro vivace

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars This is the one to buy!.......2007-06-13

A number of years ago, I went to the Classical Record Store in Toronto to acquire a copy of Rachmaninov's Piano Concertos. Like many others, I'd been introduced to Rachmaninov's 3rd Piano Concerto by the movie "Shine". When I asked the resident musicologist for Rach 3, she rolled her eyes. I explained that I wasn't remotely interested in the commercial David Helfgott version. I wanted the definitive version. She smiled knowingly and took me to a shelf. This is the version she handed me. Buy it. You won't be disappointed! Ashkenazy is at the peak of his powers and Previn does a phenomenal job with the London Symphony. It doesn't get any better than this.

5 out of 5 stars An easy first choice.......2006-06-12

If you are looking for a standard stereo recording of the four concertoes, you don't have to look hard to realize that this set would be a nice and easy choice. Ashkenazy's performances of the Rachmaninov concertos are poetic, full of passions and yearnings, and technically excellent. This 2CD set is sold at the price of one full-priced CD, so it should be a good bargain. If you are a newcomer to Rachmaninov, this set is highly recommended. Later on when you have become familiar with these concertos you might also want to check out the renditions by Argerich and Horowitz, both of which contain some of the most spectacular displays of keyboard fireworks. These recordings by Ashkenazy have been reissued many times and the most recent one I believe is the 2 separate disks in the Eloquence series. Sonically the Eloquence reissues were artificially reprocessed in order to create wider dynamics and better sense of immediacy. Get either this one or the other, it doesn't matter which, what matters is that every Rachmaninov lover should have these recordings as basic items in his/her collection.

5 out of 5 stars The champion of Rachmaninov's music........2005-12-25

This is a very good set of Rachmaninov's piano works for a very reasonable price indeed. For those who are unfamiliar with the great russian composer's piano works, from the blazing horns, swelling piano chords and seductive strings opening the first piano concerto you feel right away you're in for a very special musical experience.

Normally, when you know and appreciate what a musician has created throughout his career, there's almost always one piece of work that stands out or that you like more than the others. When it comes to Rachmaninov's piano works, mine would certainly be the Piano Concerto no 3, one of the most beautiful piano works that were ever written, and also the Concerto no 4. There's a certain nostalgia about this latter work, like feelings about a past gone forever, and you can feel this leitmotiv during the whole concerto. Maybe the fact that Rachmaninov wrote this wonderful concerto after having moved permanently to the US and therefore feeling homesick has something to do with it.

As for Mr Ashkenazy, he simply is the best interpreter when it comes to Rachmaninov's piano works. The great Vladimir is temperate rather than romantic, cool and constantly in control: sometimes he seems pouring out rivers of emotions and passion without getting carried away though. He has the musicality and intelligence to understand exactly how these concertos work. He has phenomenal technique, original approach, and his touch is quite fiery at times, gentle and tender at others. He can be poetic and passionate when he needs to.

In Rachmaninov's piano concertos the orchestra plays a vital role, often playing the main theme melodies while the piano accompanies, which is rather unusual. In this regard, the London Symphonic Orchestra and conductor A. Prévin are one of the best. Couple this with Rachmaninov's music and Ashkenazy's interpretation, and you're in for a very special musical treat indeed.

5 out of 5 stars Thoughtful but passionate interpretations.......2005-07-09

After listening to a recording of Rachmaninoff's 2nd concerto and hearing a lot about the 3rd concerto, I jumped at buying this CD because of the low cost for two CDs - I was not disappointed.

For me the highlight by far is the third piano concerto, where Ashkenazy seems to pour out passion without getting carried away. This recording I much prefer to Argerich's recording (passionate, but little restraint and thought put into that performance) and even Horowitz's (although this may be because of it's worse sound quality). The first movement is played slower than most other performances, but is filled with passion and technical mastery. I am starting to learn this concerto and know how difficult it is! I was glad to see that Ashkenazy used the longer, chordal codenza rather than the shorter one used by Horowitz and Argerich (those are the only other recordings I've heard) with I much prefer.

The first and fourth concertos are also fabulously played but for me they don't compare to the third. The second concerto, however, was a little bit of a disappointment for me (not enough for me to give the discs 4 stars, however). Because I have already learned this concerto, I'm probably quicker to find faults with Ashkenazy's playing here. If I could put my finger on what I don't like about it it would be the balance between the piano and orchestra - you can hardly hear the piano at some of the most difficult sections. Still, the orchestra sounds beautiful and so does the piano when you can hear it.

Since listening to this disc Ashkenazy has quickly become one of my favorite pianists - as has Levine as a conductor. I would heartily recommend this CD for anyone, but especially for anyone who ever aspires to play any of these pieces - all four of the are beautiful and these performances are well thought-out and powerful.

5 out of 5 stars Very good.......2005-03-18

These performances are wonderful, and to those who think otherwise, I do not really know another complete set that has performances as good as this. Ashkenazy is, as usual, amazing, and this particular set of the many Ashkenazy/Previn Rachmaninov Concertos sets is often called definitive. The sound quality is pretty good. Highly recommended.
By the way, Vladimir Ashkenazy holds the position of President of the Rachmaninov Society, which makes this set a no brainer.
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Greatest Hits
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Yes
  • A decent introduction to the music of Rachmaninoff
  • Great Collection of "Hits"
  • One of the best CD I own
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Greatest Hits

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Debussy's Greatest Hits
  2. Grieg: Greatest Hits
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  4. Chopin: Greatest Hits
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ASIN: B000002A1L
Release Date: 1994-08-09

Tracks:

  1. Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14
  2. Piano Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18: III. Allegro scherzando
  3. Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43: 18th Variation
  4. Symphony No. 2 In E Minor, Op. 27: III. Adagio
  5. Prelude In G Minor, Op. 23, No. 5
  6. Prelude In G-Sharp Minor, Op. 32, No. 12
  7. Prelude in C-sharp minor, Op. 3, No. 2
  8. Cello Sonata In G Minor, Op. 19: II. Allegro scherzando
  9. Etude-tableau In D Major, Op. 39, No. 9
  10. Six Pieces, Op. 11: Scherzo
  11. Six Pieces, Op. 11: Slava
  12. Symphonic Dances, Op. 45: III. Lento assai

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Yes.......2003-04-03

This is a marvelous collection. There were a few pieces I wish that it would include, such as the rest of his Piano Concerto No.2, or perhaps The Rock, but the fact that the performances are generally great and the recording quality is near-perfect makes up for that.

I would recommend this to anyone who is just starting to become interested in the works of Sergei Rachmaninov.

4 out of 5 stars A decent introduction to the music of Rachmaninoff.......2001-08-12

Sergi Rachmaninoff was the last of the great Romantic composers, especially since the Romantic period had ended for European artists when he was at his height. Although a composer and a conductor, Rachmaninoff was also a virtuoso pianist, which explains why his best compositions feature the piano, either in solo work or with an orchestra. His "Prelude in C-Sharp Minor," which he wrote when he was 20, made him famous throughout the world. This collection also includes several other preludes, "Vocalise," and the famous 18th Variation (Andnate cantible) from Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. My only serious complaint about this collection as an introduction to Rachmaninoff is that it only has one movement from his Second Piano Concerto and I have other CDs that include the entire work, which I thing is a good idea.

4 out of 5 stars Great Collection of "Hits".......2000-06-22

This is actually not a bad collection of Greatest Hits. Usually the problem with collections like these is that they have bad recordings and not very good performances but some of these ones are actually okay, and it features performances by Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax among others. In general these are the works of art you think of when you think of Rachmaninoff and so these pieces are a perfect representation of his style.

5 out of 5 stars One of the best CD I own.......1999-12-30

This is one of the best I own. The music is so great, hard to explain...so moving, especially the first track. It reminds me of Russia a lot. I listen to it everyday while driving to work. I highly recommend it.
Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 / Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • WONDERFUL rendition of Rach 3
  • Quite simply the best Rach 3 I've heard
  • A mess
  • Absolutely fantastic CD
  • Martha Argerich: the only person who can make piano sing
Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 / Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra , Riccardo Chailly , Martha Argerich , Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky , and Kirill Kondrashin
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  5. Horowitz Plays Rachmaninoff/Concerto for Piano in Dm; Sonata for Piano No2/Vladimir Horowitz, Pianist

ASIN: B0000041DF
Release Date: 1995-08-15

Tracks:

  1. Piano Concerto No.3 In D Minor, Op.30: 1. Allegro ma non tanto
  2. Piano Concerto No.3 In D Minor, Op.30: 2. Intermezzo. Adagio
  3. Piano Concerto No.3 In D Minor, Op.30: 3. Finale. Alla breve
  4. Piano Concerto No.1 In B Flat Minor, Op.23: 1. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso - Allegro con spirito
  5. Piano Concerto No.1 In B Flat Minor, Op.23: 1. Andantino simplice - Prestissimo - Tempo I
  6. Piano Concerto No.1 In B Flat Minor, Op.23: 3. Allegro con fuoco

Amazon.com essential recording

This is madness in action. Martha Argerich's Rachmaninoff Third is the fastest and most physically exciting you'll ever hear. She's recorded live, and the balances are a little strange as a result. You can also tell that Riccardo Chailly and his orchestra are having a hell of time trying to keep up with her, while anticipating what she's about to do next--but so what? This is as close as you can come to an experience of spontaneous combustion, and survive. The Tchaikovsky is, if possible, even wilder, with quite a few missed notes. But with an artist like Argerich, you simply can't judge the performance one note at a time. So go ahead: live dangerously. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars WONDERFUL rendition of Rach 3.......2007-06-03

I haven't listened to all, as I so love Rachmaninov that its all I can do to get beyond him. Her rendition sounds so soulful and right on, the timing perfect or as close to as possible, its absolute heaven, and hell, as his music seems to be, to listen to it. I love it, always have, and was not at all disappointed by this cd. Highly Recommended.

5 out of 5 stars Quite simply the best Rach 3 I've heard.......2007-03-29

Blindingly fast - I can only imagine the hand cramps she had afterwards! Simply amazing.

2 out of 5 stars A mess.......2007-03-17

I have the utmost respect for Argerich both as a pianist and as an artist. As talented and gifted as she is, it's her sense of engagement and commitment that never fails to elicit admiration and awe in me. Her readings are so overwhelming and passionate that one often gets the impression that her life is dependent on whatever she happens to be playing. On the right day, she's able to draw the most riveting and powerful sounds from the piano and conjure up the deepest and strongest feelings that one can experience by listening to a piece of music. More often than not, however, haste and anxiety get the best of her and what was intended to be an engaging performance ends up being a chaotic and incomprehensible gathering of notes. Therein lies the main problem with her rendition of Rachmaninov's third piano concerto: it lacks structural integrity and the blurred articulation often results in missing, indistinct or simply wrong notes. She fares better in Tchaikovsky's first piano concerto, though not so much so as to avoid the aforementioned shortcomings. Definitely not a good buy. Hyperion has recently released a wonderful live performance by Stephen Hough of the four Rachmaninov's piano concertos. The sound is pristine and the playing is top quality. This recording is to be preferred over Argerich's.

5 out of 5 stars Absolutely fantastic CD.......2007-01-13

If you appreciate the piano, the performance by Martha Argerich will blow you away. The woman is absolutely amazing. This is one of my favorite CDs and I recommend it for anyone who wants to hear a master at work.

5 out of 5 stars Martha Argerich: the only person who can make piano sing.......2006-09-16

At first I was disappointed. Then, listening through a pair of $99 headphones, I was totally captivated, from the start. Up close listening does make a difference! I must say that, after listening to so many of Martha's recordings and reading so many reviews (even from professionals) about her, nobody has picked up one unique trait of Martha's playing against all other great piano players' (including Horowitz, whose playing is more philosophical than musical to me), namely, Martha's reading of music is holistic, or three dimensional, or whatever you want to call it. It is as if she were an architect, an architect of tonal structures. In every pieces of music she plays (esp. solos), you sense a structure. She renders every passage with a view to the whole piece. Whereas if you listen to other pianists (including Horowitz), every passage is to be contrasted only with the one before and the one after, never the whole piece. It is as if other pianists were bound by the flow of time and could not jump beyond the constraint and see the whole picture (this is what I call two dimensional). Anyway, I alway like to tell people that Martha is the only person who can make piano sing. She is the only person who can make piano weep. And she plays as if her life depends on it.
Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1/Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 2
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Magnifico!
  • Excellent re-mastering
  • An all-time classic!
  • The standard
  • One of classical music's best back in SACD
Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1/Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 2

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000003EUG
Release Date: 1993-01-12

Tracks:

  1. Concerto 1 - Allegro Non Troppo E Molto Maestoso
  2. Concerto 1 - Andantino Simplice
  3. Concerto 1 - Allegro Con Fuoco
  4. Concerto 2 - Moderato; Allegro
  5. Concerto 2 - Adagio Sostenuto
  6. Concerto 2 - Allegro Scherzando

Amazon.com essential recording

What a story there is behind this recording! When Van Cliburn won the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow at the height of the Cold War with his playing of this concerto, it created an international sensation. The recording followed immediately thereafter, and Cliburn was launched on an international career of unprecedented celebrity for a classical musician. Perhaps the attention was too much, too soon, given his subsequent burn-out and retirement from public life. Fortunately, we have these unique recordings to document what was, by all accounts, a genuine phenomenon. This is the disc "heard 'round the world." --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Magnifico!.......2007-06-08

The piece with which the 18 year old Van Cliburn won the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow when he was 18. The Cold War was stood on its head for a few magnificent moments and they are beautifully reproduced right here. The Rachmaninov also provides passion equal to Mr. Van Cliburn's talent. A beautiful recording.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent re-mastering.......2007-02-24

I ordered this to replace an old LP record that will no longer play. I was extreemly pleased to hear the quality of the cd. No one plays this concerto like Van Cliburn!

5 out of 5 stars An all-time classic!.......2006-09-22

Get it for the coupling of two piano masterpieces! Get it for the performance by a legend! Get it for its historical significance! But, for Pete's sake, get it!

This is one of those classical recordings you just cannot do without. And why on earth would you want to?

5 out of 5 stars The standard.......2006-09-13

I wanted a good piano recording and after a lot of web searching and reading reviews, I decided on this Van Cliburn recording. What sold me was that it was Van Cliburn at his prime, with this recording done only days after winning the Tchaikovsky competition. I am very satisfied with the CD as a whole.

The Tchaikovsky 1 is not bad except for the orchestra. Van Cliburn and the orchestra seem to be performing at two different levels, with Van Cliburn's performance being the superior of the two. I have to wonder if this was too hastily put together, an effort to quickly market the unexpected American Tchiakovsky champion. Nevertheless, it is a fantastic performance just for the piano part.

The Rach 2 is amazing. Flawless piano playing, great orchestration, amazing recording quality especially when I consider the age of the recording. I love the opening passage in the first movement, several chords that are similar in style to the famous `Bells of Moscow' and then BANG! Off to the races. I liked how the stringed bass of the orchestra reinforces the bass notes of the piano part. I like the Russian folk dance that appears at about 6:48 into the 4th track. I also loved the lyrical line coming from the horn at about 8:25 in the same track. Alan Kayes writes on the inside of the CD cover "the most arresting thing about (Van Cliburn's) playing is his mastery of ... the tasteful and assured use of rubato ..... the delicacy in executing pianissimos, the sure sense of musical phraseology, the feeling for restraint as well as climax, and all the remaining elements of musical sensitivity that go to make up a superb keyboard artist". That sums it up for me. The standard of this recording is extremely high. I wonder if anyone could match it, let alone beat it. The Rach 2 alone made it well worth the money to buy this CD.

5 out of 5 stars One of classical music's best back in SACD.......2006-04-07

Van Cliburn's famous rendering of the Tchaikovsky concerto, recorded just days after the tall Texan won Moscow's Tchaikovsky competition in 1958, has been one of classical music's most famous and endearing recordings since the day it first appeared on vinyl.

Not only is the performance in the vein of 20th century masters like Joseph Hoffman, it did much during a tense time in US-Soviet relations to relax tensions caused by the space race and arms race. The duo of Cliburn and Kiril Kondrashin showed the two superpowers could work together at one thing, at least.

The mixture of virtuosity and poetry is what sets this recording apart from anything that's been recorded since 1958. Pianists simply don't play like this any longer, especially virtuosos recording in the digital era. This recording has to be heard to understand the difference between the grand style of the 19th and 20th centuries and the keyboard style performed today.

I was a bit disappointed when I played this on my 5.1 system and it only played in stereo, especially since the booklet indicates it is a three channel recording. These are the inconsistencies of the early period of multichannel recordings, I've learned. One takes a chance every time one buys an SACD recording that it will merely be stereo.

Still, the sound is a magnificent upgrade from the original stereo, with much greater presence and definition in the sound field. Linked together with the magnificent artistry of the soloist and his accompanists, this remains among the the most treasurable piano recordings of the 20th century and probably is still the best recording available -- and now one of the best sounding recordings available -- of the Tchaikovsky.

For aboput $10 most places, this is a remarkable value that cannot be topped.
The Only Classical CD You'll Ever Need!
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Great For Newcomers
  • Classical for Complete Beginners
  • There's a much better "The Only ...." album . . . .
  • Well not exactly but great for newcomers.....
  • No, the title lies a viscious lie.
The Only Classical CD You'll Ever Need!

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000003FQD
Release Date: 1994-07-19

Tracks:

  1. Allegro - Boston Symphony Orchestra
  2. Air On The G String - Festival Strings Of Lucerne
  3. Canon In D - Baroque Chamber Orchestra
  4. Spring: Allegro - English Chamber Orchestra
  5. Allegro Con Brio - Boston Symphony Orchestra
  6. Andante - RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra
  7. Clair De Lune - Boston Pops
  8. Waltz - Philadelphia Orchestra
  9. Blue Danube Waltz - Boston Pops
  10. Adagio Sostenuto - Chicago Symphony Orchestra
  11. Ride Of The Valkyries - Philadelphia Orchestra
  12. Finale - Boston Pops
  13. Finale (Excerpt) - New York Philharmonic

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Great For Newcomers.......2005-04-13

As an 18 year old univeristy student i would have to rate "The Only Classical Cd You'll Ever Need" as excellent. I dont know much about classical music but i was able to recognize almost every song and able to appreciate the music. Classical music is excellent to study to when i am up late for an exam and amazing to calm down to will i am simply resting. For anyone who has never been interested in classical music i would recomend this CD as a great start to an appreciation for an amazing genre of music.

4 out of 5 stars Classical for Complete Beginners.......2004-07-17

If you're totally and completely new to the genre, this is a fairly good cd, strictly for the purpose of getting to know the popular and familiar classics that everyone knows, but can't place. However.
I found the recording of some of the tracks to be of pretty poor quality, especially the Swan Lake waltz. It sounds as though it were recorded during dinner - lots of talking, clatterinig dishes, and overall movement in the background that's very distracting. I also found the Air on the G string, track two, to be what I would call an okay performance. You can definitely find better recordings of these and a few other tracks.
Also, if you really want to delve wholly into classical music, not just listen to the popular few, try a cd that also encompasses opera, and more "modern" classical music, such as Gershwin.
So, as I've said, for the absolute beginner it's alright, but try to find these same tracks and a few additions on another cd with better quality, and it would be your money better spent.

3 out of 5 stars There's a much better "The Only ...." album . . . ........2004-01-24

When you assert a title like the above you should deliver. Another almost identically titled album does much better. I offer details about that recording below, revised from my review on the Amazon.uk web site of "The Only Classical Album You'll Ever Need", by Slatkin and others, on the Classics label.

"I'm a classical music activist and an advocate for imaginative ways to reverse classical's decline. From this standpoint 'The Only Classical Album . . .' demonstrates first-rate creative showmanship and sophistication on the part of its producers. The album does more than just stimulate impulse purchase. The outrageously inspired title was obviously designed to attract newcomers to classical. Having lured the uninitiated, a wrong start on the first track could be the last heard. The inspired choice of Orff's primal rhythms in Carmina Burana as an opener probably breaks stereotypes people may have about classical. Luscious, delicate ballet music by Delibes creates an abrupt but artful change of pace. Then follow all-meat-an