Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2 / Vocalise

On this CD:

1. Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27
Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performed by Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Jesus Lopez-Cobos

2. Transcription for orchestra of "Vocalise" from Songs, Op. 34/14 Vocalise (orchestral version)
Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performed by Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Jesus Lopez-Cobos

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Rachmaninoff's lush Symphony No. 2 qualifies as the archetypal Romantic symphony, full of opulent melodies and plush orchestral textures. López-Cobos and his Cincinnatians ease into the work--the slow, dark opening, with its subterranean basses and the climb up the tonal ladder to the brighter winds and strings, is played beautifully but without the inner tension or forward impetus it needs. The performance kicks into high gear for a driving Scherzo; the Adagio, with its gorgeous clarinet solo, is lovely; and the powerful finale climaxes the work in grand style. There are more fervent recordings than López-Cobos's, but none that bring out as much orchestral detail. The filler, the Vocalise, is a can't-miss delight. Ormandy, Temirkanov, and Previn's old EMI recording with the London Symphony may be preferable for the Symphony, but this one will give great pleasure. The disc is recorded at a low level, so you'll have to kick up the volume to get the most out of Telarc's stunning sonics. --Dan Davis

Tracks:

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

Customer Reviews:

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.

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.

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.

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.

Average customer rating:

Rachmaninoff's Masterpieces
superb
Great Piano Fireworks
Rhapsody is best
No. of concerto is wrong

The Best Of Rachmaninoff

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ASIN: B00000416Q
Release Date: 1993-10-12

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No.2 In C Minor, Op.18: 1. Moderato
Piano Concerto No.2 In C Minor, Op.18: 2. Adagio sostenuto
Piano Concerto No.2 In C Minor, Op.18: 3. Allegro scherzando
Rhapsody On A Theme By Paganini, Op. 43
Vocalise, Op. 34 No.14
Liebesleid
Prelude in C sharp minor, Op.3 No.2
Prelude in G minor, Op. 23 No.5

Tracks:

Symphony No.2, Op.27: 1. Largo - Allegro moderato
Symphony No.2, Op.27: 2. Allegro molto
Symphony No.2, Op.27: 3. Adagio
Symphony No.2, Op.27: 4. Allegro vivace
The Isle of the Dead, Op. 29

Customer Reviews:

Rachmaninoff's Masterpieces.......2005-11-13

Sergei Rachmaninoff remains the most celebrated of the modern Russian composers who retained the spirit of Romantics like Tchaikovsky. In this fabulous recording from the Phillips Label, we are treated to his most cherished piano/orchestral masterpieces. They include the incomparable Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, as performed by the Royal Philharmonic with Spanish pianist Rafael Orozco and conducted by Edo De Waart. This piano concerto is grand in scale and at times borders on Beethovenesque melody. It's dark and brooding and supremely romantic. It was prominently featured in the David Lean 1940'ish film "Brief Encounter" about a romance that is forged on a train ride. The most famous piece associated with the great Rachmaninoff is his Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini for Piano and Orchestra. Lush, sweeping romantic melodies sigh and stir on the piano and escalate into voluminous beauty in the orchestra. Upon hearing it, you will recognize it for sure. The Vocalise was originally a piano piece, at times resembling a sort of modern Moonlight Sonata, with a long haunting melodic line, but has become famous as a concert aria and sopranos like Renee Fleming still sing the aria today. As most piano composers tend to do, Rachmaninov transcribed works from other composers for piano and here we hear his lovely piano version of Kreisler's violin work "Liebeslied" or "Love Song". Beautiful! The Preludes are works of tonal beauty and nocturnal moods. Orozco is truly gifted on the piano. Years of training sharpened his musical talents so that he mastered the piano and Rachmaninoff especially. He knows Rachmaninoff's music intimately. He uses flowing rubato and handles the music with a sacred spirit. He breathes life into the works and never succumbs to mechanical playing. Instead, we get colorful musical portraits, complete with evocative imagery, such as in the Isle of the Dead, a symphonic poem that is also terrific in orchestral form. The Symphony No. 2 is another brilliant piece on here. Overall, a fine album and the quality of sound is excellent. At an affordable price, this is a treasure.

superb.......2005-09-17

Out of my huge collection of classical music, I find these disks being played more often than almost all the rest!

Great Piano Fireworks.......2004-02-05

This is my favorite recording of Rachmaninov's 2nd! Orozco and de Waart are thrilling right from the very first note. I keep flipping back to Track 1 just to hear the passionate opening movement! I have Ashkenzy, Vasary, and Entremont's recordings of this piece. The spacious engineering and Orozco's riveting performance keep me coming back to this one! The reading of the Rhapsody is also one of my favorites. I have a special attachment to this work, and these performances do not disappoint my picky taste. I hate to say it, but Orozco's technique and interpretation of the Rhapsody rival the performance with Rachmaninov as soloist with the Phila. Orch.
The other pieces in this "two-fer" are exceptional performances as well. I especially love Orozco's brilliance and technique in the G minor prelude--why couldn't I play it like that in piano lessons??? The Vocalise and Liebeslied are lovely arrangments.
For this price, this set is absolutely essential to anyone interested in Classical music! This is THE recording to have!

Rhapsody is best.......2004-01-19

This performance of the Rhapsody is absolutely amazing! The Concerto 2 is pretty intense as well, but get it for the Rhapsody -- it is worth it!

No. of concerto is wrong.......2004-01-04

I thing you made a mistake on your homepage.
The correct title is "Piano Concerto No.2" on "Listen to Sample" as below.

Tracks:

Vocalise For Orchestra
Rhapsody On A Theme By Paganini - 18th Variation: Rhapsody On A Theme By Paganini - 18th Variation (Excerpt)
Symphony No. 2 in E minor: Symphony No. 2 In E Minor - Adagio
Piano Concerto No. 2 In C Minor: Piano Concerto No. 2 In C Minor - Adagio sostenuto
Prelude In D
Piano Concerto No. 3 In D Minor: Piano Concerto No. 3 In D Minor - Intermezzo (Adagio)
Symphonic Dance: Symphonic Dance - I. Non Allegro (excerpt)
Piano Concerto No. 1 In F - Sharp Minor: Piano Concerto No. 1 In F - Sharp Minor - Andante
Prelude In E-Flat
Piano Concerto No.4 In G Minor: Piano Concerto No.4 In G Minor - Largo
Piano Concerto No. 2 In C Minor: Piano Concerto No. 2 In C Minor - Allegro scherzando (Excerpt)

Customer Reviews:

Tear Time.......2007-05-09

Find your loved one, get some tissue and escape into a world of desire and fantasy. All ages will love this music. Tender, soft, and relaxing with the hint of being alive again.

Donald Lindsey

The Beauty of Rachmaninoff.......2006-11-10

This album contains some of Rachmaninoff's most beautiful and romantic music which should appeal to everyone, even if you're not a classical music fan. The performances are first rate and you may even shed a few tears listening to this very emotional music. These excerpts from some of Rachmaninoff's major works may induce you to want the entire compositions for your collection.

Applause.......2002-03-12

I'll add my applause to these reviews. It's an elegant collection of Rachmaninov pieces. Simply beautiful.

Beautiful.......2001-05-21

If you are a Rachmaninov fan, this CD is a must. Of all the CD's I have of Rachmaninov, this is my favorite. The orchestra's that perform capture the essence of what he composed. It is a beautiful CD guaranteed to please. As the back of the CD states, "Rachmaninov and romance go together like Romeo and Juliet"

Rachmaninoff for Romance.......2000-04-25

I purchased this CD primarily for Trac#2--Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini-18th Variation. I wasn't disapointed! The whole cd is very relaxing and definitly puts you in the mood. I thought the cd would contain only piano music but there are many well-orchestrated and dramatic tracs.

Average customer rating:

The Best
Buy This Now!!!!

Rachmaninoff for Relaxation

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Debussy for Relaxation
Chopin For Relaxation
Vivaldi for Relaxation
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Beethoven for Relaxation

ASIN: B00005KCGZ
Release Date: 2001-06-19

Tracks:

Rhap On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43: Var 18 - Dmitri Alexeev
Sym No.2 in e, Op.27: III. Adagio - The Philadelphia Orch/Eugene Ormandy
Prld in G, Op.32 No.5 - Alexis Weissenberg
Vocalise, Op.34 No.14 - Anna Moffo
Prld in F - Mikhail Kazakevich
Prld in D, Op.23 No.4 - Barry Douglas
Prld in E-flat, Op.23 No.6 - Barry Douglas
Vc Con in g, Op.19: III. Andante - Janos Starker/Shigeo Neriki
It's Peaceful Here, Op.21 No.7 - Vladimir Spivakov/Sergei Bezrodny
Pno On No.1 in f#, Op.1: II. Andante - Byron Janis
Pno Con No.2 in c, Op.18: II. Adagio Sostenuto - Barry Douglas

Customer Reviews:

The Best.......2002-08-31

I thought this was so good, especially tracks 8 thru 11 that I bought copies for my six siblings.

Buy This Now!!!!.......2001-09-07

This is a beautiful work by the master composer Rachmaninoff. I have been a fan of his work, but when I heard this recording it nearly blew me away. Listen to Vocalise - the beauty of this track is what sold me on the rest of the album.

Average customer rating:

It's a lovely title
Rainy day, boy what an appropriate title

Rachmaninoff for a Rainy Day

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000059RXN
Release Date: 2001-02-27

Tracks:

Vocalise No.14, Op.34 - Nina Kotova
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43 - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Sym No.2 in e, Op.27: Adagio - The Royal Concertgebouw Orch/Vladimir Ashkenazy
Pno Con No.2 in c, Op.18: Moderato
Pno Con No.2 in c, Op.18: Adagio Sustanuto
Pno Con No.2 in c, Op.18: Allegro Scherzando

Customer Reviews:

It's a lovely title.......2005-02-09

Can't beat the title. I immediately purchased once after listening to the sample. Believe me, you will love it, especially you are staying at home, watching rainfall outside and listen this wonderful piece.

Rainy day, boy what an appropriate title.......2001-04-06

I don't know what it is about the second Rachmaninoff concerto , but it inevitably reminds me of rain dripping off the leaves of trees. Not that I don't love it, I really do, but it is so evocative of rain that I was very amused by the CD title.

Tracks:

I. Largo - Allegro Moderato
II. Allegro Molto
III. Adagio
IV. Allegro Vivace
Vocalise

Amazon.com

This is an outstanding performance of Rachmaninoff's most popular symphony, from a source that you wouldn't necessarily expect. David Zinman sees the work much as the composer himself might have. There's no Russian heaviness; he lets the gloom and doom speak for itself. Rather, he keeps textures light and supple, rhythms exciting, and goes for broke at the climaxes. He also manages to sustain the finale better than most of the competition, never making it sound like the main theme coming around one time too many. He's aided to no small extent by the excellent sound, and by playing that clearly establishes the Baltimore Symphony as a force to be reckoned with. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Great symphony, amazing vocalise.......2004-03-21

A great recording of the 2nd symphony adorns this disc, but the real star is the vocalise. Too often is this gorgeous piece arranged with a violin solo instead. But McNair's beautiful interpretation makes this one far superior to anything else. Buy it, if only for the vocalise.

Fully deserving of all superlatives..........2003-11-09

As an admirer of all things Rachmaninoff, I am terminally biased. I am also rather uncritical of anyone talented enough to perform his work. The second symphony is a great joy to hear, but Sylvia McNair's singular performance of the Vocalise is what sends me on this recording. The subtle power of her voice is beyond compare and smoothly lifts the Vocalise securely into stellar territory, where it most certainly belongs.

It doesn't matter why you buy this recording. It will quickly get the better of you-and so will your fondness for Rachmaninoff.

Sophistocated........2002-03-15

Rachmaninoff is the height of lyrical beauty among romantic composers. His melodies are sophisticated yet never esoteric. His phrases never dead end; they weave into each other with purposeful continuity. His transitions are seamless. The first movement sends the listener skimming across a bright, sometimes brooding landscape at a leisurely glide. After the free-falling second movement, the adagio settles into one of the most beautiful melodies ever penned. Just when you have been lulled into a satisfied stupor the finale lets loose with fourteen minutes of unbridled joy. The Vocalise that follows provides the perfect denouement. Sylvia McNair deftly sings the part of the wordless siren, seductive and alluring. The orchestral balance is perfect, moving underneath as if she herself controlled it with her voice. Zinman and Telarc capture the best of the Baltimore Symphony and the depth of the recording is incredible. This is a top-notch performance.

A High Energy Performance.......2000-07-13

David Zinnman and the Baltimore Symphony, with a little help from the Telarc Engineers deliver a performance full of sizzle and electricity. There is none of the heavy handed Russian style here. Nor is the smaltzy, syrupy style heard here. Rachmoninov's music gets to speak for itself! All the eloquence is here and Sylvia McMair's performance of "Vocalise" is just stunning. Icing on the cake, or the bubbles in the champaigne.

Average customer rating:

Beuatifull & Sensitive Performance, Orchestra Sounds Great
Good performance ....but not extraordinary
An Amazing Performance of Rach 3
A show-off piece with a lyrical performance
Rach 3? No place to showcase your poetic & lyrical side

Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No.3, etc.

Manufacturer: RCA
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Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000003FF0
Release Date: 1993-07-13

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 3, Op.30: Allegro ma non tanto
Piano Concerto No. 3, Op.30: Intermezzo: Adagio
Piano Concerto No. 3, Op.30: L'istesso tempo; Finale: Alla breve
Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14
Prelude, Op. 23 No. 2 In B Flat

Customer Reviews:

Beuatifull & Sensitive Performance, Orchestra Sounds Great.......2007-03-16

I was at the Shostakovich wing at Rhapsody and hit the play button for Symphony 8 and for some strange reason this concerto started playing. The info provided said merely that it was Rachmaninoff's 3rd piano concerto and did not give artist or orchestra info. This was my first time hearing this concerto so I am no expert, but I enjoyed it greatly! I have heard Kissin's performance of Tchaikovsky's first with Karajan and this concerto is quite a bit different. It is more beautiful and serene and a little moody at times and far less the emotional rollercoster that is Tchaikovsky's first PC. The Orchestra sounds beautiful too! The strings sound sooo sweet. I was enthralled enough by the playing that I wanted more info so I bipped over to Amazon. Kissin is well known for his play of Chopin and he brings a Chopin-esque touch to this concerto. Having heard his Tchaikovsky performance, I know he can bring down the house too when the music calls for it.

The piece, Vocalise, that follows the concerto is well suited to the mood of the concerto. Prelude 2 is a bit more spirited. Though this is a short piece, it is a real hoot. All the music on this disk highlight Rachmaninoff as a 19th century Romantic rather than a 20th century modernist.

Good performance ....but not extraordinary.......2005-12-28

I'm a big fan of Martha Argerich's Rach 3, and am, perhaps yet to come across a recording which surpasses her monumental 1982/w Chailly recording. Kissin here does pretty well, though I personally do not appreciate the slower tempi chosen by him..it just doesen't seem to harmonise with his own individuality as observed in his other recordings. Maybe his teacher had an (over)influence in this interpretation.
However, this recording has got arguably the best last 3 minutes or so ...the orchestra work by Ozawa is simply phenomenal and the ecstatic heights to which the coda is pulled and lured into is truly mesmerising. That was the only bit the slow tempo seemed to fit really well !
In all, its a good performance, but there are many better ones.

An Amazing Performance of Rach 3.......2005-09-06

I must confess, the first time I heard Evgeny Kissin's interpretation of this formidable concerto, I was left disappointed. At the time, Martha Argerich's recording was the best in my mind. Like many of the reviewers here, I felt Kissin's performance was painfully slow at the opening of the first movement, and especially so in the opening of the third. After hearing several versions of this concerto, I know longer consider Argerich's to be the best (It's still up there, though). Rather, I have learned to appreciate the more poetic version Kissin presents. Don't let other reviewers fool you; there are still plenty of fireworks in this recording. Kissin's performance of the cadenza in the first movement is astounding, huge sound and very passionate. The whole second movement has a great, sweeping sound, with perfect phrasing. And the third is flashy, but with a slower tempo. This solemn recording is exactly how Rachmaninoff envisioned it. Other great recordings of this concerto are by Mikhail Pletnev and Olga Kern (STAY AWAY FROM THE RECORDINGS BY LANG LANG AND DAVID HELFGOTT).

A show-off piece with a lyrical performance.......2004-06-09

Yeah, many of you are saying the Rach 3 should not be played lyrically. However, many of you are also inane. Rachmaninoff would turn over in his grave if he heard this. Sure, I like Horowitz's and Van Cliburn's performances better (but those are unbeatable), but I have certainly been a fan of this recording for a long time. The highlight of this CD is the ossia in measures 273 through 275 of the third movement. It's only symbolic of Kissin accepting the greater challenge, and tackling it quite mightily I must say. But, my point was that this piece can be played poetically and it can be played virtuosically. But Kissin accomplishes both. Maybe not as virtuosic as Cliburn or Horowitz, but certainly darn close enough for me.

And let us not forget the encores. The Vocalise arrangement is astoundingly spacious and beautiful. The B-flat prelude is one of the hardest he wrote, as I am learning a few of the Opus 23 ones. The ease with which Kissin plays those mind-boggling passages is obvious and the result: fantastic.

Rach 3? No place to showcase your poetic & lyrical side.......2003-07-03

Kissin displayed such abilities at an early age, it was hard not to imagine he would live his life at the top level virtuosity.

I bought Kissin's Rach 3 because I have never been impressed by Kissin; The quality of his playing is uneven, with the main problem that strikes me, is that he often seems to lack a sense of certain works as a coherent whole.

Kissen's Rach 3 has been around for 10 years or so, but I never got around to hearing it. I listened to it recently and was completely disappointed.

Kissen plays the entire work more or less understated. The conducting by Ozawa is outstanding in the sense it supports Kissin's approach to the work.

But Kissin's approach to the work is the problem. He plays slowly and softly, and I seems to me he is attempting to focus on the lyrical and poetic aspacts of the work.

A poetic, understated and lyrical and poetic Rach 3. Is Kissin kidding? This a work where the big boys and girls get a chance to show what they can do. Perhaps Kissin thought he found a legitimate new way to approach the work.

However whatever Kissin was trying do it didn't work. With the works natural emotional high points smoothed out, there was nothing left but a flat CD, that doesn't say a single thing new. I found it flat and boring throughout.

There are quite a few outstanding Rach 3 recordings out there, but this isn't one of them.

If you a Rach 3, the 1951 Horowitz studio recording, and the 1958 live performane by Van Cliburn jump to mind. A lyric and poetic approach is fine for many works but certainly not this one.

Tracks:

Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18 Mvt I:: Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18 Mvt I: Moderato; Allegro
Prelude In G Minor, Op. 23, No.5
Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14
Symphony No. 2 In E Minor, Op. 27: Mvt. III:: Adagio
Prelude In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 32, No. 12
Concerto No. 3 In D Minor, Op. 30: Mvt III. Finale: Concerto No. 3 In D Minor, Op. 30: Mvt III. Finale: Alla Breve
Prelude In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 3, No. 2
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op. 43

Customer Reviews:

A bare bones 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 "Vocalise" and the famous 18th Variation (Andnate cantible) from Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. It also includes two of the three movements from Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto. My complaint with this CD is that it simply has half as many tracks as other Greatest Hits collections for the composer. You can pick up a better collection that has pretty much everything on this CD plus much, much more. Your call.

If you are a Rachmaninoff lover, this is for you!.......2000-06-11

I love Rachmaninoff, his Concert No.2 in C is my favorite, but I like listening to anything composed by him. This is a CD that pretty much covers a lot of his work in a nutshell.

Average customer rating:

Rachmaninoff Greatest Hits

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00008RV2I
Release Date: 2003-04-08

Tracks:

Variation No.18 - Tamas Vasary
Prelude In C Sharp Minor, Op.3 No.2 - Lazar Berman
Prelude No.5 In G Minor, Op.23 - Vladimir Ashkenazy
Allegro Scherzando - Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Adagio - Valery Gergiev
Tarantella - Andre Previn
Vocalise, Op.34 No.14 - Lorin Maazel
In The Silence Of The Night, Op.4 No.3 - Dmitri Hvorostovsky
Allegro Scherzando - Heinrich Schiff
Spring Waters, Op.14 No.11 - Dmitri Hvorostovsky
Lord, Now Lettest Thou Thy Servant Depart In Peace - St. Petersburg Chamber Choir
Allegro Ma Non Tanto - Tom Krause
Non Allegro - Vladimir Ashkenazy

Rachmaninov: Symphony 2 Op. 27, Vocalise Op. 34 No. 14 for Orchestra

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Rachmaninov: Symphony 2 Op. 27, Vocalise Op. 34 No. 14 for Orchestra
Sergei Rachmaninoff , Andrew Litton , and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000DNXO
Release Date: 1992-09-23

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