Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 | Sergey Rachmaninoff, Leif Ove Andsnes, ...

Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 | Sergey Rachmaninoff, Leif Ove Andsnes, ... | Refreshing, passionate, and unburdened!

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Rachmaninov: Piano...

	Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 Sergey Rachmaninoff, Leif Ove Andsnes, ... EMI Classics, 2005 average customer review:based on 7 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Leif Ove Andsnes is a great pianist, equally at home in solo and chamber music, on stage and disc, in all styles and national idioms. His virtuosity is so unobtrusive, his control of touch and nuance so natural that the music seems to flow through him directly to the listener. His runs have a brilliant, feathery delicacy, but are always part of the musical fabric; his chords are powerful but never harsh. He brings to the Rachmaninov concertos on this record not only romantic sweep, grandeur, vitality, and expressive freedom, but an almost classical purity of line and clarity of texture. Only a great pianist who knew every resource of his instrument could have written these concertos. Hearing them together illustrates why the Second is so much more popular than the First. Written ten years later after a triumphant recovery from depression, it is more cohesive, less episodic; the melodies are more ravishing, the harmonies more evocative; the music seems to pour out in an irresistible stream of inspiration. Andsnes brings out all the exuberance, passion, melancholy and exaltation without letting sentiment lapse into sentimentality; his tempi are judicious, his liberties balanced, his contrasts restrained; there is never a trace of excess. He gives this luxurious, easily exaggerated music a rare sense of nobility, dignity and refinement. The great Berlin Philharmonic revels in the lush, colorful orchestration without swamping the music or the soloist. --Edith Eisler

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Choices

When it comes to contemporary interpretations of these beloved Rachmaninov piano concerti there are options and choices: some will favor the opulently virtuosic jumping off the piano bench, heart on the sleeve, guaranteed standing ovation manner where pianist vies for attention with composer; some will prefer the musical elegance to the show biz glitz and find new threads of continuity forming from the musicality of less self-serving musicians. Leif Ove Andsnes clearly belongs more in the latter category.

That is not to say that the heart of the works is flat: quite the opposite. Andsnes plays with such virtuosity that his attention to line and detail allows each of the 'big moments' to develop intelligently, sensitively, and the result is even stronger payoffs. His tone is never forced or rushed and even in the most technically challenging measures of each work his ability to make every note available to the listener's ear is a feat accomplished by few others.

Anthony Pappano and the Berlin Philharmonic provide lush, powerful reinforcement of Andsnes' choices. The orchestra blooms when starred (some very fine first desk solos here!) and supports when the piano sings the melodies. Some would say this is a thinking person's Rachmaninov, but Andsnes appeals both to the mind and the heart in this warmly detailed reading of two old warhorses of concerti. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, December 05

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Refreshing, passionate, and unburdened!

What a wonderful addition to the catalogue of Rachmaninov concertos! Leif Ove Andsnes has carefully considered the score and Rachmaninov's own recordings, and he manages to give a fresh and intimate reading of this much-celebrated music without overdoing every nuance and stretching every phrase. So many performances of these pieces want to tell you exactly how you should feel about this music; the emotions are often forced onto you. Here, though, the romance is more subtle and is found in beauty of natural phrasing, careful balance, and what I can only describe as personal storytelling. This performance would go well with the story of Romeo and Juliet-there is a youth and innocence, as well as passion and yearning. I am reminded that Rachmaninov composed this concerto when he was young.

Andsnes's technique is flawless, and he plays with a rare clarity that allows you to hear every single note. Each note is there for a purpose, and he has discovered how they each fit with one another in the larger picture (e.g., Track 4, 2:34). He also knows when and how to accompany the orchestra. Together, he and the Berlin Philharmonic, with its lush strings and gorgeous wind playing, make a wonderful partnership. The orchestra, under Antonio Pappano, is stunning and always engaged. The EMI engineering team gets credit for capturing all of the orchestra's many colors and subtleties. Unfortunately, it also captures some of the conductor's excessive breathing, but I think this is a very small price to pay for this stunning performance. The second concerto was recorded live, and the audience noise is minimal and unobtrusive throughout.

Overall, I have found this disc to be a great investment. Upon first hearing of this recording, you will discover parts in both the piano and orchestra that you had never heard before (e.g., listen to the string pizzicati that is usually covered up at Track 5, 2:01). Add that to the refreshing way Andsnes keeps the tempos flowing and manages to never lose a phrase with subtle rubato, and you have a reason to buy this recording even if you already own several. Highly recommended.

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This is a peerless reference performance

This recording reminds me so much of the Rach 2 by Julius katchen/Georg Solti. Andsnes and Pappano study and understand rachmaninoff's own recording very well. The performance here, especially the Rach 2, is peerless and stands with the few reference recording in history.

The best orchestra; but the pianist is little weak

Rachmaninov's first concerto can be labeled "Baby Rachmaninov." It was written by Rachmaninov when he was 17/18 (I forgot) and revised before he left for America. Like a lot of people I am a great fan of his second concerto. His first concerto, although less grand in scope, and perhaps less heavy and sorrowful than the second, is very melodic and taunting.

Andsnes interpretation is very neat/clean. He does not distort the music too much. So as long as you appreciate the music you don't get sick of it. But you may not get addicted to it since it lacks subtance and unique touch by the pianist. Andsnes does a very poor job in the climax. It definitely is not heavy and grand as it can be. Otherwise the beginning chords and melody are nice, and the orchestra is great.

The second concerto is HORRIBLE (which is very noticeable, because there are so many great recordings to compare to) In my opinion, Andsnes lacks the spirit of Rachmaninov.

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