Sergey Rachmaninov Yuri Temirkanov St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra - Rachmaninoff Symphony No 2 Vocalise op 34 (5 tracks) +Album Reviews

Romantic tunes at their best

Heinz Bohusch | Berndorf near Vienna, Austria | 09/23/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Citing from Gramophone's review "Temirkanov's luscious, almost lascivious treatment of the big tunes will no doubt appeal to many" I can state nothing else but "That's exactly what I seek and profoundly enjoy when listening to this wonderful piece of music!". Close your eyes and experience all the pictures, scenes, sequences, imaginations that arise by the great romantic tunes which are part of this symphony. Also Sound quality (20-bit-recording) is impeccable, to my mind."

Earlier Temirkanov recording is better

Hannibal | Los Angeles, CA USA | 10/12/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Like many, I was totally captivated by Yuri Temirkanov's 1978 recording of this great romantic symphony (with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra), and I must say this remake (with the St. Petersberg Philharmonic) doesn't hold a candle to it. For one thing, the sound of the earlier recording - still available, by the way, on an EMI Classics "double fforte" (sic) where it is coupled with some of Andre Previn's Tchaikovsky - puts to shame RCA's 20-Bit technology. Blindfolded, you would swear the 1978 recording was the more recent. Interpretively, Temirkanov exhibits his usual agogic moments (although often in different places), and this latest recording is "darker" than before and less exuberant as well. An older man's feeling, if you will. Finally, at the risk of apostasy, I must say that RPO outperform the Russian group despite not having the so-called "echt" Russian sound.

In conclusion, let me recommend - above all - Ivan Fisher's recording with the Budapest Festival Orchestra on Channel Classics which both interpretively AND sonically is superior to either of Temirkanov's recordings! Whether you have a SACD player or not, don't deprive yourself of this great performance. It's the best that's out there right now. - You'll love it."

A Russian master at his best

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 10/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To the general public Yuri Temirkanov's renown ranks a distant second behind Valery Gergiev's, but they are equally great. In this Rachmaninov Second Temirkanov and his St. Petersburg orchestra face stiff competition from Previn and Mariss Jansons, both of whom delivered dramatic, exciting performances for EMI. This RCA recording equals those two and comes in spectcular sound. The implication which I've noticed in some reviews here, that Temirkanov is indulgently romantic, isn't right: this is a more disciplined reading than either of its EMI competitors, although there is no skimping on the lushness of Rachmaninov's scoring. This reading is without excesses; it is masterful in every way and deserves a place among the very best preformances of this work, the most successful of Rachmaninov's three symphonies."

Goes for the Gusto

JMB1014 | USA | 03/21/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Temirkanov delivers the goods. If you like your Rachmaninoff with fire and passion, this recording is for you. There is no way to really improve on the Ormandy, but this has a more contemporary variety of tension and excitement, and those qualities absolutely make the music sizzle. After this, almost all other recordings sound sort of generic and vanilla. The emotional (hormonal?) qualities of these pieces are displayed to great effect here in Temirkanov's powerful interpretation. That includes the Vocalise. Why then only 4 stars? The 5-star rating is reserved for Ormandy, whose performance is still the ideal."

Lavish performance!

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 03/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rachmaninoff

Yuri Temirkanov elevated the rank of this work to unexpected levels. He loves plainly adores this Symphony. He is to my mind one of the most remarkable and interesting conductors in the world. In this case his approach with the Orchestra confirms his filigree work , he confers it, the nasality so characteristic of the Russian Orchestras and also handles the rubato, retards, brass vibrato and violin portamento with admirable skillfulness and the resolution it can not be better done. He got a richness and voluptuous sound with melodic fluency and passionate expression , specially in this beloved Third Movement, so typically orthodox in the Russian meaning.

I remind a smart marginal note of Glenn Gould when he remarked the enormous specific weight of the religious feature in the Russian music. And this is carved in relief so painstakingly by Yuri to indicate the listener there is much more in this Adagio than simple and reminiscent lyric song. There's nostalgia and according Tarkovsky in Russian feeling this word goes far beyond respect to our understanding. It's associated above all to the huge affection by the birth land , the human condition, the sublime landscapes and the ineffable water in all its possible states.

But Temirkanov also accents the hedonistic élan without overlooking the Caucasian wildness. If you are searching the most complete performance, go for this record. Eugene Ormandy, Walter Weller, Kurt Sanderling and Edo de Waart may be honorable options but this will be your nonesuch choice.

"

Search - Sergey Rachmaninov, Yuri Temirkanov, St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra :: Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2; Vocalise, op. 34

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