Search - Sergey Prokofiev, Sergey Rachmaninov, Stanislaw Wislocki :: Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2 / Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 5

A classic performance!!!

Julio Castro Karg | Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico | 11/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rachmaninov's 2nd was the first piano concerto that I knew. My mother had an old vinyl and she used to play it a lot. On my 15th birthday my parents gave me a tape of this concerto (the Ashkenazy/Previn version) and then it quickly became my favourite tape along with my "Jaws" soundtrack!...Oh well, I was only 15!!!



20 years ago when CDs started to become available I bought this recording, it was the second CD that I bought. I was looking for the Ashkenazy/Previn version but ended up buying this one instead. At that time I had no idea that I had just bought perhaps one of the most distinguished and recommended versions of Rach's 2!



I've been listening to this CD for 20 years already and I must confess that it's appeal hasn't diminished a bit in all these years. Quite the contrary, the more I listen it the more I like it! I remember that back then it was hard for me to understand and enjoy this CD's coupling (Prokofiev's 5th), but now it too has become one of my favourite concertos!



During this last 20 years I've bought some other versions of Rachmaninov's concertos (especially of Rach's 2, 3 and 4) and also of Prokofiev's. As far as Rach's second concerto is concerned, I have the Wild/Horenstein version and have just bought the Ashkenazy/Previn version that I originally wanted. I've read positive reviews of all of these recordings, however I must say that Richter's version is quite impressive indeed and it's still my favourite as far as the piano playing in itself is concerned! Earl Wild's version is quite nice and Ashkenazy's has a better overall sound and I feel that the orchestra (under Previn) supports him better, but Richter's is simply far more exciting!



If none of the other versions rival Richter's passionate playing of Rach's 2 that holds especially true of his version of Prokofiev's 5th! Compare it to any other version and it simply has no equal!



This is a classic recording that deserves to be in everyone's collection!!!"

5 star Prokofiev -- the Rachminov deserves 10!

Howard G Brown | Port St. Lucie, FL USA | 04/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I won't begin to praise the Rachmaninov. Words fail me. For the Prokofiev, even if you have a highly regarded complete set of the concertos, you really need this recording. Richter was completely in tune with Prokofiev's music. I often think he would have composed it himself, but Sergei got there first!This is caviar."

Best Rach 2. period.

pianoman | new york | 11/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is hard to even articulate what a high level of playing Richter displays here. His brings out the mystery inherent in slow chordal passages in the first movement. He knows how to play a man's fortissimo when the climax calls for it. You dont even have to listen too far in! Just listen to the first 20 seconds of the first movement - it is haunting. It is amazing that even when he is accompanying the orchestras themes you constantly hear the piano emerging. Richter's take is more intense than sentimental. After listening to this you realize how much of a joke Van Cliburn's version is in comparison. Cliburn despite playing romantically is light years behind Richter's sophistication. In fact Ashkenazy's rendition is also much better than Cliburn.

The orchestra here is also good though I like the lush sounds of Previn's orchestra with Ashkenazy better.

This is just the best. Period end of story."