Search - Sergey Rachmaninov, Mikhail Pletnev, Russian National Orchestra :: Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2; The Rock

Almost perfect

Anonymous | California USA | 05/17/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I love the sound of this orchestra! The strings retain the weight and expressive power traditionally found in Russian orchestras, and the wind and brass, while still distinctive, have become more integrated into the overall sound.Listen to "The Rock", a beautiful early miniature, and we hear orchestra and conductor at their best. Both the delicacy of the early woodwind solos and the wonderful, trombone-heavy climax are perfectly realized. The sound here is exemplary.In the symphony, Pletnev emphasizes the cogency of Rachmaninov's symphonic argument. Like the previous reviewer, I especially enjoyed the unsentimental but moving performance of the Adagio. The very fast tempo for the finale is amazing.Taken on its own terms this CD will give much pleasure. However, listen to the recording of the symphony by Sanderling with the Leningrad PO on DG Originals and you hear, expecially in the first movement, a depth of emotion and a spontaneity which is missing here. And although that recording is in mono, it offers clearer, less congested sound than DG gives us here in the symphony. In conclusion, this CD is worth buying for what is problably the best ever recording of "The Rock", and for an excellent, but not definitive, reading of the symphony."