Search - Sergei Rachmaninoff, Johann Sebastian Bach, Frederic Chopin :: Sergei Rachmaninoff in Concert

There's More To Rachmaninoff Than Meets The Ears

Rebecca*rhapsodyinblue* | CA USA | 04/13/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

""If a star is a person who can 'take the stage' and totally possess the eyes, ears, mind and emotions of an audience, then Rachmaninoff was a star....Friends and associates called him 'the saddest man in the world,' and indeed solemnity was an integral part of his make-up. But from the moment his arm raised, the music was upbeat and from the instant his hands touched the keyboard, a kind of secret inner joy poured forth as from a concealed well-spring." ~ Paul Belanger ~



What is the first thing you do to unwind? To me, I sit back and listen to classical music like this wonderful CD, "Rachmaninoff In Concert," in full volume using my ever reliable headphones, Sennheiser HD-555 Audiophile Headphones. It is a collection of fifteen pieces performed by the remarkable composer himself. The repertoire includes not only Rachmaninoff's own compositions but also from his fellow masters of music: Bach, Chopin, Bizet, Kriesler, Henselt, Rubinstein, Schubert and Beethoven.



The running time for this musical extravaganza is one hour, five minutes and eight seconds. Every second, every minute is time well-spent. I call the past two nights as "My Rachmaninoff Nights." I focused my ears on his most remarkable compositions from this CD and another one, Sergei Rachmaninoff: Greatest Hits. The best performances on this collection include "Liebesfreud," a piece that he composed with the most eminent violinist in 1920s and 1930s, Fritz Kriesler; his own compositions, "Lilacs, Op. 21 No. 5" and "Prelude, Op. 23 No. 5," Bach's "Sarabande in D Major from Partita No. 4," Beethoven's "Turkish March" and Chopin's "Nocturne, Op. 15 No. 4 in F Major."



This is a sublime recital by Rachmaninoff that I wholeheartedly recommend to any music lover who greatly appreciates classical masterpieces. Thanks to the ultra modern, high-fidelity tools and techniques for making this recording spotless and with the highest quality of sound--flawless and noise-free.



After listening to this recital, I further agree with Paul Belanger that this is an "incredible admixture of magic, mesmerism and musicality." And the brilliant composer/performer named Sergei Rachmaninoff was responsible for all that.

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