Search - Sergey Rachmaninov, Leonard Slatkin, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra :: Sergei Rachmaninoff: Orchestral Music

Treasure Trove of Rare Rachmaninov

Micromegas | Ada, OK | 07/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of my most prized Rachmaninov Cds, and it is one I have owned for well over a decade. Whenever I rediscover it in my collection, I am amazed at how well it stands up, to say nothing of the incredible breadth of repertoire! Slatkin is an inspired Rachmaninov interpreter, and the St. Louis Symphony plays extremely well for him (as it does on his great collection of the Symphonies). The more popular works may not be the absolute best available, but they offer some fresh insights and can stand up with the best. It's very well recorded, too.



The big surprises here are the relatively unknown Rachmaninov: Caprice Boheme, Prince Rostislav, "Youth" Symphony, Scherzo, Spring, and the incredible Three Russian Songs. Except for the lsat two works, these are all early pieces, some extremely so: the Scherzo was written by a 13 year-old Rachmaninov who was tinkering in Mendelssohn's style. Nevertheless, it's a remarkable piece that plays well despite its derivative nature. Though the "Youth" Symphony (like the Scherzo and the First Symphony, in D Minor) and the symphonic poem, Prince Rostislav, where never published with an opus number, they are extremely indicative of Rachmaninov's style and very impressive pieces. The "Youth" Symphony reflects the darkness of the First Symphony, but is more claustrophobic and less expansive (perhaps why he abandoned it). It contains a brooding, Isle of the Dead-like atmosphere, and features a very memorable, yearning melody which is Rachmaninov through and through. And even more distinguished melody is found in Prince Rostislav--extremely Russian (in terms of The Five), and as passionate as anything he would write in his symphonies or concertos. This is a fascinating discovery, a bit reminiscent of Balakriev's Tamara or Rimsky's Sadko, but extremely impressive nonetheless.



His more mature music is found in the Caprice Boheme on "Gypsy Themes," which is in the tradition of Tchaikovsky's Capriccio Italien. It's an extremely confident work, bold in orchestration, and surprisingly upbeat for the melancholy early Rachmaninov (compare it to The Rock, for example). It has great melodies and an extremely wild climax at the end. It's sad to think how this confident, creative artist's spirits would be dashed by the colossal failure of his First Symphony's premier.



Spring and the Three Russian Songs are getting more exposure these days, but they remain little explored. Spring was written after Rachmainov's creative "spring" following the successful Second Concerto. It is contemporary with it, the Cello Sonata, and the Second Suite for Two Pianos. It's back to Rachmaninov's more bleak outlook, but it's masterfully written and has an operatic sense of drama and conflict. The ending of the piece dissolves into a touching portrait of spring and forgiveness, even if Rimsky criticized it (somewhat ridiculously) for lacking the true character of the season (it's based on a Nekraskov poem, most of which takes place in the winter, which is admirably captured). The Three Russian Songs is one of his last orchestral works, and one of his most poignant. Each brief song is brilliantly captured in nostalgic orchestral colors, simple, spare, and heartbraking. This was music of Rachmaninov the exile, as exhibited in his two masterpieces, the Third Symphony and the Symphonic Dances. It's hard not to hear this piece as a reflection of a world he could never return to, since it no longer existed. The last song, Powder and Paint, is possibly the catchiest piece he ever wrote--profoundly Russian in spirit and extremely memorable.



As for the more popular works, the Symphonic Dances comes off best, with a lot of drive and momentum (without forsaking its lyricism). The Bells is also excellent, though for some reason it is sung in English, unlike the other choral selections. This isn't terrible (Poe wrote in English, after all!), but it's not ideal, either. Isle of the Dead is atmospheric and exciting, though the big climax could be more despairing. The Rock, however, is beautifully done, and is possibly the best recording I own--it makes a forceful argument for this often ignored work.



In short, this is an essential investment, and well worth the money. I also strongly suggest Slatkin's survey of the symphonies, which is inspired and well-recorded. Best of all, in our age of cd-burning, you can rearrange all the pieces on this disc, and couple them with the symphonies, which are unfortunately broken up over 2 discs in Slatkin's collection."

Magnificent Bells, Fine Dances, Terric Isle

Gregory M. Zinkl | Chicago, IL | 11/21/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Symphony of the Bells, a choral symphony not numbered in Rachy's canon is a magnificient work, and here is given a worthy performance by all involved, even Slatkin letting his hair down a bit. The Symphonic Dances are also impressive, although not my first choice. What is remarkable on this disc (in addition to the opportunity to hear less-popular Rachmaninoff) is the Isle of the Dead. Overwhelming climaxes, and wonderful atmosphere. The only complaint is when the first violins enter for the first time in the stratosphere; it's hardly out of tune, but it could've been more ethereal, an affect rarely achieved on record anyway. The playing is superb, the engineering is above average, but doesn't match the performances."

An outstanding performance and value

Patrick W. Crabtree | Lucasville, OH USA | 09/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here we essentially have a large compendium of Rachmaninoff's arrangements of very old Russian folk songs. It's a 3-CD set and there's not a clinker in the bunch. Some will append "gloomy" to this music but it is what it is. The vocals (choruses) are outstanding with a lot of energy and the orchestral activities are nice and tight. "Isle of the Dead" is particularly well-done. I love putting these CDs on as "wallpaper" at low volume while I'm reading, especially when it's Russian literature! This is my favorite Rachmaninoff CD (of about 10 or so) -- I hope you enjoy it as much as I do."