RACHMANINOV : 24 Preludes (Steven Osborne) (2009) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

While there is much to admire in Steven Osborne's 2009 Hyperion recording of Rachmaninov's complete preludes, some fans of the composer may ultimately find themselves dissatisfied with his performances. Osborne is clearly a virtuoso with a wonderfully varied color palette and a way of balancing melody and harmony for maximum effectiveness There are some strong elements; his fleet fingers in the A flat major Prelude, his sumptuous sonorities in the C sharp minor Prelude, his galloping rhythms in the G minor Prelude, or his rolling left hand arpeggios in the B flat major Prelude, in addition to his overall command, control, and technique. Other listeners may question Osborne's feel for Rachmaninov's music. The restless melancholy of the B minor Prelude, the volatile passion of the F minor Prelude, and the spooky atmosphere of the G sharp minor Prelude are here, but to nowhere near the same degree as in other accounts of the pieces by veteran Rachmaninov pianists such as Vladimir Ashkenazy, where the music's hyper-Romantic emotional content is superbly expressed in wholly idiomatic performances. Hyperion's digital sound, though clear and colorful, is surprisingly a bit thin and a tad distant. James Leonard

Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
1. Prelude In C Sharp Minor Op 3 No 2 (Lento) 4:51
2-11. Ten Preludes Op 23 (35:56)
12-24  Thirteen Preludes Op 32 (37:38)
Credits :
Piano – Steven Osborne
Front Illustration : Water Lilies (1895)] – Isaac Ilyich Levitan

RACHMANINOV — Preghiera : Rachmaninov Piano Trios (Kremer · Dirvanauskaité · Trifonov) (2017) FLAC (tracks), lossless

This group of Rachmaninov piano trios was released in celebration of the 70th birthday of Latvian violinist Gidon Kremer. One might have expected something that placed Kremer more in the spotlight than chamber music, and perhaps something devoted to the enormous influence he has had in reviving neglected Baltic and Eastern European repertory. On greater reflection, though, the decision is typical: Kremer has always been one who guides rather than one who takes the spotlight himself, and he has recorded a great deal of Russian music, often in fresh ways. So it is here with Rachmaninov. His two "trios élégiaques" are both youthful works; the Trio élégiaque No. 2 in D minor, Op. 9, was composed when he was 21, and the person being given the elegy was the late Tchaikovsky, whose own piano trio also had a set of variations for its central movement. The trios give priority not to the violin, but to the piano, and for chamber music partners Kremer chooses a mix of his own generation -- cellist Giedré Dirvanauskaité -- and the new one, Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov. It's an effective constellation overall, with Trifonov getting the virtuoso parts and the two older players putting in commentary. This isn't top-drawer Rachmaninov (the Trio No. 2 is a bit sprawling), but the group captures its mood of bravado and interiority. Another bonus is the rarely heard Preghiera, the slow movement of the Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18, arranged for piano trio by none other than Fritz Kreisler. Sample this, for it introduces the fresh balances that are the distinctive feature of this recording. Deutsche Grammophon's sound, from the wooden and gentle Trifolion hall in Echternach, Luxembourg, is idiomatic to the music and exceptionally pleasant. James Manheim

Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
1. Preghiera (Adagio Sostenuto From Piano Concerto No. 2) 5:24
Arranged By – Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962)
2-4. Trio Elégiaque No. 2 In D Minor, Op. 9
5. Trio Elégiaque No. 1 In G Minor    12:01
Credits :
Gidon Kremer - Violin
Geidré Dirvanauskaité - Cello 2-5
Daniil Trifonov - Piano

RACHMANINOFF : Preludes (Alexis Weissenberg) (1970-2008) FLAC (image+.cue) lossless

Tracklist & Credits :

RACHMANINOV : The Complete Works (2014) 32xCD BOX-SET | APE (image+.cue), lossless

Presented on 32 discs in a sturdy box set, Rachmaninov: The Complete Works consists of the piano concertos, solo piano compositions, transcriptions, chamber pieces, symphonies, and other orchestral works, as well as the operas, songs, and choral music, all drawn from Decca's vast catalog. The roster of performers impresses with its variety, and the piano music especially benefits from the number of artists involved, which includes Martha Argerich, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Nelson Freire, Mikhail Pletnev, Zoltán Kocsis, Byron Janis, Alexis Weissenberg, Alexander Ghindin, Sviatoslav Richter, and Jorge Bolet, among others. The orchestral performances are led by such eminent conductors as Ashkenazy (in his second career as a conductor), André Previn, Neeme Järvi, Riccardo Chailly, Kirill Kondrashin, Walter Weller, Edo de Waart, and Charles Dutoit. The set also includes bonuses: The Ampico Recordings, which were taken from piano rolls Rachmaninov made between 1919 and 1929; and an interview, "Rachmaninov: Vladimir Ashkenazy and Rob Cowan Discuss the Russian Romantic." Fans of Rachmaninov's intensely passionate music will find this set essential and a lot more practical to buy in one shot than to acquire the CDs separately. However, many collectors will already own a few of these classic recordings, so the prospect of duplication is great. Blair Sanderson
Tracklist:
CD1
24 Preludes
Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano
CD2
Michail Pletnev piano
Zoltán Kocsis piano
CD3
Jorge Bolet piano
Alexis Weissenberg piano
CD4
Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano
with André Previn, piano/ Vovka Ashkenazy, piano
CD5
Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano
CD6
Transcriptions
Original Compositions:
CD7
Fantaisie-tableaux (Suite No.1) for two pianos, op.5
Suite No.2 for two pianos, op.17
Symphonic Dances for two pianos, op.45
CD8
Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano
CD9
Heinrich Schiff cello (1-4)
Lynn Harrell, cello (5 9)
Elisabeth Leonskaja, piano (1-4)
Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano (5 9)
Peter Jablonski, piano (10-12)
CD10
Beaux Arts Trio
CD11
Dene Olding, violin
Joan Rodgers, soprano?
CD12
Songs I
Elisabeth Söderström (soprano)
Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano)
CD13
Songs II
Elisabeth Söderström (soprano)
Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano)
CD14
Songs III
Elisabeth Söderström (soprano)
Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano)
CD15
Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano
London Symphony Orchestra/André Previn
CD16
Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano
London Symphony Orchestra/André Previn
CD17
Alexander Ghindin, piano
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra / Vladimir Ashkenazy
CD18
Tracks 1-4: Symphony No.1 in D minor, op.13
Tracks 5-7: Symphonic Dances, op.45
CD19
London Philharmonic Orchestra / Walter Weller
Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra / Edo de Waart
CD20
Natalia Troitskaya, soprano+ / Ryszard Karczykowski, tenor / Tom Krause, baritone
Chorus of the Concertgebouw Orchestra
Concertgebouw Orchestra / Vladimir Ashkenazy
CD21
Sydney Symphony / Vladimir Ashkenazy
The Philadelphia Orchestra / Charles Dutoit
CD22
Prague Philharmonic Choir / Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano & conductor)
CD23
Tracks 1-18: Liturgy of St John Chrysostom, op.31
CD24
Tracks 1-15: Vespers (All-Night Vigil) (Vsenoshchnoye Bdeniye), op.37
CD25
Tracks 1 4: Monna Vanna, Act One
CD26
Tracks 1-13: Aleko
CD27
Tracks 1 18: The Miserly Knight, op.24
CD28
Tracks 1 25: Francesca da Rimini, op.25
CD29
Piano Concertos Nos. 1&2
CD30
Piano Concertos Nos. 3&4
CD31
The Ampico Recordings
Rachmaninov Transcriptions:
CD32
The Real Rachmaninov
Vladimir Ashkenazy and Rob Cowan discuss the Russian Romantic

KABALEVSKY • RACHMANINOFF • TCHAIKOVSKY : 100th Anniversary Tribute (Nadia Reisenberg) 2CD (2004) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

CD1
Dmitry Kabalevsky (1904-1987)

1-24    Twenty-Four Preludes, Op. 38

Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
25-32    Twelve Pieces for Piano, Op. 40         

CD2
Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
1-4    Twelve Pieces for Piano, Op. 40 (continued)
5-10    Op.5; Op.10, Nos. 1 & 2; Op.2

Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943),         
11-18    Op.3, Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 5; Polka de V.R.; Op. Nos. 2,3 & 7

Piano – Nadia Reisenberg

KABALEVSKY : Cello Concerto Nr. 2 • KHACHATURIAN : Cello Concerto • RACHMANINOV : Vocalise (Ashkenazy, Lidström) (1996) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Dmitry Kabalevsky (1904-1987)
1-5    Concerto No.2 for Cello and Orchestra, Op.7710:27

Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978)
6-8    Concerto In E Minor For Cello And Orchestra (1946)

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)
9    Vocalise, Op.34 No.14
(transcribed For Cello And Piano)

Cello – Mats Lidström
Conductor – Vladimir Ashkenazy
Orchestra – Göteborgs Symfoniker

RACHMANINOV · LUTOSLAWSKI · RAVEL : Music for Two Piano (Martha Argerich · Nelson Freire) (1982) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 

LISZT · BRAHMS · LUTOSLAWSKI : Paganini Variations • RACHMANINOV : Paganini Rhapsody (Tzimon Barto · Christoph Eschenbach ) 2xCD (2014) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

 Tracklist & Credits :

ARTURO BENEDETTI MICHELANGELI - Icon : The Master Pianist Plays Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Schumann, Brahms, Chopin, Rachmaninov, Ravel (2008) 4CD / RM / MONO / APE (image+.cue), lossless

Cunningly, the first track on the first disc of this four-disc set dedicated to Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli's EMI recordings is his heaven-storming 1948 performance of Busoni's arrangement of Bach's Chaconne from his D minor Partita. If after its storms and thunder have faded the listener remains unconvinced of Michelangeli's virtuosity, intensity, and musicality, there is nothing else to be done. Because though the sound of some of the recordings here, including that of the Chaconne, is antique, the brilliance, tone, and depth of Michelangeli's playing is evident throughout. His prewar and war-time recordings of sonatas by Scarlatti and Beethoven are impeccably played and elegantly expressive, and though typically played out of order, his postwar Brahms' Paganini Variations is nearly demonic in its relentless drive. In recordings from the early '50s of three of Mozart's concertos, Michelangeli takes a slower tempo than one might expect, but his right hand's graceful legato and subtle left-hand rubato keeps the tempo flowing. His later, better known stereo recordings of Haydn's concertos are witty and poised, particularly in Nino Rota's two cadenzas. The best-known recordings here are Michelangeli's heroic take on Schumann's Carnaval, his Olympian reading of Ravel's Concerto in G, and his Dionysic account of Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 4. Some might reasonably point out that the pianist also made many great recordings for Deutsche Grammophon, but after hearing it, few would deny that his EMI recording of the Bach/Busoni Chaconne all by itself justifies Michelangeli's outsized reputation. by James Leonard  
All Tracks & Credits

EDITA GRUBEROVA - The Art of Coloratura (1983) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 

RACHMANINOV : Music for Two Pianos (Ashkenazy-Previn) 2xCD (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

MARTHA ARGERICH - Martha Argerich Collection : Solo Works & Works for Piano Duo (1983) 4CD / APE (image+.cue), lossless