Advantages: One of the most Romantic concertos around, full of beautiful melodies and passion Disadvantages: over-recorded
INTRODUCTION
Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov was one of the most promising composers emerging from Russia after Tchaikovsky. His early works included the youthfully energetic PianoConcerto in F sharp minor, Op.1, an orchestral fantasia The Rock, the opera Aleko, several songs, piano pieces (including the famous Prelude in C sharp minor, a work that would plague Rachmaninov with its popularity throughout his life) and the First Symphony in D minor, Op.13. Rachmaninov had high hopes for the latter; it was his magnum opus up until that time. However the symphony proved to be the biggest disappointment of his career, causing a tremendous crisis in his creative life. All the critics jumped on the work, most notably César Cui who compared it with the Seven Plagues of Egypt and condemned the work as modernist trash. The effect ...
Advantages: dynamic and gripping Disadvantages: none
Fantastic to have another additional collection of all five of Beethoven's piano concerti. Spanning his life we can really get to grips with his evolving use of the orchestra in these works. From the Third's action packed finale to the Fourth's beautiful expressions to the grandeur of the much loved Fifth.
The playing is precise, dramatic and full of energy; as indeed it should be.
Aimard's playing is always well crafted and beautifully shaped. This is an insightful disk and has taken the musicians an awful lot of hard work. A must-have for any lover of Beethoven's piano music. If you usually go for his chamber music or string quartets why not branch out and explore Aimard's wonderful take on these concerti? Well worth buying and indeed an inspiration for myself and other pianists alike. ...
Advantages: Emotive, dramatic, sombre, (If that's your thing) Disadvantages: The only disadvantages are if you don't like classical music or are not in the mood for over the top dramatical scores.
Rachmaninov Quote - 'I feel like a ghost wandering in a world grown alien. I cannot cast out the old way of writing and I cannot acquire the new'.
For those of you who are not avid listeners of classical music do not shy away from purchasing any of Rachmaninov's music as it provides an alternative mood for you to listen to in your personal music collections.
---Background Information---
FULL NAME: Sergei Rachmaninov
NATIONALITY: Russian
BORN: 1873
DIED: 1943
SPECIALIST MUSIC GENRES: Pianoconcertos, solo piano music
Its also worth reading a bit more about his background as he had an interesting life.
---PianoConcerto No. 2 in C minor---
Like much of Rachmaninov's music this piece is very deep and the mood of the song fluctuates alot. It is sad and uplifting at the same time and goes from slow quiet rhythms to ...
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