Rachmaninov for beginners

I'll chime in my vote for the piano concerto's 2 and 3. Both are difficult to
walk away from. Furthermore, and on another note, if you have not seen the
film "Shine" (the 'true' story of pianist David Helfgott) go and rent
it. It happens to be a great movie, but also prominently features the "
rock 3" piano concerto as a central theme in the plot. Geoffrey Rush
gives
a stellar performance in that film, as does the actor who plays his character
in school years, Noah Taylor.

Marco

PS If you enjoy the Rachmaninov piano concerto's, I'd also highly recommend
taking a listen to the Saint-Saens Piano Concerto #2 - I think you'd enjoy that
very much as well. The performance I have is by Andre Previn and is available
at "the nice price" on CBS Masterworks.

As an addendum to what Uru975 contributes above, along with the few mono
recordings of Rachmaninoff performing, there is a stereo recording of a very
sophisticated transcription of some of the piano rolls that he produced titled,
"A Window in Time". These rolls recorded not only the music, but
the timing and even the impact on the keys, as I understand it. The recording
was transcribed through some sophisticated computer and output as a
'performance' on an actual Bosendorfer piano. I've heard the CD and it is
actually a very engaging performance. I don't think it is up to an actual
performance by the maestro himself, but the whole process by which they
produced the recording, as well as the recording itself is worth a listen. It is
an excellent recording as far as reproduction goes, having used very modern
recording equipment and techniques. Here's a description of the CD/process
from the Amazon website:

This collection of Rachmaninoff's solo piano
performances relies on a mix of old and new technologies. Between 1919 and
1929, Rachmaninoff cut these 19 performances to piano rolls, which would
then be played back through reproducing pianos capable of accurately re-
creating the original performances through pneumatic devices that animated
the rolls with living nuances and shades--a facet that differentiated the
classier reproduction keyboards from the more common "player
pianos." This set updates the technology with electronic devices--
transparently, though expertly, replacing the pneumatics. Played back on a
Bösendorfer Reproducing Piano, this collection sounds astounding, full of
Rachmaninoff's lickety-quick motion and his punching intensity when striking
the keys. There are 18 Rachmaninoff selections--some of them
collaborations--and one gem, "The Star-Spangled Banner," taken
to new places in this 1919 reading.

Also, one of the recent "Living Stereo" reissues contains a Fritz Reiner
performance of the Rachmaninov Piano Concerto no. 2. It is an SACD hybrid
and is also an accurately reproduced 3-channel recording if you have that
technology. The performance is excellent, and also has a wonderful
performance of the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1.

Marco

Yep, the Saint Saens is a real roller coaster ride from dramatic to whimsical. I can understand that you don't like the drastic changes. Never bothered me (obviously).

Thanks Newbee; I'll look for that other piano roll CD. Yes, it was the 'sonics' of that CD that I was awkwardly trying to complement and not the performance (though you would never think it was a machine performing).

Marco

Find a copy of Earl Wild playing Rachmaninov Piano CTO # 2.

Damn, that reminds me, I had the Chesky LP version of Wild doing the Rock 2. Sold it with all my other LP's. I do remember liking that recording, but it's been many years since listening to it.

Marco