RACMANINOFF PIANO CONCERTO 2


Looking to find a Cd of Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto # 2
that has body, depth and is dynamic sounding. I have purchased the following cd's and do not recommend them at all. For a emmotionally charged piece such as this I feel that the following just fall short:

1. Rachmaninoff # 2 & 3 Horacio Futierrez at Piano
conducted by Loren Mazael of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra-Telarc Digital CD-802-259

2. Rachmaninoff # 2 & Paganini theme
Werner Haas at the piano with the radio symphony Orchestra
of Frankfurt, conducted by Eliahu, Inbal
Pentatone Classic-SACD # HYBRID PTC5186-114

3. Rachmaninoff # 2 & 3-Essential Classics-Sony Label
Yefim Bronfam-piano, # SBK-89734

By the way, I have many Rachmaninoff Piano Cocerto # 3 and
have found two that are amazing. I also have three Beethoven 5th Symphonies and 2 or also excellent. So I know that the performance that you purchase makes all the difference in the sound. In the ones I mentioned its like there is no top, no bottom almost like a compressed MP3
quality. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
kjl

Showing 1 response by megasam

For older stereo versions:
Janis/Mercury
Richter/DG
Wild/Chandos

For newer stereo versions:
Zimerman/DG (best sound/performance combo)
also
Andsnes/EMI
Hough/Hyperion
Lugansky/Warner

If you must have Ashkenazy version get his older Decca Legends with Kondrashin

Also for old fashioned romantic style hard to beat the classic Cliburn/RCA with Reiner paired with very good Tchaikovsky PC 1