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In the Forum: Musical Discussions
In the Thread: An evening to remember - Russian National Orchestra performs Rachmaninoff & Tchaikovsky
Post Subject: Rach 3 and Vocalise on tape...Posted by Romy the Cat on: 3/29/2006

I never was a big fun of Pletnev. Even his Rachmaninoff’s Third Concerto (he plays piano), which many promoted as an “ultimate Rach 3” I found was unspeakably bad. Still, the “live” is live at it defiantly ads a lot of kink.

In regards of the recordings….

I would not consider Argerich worthwhile performer of the Rach 3, nether the Horowitz in 1940. I think Horowitz did much better in 1951, but it was still his bizarre and twisted Rach 3. Among many good Rachmaninoff’s Third Concertos I would suggest you to find (juts for sake of education) the performance of Geiseking with NY Philharmonic lead by Barbirolli in 1943. This is from a certain prospective a painful performance but “painfully beautiful”. I promise you that you never expect what Geiseking did in there… If you never heard it then you my change you mind how the Rach 3 “might” be interpreted (if you can't find I can put one on my file server).

With Vocalise is more complicated, as there are many different things people looking for in Vocalise. I would name 3 radically different perfumeries but each of them outstanding in own way:

Golovanov with USSR Radio Orchestra in 1949 with Koslovsky tenor is singing (originally for written for Nezhdanova-soprano). Koussevitzky with Boston Symphony in 30s or 40s, I would start from 1945. Koussevitzky recorded it a few time, all orchestral, and all of them are very interesting. Stokowski in 1964 with Anna Moffo and American Symphony…

Rgs,
The Cat

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