[AdamSchmitz]

Decca recently released Rachmaninov’s complete works. The website is here:

http://www.deccaclassics.com/en/cat/4786765

I’m considering buying it now that I can get it from Amazon for $66.  Website here:

http://www.amazon.com/Rachmaninov-Complete-Works-Zolt%C3%A1n-Kocsis/dp/B00KZ73VDG/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1412447007&sr=1-1&keywords=complete+works+rachmaninov+decca

Has anyone else bought this?

[RobertBarnes]

After hearing Horowitz, I don’t think anyone else can play Rach the way he should be played other than Rach himself.

[Harry Binswanger]

I agree with Rob Barnes. But there’s still a lot of value in the other recordings. I don’t believe that Horowitz recorded the 2nd Concerto or the 4th Concerto. And, unaccountably, there’s no recording of Horowitz playing the “Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini.”

[RobertBarnes]

For the 2nd, there is always Arthur Rubinstein.  At $66 though, it is a steal.

[AdamSchmitz]

Here’s Horowitz playing Prelude No. 5 Op. 32. I just found it and like it very much.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TAYfxgGNUk

[StevenNemcek]

Hi All,

Would you recommend this set:

http://www.amazon.com/Rachmaninov-Complete-Works-Zolt%C3%A1n-Kocsis/dp/B00KZ73VDG/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1414457707&sr=1-1&keywords=rachmaninov+the+complete+works

Or this set:

http://www.amazon.com/Rachmaninoff-Complete-Works-Horenstein/dp/B001PARX72/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1414457707&sr=1-2&keywords=rachmaninov+the+complete+works

 

I’m leaning towards the second because I believe it includes recordings of Rachmaninov actually playing. Thoughts?

[Harry Binswanger]

It has credible performers, but not the greatest ones. The question is whether you’ll risk “imprinting” on them (something that happens to me).

If you are already familiar with several performances of his main works, you’re not at risk, and then this would be a set worth having, for its inclusiveness alone (Aleko, Monna Vanna, Francesca da Rimini, Liturgy of St John Chrysostom, and The Miserly Knight have been almost impossible to find). By his main works, I mean: the 4 piano concertos, the first 2 symphonies, Sonata in Bb minor, and Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini.

[JohnPattillo]

In addition, have you considered Rachmaninov’s own recordings (complete).  This is available these days only digitally, but I have owned the vinyl (15 records) for many years and love some of them.  This is one source for the digital, but there may be others that have done the re-mastering better.

http://www.amazon.com/Rachmaninoff-Recordings-Ludwig-van-Beethoven/dp/B000A2AD2S/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1415810036&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=B000A2AD2S

[JaredRhoads]

Re: Adam Schmitz’s post 98148 of 10/4/14

A brief note that 100 years ago today (December 22, 1917), Sergei Rachmaninoff and family escaped the Bolshevik Revolution by sled to Finland. He took with him just a few compositions and papers, and continued on to a few other countries before coming to the U.S. one century ago.

/sb

[StephenGrossman]

Re: Jared Rhoads’ post 121542 of 12/22/17

There is an online list of a very large number of his compositions.

*sb

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