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Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos 2 & 3 / Trpceski, Petrenko

Rachmaninov / Trpceski / Petrenko
Release Date: 03/09/2010 
Label:  Avie   Catalog #: 2192  
Composer:  Sergei Rachmaninov
Performer:  Simon Trpceski
Conductor:  Vasily Petrenko
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Number of Discs: 1 
Recorded in: Stereo 
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Notes and Editorial Reviews

Simon Trpceski and Vasily Petrenko bring a certain lightness and refinement to Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2, while at the same revealing the work's deep emotions and inherent melancholy. Trpceski's playing effuses romantic bravura in the rapid finger passages of the outer movements, while cultivating a classical elegance in the hauntingly beautiful slow movement, here sounding so similar in mood and style to Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 that I wonder if Rachmaninov wasn't inspired by it.

Listening to Petrenko's conducting in Concerto No. 3, I was reminded of how Rachmaninov was greatly impressed at Gustav Mahler's meticulous preparation of this concerto's orchestral accompaniment for the New York premiere. Petrenko Read more plays up the music's emotional grandeur and symphonic utterance (a few passages bring to mind the composer's Symphony No. 2), producing a real Rachmaninov sound with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, which plays wonderfully. My only complaint comes in the finale, where the trumpet's important statement of the main theme is barely audible.

For his part Trpceski thankfully resists the temptation to treat the formidable solo part as mere "piano competition" music (as so many others have done). His playing has that rare combination of power, passion, and precision (his first-movement cadenza--the long original one--is magnificent) which, combined with his rich tone and singing line, make this one of the most moving and musical Rachmaninov Third's on disc. The recording gives the usual prominence to the piano so that we hear every note, but the orchestra has a sufficient presence as well (it doesn't exactly sound "realistic"--then again, few concerto recordings do). An excellent disc, one that will likely spend much time in your CD player.

--Victor Carr Jr, ClassicsToday.com
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Works on This Recording

1. Concerto for Piano no 2 in C minor, Op. 18 by Sergei Rachmaninov
Performer:  Simon Trpceski (Piano)
Conductor:  Vasily Petrenko
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic 
Written: Russia 
 Date of Recording: 2009 
Venue:  Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, England 
2. Concerto for Piano no 3 in D minor, Op. 30 by Sergei Rachmaninov
Performer:  Simon Trpceski (Piano)
Conductor:  Vasily Petrenko
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic 
Written: 1909; Russia 
 Date of Recording: 2009 
Venue:  Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, England 

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review:  ( 1 Customer Review )
 Top Choice May 24, 2012 By bess holloway (Boulder, CO) See All My Reviews "There are so many possibilities when choosing a recording of these two iconic works. I was willing to trust the reviewer Victor Carr, Jr. in this matter. Smart move! This production can be defined in one word: ELEGANT. I prefer it to the other recording I have of each concerto by a wide margin." Report Abuse
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