Rachmaninoff was one of several composers
including Elgar, Walton and Stravinsky who recorded their own
works mainly in the first half of the last century. These are
invaluable interpretations allowance being made for the exigencies
of the old pre-LP days when these composer-conductors had to squeeze
their music onto the severely time-restricted sides of old shellac
discs.
Rachmaninoff’s Third Symphony is a late work, completed in 1936
for the Philadelphia Orchestra. Leopold Stokowski conducted the
premiere in the November of that year. The opening chords of Rachmaninoff’s
interpretation seem to suggest an acute nostalgia and longing
for his homeland, brushed aside only very briefly by the composer’s
typical brio. This reading of Rachmaninov’s glorious final symphony
is emotionally heartfelt, its radiant lyricism poignantly drawn
and with the more violent and dramatic passages rendered in fiery
colours. The Philadelphia’s gorgeous string tone with unrestrained
portamenti underlines the passionate nature of the music especially
in the lovely Adagio. Rachmaninoff’s harmonies and orchestrations
- with scintillating percussive colour - are remarkable and mark
seemingly newly explored territory and do not fail to arrest the
ear. This is all vividly caught in this fine restoration by Mark
Obert-Thorn.
Several months ago several MusicWeb reviewers (myself included)
were asked to blind-review ten competitive recordings of Rachmaninoff’s
Isle
of the Dead. I said in my contribution: “Interestingly,
Rachmaninoff delivers this reading in 18:09, appreciably faster
than some of the modern recordings ... yet the composer’s viewpoint
is atmospheric enough and there is a blazing dramatic and emotional
intensity here.” I would go further and add that Rachmaninoff’s
reading is not only exciting and atmospheric but entirely sympathetic
to the plight of the departing soul. The sound restoration is
very satisfactory.
The composer’s 1929 recording of his
Vocalise is captured
in its orchestral dress only - not in his arrangement for soprano
and orchestra. Nevertheless the Philadelphia respond to his direction
in a heart-rending reading.
Ian Lace
Previously issued on the Pearl label, reviewed by Rob
Barnett
The Philadelphia Orchestra/Sergey Rachmaninov 
