Rachmaninov – Alto CD

Rachmaninov & Prokofiev Cello Sonatas + Encores

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:45:12 +0000

“Legendary cellist Rostropovich alongide Richter no less, in their famous 1950 Moscow recording of Prokofiev’s 1949 Sonata (dedicated to the cellist). Also, his early recording, later reissued, of Rachmaninov’s Sonata and some of his earliest favourite ‘Encores’ for extra value !” (MusicalMerit)

Rachmaninov
Sonata for Cello & Piano in G minor Op.19*** [31:50]

[1] I. Lento – allegro moderato 10:05
[2] II. Allegro scherzando 5:57
[3] III. Andante 6:04
[4] IV. Allegro mosso 9:44
[5] Vocalise Op.34 No.14 ** (transcr. Rostropovich) 6:45
[6] Oriental Dance Op.2/No.2** 7:09

Prokofiev
Sonata for Cello & Piano in C major, Op.119* [22:39]

[7] I. Andante grave – Moderato animato 10:49
[8] II. Moderato – Andante dolce 4:37
[9] III. Allegro, ma non troppo 7:13
[10] Prokofiev: Adagio from Cinderella. Op.87** 5:34
[11] Popper: Dance of the Elves / Elfentanz**** 2:30

Rachmaninov Symphony No.1 Isle of the Dead

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:44:27 +0000

“Svetlanov’s volcanic 1966 recording … heartbreakingly intense yet grippingly coherent conception, brimful of insight and flair … shoots off like a rocket … finale enshrines as adrenalin-fuelled a ride to the abyss as you will ever hear … the pathos of the symphony’s Largo has to be heard to be believed (decibel levels defeated plucky Soviet engineers) … “if forced to take just one version down from the shelves, I’d plump for the great Evgeni Svetlanov’s unforgettably visceral first recording, warts and all” (Gramophone, 2006). (Isle of the Dead): “(Rachmaninov) later recalled the ‘massive architecture and mystic message of the painting made a marked impression on me’. …This inspired what is surely (his) orchestral masterpiece” © James Murray

Symphony No. 1

[1] Grave. Allegro ma non troppo 14.21
[2] Allegro animato 8:20
[3] Larghetto 12:16
[4] Allegro con fuoco 12:41

Isle of the Dead

[5] Symphonic poem inspired by Boecklin’s painting 20:30

RACHMANINOV “THE BELLS” (Op. 35) CANTATA: “SPRING” (Op. 20) & SONG: “VOCALISE” (Opus 34, No.14)

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:42:57 +0000

“always something special about a Russian performance. The slavonic fervour and natural intensity of the singing, both solo and choral, give a gripping added immediacy here to The Bells … an added edge is the inclusion of the stirring cantata called Spring: an immediately attractive piece quite superbly sung by its baritone soloist, Sergei Yakovenko – indeed, the whole performance is unforgettable, both dramatically and vocally” (Gramophone) “1st choice ‘Bells’ in survey” Oct 2009 all recordings (Gramophone) “a compellingly attractive purchase” (MusicWeb)

“The Bells” Poem for Orchestra, Chorus, Soloists
Yurlov Russian Choir /Yuri Ukhov (1-4)/Stanislav Gusev (5)

[1] Allegro ma non tanto 6.48
[2] Lento 13.19
[3] Presto 8.51
[4] Lento lugubre 12.41

“Spring” Cantata for baritone, chorus, Orchestra

[5] “Spring” (text: V.Nekrasov) 17.54

“Vocalise” Song, orchestrated by V. Klin

[6] “Vocalise” 8.52

Rachmaninov: Symphony No.2 in E minor (UNEDITED)

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:41:51 +0000

“sings the socks off most versions and stands out from the crowd. I guarantee this will rekindle that first fresh shimmer of discovery, that tremor of the heart, that spine-tingling indicator that tells you what it was to live the recreation of this music.” (MusicWeb) “plenty of vitality…big string melodies blossoming voluptuously, the slow movement, after a beguiling opening clarinet, has a climax of spacious intensity, its power almost overwhelming….a most satisfying account” ((c) Penguin Guide 3 stars) “in this great Symphony he emphasizes the Tchaikovskian inheritance … a spacious reading on the biggest scale, the ebb and flow of rubato and tension … always spontaneously convincing helped by the spectacularly ample recording with full bass and sumptuous strings. The brooding opening… under-pinned with Russian melancholy, immediately sets the romantic feeling” ((c) Gramophone)

[1] Largo-Allegro moderato 24:30
[2] Allegro molto 11:13
[3] Adagio 15:09
[4] Allegro vivace 15:20

Rachmaninov: Music for Cello and Piano

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:37:19 +0000

Cello masterpieces by the twentieth century’s Russian romantic master

“Tarasova is one of Russia’s best kept secrets.”
— Michael Cookson, Musicweb International

Rachmaninov’s Cello Sonata dates from the same period as his Piano Concerto No. 2, and is dedicated it to Anatoliy Brandukov, who gave the first performance in Moscow with the composer at the piano. Rachmaniniov disliked calling the work a cello sonata as he’d written music making the two instruments equals. Cellist Marina Tarasova and pianist Alexander Polezhaev couple this challenging sonata with short romantic masterpieces by Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky.

Sergei Rachmaninov

Sonata for Cello and Piano in G minor, Op. 19

I. Lento – allegro moderato 15:31
II. Allegro scherzando 7:00
III. Andante 6:10
IV. Allegro mosso 10:42
Vocalise, Op.34 No.14 (transcribed by Anatoli Brandukov) 4:03
Romance/Ballade, Op.1 No.5 in A major 6:18
Elegy in Eb minor, Op.3 No.1 7:15
Prelude, Op.23 No.10 in G major 3:54

Piotr Il’ich Tchaikovsky

Nocturne, Op. 19 No. 4 4:31
Pezzo Capriccioso, Op. 62 6:40

Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 3

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:35:50 +0000

“Kogan is clearly intent on delivering out and out superheated performances. In this he is aided by a red-blooded orchestra and by an unruly and sumptuous resonant acoustic that does nothing to play down the thunder. … Overall this is a generous and inexpensive disc with big-hearted performances fully engaged with the elemental Russian temperament. They are captured in fine technicolor recordings that are eminently suited to these broodingly coloured and impassioned works.”
— Rob Barnett, Musicweb International

First CD release of these spectacular recordings of Sergei Rachmaninov’s last two symphonic works, performed with virtuoso flair by the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra under the dynamic leadership of Pavel Kogan and captured in audiophile sonics by the legendary team of Marc Aubort and Joanna Nickrenz.

Symphony No.3 in a minor, Op.44

[1] Lento (16:45)
[2] Adagio (12:40)
[3] Allegro (12:27)

Symphonic Dances, Op.45

[4] Non allegro (11:45)
[5] Andante con moto: Tempo di valse (9:55)
[6] Lento assai – Allegro vivace (13:27)

Total playing time: 77:12

Recorded Moscow Film Synchro Studios, October 1990
Producer: Joanna Nikrenz
Engineer: Marc Aubort
Remastered for by Paul Arden-Taylor (www.dinmore-records.co.uk)

Rachmaninov: Symphony No.2

amuletts — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:35:50 +0000

Rachmaninov Symphony No.2

Catalogue Number: ALC 1031

“The Second is simply tough to bring off in the studio, and Kogan’s quite fresh account got me listening again, after a string of disappointing runs-though on disc. … This Alto CD makes an excellent bargain choice, given the generous couplings.”
â€” Paul Ingram, Fanfare

First CD release of these spectacular recordings of Sergei Rachmaninov’s most popular symphony plus the popular Vocalise and rarely-heard Scherzo in d minor , performed with virtuoso flair by the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra under the dynamic leadership of Pavel Kogan and captured in audiophile sonics by the legendary team of Marc Aubort and Joanna Nickrenz.

Symphony No.2 in e minor, Op.27

[1] Lentoâ€”Allegro moderato (17:46)
[2] Allegro molto (8:59)
[3] Adagio (16:05)
[4] Allegro vivace (11:14)

[5] Vocalise (8:17)

[6] Scherzo in d minor (5:06)

Total playing time: 68:05

Recorded Moscow Film Synchro Studios, October 1990
Producer: Joanna Nikrenz
Engineer: Marc Aubort
Remastered for by Paul Arden-Taylor (www.dinmore-records.co.uk)