Sergei Rachmaninov - Piano Concertos; Paganini Rhapsody (Earl Wild)

Information

Composer: Sergei Rachmaninov

CD1:

1. Piano Concerto No. 1 in F sharp minor, Op. 1: I. Vivace
2. Piano Concerto No. 1 in F sharp minor, Op. 1: II. Andante
3. Piano Concerto No. 1 in F sharp minor, Op. 1: III. Allegro vivace
4. Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18: I. Moderato
5. Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18: II. Adagio sostenuto
6. Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18: III. Allegro scherzando

CD2:

1. Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30: I. Allegro
2. Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30: II. Intermezzo. Adagio -
3. Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30: III. Finale. Alla breve
4. Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor, Op. 40: I. Allegro
5. Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor, Op. 40: II. Largo -
6. Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor, Op. 40: III. Allegro vivace
7. Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini, Op. 43

Earl Wild, piano
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Jascha Horenstein, conductor

Date: 1965
Label: Chandos
https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%2010078

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Review

ARTISTIC QUALITY: 10 / SOUND QUALITY: 10

Reference Recording: Wild’s Ageless Rachmaninov Concertos

Two caveats for prospective customers: One is that Earl Wild makes the once-standard "traditional" cuts in the finale of the Third Concerto; second is that these classic 1965 performances also are available on the Chesky label in less brilliant but more naturally equalized transfers, albeit spread across three full-priced discs. Chandos, however, offers the better bargain. More importantly, Wild is in dazzling form throughout. You'll rarely hear the First and Fourth Concertos sparkle with equal panache and rhythmic acuity, while the pianist's fusion of poetry and flair add up to a Paganini Rhapsody that leaves just about all stereo versions behind. Jascha Horenstein's incisive, colorful support is a major asset, and the Royal Philharmonic plays beautifully for him. If you don't mind the Third Concerto cuts (or already have Martha Argerich's landmark third), these classic performances only get better with age, and the sonics are still terrific. Go for it, piano fans!

-- Jed Distler, ClassicsToday

More reviews:
http://www.gramophone.co.uk/editorial/rachmaninovs-complete-piano-concertos
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/nov99/rachwild.htm
http://www.classicalsource.com/db_control/db_cd_review.php?id=1506
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Piano-Concertos-Rhapsody-Theme-Paganini/dp/B00009AQMJ
http://www.amazon.com/Piano-Concertos-Rhapsody-Theme-Paganini/dp/B00009AQMJ

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sergei Rachmaninov (1 April [O.S. 20 March] 1873 – 28 March 1943) was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. He is widely considered as one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one of the last great representatives of Romanticism in Russian classical music. Some of his works are among the most popular in the romantic repertoire. His style is notable for its song-like melodicism, expressiveness and his use of rich orchestral colors. The piano is featured prominently in Rachmaninoff's compositional output, and through his own skills as a performer he explored the expressive possibilities of the instrument.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergei_Rachmaninoff

***

Earl Wild (November 26, 1915 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – January 23, 2010 in Palm Springs, California) was an American pianist, renowned as a leading virtuoso of his generation. He was well known for his transcriptions of classical music and jazz, and he was also a composer. Wild created numerous virtuoso solo piano transcriptions and also wrote a number of original works. In 1939, he became the first pianist to perform a recital on U.S. television. In 1997, he was the first pianist to stream a performance over the Internet. Harold C. Schonberg called him a "super-virtuoso in the Horowitz class".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Wild

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

FLAC, tracks

Links in comment

Enjoy!