Cheap Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances/The Bells (Music) (Sergey Rachmaninov, Kiril Kondrashin, Russian State Symphonic Choir, Mikhail Dovenman) Price
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| ARTIST: | Sergey Rachmaninov, Kiril Kondrashin, Russian State Symphonic Choir, Mikhail Dovenman |
| CATEGORY: | Music |
| MANUFACTURER: | RCA |
| TYPE: | 20th/21st Century Orchestral Music, Choral, Classical, Classical Composers, Orchestral, Secular Music for Soloists, Chorus and Instruments |
| MEDIA: | Audio CD |
| TRACKS: | Symphonic Dances, Op. 45: Non allegro, Symphonic Dances, Op. 45: Andante con moto (Tempo di Valse), Symphonic Dances, Op. 45: Lento assai - Allegro vivace - Lento assai come prima, The Bells, Op. 35: The Silver Sleigh Bells - Allegro, ma non tanto, The Bells, Op. 35: The Mellow Wedding Bells - Lento, The Bells, Op. 35: The Loud Alarum Bells - Presto, The Bells, Op. 35: The Mournful Iron Bells - Lento lugubre |
| UPC: | 743213204628 |
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Customer Reviews of Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances/The Bells
Magnificent, But Needs Re-Mastering I never heard this excellent recording of "The Bells" on LP, but I do have the Melodiya LP of Kondrashin's uniquely powerful, passionate, tender and flat-out brilliant rendition of the Symphonic Dances - arguably Rachmaninov's very greatest orchestral work. Unfortunately, somebody dropped the ball here in transferring this to CD. Especially when heard over headphones, there are numerous instances of sonic drop-out, the opening of the second track is harsh and distorted, and the over-all sound picture is rather grotesque compared to the LP. Perhaps the original master tape has deteriorated: in that case, why not just dub a pristine copy of the LP instead? But I suspect that this transfer was simply a mis-carriage of sonic justice. Hopefully, a superior re-mastering is on the way. <
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>Five stars for the performances, two stars for the sonics.
Hold On To Your Mind
This Symphonic Dances, for me, is the best version hands down! And that "hands down" is delivered with a thunderous slam on the table. Kondrashin's conducting is deliciously wild, erotic, pathetic, glorious, cataclysmic, and catastrophic. He keeps a Toscanini-like command of the structure of the whole piece. He weaves in and out of big phrases, being tender one moment and aggressively stretching the limits of the music in other parts, and throughout the hauntingly gorgeous melodies are inflicted onto us. In the last minutes of the piece the music builds up so much passion, tension, and raw energy, becomes so orgasmic, that the sweep absolutely obliterates understanding, and the whole concept crashes into chaos.
The Previn and Ashkenazy versions are anemic by comparison. The sound is quite good for a '63 recording, and the included Bells is equally great except for the disappointing soprano.
The most convincing Symphonic Dances on CD
If you want to understand Rachmaninov's last masterpiece -- the Symphonic Dances -- you must listen to this CD. Kondrashin brings out the latent emotional power of the Dances in a way no-one else does. Others, for example Ashkenzy, play this music as a mere orchestral display piece. Kondrashin makes it heard-rending.
The Bells is also an excellent performance, but here the weird Soviet engineering (fully acceptable in the Dances) is more of a problem, with its spotlight on solo singers, and problems with the loudest passages.
But this CD is essential in any Rachmaninov collection.