The unearthed Rachmaninov recording – any good?
mainWe were the first to report six weeks ago that a unique 1940 recording had been discovered of Serge Rachmaninov rehearsing and performing the Symphonic Dances.
The news excited a good deal of comment and speculation.
Now Joseph Horowitz has got hold of a set and published the first review in the Wall Street Journal.
He’s not pulling any punches: ... it’s now embedded in a three-CD Marston set titled “Rachmaninoff Plays Symphonic Dances.” The result is one of the most searing listening experiences in the history of recorded sound.
Read the full review here.
My copy arrived two days ago. Can’t wait to listen to it. Any assessment that incorporates the work “cyclopean” merits respect. More wine for Polyphemus!
*the WORD cyclopean
Shouldn’t that be “CYCLOPIC”, to rhyme with “MYOPIC”? 🙂
More adjectives for cyclops, please!
I also learned there is such a thing as Cyclopean masonry.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclopean_masonry
Q. What does a fashion-conscious nearsighted Cyclops wear?
A. A contact len.
Mea culpa.
jm
Apparently you CAN wait to listen to it if it arrived two days ago!!! 🙂
I’m much in demand, my friend…
Arrived yesterday… Nice way to break the fast. Stunning playing, with a level of nuance, freedom and subtlety that would be difficult to achieve with an orchestra, but hopefully many conductors will have the chance to learn much from this. To hear him singing along to supplement his playing is kind of amazing. Such a great pianist… Such a great musician.