Search - Sergey Rachmaninov, Valery Polyansky, Russian State Symphony Orchestra :: Rachmaninov: The Rock

Excellent recording of hard-to-find Rachmaninov gems

John R. Blackburn Jr. | Santa Clara, CA USA | 05/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Until now, those seeking to find well performed and recorded versions of of Rachmaninov's Prince Rostislav, Scherzo In D Minor, and Caprice Bohemien were forced to search for the older Melodiya recordings. This Chandos release delivers on all counts, providing musically and acoustically compelling renditions of these early and overlooked masterpieces in his repertoire, as well as the much more accessible The Rock and The Isle of the Dead. Prince Rostislav is the brooding piece of a young but confident composer, building slowly in intensity and filled with wonderful harmonies and counterpoints. The Scherzo is a short yet lively work, very Russian and quite reminiscent of Tchaikovsky. The Caprice Bohemien represents Rachmaninov's only published piece with a latin (Italian) setting, and it confirms that one need not be Italian or Spanish to successfully compose music that captures the flavor of those countries. All in all, a very successful and appreciated effort by conductor Valery Polyansky and the Russian State Symphony Orchestra."