Search - Sergey Rachmaninov, Jascha Horenstein, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra :: Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-4; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

Don't let the age of these performances fool you!

Mr. Scott L. Leather | Tucson, AZ United States | 12/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a reissue of a reissue...these performances having been recorded originally in the 1960's for Reader's Digest. The performances are simply fabulous! Both conductor and soloist are magnificent in these full-blooded, exciting virtuoso performances. Unfortunately, the 3rd concerto is played with the same cuts Horowitz and Rachmaninoff himself used in their recordings (the earlier Horowitz ones; the one with Ormandy is complete). But don't let that stop you. Wild plays the absolute hell out of the 3rd concerto! And the rest of the performances are just as good. You can't go wrong with this set of all the concertos and the Paganini Rhapsody. Easily one of the best complete sets out there and one of the best 3rds ever recorded!"

ALL IN ALL, UNBEATABLE!

Hannibal | Los Angeles, CA USA | 12/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Let's face it. A case can be made for Janis/Reiner in the First Concerto. A case can be made for several in the Second Concerto, and if you can put up with the execrable sound, the Horowitz/Barbirolli remains at the summit of all the Third Concertos, and finally a case can be made for Michelangeli/Gracis for the Fourth Concerto, but NO ONE, absolutely NO ONE, has produced a complete set of such supreme pianistic splendor as Wild has here (despite a few cuts sanctioned by the composer).



If you love Rachmaninov, buy this now. CASE CLOSED."

RIP Earl Wild

Ursiform | Torrance, CA USA | 01/29/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I read in the LA Times earlier in the week that Earl Wild has died. It mentioned that many consider his performances of the Rachmaninov concertos to be the best ever recorded. Count me in. I bought them on cassette, and loved them. I bought this set, remastered on CD, when it became available. It appears the recordings are now available as MP3s, as well. What a deal for these five, great works!



Rachmaninov's own recordings are well worth hearing, but don't offer modern sound quality. Wild's, while dating from the 1960s, have been remastered to sound great, and his performances are terrific, virtuosic with a clear, clean sound.



We have lost a great pianist and, more rarely, a great American pianist."