Search - Sergey Rachmaninov, Alexander Anissimov, National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland :: Rachmaninov: Symphony No1 in D Minor; Caprice Bohemien

Good

Andrew B. Harms | Springfield, MO | 12/13/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a good recording of a piece rarely performed. Its rednition of the First Symphony is top notch, and the Finale's fanfare is full and musical. A great buy, especially for the price."

Exceptional Performances

D. A Wend | Buffalo Grove, IL USA | 09/29/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I heard about this recording of Rachmaninov's First Symphony from an article in Gramophone.

This is an interesting coupling of two works that are seemingly unrelated but do have a link in one person: Anna Lodizhenskaya, a married woman of gypsy origin with whom he had fallen in love. The Caprice Bohemien was inspired by Anna and the Symphony was dedicated to her, although Rachmaninov identified her only through her initials A.L. The symphony is tumultuous in its emotional range and the score bears a quote from Romans XII that Tolstoy quoted at the head of Anna Karenina "Vengeance is mine; I will repay saith the Lord." One wonders if Rachmaninov might have been inspired by the novel and thought of himself in the role of Vronsky. One wonders if Rachmaninov had a program in mind. The symphony is unrelenting in its tragic mood; even the slow movements are so melancholy that the mood of impending doom is unbroken. The final movement undoubtedly ends in death



The tempos in these recordings are taken broadly compared to those by Evgeny Svetlanov. I had the privilege of attending a concert by the USSR Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestro Svetlanov that included the Rachmaninov First Symphony and it was a breathtaking experience. The playing by the National Symphony of Ireland is beautiful, played with marvelous phrasing. What is lacking is the intensity of Svetlanov but Alexander Anissimov brings out the lyrical qualities of the symphony. This is especially true in the last movement of the symphony where the orchestra seems to loose steam as the climax is approached. However, Anissimov makes up for this in the tragic rendering of the final bars. The readings of both works by Anissimov are highly engaging but I find I still prefer the Svetlanov recordings. Nonetheless, I think highly of this recording as a refreshing alternative.





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