Search - Sergey Rachmaninov, Antoni Wit, Polish Radio Orchestra & Chorus Katowice :: Sergey Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3

Since Rachmaninov's Piano Concertos need so much personality from their performers, the obscure pianists who wind up on bargain labels usually can't do the job convincingly. Bernd Glemser may not be Artur Rubinstein or Alexis Weissenberg yet, but he's got both the personality and the piano power to do justice to these much-loved showpieces. Although he doesn't stop to smell too many roses along the way, Glemser does have the flexibility and sense of phrasing to keep these big Concertos firmly in the Romantic era, and he makes some tremendous climaxes. Wit and the fine Polish orchestra are with the soloist all the way, and even the recorded sound is outstanding. -- Leslie Gerber