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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Rachmaninov - Symphony No. 1
BBC Philharmonic, Gianandrea Noseda Regarded as one of the most remarkable composers of the twentieth century, Serge Rachmaninoff wrote three
romantically inclined symphonies, two of which are now standard orchestral repertoire. However, the premiere of
Symphony No. 1 was such a disaster that Rachmaninoff refrained from composing anything more for the next three
years. The conductor, Glazunov, is reputed to have been drunk, and Rachmaninoff was unable to attend the entire
performance. He reacted by tearing up the score. Thankfully for posterity, the instrumental parts were preserved
and rediscovered in 1945, permitting the work to be restored. It is a work full of youthful fervour, distinctive and
sweeping themes, and nationalist sentiments, and is now widely regarded as a vivid example of his early talent. It is
complemented here by the ‘Youth Symphony’, the first movement of a projected but never completed symphony in
D minor, composed when Rachmaninoff was only seventeen, and the great symphonic poem The Isle of the Dead,
inspired by Arnold Böcklin’s painting of the same name which Rachmaninoff had seen on display in Paris in 1907.
Composed in 1909, it is still a relatively early work, but contains some of the dark Russian spiritual qualities which
Rachmaninoff was to develop further in his later compositions. “Rachmaninov's First Symphony...here receives a landmark performance from the BBC Philharmonic and Gianandrea Noseda. When you listen to it alongside a mature masterpiece, particularly such a darkly atmospheric performance of The Isle of the Dead as this one, it is possible to appreciate how Rachmaninov could deem passages in the symphony to be "weak, childish, forced and bombastic", yet Noseda demonstrates the music's power, eloquent beauty and structural cohesion.
Written when he was still in his late teens, the First Symphony already displays distinctive Rachmaninov fingerprints in harmonic terms and in the shaping of melodic ideas, and is in the grip of the fatalism that is rarely absent from his music. Noseda and the BBC Philharmonic recognise this general tenor, but the spectrum for expression of it is broad, from vigorous passion in the first movement and finale to the wistful rumination of the central Larghetto.” The Telegraph, 21st June 2008 “Nothing could be more liquid or gloomy than [Noseda's] reading of the superb symphonic poem The Isle of the Dead. His gifts for mood-juggling and structural flow ensure equally fine accounts of the student Youth Symphony and the composer’s official, stormy Symphony No 1. The full Chandos sound makes everything glow in the dark, especially the shadowy scherzo.” The Times, 6th June 2008 **** “With the BBC Phil, he delves deep into the dark, gloomy recesses of the Russian soul, brilliantly evoking the composer’s brooding, headily chromatic tone poem The Isle of the Dead...Chandos’s brilliant recording [of Symphony 1] enhances a performance that takes us on an emotional rollercoaster ride: the passion and despair of the composer’s unrequited love for a married woman is drawn with febrile drama here.” Sunday Times, 1st June 2008 **** “Rachmaninov's First Symphony of 1895... published only after the composer's death. Gianandrea Noseda and the BBC Philharmonic have the work's measure and their performance has a full-blooded intensity and fire. The Isle of the Dead, haunting and powerful in conception, is an undisputed masterpiece. Noseda captures the work's concentration and anguish with its inexorable sense of movement.” BBC Music Magazine, July 2008 ***** “Accomplished and easy to enjoy; but, in a crowded marketplace, not really a front-runner.” Gramophone Magazine, August 2008  BBC Music Magazine
Orchestral Choice - July 2008 |
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USSR Symphony Orchestra, Evgeny Svetlanov | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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Russian National Orchestra, Pletnev | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrew Davis | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Pictures From Russia - Three Organ Transcriptions
Hansjörg Albrecht (organ) Hansjörg Albrecht is one of the most exciting organists of his generation. On this CD he follows up his superb triumph of the ‘Wagner Ring Transcriptions’, with these three powerful pieces for organ. Excellently played and recorded in SACD surround sound. |
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| |  | Evgeny Svetlanov
“Under this 'patriotic' maestro the symphony does indeed emerge as a Soviet artist's reply to just criticism. The self-confident thrust carries over into the Rachmaninov, another fine performance…” Gramophone Magazine, Janurary 2008 | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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Russian State Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Cappella, Valeri Polyansky | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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'a searingly powerful reading of The Isle of the Dead, which I count the finest performance of all in Ashkenazy's Rachmaninov series'. (Gramophone) | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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| |  | Svetlanov Edition Volume 10
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