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His native Russia dominated Rachmaninoff’s life although for more than half his life he lived elsewhere. Still most of his music sounds typically Russian. This 2-CD set contains some of the lesser-known distinctly Russian pieces starting with the Scherzo, Rachmaninoff’s first orchestral work and finishing with his last, the Symphonic Dances. Also included is the overwhelming choral symphony ‘The Bells’.
Listening to the other works on these CD’s one may follow the composer’s development from a student to a full-fledged master of the art. Maybe with the exception of the Caprice bohémien their dark overtones evokes images of Russia.
With all-Russian performers this set may be considered an ‘authentic’ rendering of these characteristic pieces from the composer’s relatively small oeuvre. This in more than one way impressive music sounds wonderfully warm and intense under the baton of maestro Valeri Polyanski.
Track listing:
CD 1
Symphonic Dances, opus 45
1. Non allegro 11:58
2. Andante con moto (Tempo di valse) 10:54
3. Lento assai - Allegro vivace - Lento assai - Come prima - Allegro vivace 14:16
The Bells, opus 35
4. Allegro ma non tanto 6:06
5. Lento 10:37
6. Presto 8:50
7. Lento lugubre 10:12
CD 2
The Rock, opus 7
1. Symphonic poem after A. Chekhov 14:50
Prince Rostislav
2. Symphonic poem after A.K.Tolstoy 18:18
3. Scherzo in D minor 5:30
4. Caprice bohémien, opus 12 18:33
The Isle of the Dead, opus 29
5. Symphonic poem after A. Böcklin 22:03
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