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Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No.2; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini [Hybrid SACD]

Lang Lang Audio CD
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
Price: £10.00 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Heralded as the “hottest artist on the classical music planet” by the New York Times, Lang Lang has played sold-out recitals and concerts in every major city in the world and is the first Chinese pianist to be engaged by the Vienna Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic and all the top American orchestras.
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Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No.2; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini + Lang Lang: The Chopin Album + The Very Best of Lang Lang
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Product details

  • Audio CD (7 Mar 2005)
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Format: Hybrid SACD
  • Label: Decca (UMO)
  • ASIN: B000787WZ6
  • Other Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 5,644 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

1. 1. Moderato
2. 2. Adagio sostenuto
3. 3. Allegro scherzando
4. Introduction
5. Variation 1
6. Theme
7. Variation 2
8. Variation 3
9. Variation 4
10. Variation 5
11. Variation 6
12. Variation 7
13. Variation 8
14. Variation 9
15. Variation 10
16. Variation 11
17. Variation 12
18. Variation 13
19. Variation 14
20. Variation 15
See all 87 tracks on this disc

Product Description

SACD Orch.Of The Mariinsky Theatre/Lang Lang/Valery Gergiev

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Rachmaninov goes to Hollywood 6 Nov 2009
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
What a furore this recording has caused; reviews range from the adulatory to brutally critical. Michael F has made some telling points, and perhaps I may add my judgement.
The very slow opening of the concerto is a precursor of what is to come, a very romanticised view of the work. Lang Lang evidently has strong views on the emotional content of the music, and attempts to wring every last ounce from it. Gergiev backs him all the way. In doing so, much of the fire and bite in this work is lost. There are moments of great beauty, and flashes of brilliance in some faster, louder sections, but large sections sound subdued and torpid. There is no gainsaying Lang's technique and one can admire much in that department (including in the opening chords, which he doesn't arpeggiate, as some find it necessary to do). But what of the composer? To misquote Star Trek's Scottie, 'It's Rachmaninov, Jim, but not as we know it'.
The Rhapsody sits more comfortably with me - after all, Lang Lang's style so far could have been described as rhapsodic with some justification. As in the concerto, he doesn't manage the 'cut and thrust' with the orchestra as well as some, but that may be exacerbated by the recording.
I would not criticise the piano sound greatly but it is certainly balanced to the fore and more closely miked than the orchestra. Whether the Mariinsky strings have decided to follow Rachmaninov to America and adopt the US style, or the recording has been given the Hollywood treatment, the overall effect is very plush, smooth and glossy. There is some beautiful playing, but all is wrapped up in a cloying veil behind the piano. Nevertheless, balance in the orchestra, frequency and dynamic range, and ambience, are all more than acceptable. The rear channels only draw attention to themselves in louder passages, where they add to the impression of hall ambience.
I could live with the Rhapsody as long as I could also sample other recordings, but I'm not fully convinced by the concerto. Its okay for a Brief Encounter, a smoochy one-night stand, but not one to love, forsaking all others, for ever.
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27 of 30 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars Some obvious production blunders 16 Feb 2008
Format:Audio CD
I just can't believe DG has released this record with such obvious problems.
First, the piano is overstated - mics are probably way too close and as a result the piano sound is poor in terms of clarity throughtout the recording (except perhaps in the pp and ppp passages); in fact, it just doesn't sound like a concert Steinway, rather like a prep school babygrand.
Second, the orchestra sounds distant; it doesn't blend well with the piano.
Last but not least, Lang Lang's interpretation, whilst technically correct, is just disappointing: phrasing and articulation is not in the great masters style that we all know - it almost seems he lacks inspiration - it is rather a show off of his dexterity. This is unfortunate because I have seen Lang Lang live at the RAH, and he did a superb interpretation that day (plus his favorit Liszt encores !)
Any positives? ... let me just say that the orchestra sounds very fine (although distant) and is brilliantly conducted.
All in all, I just can't believe DG has released such a crippled record - Lang Lang should record it again it (with a decent producer), and this one should be recalled away from the market (and buyers like myself refunded). All these problems are exacerbated if you listen in two channels - multichannel helps by providing greater clarity to the piano - all in all 1 star in stereo; 2 in multichanel.
I guess I will keep this record as a case study of what can go wrong in top budget classical music recording.
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23 of 26 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars Clinical performance, problematic recording 13 April 2011
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I really wanted to respect this recording. On paper there seems to be so much to admire, but its execution - both performance and recording - make it certain this disc is destined to be an also run.

Technically the recording is so biased in favour of the piano that the concerto, in places, seems to become wholly a work for solo piano. Further - and a major problem - it seems the piano is either over-miked or that the producers have opted for forceful compression of the signals, making for significant distortion in the upper registers. This alone would be enough to discard this recording. But worse is to come ...

It makes no sense to approach this concerto with a level of interpretative revisionism such that the psychodrama that underscores the work is all but removed. But this is exactly what appears to take place in this performance. Lang Lang appears to wish to erase the inherent internal tensions, the essentially human struggle at the centre of Rachmaninov's masterpiece, and to replace it with a notionally clinical excellence. Frankly I would rather have the odd bum note and gain the humanity, than endure the sterilisation of perfection. Anyway, of course perfection, as such, doesn't exist in this context. It's always going to come down to interpretation, so even with its inevitable technical limitations, I would opt for Van Cliburn's histoical recording which is infinitely superior to Lang Lang's.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Very good product
Bought this as a present for my son-in-law. He was very pleased with it and says the sound is very good.
Published 1 month ago by GEC
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful
I really enjoyed this. He is a master. Powerful and delicate musician. Pity the track titles are in Chinese characters.
Published 1 month ago by mimi
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Music
Have always loved this. It's melodious, romantic, sad and dramatic. Reckon it would change the minds of classical music haters..
Published 1 month ago by Eleanor
3.0 out of 5 stars Slightly disappointed
Disappointed after I purchased the cd because I failed to consider the full menus, I must admit though I only bought it for part of The concerto
Published 2 months ago by Alan Dollery
3.0 out of 5 stars Lang lang too fast!!
Sadly not my favourite interpritations!! He rushes the slow passages in both works!! Cannot beat Moira Lympany for the concerto and Ashkenasy on the variations.
Published 2 months ago by speedosboy
5.0 out of 5 stars A truely great modern Artist
I first bought Lang Lang on Amazon,since when i have purchased several more of his recordings.
i really think he is a great Artist and enjoy listening to his... Read more
Published 4 months ago by john mac
5.0 out of 5 stars Lang Lang in Vienna
exceptional playing by this young man and a joy to listen to. The disc arrived very quickly and the price was good.
Published 7 months ago by keith
5.0 out of 5 stars Lang Lang at his best
Lang Lang takes you to special places with this beautiful cd, pure delight, with such lightness of touch in the quiet moments. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Janet
2.0 out of 5 stars We all make mistakes
Should have stuck to playing my other two versions of this. I did not read any reviews before purchasing this so my opinions are a natural reaction to my first hearing. Read more
Published 17 months ago by a nonymous
5.0 out of 5 stars By chance.
Having recently bought my first I Pod and being of advancing years I was so pleased at the quality of the playing and of the recording that it was imperative of me to make... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Tops
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