Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos No.3 & No.4

After hearing Andsnes' fabulous recording of the first two Rachmaninov concertos (Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2), I knew this recording was sure to be outstanding. And it was. Andsnes, probably more than any other pianist, has given Rachmaninov an approach that is entirely devoid of sentimentality. But he hasn't left us with dry, tasteless music. There is a tremendous amount of emotion that will put you on the edge of your seat. We hear power and passion one moment, and melancholy and retrospection the next. While some pianists will bring out more outward show, no one can match Andsnes in making music that is deeply inward in nature. The music spills from the keys in a very subtle, but natural way. Andsnes brings out incredible detail that is fascinating. The only setback is the recording quality. It picks up excessive breathing, presumably from Pappano. And while Andsnes' tone is captured wonderfully, the LSO's tone comes across as lacking some depth. Still, the music more than makes up for these shortcomings and the recording sound is never too distracting.

When I heard that Andsnes had a new recording of the Rachmaninov 3rd coming out, I couldn't wait. I had greatly enjoyed his recording of this piece from when he was still in his twenties. It's probably no exaggeration to say that I have listened to his earlier recording hundreds of times - I love it. But his new recording, well, it's almost unbearably good. His old recording pales in comparison. All the youthfulness is still there, but there's a new sense of maturity. Andsnes' technique is even stronger than before, but he also has a whole lot more to say. In the first movement's opening poetic theme, Andsnes gives us tremendous grace and lyricism; the lovely theme speaks for itself. The LSO's accompaniment is gorgeous; Pappano takes full advantage of their deep, rich tone. And then when the simple theme gives way to running figures, Andsnes plays with an ease that only a great master can afford. I listened to this rendition for the first time outside while taking in the beauty of the fall colors around me. The music couldn't have fit in better. While Andsnes' playing gives us powerful climaxes, one never loses the ever-present autumnal feel. The cadenza (Andsnes sticks with the more powerful, dramatic version) shows Andsnes at his technical height - it's flawless. But the music never sounds harsh. It's powerful, yes, but not harsh or severe. In the second movement, Pappano leads the LSO in a resigned interpretation of the strongly melancholy opening theme. When Andsnes enters, it is with gripping emotion. Pappano and the LSO interact with Andsnes to create an atmosphere that borders on being tense, but without lapsing into sentimentality. After a particularly good closing in the second movement, we are launched into the Finale. Yes, launched. One could not possibly wish for a more controlled, yet thrilling account of this roof-raising movement. In the more dreamy middle section in E flat, Andsnes and Pappano pull out wonderful grace and beauty. The lyricism we hear is ravishing. And when we come back to the passion and drama, Andsnes and the LSO reach their zenith. The passage leading up to the closing major section will have most listeners holding on to the edge of their seats. This masterpiece, possibly Rachmaninov's greatest, comes to a brilliantly triumphant conclusion.

No one needs to be told that the 4th Concerto hasn't achieved the fame the other 3 concertos have. But with the marvelous performance of it that we hear on this CD, one is left wondering why we don't hear it more often. Andsnes' laid-back approach comes in especially handy here - it's all too easy to make this concerto seem unrestrained or even vulgar. Pappano and the LSO likewise keep up the good work they began in the 3rd. The soloist and orchestra interact in an intimate way throughout. This concerto often takes advantage of the great effect of having an orchestral soloist to partner with the pianist. These passages are particularly touching. The music often becomes so beautiful that it is easy to forget that this is not one of the more popular concertos.

In closing, this album is sure to please. Pappano and the LSO are as brilliant as ever. And Andsnes' playing puts him near the top of the list of great pianists. I consider it no exaggeration to say that if his talent continues to grow at the rate it has been, he'll be nearly unanimously recognized as the greatest pianist alive in the next twenty years. So unless you want to miss out on the treasure of a lifetime, you'll be buying this album. Bravo, Andsnes!

(Copied from my review on Amazon.com)

There are so many great recordings of Rachmaninov Concertos that any newcomer must be exceptional in order to make an impression. I wouldn't quite describe this as 'exceptional', yet it's unlikely to disappoint anyone looking for a decent coupling of these two Concertos. This No. 3 is an improvement on Andsnes's earlier effort with Berglund, both pianistically and orchestrally. I do, however, feel that Andsnes's playing is a bit too 'straight' and uninflected to rank with the best. Others may respond to his cool approach more than I did, but I feel that pianists like Earl Wild and Zoltan Kocsis are more engaging from similar interpretive parameters. Andsnes plays the bigger and more grandiose of the two cadenzas in the first movement - impressive enough, although I would've thought the fleeter, more darting one would've suited his interpretation better.

No complaints at all about No. 4 - this is one of the best peformances I've heard of this rather more elusive Concerto. The last movement is particularly well done - very exciting and brilliantly held together.

Leif Ove Andsnes won a Gramophone award in 2005 for his recording of Rachmaninov's First and Second Piano Concertos, led by Antonio Pappano and accompanied by the Berlin Philharmonic Rachmaninov Piano Concerto 1 and 2. For those wanting a 5.1 high resolution version of those performances, a DVD-Audio version is also still available - one of the few titles released by EMI called 'Extended Audio Discs' Piano Concertos 1 & 2 [DVD AUDIO]. In these concertos, Andsnes brought both grace and power together with brilliant technique. The advantage of the DVD-Audio disc is not only the higher resolution surround sound, but the addition of a tantalising glimpse of Andsnes rehearsing with the BPO and Pappano. If only EMI had filmed the whole rehearsal or the whole live performance, such is the magnetism of Andsnes.

Now, five years later, Andsnes and Pappano have collaborated again to record the Third and Forth Concertos, this time with the LSO. Andsnes says he loves working with Pappano as his extensive work in opera makes for a much more involving musical experience. This is borne out admirably, again, in this exciting new recording.

Many people will ask why we need another recording of these much recorded works. Andsnes himself previously recorded the Third Concerto fifteen years ago but felt that as he has grown emotionally, as well as artistically, he had something new to bring to these masterpieces. Both are incredibly difficult to play but Andsnes' interpretation is both magesterial and brilliant, in equal measure.

Despite being a studio recording where you would expect ideal conditions, this disc has a less than perfect recording balance (the orchestra - the strings in particular - seem poorly placed and captured and there are other annoying extraneous noises in the Third Concerto - Mr Andsnes heavy breathing it seems), which is very hard to understand. What were the engineers doing ? That being said, I feel this interpretation is so fine that it overshadows all other contenders. It has already been given the Gramophone Magazine 'Editor's Choice' Award, for what it's worth, and I think that will be only one of many other awards to come.

Highly recommended.