Symphonies Nos. 1 - 3/Orchestral Works (Jansons) [Box set]

This latest packaging of the three symphonies, the Symphonic Dances, Scerzo, Vocalise and Isle of the Dead is extremely good value especially for people who want the savings of the set that includes the concertos Rachmaninov - Orchestral Works but without the concertos, if you see what I mean.

Firstly there is the great advantage of the Second Symphony not being split over two discs (the exposition repeat is not taken in this performance). Secondly the recording quality of Symphonies 1 and 3 and the Symphonic Dances is very good indeed (Symphony 2 is a little less "open" in sound) and the interpretation of the Symphonic Dances is probably one of the best put on disc in the recent past. Symphony 3 delivers a very Russian feeling of loss and nostalgia. It is finely recorded and superbly played and conducted: a candidate for the best Symhony 3 on record. Indeed, disc 3 of this set is, I believe, one of the finest Rachmaninov discs available.

Adverse criticisms include the mannered slowing of the quiet horns at the beginning of the last movement of Symphony 1 and the rather poor quality tinny sounding tam-tam in the same movement, which also seems to lose something of its momentum as it progresses. Symphony 2 would have been a five star performance if the recorded sound had been as vivid as the later Symphony 1 and Symphonic Dances.

I really wanted to give this set four-and-a-half stars as I don't think the first two symphonies are quite up to the standard of Ashkenazy/Conertgebouw on Decca Rachmaninov: The Symphonies etc. but then they are about less expensive. The Ashkenazy has its problems too and the third disc of this Jansons/St Petersburg set is amazingly fine. The simple answer is to get both!

Are there any better Rakhmaninov recordings than these anywhere? If there are then they must be among the greatest classical recordings ever made. This is a wonderful compilation of all three symphonies plus the symphonic dances, Isle of the Dead and others. Add to that a bargain price.

The St Petersburg Philharmonic(SPPO) are at the top of their form - which is going some. The recording quality is demonstration level and then there's Mariss Jansons whose interpretations shed new light on all these works; all of which I was very familiar with to start with.

I know many listeners think of Rakhmaninov as the arch romantic. They will not be disappointed by these performances, particualrly the most romantic of all, Symphony no 2. However, Jansons and the SPPO demonstrate this music's incisive rhythmic drive from the First Symphony right up to the Symphonic Dances.

So added to the expansive romanticism is music to dance to and Rakhmaninov then sounds less like a super heated Tchaikovsky and more a fore runner to Prokofiev and Stravinsky. For those of you who prefer Tchaikovsky to those two, please don't be put off - no one has added any dissonances that weren't there. A particular highlight are the Symphonic Dances - for a work that quotes the Dies Irae, quotes tunes from earlier works and was his last major work it hardly sounds like death fearing music. The vitality sweeps you away even in the finale where the final bars seem to carry the dies irae more in a sense of triumph! The percussion at this point takes your breath away; astounding!

The Symphonic Dances are coupled on the final disc with the Third Symphony. I was familiar with Previn's version and felt dissatisfied not with his version but more the looseness of Rakhmaninov's construction. It has some beautiful and lyrical moments but seemed a rather casual affair. Under Jansons the structure seems much more taut and the work seems far more modern. This is a revelation in itself and this work can't have had a more sympathetic performance. For all that, I still find the symphony rather equivocal and I'm still not sure I'm a fan.

Jansons doesn't disappoint in the more popular Second Symphony, though to be fair, there are plenty of fine versions of this. I don't want to add much other than to say that to newcomers this is likely to be the favourite work, or perhaps the Symphonic Dances, and for those familiar with it; you'll get a top class performance.

The First Symphony was an angry piece that wasn't helped at its premiere by the conductor, Glazunov, being drunk at the time. Its bad reception deeply affected Rakhmaninov to the point the he re evaluated his style, leading to the more expansive Second. Jansons doesn't take the tempos of the First at any great pace - if anything, he's on the slow side. This does, however, help to emphasis the rhythmic daring of the music. Again, for those unfamiliar with the symphony it sounds at times angry, at other times triumphant but always with a hint of menace even in the slow and quieter sections.

For me, Rakhmaninov was a little over zealous in this symphony's construction and it sounds a bit stiff - varying the same material a little too often over the course of the four movements. Even so, it's an underrated and under performed work with plenty of fine music.

Add to all that you have a typically atmospheric rendition of the Isle of the Dead, radiant performance of Vocalise and a revelation in an early, student orchestral scherzo which is precocious in the extreme.

If you don't have the Rakhmaninov symphonies buy this set now.If you do then throw the old one out and get this. I cannot recommend this any higher - all time great recordings!

Extremely good value for top class performances. Rachmaninov 2nd Symphony is performed in a shortened version compared with other CD performances but this is quite normal with some conductors for this symphony. A good CD set for any collection.