The clarinet solo in the Adagio is absolutely magnificent. The approach he took at the beginning of the solo and the pacing is beyond words. Bravissimo!
Thank you so much for your kind words and your appreciation. The clarinetist who was playing the solo is Lewin Kneisel, he just passed his trial year and is now a permamnent member of our orchestra - we are so proud! He really deserves it!
Watching these concerts, as with all of the German radio orchestras here on RU-vid, are always such a quality, musically engaging experience. That we get these performances free of charge is a gift that defies words, and it's always a joy to return to favorites time and again. Keep up the excellent work! P.S. - I enjoyed greatly hearing the bass clarinet part in this symphony so well interpreted. Rachmaninov's Second is a food of wonder for this instrument, and to have it so well played is a credit to the score, and superb music making.
What a liar. 1 billion hours = over 114,155 years. If you are a Neanderthal and still alive today, well.. you still can't. Rachmaninoff composed this symphony in 1907.
Although mainly known by his piano concertos I always thought his symphonies were musically much more complex and rewarding to listen to. I always get goose bumps with this 2nd and must have heard it untold times. What an outstanding performance, браво!
I love the clarinetist's breathing techniques while handling the solo in the adagio. I have seen many players struggling during this session, while he got through with ease. He also did it without being too dramatic, which I believe Rachmaninoff himself would have wanted.
Русский? nah jk I am in the HongKong random school orchestra and someone posted this link in the WhatsApp group just after 1 hour after this video was uploaded. 🙃
It's quite overwhelming, the entire performance. The third movement, I have no words. Unlike many other performances, this conductor understands that a slower tempo increases the intensity. He also understands how to make a transition from one section to another, how to breathe between phrases, and how to prepare for and slightly delay a climax. In these respects, this conductor is head and shoulders above the many other conductors who know how to beat time, but not how to make this music live, breathe, and organically develop. instead of imposing his will on the music, he allows the music itself to guide him, as he guides this excellent orchestra.
People often skip the first-movement repeat in this symphony and others to save time or because it would be "boring" to repeat the same music. Măceralu understands the only way to make the music boring is to play it in a boring way - he plays that repeat, and yet nobody is bored.
It's incredible that this conductor follows the original version of rachmaninoff, which almost only appears in the recording but not in the concert. Absolutely beautiful!!
At 22:55 we see and hear the timpanist strike his drum on the ending chord. The composer originally intended for just the lower strings to play that but many conductors prefer the timpani sound. A good example is conductor Petrenko conducting the Oslo Philharmonic
Счастлив быть одного происхождения с автором. Для меня быть представителем одной культуры вместе с Рахманиновым, а также других великих (Достоевский, Прокофьев, Чайковский и многие-многие други) имён, большая честь. Очень ценю культуру, изучаю, роюсь, лишь бы сохранить и продолжить❤
I’ve been listening to classical music since I was a child. I played classical music as a trumpet player. Rachmaninoff’s symphony 2 is my favorite piece of music of all time. I’ve been looking for the best recording, and this is by far the winner. The sound is so pure crystal clean yet lush. This recording is gorgeous beyond belief. Thank you so much for posting this. Does anybody know where I can buy this recording. WOW!! WDR Symphony Orchestra Cristian Măcelaru, conductor
This performances highlights all the lines at 13:58 very clearly: the hypnotic, haunting keen of the high cellos; the gruff/stern warning rumbles of the low violas and horns; the frenetic violins quivering above. And then at 14:20 the layers of strings peel back to reveal the glowing embers of a horn D and the earthy, bitter, dark, dissonant tone of the bass clarinet (like the groan of old wood). And then, the timpani springs forth, heralding the most ominous and tragic horn call in all of symphonic literature.
I've listened to various Rachmaninov 2nd Symphony performances on RU-vid and live, and I think the string instruments have more depth than any other orchestra. How to make each sound roar so that life is breathed into it. I thought their expression was much better than any other orchestra group.
ｉ plan to listen to Rachmaninov’s Symphony No.2 on Sat. 11st May 2024 at yokoyama minato mirai hall in JPN. so ｉ listen to this youtube for my study, thank U❤
I think it may have something to do with the Russian military leveling towns in Ukraine and creating a refugee problem. I guess you hadn't heard that Russia isn't the most beloved country these days. 😐
Struggente, come tutta la musica di Rachmaninov che con il suo tardo romanticismo novecentesco è stato un gigante della musica classica. L'armonia e il perfetto sincronismo di questa orchestra con il suo direttore e i suoi solisti ci hanno portato dentro questa splendida sinfonia facendoci sognare... Che meraviglia!
