A romantic masterpiece from the great master of inspirationaly powerful and simply beautiful music. His music is brilliance personified and I feel that he was the genius of his era with no equal. His piano concertos are absolute masterpieces in their composition, beauty and complexity and his use of minor chords, diminished chords, perfect fourths, perfect fiths and dischords are enough to stir the soul beyond comprehension . Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart sergei rachmaninov for giving me such unbelievable pleasure with your heavenly music.
Let us not forget his Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (sheer, brilliant romanticism) and his 2nd Piano Concerto. But like others here, this symphony, his second is one of those that every lover of classicism must have in their collection. Personally, I am and will always be a fan and grateful that he escaped the Bolsheviks.
I loved how you articulated your love for Rachmaninoff's music, but all the credit should go to the most incredible genius ever and that is God almighty.
I heard Andre Previn conduct the Rachmaninoff Second Symphony with his Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. I was with my brother. May Andre Previn rest in peace.
André Previn first recorded this beautiful symphony with the LSO back in 1967 or 1968 and I had the privilege of hearing them playing it live in Brighton - one of the first classical concerts I went to as a teenager. It was a glorious and unforgettable performance.
My favourite composer. He must have been a very romantic soul. Never fails to make me cry and reflect on life, the good and the bad times. Just beautiful.
Rachmaninoff was a genius and this movement has love dripping all over it, just devine, it touches your soul, brava Mr Rachmaninoff and thank you. I must say the clarinet is perfect, just crystal clear, the strings are lush and the oboe partners just right with the clarinet. This is one of Andre Previns best recordings. I could listen to this once a day for rejuvenation.
I discovered Rachmaninov when seeing the film the 7 year itch as a child. I've been in love with his music which, for me is unsurpassable, ever since. Brings me to tears in an instant with those darn minor key movements!
Jan Skácelík Yes this time the gramophone is right. Normally they favour any british performance good or bad. Previns account is stunning! The Pletnev recording I dont like at all. Very much underplayed and very cold interpretation imho,he isn't a conductor at all. Even the orchestra isn't up to western standards. Unbelievable they got a contract on Deutsche Grammophon....
creo que esta musica necesita pocos comentarios habla por si sola estoy escuchando el adagio y me pone los pelos de punta magistral pero solo la pueden entender las personas verdaderamente romanticas
I bought this version when it first came out. To me Andre Previn and the LSO are simply the best in this wonderful symphony full of longing and nostalgia. Rachmaninoff’s music resonates with this and is simply beautiful. Andre Previn is still very much missed.❤️
In this recording from the 70's I think Previn got everything right, tempo etc throughout the four movemnts. Here in the 3rd movement the wonderful clarinet solo by Jack Brymer is just perfect. This music will touch your heart if you let it. I know and have known many people in my 73 years and no more than 5 or 10 of those individuals would know of this music or that of Beethoven, Schumann, Chopin, Elgar etc. The trouble these days that here in the UK there are no radio programmes that really cross boundaries so those that only listen to pop or light music are never exposed to anything that requires quiet listening. Andre Previn and the LSO did address that in the 1970's with a weekly television programme. Because of his charm and trendy appearance his name was well known by people who would exit a room at the thought of listening to "Classical music" so called. I gave a copy of this 3rd movement to a female friend who I know is quite fond of music. Her response was "it is a dirge".
I agree with this. The music is supremely beautiful and Jack Brymer's playing is as you say, 'just perfect'. My Dad came from South Shields and knew him at their secondary school and always said he played beatifully when he was young. I feel privileged to even have this small 'connection' with such a wonderful player!
"Sounds like a dirge". There is no hope. My beautiful wife whom I love dearly is, self-admittedly, tone-deaf. We were talking last week about the quality of sound that comes out of a small speaker, like on a phone, vs. the sound quality that comes out of a full stereo rig, and she, without irony, said she could not tell the difference.
@morhywaden. Agree completely with all you say but certainly not a dirge as your friend says. I reckon now people have different ears or brain receptors or souls. This is so beautiful. My supreme favourite version by wonderful Andre and LSO. He is much missed. Nothing like it on television now and even radio very limited in what they choose to play.
Rachmaninoff is an absolute genius as a musician; he knows perfectly how to create a spiritual as well as emotional mood with his unparalleled talent for orchestration. What a super artist...God bless him. Thanks for posting!
Это тот самый случаев, когда передаривать подарок --- хорошо. Бог подарил Рахманинову свой Божий Дар, а Рахманинов одарил всех нас этой великой, небесной, бесконечно прекрасной Музыкой, этим гимном Любви и счастья!
Andre Previn is under-rated because he does so many things very well -- piano (jazz and classical), composing, including film scores. Crossing the popular/classical as he and Bernstein did was shocking at the time and cost him credibility in some circles, though we admire it now. But I think this Rachmaninoff E minor Symphony is a revelation of just how great a conductor he is; the pacing is just superb. His legacy of recordings will be a treasure for a very long time to come.
I think this music piece is the most beautiful and extraordinary ever written, Sincerily the variation sounds and musical notes are wonderful. Rachmaninoff was a man of the great sensibility. A Genius. When I listen this piece my H eart breaks and my Soul going up to give thanks to God, Glory and Honour because this music piece is Splendour. in consecuence is the Language of God.
I play with the start of this in my head ..slowing down that opening motive...but I love this version. Note that in 2017 such CD re issues cost a lot. Me? I think of my late Wife and my love for her as I hear this.
Andre Previn with Jack Brymer on clarinet - this was bound to be brilliant! Jack made 3 of the 4 best recordings of the Mozart concerto, and you hear his clarinet on the soundtrack of Out Of Africa.
And the beautiful clarinet solo is by my favourite English clarinettist: Jack Brymer. Listen to his version of the Adagio from the Mozart Clarinet Concerto. It is as if you are hearing it for the first time.
To think that Rachmaninov had been lacking motivation because he thought no one would care to listen to his music breaks my heart. With all the atonality, serialism, etc in his time, it must have been really hard for him to find motivation to continue on his own style of romanticism. But the few pieces he managed to make certainly had become some of the most loved pieces now.
+Benedic Justine Velasco Truly? That is devastating. If he'd only known how many times my heart has broken over his music... The best of late Romantic, love depicted in all its colors and complexities.
Very poor comment! Atonality and serialism did not even exist when he wrote this amazing piece, and he is unlikely to have had contact with obscure Viennese expressionism, tucked away on his estates (this was written in Dresden). The revolution did for him, and going into exile really saddened him, had to spend many years in the 20s being a concert pianist just to survive. IMO the 1st Symphony showed a completely different path, could have been a great tragic composer, rather than a sentimental one. Enjoy!
I know that Rachmaninoff sanctioned the cuts in the edited version but after hearing the unedited version, who in their right minds would want to hear the cut version??
Great playing Jack Brymer the definitive English clarinettist the solo on Andre’s first recording was I think played by the great Roy Jowett? What an orchestra ! - Bill - UK
'Rachmaninoff' my favourite, *(I've always spelled it with a 'v' but on his headstone and several monuments it has double 'ff') beautiful DVD, loved all the photography, although it would have been nice to have names on the photos, I did recognise a very young "Horowitz" who said "He was my best friend - I was like a son to him". What a priviledge to have had that close of a relationship with the Great Maestro!
UNA DELLE DIREZIONI CHE RIMANGONO NELLA STORIA, CIRCA QUESTO ADAGIO DI SINGOLARE BELLEZZA, COMPRENDENTE L' INSIEME DI SENTIMENTI DI DUE CONTINENTI... DELICATISSIMO PEZZO CHA SUSCITA GRANDE SPONTANEITà COME SORGENTE SERENA DI VITA ed armoniosa versione di un affresco meraviglioso ...... carlo lamberti (carliszt39@gmail.com)
Well, OK, it's technically an Adagio. But not really. It's a love letter. It's what you want to wrap up and send straight into her ear, along with the fact that it's come directly from You & you alone ... and if she'll just Listen to it, she'll know ... and once she gets it through her thick head that This is how you feel ...
BTW, did everyone notice the day of birth on Rachmaninoff's headstone, and the cross? Well, was it the 2nd,as on the headstone, or the 1st as on Wikipedia?
And then Eric Carmen composes the song " Never Going to Fall in Love Again " utilizing the third movement of the symphony no. 2 and did it beautifully.
It's obvious that there's a certain amount of romance in it. But I think there's much more to it. Happy people don't produce great works, and Rachmaninoff was no exception.
I love the way the tuba is given prominence for its important role. It so often hidden in most performances. Why? Rwally exceptional performances. This piece can be quite tiresome in the hands of someone who doesn't understand Rach. All the neccessary nuances are there.
I agree that Andre Previn performs a very good version of this awesome symphony-but I prefer the older Ormandy recording ( because of the warm and spectacular orchestra sound) or the Rozhdestvensky/LSO rendition-never listened to Rachmaninovs 2nd more profound and powerful!!
