Pros: Lang Lang's ability. Gergiev's conducting. Deutsche Grammaphon's superb recording.
Cons: None whatsoever.
The Bottom Line: A slightly radical, but truly amazing interpretation of a long-time classical favorite that should delight anyone who appreciates fine piano playing
edmaidel's Full Review: Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto no 2, etc / Lang Lang,...
I thought I knew both of these pieces by Rachmaninoff note for note, having listened to a myriad of different recordings of each over the last 30 or so years. Little did I know how many previously unheard notes and subtleties existed in these pieces, all of which are revealed in sumptuous glory by the inestimable Lang Lang. This recording is nothing short of a revelation.
Both pieces are extraordinarily difficult to play - Rachmaninoff actually had very large hands, and wrote a lot of material to accommodate the long stretch between his fingers, that many a pianist simply cannot do. If such writing exists in either of these works, it certainly didn't deter Lang Lang in any manner whatsoever. Listening to his keyboard playing makes one wonder how anyone can guide his hands across those ivories and produce such glorious music in the process, and to do so both quietly with great emotion, or loudly and fast with sheer brilliance.
I have three other recordings of these works: one by the late Russian pianist, Svjatislov Richter, one by Vladimir Asheknazy and a fairly recent recording by Lief Ove Andsnes ( please don't ask me how to pronounce his name!). Now, I have this version by Lang Lang along with the often downright ferocious Valery Giergev conducting.
Richter was an exceptionally fine pianist, but my recording of his rendition is on an old Deutsche Grammaphon LP, and suffers greatly in the sound department (though it was pretty good in the early 70's). Ashkenazy has always been a skilled and highly reviewed pianist, especially with Rachmaninoff's works. The 2nd Piano Concerto is actually one of several works on three London CD's that can be had for the price of one - definitely the best value out of the four versions. His playing of these pieces is one characterized by great animation and excitement.
Lief Ove Andsnes is more dramatic in his interpretation, and seems to revel in the more difficult passages. It's a tossup between his and Ashkenazy's as to which is better, though each has its own merits. (My wife preferred Andsnes over either the Richter or Asheknazy versions.)
Then there's this new release by Lang Lang. From the moment the concerto begins, the listener becomes immediately aware that this is indeed something truly unique and special. Giergev's flawless conducting along with Deutsche Grammaphon's outstanding recording techniques introduces us to the piece in a manner totally unlike all others, with a promise of great things yet to come: Lang Lang's piano playing. From his very first note, it's apparent that this extraordinarily gifted young (26) man has a way with this piece that no one else has, or ever did have.
Many purists have balked at his different pacing and phrasing of some passages, but I attribute that to each artist's own abiltites and interpretations. When Lang Lang plays the music slowly, there is a sense of sheer beauty that has rarely been captured on disc before, but when he begins to play the more complex, louder and dynamic passages, his talent shines head and shoulders over the rest. (Can you tell I really like this disc?)
I had originally ordered this recording through amazon.com (an extremely reliable source, and one with outstanding customer service, I might add), but didn't realize that I had mistakenly ordered the CD instead of the SACD version. Upon listening to the CD, there was no question that this was by far the best sounding of the four recordings of these works, and I wondered just how much better the SACD would sound.
I returned the CD to amazon (they make this process incredibly simple and easy), and re-ordered the SACD. And, I have to admit, there is a huge difference between the two, very definitely favoring the SACD. As with most hybrid SACD's that I own, playing first the CD layer, and then the SACD layer results in a dramatic improvement in depth, spaciousness and liveliness over the CD. The piano actually seems to have a three-dimensional quality on SACD that's totally missing on CD.
So, if you like this music (and who doesn't?), this is certainly a disc to own and enjoy. Also, if you own an SACD player, don't hesitate to spend the additional $5 for the SACD version, as it's worth a good deal more than that for its truly dramatic and obvious sonic improvements.
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