Track Listing

1. Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major ('Emperor'), Op. 73: Allegro
2. Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major ('Emperor'), Op. 73: Adagio un poco moto
3. Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major ('Emperor'), Op. 73: Rondo, Allegro
4. Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18: No. 1, Moderato
5. Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18: No. 2, Adagio sostenuto
6. Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18: No. 3, Allegro scherzando

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #67010 in Music
• Brand: RCA
• Released on: 1994-03-15
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Customer Reviews

Rachmaninoff excellent
While I'm glad I have this cd, I wish I would have paid a few dollars more and purchased the Van Cliburn cd that couples the same Rachmaninoff recording found here with the Tchaikovsky concerto. The Rachmaninoff is first rate, with thunderous climaxes, melancholic phrases, and a wonderfully poetic adagio. Also, the huge chord in the final movement that leads to the final few bars brings me goosebumps. I must admit some disappointment with the Beethoven however. Although recorded only a year earlier, the sound quality is not nearly as good. Van Cliburn's playing sounds wonderful, but I often had the sense that he and the orchestra were not entirely together. Pay the few extra dollars and buy the coupling with the Tchaikovsky (which is a legendary recording).

Cliburn Plays Like Fire
Rachmaninov sought organic unity between the orchestra and the piano in his concerti. Van Cliburn and Chicago Symphony are simply masterful in their collaboration. You will feel like Cliburn's piano is a genuine part of a symphony, not merely a solo instrument in a concerto.

Cliburn's genius is that while keeping true to Rachmaninov's vision of organic unity, his piano still stands out like a flame. Some times slow-burning, some times like a flame thrower, but it BURNS throughout the concerto.

The opening of the 1st movement is incredibly powerful and heavy. The build-up towards the end of the movement is breathtaking. 2nd movement is one of the most beautiful rendition I've heard. and the opening of the 3rd! you just have to hear this CD.

There are a lot of younger musicians who will play Rach 2nd with greater technical clarity and with brighter and lighter color of tone. Cliburn plays so HEAVY. You can feel the gravity pressing you to the ground as you listen to this. I think, however, this is the best way to play Rachmaninov. Everything that is Rachmaninov: his fury, sorrow, irony, and romantic melodies and suspense, sound so real and compelling with Cliburn's gravity. You have to own this CD

A wonderful recording
Although there are plenty of good renderings of the Emperor to go around (two of my favorites are Rudolf Serkin with Seiji Ozawa and Krystian Zimerman with Leonard Bernstein), this CD should be seriously considered. The tempos are just right, and the recording, considering it was made in the 50's is astonishing. Cliburn doesn't make me feel as though he is rushing to get to the end, as have so many others. But the real jewel here is the Rachmaninoff. It is everything a concerto should be...dazzling piano virtuosity, beautiful orchestral support and heartbreaking tender moments. Listening to this puts a lump in my throat every time.