Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #110865 in Music
• Released on: 2006-01-10
• Number of discs: 10
• Format: Box set

Customer Reviews

not what I expected
This appears to be a very comprehensive box set, however, it isn't what I expected. The sound quality is poor. This is understandable since the original recordings were done many decades ago, but still not very nice to listen to. And the recordings are not in any recognizable order, a little Chopin here, a little Rachmaninoff there, a little Debussy, a little more Chopin... Admittedly, I am not a great authority, but this set doesn't do him justice.

badly remastered
"The Complete Rachmaninoff', at 2-3 times the price is a better deal. This version is re-mastered in a way that reduces surface noise, but, at the same time, removes much of the pianists' tone quality that comes through so well on the original LP release, as well as the more expensive set. Also, this album is lacking the documentation of recording dates that the LP and 'The Complete Rachmaninoff' provide. For the neophyte, the re-mastering reduces the magic of Rachmaninoff's tone. I would expect the connoisseur to be even more disappointed. There are bargains out there, but for this album, you get what you pay for.

Rachmaninov is the master
Some people like the recordings and some dont, but as a fan of Rachmaninov it would be a shame not to own these recordings. To hear a master composer from history play his own works is not that common. Just put the cd in your player put your headphones on and watch the black and white images appear in your mind as though you were at a concert in the 1930's looking on at the man sitting at the piano carefully but with feeling pounding each note into the air of time. If you don't like the scratchy recordings then obviously you are a spoiled brat who doesnt appreciate fine art.