Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances
$11.98 – $39.98
Minnesota Orchestra
Eiji Oue
2003 Grammy® Nominee: Best Engineered Album – Classical
Keith O. Johnson, engineer
Selected by SoundStage! as one of the “Best Recordings of 2001” and chosen by THREE reviewers of The Absolute Sound magazine as one of the best releases of 2001.
Sergei Rachmaninoff was one of the most beloved composers of the twentieth century. His music is redolent of his Russian homeland, and it sings long, lush melodies that define the term “romantic.” Everyone who knows and loves his piano concertos will enjoy these lyrical and dynamic works for orchestra. The “Symphonic Dances” in recent years have become one of Rachmaninoff’s most-performed scores. The five “Ètudes-Tableaux” were orchestrated by Ottorino Respighi from the brilliant originals for piano. “Vocalise” is one of the great classical melodies, and is hummable by everyone. Initial response from renowned reviewers is amazingly positive. Two critics have said this is the finest orchestral recording RR has ever made!
On This Recording
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Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances, Op. 45
- I. Non allegro
- II. Andante con moto (Tempo di valse)
- III. Lento assai Rachmaninoff: 14 Romances, Op. 34
- No. 14, Vocalise in E Minor 5 Études-tableaux, P. 160
- No. 1, The Sea and Seagulls
- No. 2, Fair Scene
- No. 3, Funeral March
- No. 4, Red Riding Hood and the Woolf
- No. 5, Oriental March
Reviews:
“The recording is once again absolutely stunning, brilliant and plushy at the same time, unequaled by another label in this piece.” –Peter Aczel, THE AUDIO CRITIC
“Overall,the sound is the best I’ve ever heard from Reference Recordings. That also means that overall there’s none better that you can currrently purchase. You don’t need any more details, just trust me and run out and buy it.” –Karl Lozier, www.enjoythemusic.com
Picked by THREE reviewers of The Absolute Sound magazine for a GOLDEN EAR AWARD (best releases of 2001):
“This may be some of the best sound Keith Johnson has ever gotten out of Symphony Hall in Minneapolis, and certainly Oue’s most convincing work with the Minnesota players, who sound for all the world more like the Philadelphia than that orchestra does these days … how Johnson got that huge climax at the end of the Dances cleanly onto tape transcends engineering and goes into the realm of magic.” —Harry Pearson, TAS
“No one can approach Reference Recordings’ unparalleled sound in this music. The sweet liquid presence of the high end, especially the critical massed strings, approaches perfection when it blends with RR’s characteristic ambient soundstage, fine inner detail and bass impact.” —Arthur B. Lintgen, TAS
“Even by the exalted standards one has come to expect from Reference Recordings, this is something extraordinary… This is the kind of recording that gives one renewed faith in the possibility of reproducing the power and beauty of an orchestra in a home environment, the kind of thing that makes audio worthwhile. Not to be missed.” —Robert E. Greene, TAS
“I must admit to a thrill when RR packages arrive at the office… Once again, Keith Johnson has raised the bar of excellence in the recording of a symphony orchestra… It’s a fabulous recording and a super performance of the SYMPHONIC DANCES, and a testament to the brilliance of Keith Johnson and his associates.” —Anthony Kershaw, Audiophilia
“Kick the volume control up and you get state-of-the-art sonics — solid bass, overwhelming climaxes, and dynamics as wide as a Kansas sky.” —Dan Davis, Amazon.com
“Other versions I know … lack the energy, excitement, the involvement and conviction of Eiji Oue’s performance. Keith Johnson’s engineering, mastering and production have, in this case, produced the finest orchestral recording I have ever heard. It is instantly among that handful of CDs I will carry with me to audition sound systems, or that I will play to show off my own. Listening to this recording is one of those exultant musical experiences that will remind you why you got into the audiophile game in the first place.” —Russell Lichter, Soundstage.com
“Keith Johnson’s HDCD recording captures the sound of Orchestra Hall with stunning impact. Like the best EMI recordings of the 1960s, the musical and technical qualities of this release are linked inextricably to its success. Quite a remarkable achievement.” – Lawrence Vittes, GRAMOPHONE
“The playing by the Minnesota Orchestra is simply stupendous: tremendously unified ensemble, immaculate balances that let you hear all the important lines, and a palpable sense of enjoyment from the players (those trumpet players rule!).” —Victor Carr, Jr., ClassicsToday.com
