{"id":45849,"date":"2024-08-05T11:01:08","date_gmt":"2024-08-05T09:01:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/9318b480-4344-4c70-96b6-707b28c7ba19"},"modified":"2024-08-05T12:07:15","modified_gmt":"2024-08-05T10:07:15","slug":"rachmaninovs-symphonic-dances-four-great-recordings-of-this-masterpiece-and-one-to-avoid","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/rss_feed\/rachmaninovs-symphonic-dances-four-great-recordings-of-this-masterpiece-and-one-to-avoid\/","title":{"rendered":"Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances: four great recordings of this masterpiece – and one to avoid"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By <\/p>

Published: Monday, 05 August 2024 at 09:01 AM<\/p>

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It’s a magical, infectious piece of orchestral music, and one of the very best works by the wonderful Russian late Romantic composer Sergei Rachmaninov<\/a><\/strong>. Here are some great recordings of Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances – and one to avoid. <\/p>

By the way, you can hear the Symphonic Dances at the 2024 BBC Proms<\/a><\/strong>. They are performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra for Prom 23<\/a><\/strong> (Monday 5 August).<\/p>

Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances: best recording<\/h2>

Here’s the cream of the crop:<\/p>

Vladimir Ashkenazy (conductor) Concertgebouw Orchestra <\/strong> Decca 410 1242<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>

In making a library choice, sound quality is an important factor. To enjoy this kaleidoscopic score to the full it\u2019s essential to hear as much detail as possible. My four top choices pass this test. Sadly, therefore, the synthetic \u2018hole in the middle\u2019 stereo and coarse-sounding trumpets of the Moscow Philharmonic disbar Kyril Kondrashin\u2019s wild and wonderful account from a top spot. <\/p>

Evgeny Svetlanov made two recordings, his later one much the better recorded but not a front runner, whereas those by Neeme J\u00e4rvi, Vladimir Jurowski, Simon Rattle and Mariss Jansons (I prefer the first and fleeter of his two recordings) most certainly are.<\/p>