Rachmaninov, Sergey - Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3 - Hough, Stephen (piano)

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ÅRETS ALBUM 2007 / UPSALA NYA TIDNING

Stephen Hough’s definitive performances of Rachmaninov’s piano concertos were recorded live in Dallas in 2004. Originally issued as a 2-CD set, we are now making the two most popular concertos, Nos 2 and 3, available on a single disc.

The original release met with astonishing critical acclaim:

‘Hough. Litton. Rachmaninov concertos. Hyperion. Already a mouth-watering prospect, is it not? So, like the old Fry’s Five Boys chocolate advert, does Anticipation match Realisation in these five much recorded confections? The answer is “yes” on almost every level’
(Gramophone)

‘This is the best set of Rachmaninov Piano Concertos ever recorded. You have no idea how hard I worked not to come
to this conclusion, knowing full well just how skeptically such a claim is likely to be received. I compared Stephen Hough to multiple Ashkenazy renditions, to Earl Wild, to Zoltan Kocsis, to Argerich, Rubinstein, Richter, Rodriguez, and Horowitz. I ploughed through several obscure Russian recordings, two cycles on Naxos, and a slew of EMIs. I re-auditioned Pletnev and sampled two separate remasterings of Rachmaninov’s own performances. I listened with scores, then waited a few days, and then tried again without them. I played these discs to colleagues, to friends, and to people whose musical judgment I trust as much if not more than my own. But the conclusion was inescapable: there never has been a complete cycle at this level of consistent excellence. There’s no doubt about it’ (Classicstoday.com)
Stephen Hough, piano
Dallas Symphony Orchestra/Andrew Litton
Sergey Rachmaninov
Piano Concerto No 2 in C minor Op 18
1 Moderato
2 Adagio sostenuto
3 Allegro scherzando

Piano Concerto No 3 in D minor Op 30
4 Allegro ma non tanto
5 Intermezzo: Adagio
6 Finale: Alla breve