Rachmaninov for beginners

Thanks all.

this CD looks like just the ticket, and at $8.00 will not break the bank.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=74012

(Another shameless plug for archivmusic, with which I have no affiliation other than being a fan).

I'll chime in my vote for the piano concerto's 2 and 3. Both are difficult to
walk away from. Furthermore, and on another note, if you have not seen the
film "Shine" (the 'true' story of pianist David Helfgott) go and rent
it. It happens to be a great movie, but also prominently features the "
rock 3" piano concerto as a central theme in the plot. Geoffrey Rush
gives
a stellar performance in that film, as does the actor who plays his character
in school years, Noah Taylor.

Marco

PS If you enjoy the Rachmaninov piano concerto's, I'd also highly recommend
taking a listen to the Saint-Saens Piano Concerto #2 - I think you'd enjoy that
very much as well. The performance I have is by Andre Previn and is available
at "the nice price" on CBS Masterworks.

What is not mentioned above is that Rachmaninoff was not only a great composer but made is living for the most part as a concert performer, perhaps the last great pianist/composer. His hands were massive, said to equal Liszt's, which is why it is the rare player who can play either with ease, they wrote for their hands.
For lushness there is little that compares with his Rhapsody on a Theme by Paginini, especially by Van Cliburn, I would second the Vespers by the Robert SHaw Singers, I would add his cello sonotas by Steven Isserliss, also the piano concertos by Askenazy, Rubinstien and late Agerich, his orchestral suites are also quite nice.
Hearing Rachmaninoff play his own works or Liszt is amazing his speed, acuracy and timing are different than what we are now used to but their compelling sound is worth listening to

As an addendum to what Uru975 contributes above, along with the few mono
recordings of Rachmaninoff performing, there is a stereo recording of a very
sophisticated transcription of some of the piano rolls that he produced titled,
"A Window in Time". These rolls recorded not only the music, but
the timing and even the impact on the keys, as I understand it. The recording
was transcribed through some sophisticated computer and output as a
'performance' on an actual Bosendorfer piano. I've heard the CD and it is
actually a very engaging performance. I don't think it is up to an actual
performance by the maestro himself, but the whole process by which they
produced the recording, as well as the recording itself is worth a listen. It is
an excellent recording as far as reproduction goes, having used very modern
recording equipment and techniques. Here's a description of the CD/process
from the Amazon website:

This collection of Rachmaninoff's solo piano
performances relies on a mix of old and new technologies. Between 1919 and
1929, Rachmaninoff cut these 19 performances to piano rolls, which would
then be played back through reproducing pianos capable of accurately re-
creating the original performances through pneumatic devices that animated
the rolls with living nuances and shades--a facet that differentiated the
classier reproduction keyboards from the more common "player
pianos." This set updates the technology with electronic devices--
transparently, though expertly, replacing the pneumatics. Played back on a
Bösendorfer Reproducing Piano, this collection sounds astounding, full of
Rachmaninoff's lickety-quick motion and his punching intensity when striking
the keys. There are 18 Rachmaninoff selections--some of them
collaborations--and one gem, "The Star-Spangled Banner," taken
to new places in this 1919 reading.

Also, one of the recent "Living Stereo" reissues contains a Fritz Reiner
performance of the Rachmaninov Piano Concerto no. 2. It is an SACD hybrid
and is also an accurately reproduced 3-channel recording if you have that
technology. The performance is excellent, and also has a wonderful
performance of the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1.

Marco

Marco, There are actually 2 CD's, the first you described is Rachmaninoff playing Rachmaninoff. The second CD is Rachmaninoff performing others works. The playing may not be as good as the original (in other recordings I have by Rachmaninoff) but the sonics are better. Interesting tradeoff, and for a casual listener I would recommend the Telarcs.