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RACHMANINOFF PIANO CONCERTO 2

I recently purchased Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto #2
SACD version by PentaTone Classics which has The Piano Concerto # 2 and Paganini's Theme. I was very disappointed with the performance and sound quality. Can anybody recommend a CD or SACD that has better sound? I have thought of the 4 cd box set of the 4 Piano concertos played by Stephen Hough as well as Earl Wild, but would prefer an excellend sounding # 2. Don't want the #1 & #4.
Any feedback would be sincerely appreciated.
kjl
megasam's avatar
megasam
798 posts
 
More on my original post.....

The remastered Van Cliburn/Reiner/RCA hybrid Rach 2 is coupled with the famous Tchaikovsky 1 conducted by Kondrashin........even more reason to own even if not your top choice for Rach 2, sold at reduced price.

The Byron Janis/Dorati/Mercury Rach 2 now available as SACD hybrid coupled with perhaps even more famous version of Rach 3.......another essential version IMO.

Also again to agree with Texas Dave on the Zimerman/DG Rach 2 as great modern sound version.
qdrone
1,039 posts
 
Ashkenazy 1971 on Decca is the one i listen to. I have an original pressing. Glorious tube sound but avoid the digital remaster on Vinyl. I have one of those too. I have not heard it on CD though.
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,467 posts
 
Telarc has a simply excellent and exciting/dramatic recording of this. Lorin Maazel/Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra/Horacio Guiterrez. It may not be to everyone's tastes but dramatic and powerful it is ( as well as an excellent recording).
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