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TCHAIKOVSKY: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23.
Piano Concerto No. 2 in G, Op. 44. Piano Concerto No. 3 in E flat,
Op. 75. Concert Fantasy in G, Op. 56. Violin Concerto in D, Op. 35. Variations
on a Rococo Theme,
Op. 33. VILLA-LOBOS: Bachianas brasileiras. Momoprecóce. Guitar Concerto. CHOPIN: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11. Piano Concerto No.
2 in F minor, Op. 21. Variations on Mozart's 'Là ci darem la mano.' Andante
spianato & Grande Polonaise in E flat, Op. 22. Fantasy in
A on Polish National Airs, Op. 13. Krakowiak: Concert Rondo in F, Op. 14. Sonata
No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35 "Funeral March." Sonata No. 3 in B miinor,
Op. 58. Polonaise-fantasie in A flat, Op. 61. RACHMANINOFF: Symphony No. 1 in D minor, Op. 13. Symphony No. 2 in E
minor, Op. 27. Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 44. Isle of the Dead, Op.
19. Scherzo in D minor. Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14. Symphonic
Dances, Op.
45. NIELSEN: Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op. 7. Symphony No. 2, Op. 16 "The
Four Temperaments." Symphony No. 3, Op. 27 "Sinfonia espansiva." Symphony
No. 4, Op. 29 "The Inextinguishable." Symphony No. 5, Op. 50. Symphony
No. 6 "Sinfonia semplice." Bohmisk-dansk folketone. Andante lamentoso MENDELSSOHN: String Quartet No. 1 in E flat, Op. 12. String Quartet
No. 2 in A minor, Op. 13. String Quartet No. 3 in D, Op. 44 No. 1. String
Quartet No. 4 in E minor, Op. 44 No. 2. String Quartet No. 5 in E flat,
Op. 44 No. 3. String Quartet No. 6 in F minor, Op. 80. Incredible value here—in a new triplet series EMI is reissuing many of its major recordings of the past—all at super-budget price. To be able to acquire the 1993-1999 Jansons/St. Petersburg Philharmonic Rachmaninoff recordings at this modest cost is true value indeed. The Nielsen set was recorded more than three decades ago but sonically is totally satisfying, with a very young Herbert Blomstedt conducting music he totally understands. Alexis Weissenberg (b. 1929) was a leading virtuoso of his era although not known particularly for his Chopin interpretations. However, he did record all of the composer's works for piano and orchestra in Paris in 1967, along with the two major sonatas recorded later. The set of Mendelssohn string quartets in these outstanding performances by the Cherubini Quartet recorded 1989-1990 is a convenient way to obtain these delightful works. A major issue in the series is Peter Donohoe's spectacular performances of Tchaikovsky's works for piano and orchestra—these are equal to the best available, the Concerto No. 2 is presented with the second movement complete with its major solos for violin and cello, and as a major "bonus" we have Nigel Kennedy's first recording of the composer's violin concerto plus the Rococo Variations with Paul Tortelier. The Villa-Lobos set also is a gem—all 9 Bachianas brasileiras (with Barbara Hendricks shining in No. 5), plus the little-known Momoprecóce (with pianist Christina Ortiz), and the Guitar Concerto (with Angel Romero). Program notes in these 3-CD sets are brief but informative. A terrific set of quality reissues, indeed! R.E.B. (October 2007)
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