I just returned home from an evening of Russian music in Seattle - Pletnev and RNO performing Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky.  The program began with Rachmaninoff Vocalise, then Piano Concerto #3 (Alexander Mogilevsky on piano) and Tchaikovsky Suite 3 Op 55.   It was an evening to remember, with several noteworthy events.  The first thing I observed compared to an ordinary night at Seattle Symphony was the very large number of Russians in the crowd.  How can you tell?  The Russian men wear black leather jackets, like a uniform.  Seattle is known for its large Scandinavian population.  Who knew there were so many Russians in Seattle?  Well they turned out in large numbers in a strong display of cultural unity.  The Russian Orchestra also brought to the performance a seriousness and attitude at a very high level, compared to the local symphony.  The seriousness was clear to see in their facial expressions, and the attitude was easy to hear in their musicianship.  I've never heard Benaroya Hall pressurized with sound like this evening.  The power behind the music was magneficent and physical.  This is the first live performance of Vocalise for me.  It is so achingly beautiful and emotional.  (Does anyone recommend a noteworthy recording of this?)  Mogilevsky is a talented Russian pianist - Argerich included him with a small number of promising young pianists she promoted.  The Rach Piano Concerto is one of my favorites.  Argerich stands out, as does Horowitz and Barbirolli in 1940 (this one is spectacular - very fast and full of energy).  Mogilevsky brings a fresh perspective, full of power.  I wasn't so familiar with this particular Tchaikovsky.  Again, full of energy, the horns at the finale filling the hall.  At the end, nobody left the hall. Everyone stood and applauded.  Usually, people rush for the doors.  This was the longest ovation I recall at Benaroya Hall.  On the other hand, the Seattle audience is easily impressed compared to the East Coast...  After 4 curtain calls, Pletnev ended the evening with an encore performance of more Tchaikovsky.  Wow!

It's been a pretty good year for classical music in Seattle.  The other noteworthy performance for me this year had to be Itzak Perhman conducting Mozart.   

I never was a big fun of Pletnev. Even his Rachmaninoff’s Third Concerto (he plays piano), which many promoted as an “ultimate Rach 3” I found was unspeakably bad. Still, the “live” is live at it defiantly ads a lot of kink.

In regards of the recordings….

I would not consider Argerich worthwhile performer of the Rach 3, nether the Horowitz in 1940. I think Horowitz did much better in 1951, but it was still his bizarre and twisted Rach 3. Among many good Rachmaninoff’s Third Concertos I would suggest you to find (juts for sake of education) the performance of Geiseking with NY Philharmonic lead by Barbirolli in 1943. This is from a certain prospective a painful performance but “painfully beautiful”. I promise you that you never expect what Geiseking did in there… If you never heard it then you my change you mind how the Rach 3 “might” be interpreted (if you can't find I can put one on my file server).

With Vocalise is more complicated, as there are many different things people looking for in Vocalise. I would name 3 radically different perfumeries but each of them outstanding in own way:

Golovanov with USSR Radio Orchestra in 1949 with Koslovsky tenor is singing (originally for written for Nezhdanova-soprano). Koussevitzky with Boston Symphony in 30s or 40s, I would start from 1945. Koussevitzky recorded it a few time, all orchestral, and all of them are very interesting. Stokowski in 1964 with Anna Moffo and American Symphony…

Rgs,
The Cat

Scott,

I do not see which Vocalise it is. The LYS have managed to published a huge amount of Koussevitzky recordings before their ass got kicked and I think thsy have 3 versions Koussevitzky’s Vocalisess… Get any of them, it will do...
 
This  Koslovsky CD is absolutely unique and has some recoding that you would never find anywhere else (for instance Boris Godunov Pimen’s aria composed by… Rachmaninoff!). The quality of transfer is also very high…

BTW, if you look at my Musical News Service then there was a link in there from March 29 “Russian orchestra has high points and low“ It describes the performance you experienced. I do not know how accurate they are but whatever it worth….

Rgs,
Romy

skushino wrote:

Yesterday I had 30 mins to kill before an appointment.  I stopped at the local Goodwill to check the record bins and discovered a 3 LP set of Koussevitsy and BSO performing Prokofiev, for 99 cents.  There is a little book inside, too. The second LP is cracked beyond repair, but the first and third look ok.  I will clean them up this weekend.  It was a nice way to end my day.

Rgs,
Romy the Cat