Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2/ Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5

Rating:
Summary: What a treat!
Review: Great music. Interesting pianist. Spectacular conductor. Vibrant instrumentalists. - What a treat for the eyes too: the wonderful camera work makes this more absorbing to look at than the most breath-taking adventure... It's a pity we don't have more of this! What about Tchaikowsky's 4th and 6th Symphonies? What about so many other great works? - When you consider the millions of dollars that go into the recording of tons and tons of the ugliest and most uncivilized kind of trash these days (people have the nerve to call it «music»), and when you compare that with the extremely few DVDs that exist featuring good music (just look at the list, and you'll see), it makes you wonder whether we're not headed towards a new age of barbarism. We will still have the kind of great music that's on this DVD, but who's going to be there to listen to it? And if there's nobody to listen, then who's going to pay to have it recorded?

Rating:
Summary: Do You Like Your Rachmaninoff Fast or Slow?
Review: If speed is what you're after, then this performance is for you. Most pianists these days like to take this concerto at breakneck velocity, which is unfortunate. This frequently happens when the recording is of a live concert, as is the case here, and most of Rachmaninoff's lush romanticism is lost in a tidal wave of notes, especially in the second movement. I'd recommend a videotape of a live performance by Alexis Weissenberg and Herbert von K. Weissenberg allows the second movement to flow at a relaxed pace and is not shy about letting it stretch to nearly 15 minutes. It is the only performance I would have of the Rach Second.

Rating:
Summary: Don't miss it !!
Review: It's beutifull, full of passion, I don't know how to describe it, you better feel yourself

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Others have mentioned the slightly excessive use of head shots, but other than that slight downside this DVD is amazing. The audio quality is fantasic. If you like to listen to Rachmaninoff, than this is a MUST-HAVE!!! If you have a 5.1 Dolby Digital Decoder system with good speakers, you are in for the best DVD you will ever purchase.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Others have mentioned the slightly excessive use of head shots, but other than that slight downside this DVD is amazing. The audio quality is fantasic. If you like to listen to Rachmaninoff, than this is a MUST-HAVE!!! If you have a 5.1 Dolby Digital Decoder system with good speakers, you are in for the best DVD you will ever purchase.

Rating:
Summary: The best Classical DVD I have seen
Review: Outstanding, the orchestra and conductor are first rate, the pianist is so perfect the recording of the symphony splendid the overoll Dvd is the best Classical DVD I Have seen I fully recommend it to anybody absolutely first class

Rating:
Summary: very enjoyable
Review: rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto is one of my favorite piano concertos. if you like rachmaninov this is a must for your DVD
library, and you might also enjoy the naxos musical journey DVD
of rachmaninov's piano concertos nos. 2 & 3.

Rating:
Summary: More hands, less head!
Review: The Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 is one of the most beloved concertos of all time. For fans of this work, this will be an enjoyable addition to your collection. I don't know the soloist Zenziper that well. He delivers with a solid, but not flawless preformance. Some may be turned off by his facial expressions, but it is a very emotional piece afterall. If you haven't seen it, I would recommend the Rach 2 performance by Andrei Gavrilov under the direction of Ashkenazy in Moscow as the best choice available. Gavrilov's interpretation of the Rach 2 has no equal in my opinion. The video and audio technical qualities of this DVD are excellent.

Rating:
Summary: A must for fans of the Rach 2
Review: The Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 is one of the most beloved concertos of all time. For fans of this work, this will be an enjoyable addition to your collection. I don't know the soloist Zenziper that well. He delivers with a solid, but not flawless preformance. Some may be turned off by his facial expressions, but it is a very emotional piece afterall. If you haven't seen it, I would recommend the Rach 2 performance by Andrei Gavrilov under the direction of Ashkenazy in Moscow as the best choice available. Gavrilov's interpretation of the Rach 2 has no equal in my opinion. The video and audio technical qualities of this DVD are excellent.

Rating:
Summary: More hands, less head!
Review: The sound was great, but it showed a lot of the performer's head, perhaps too much. It did show some hands, but not enough.