Sunday 11 March 2012

Suk, and Petrenko

Dvorak's third and fourth piano trios played by the Suk Trio are highly enjoyable. As the saying goes: they don't play like this any more. The playing has a sense of intimacy and enjoyment.

Less pleased with Vasily Petrenko and the highly capable Liverpool Philharmonic in Rachmaninov's third symphony. I am not an uncritical admirer of Rachmaninov but can greatly enjoy the second and third piano concertos, the second symphony, and a few other bits and pieces. If I don't once again enjoy the third symphony very much, I think the fault probably lies more with Rachmaninov than with Petrenko. It is also unfortunate that, whereas Petrenko's superb Shostakovich recordings with the same orchestra were on Naxos, the Rachmaninov is on EMI. The price has doubled, the recording is not as good nor as vivid. You pays more and gets less. The EMI has two unwanted fill-ups: yet another Vocalise, and a somewhat forgettable Caprice bohémien. Not a CD I should have bought – especially at that price. I hope Petrenko and the Liverpool Phil return to Naxos.

1 comment:

RabinFan said...

Pity they also don't play the Dvorak PT 1 & 2. I bought this boxed set recently.