Rachmaninov - 24 Preludes [Ashkenazy]
Rachmaninov - 24 Preludes [Ashkenazy]Here's a lovely two disc box set of the Rachmaninov 24 Preludes, this is now reissued by Decca in a two disc slimline case, but these fatbox original issues are very desirable, i like these sturdy things, and the original picture on the front, of Rachmaninov himself, standing by a giant tree, with an old suit and even wearing gloves, nicely sepia toned, and the lettering done in orange and yellow, this is wonderful to own one of these.
Vladimir Ashkenazy is now 73, born in Russia, still going strong, i think he concentrates more on his conducting nowadays, rather than being a pianist, he made these recording in the mid seventies.
This time in listening to these wonderful miniatures, [miniatures in time, but not in scale and concept], i was amazed at the variety and endless creativity of Rachmaninov, each Prelude is like a mini Tone Poem, but without any story like to help you along, on this listening, i was most impressed with Preludes 5, 16 & 23 [Op23/4, Op32/5 & Op32/12], the first two are quite similar, very serene, beautiful and touching, in sweet major keys, and the last is agitated and troublesome, in a minor key, my favourite Prelude has to be No16 [Op32/5], it starts off with a note that just hangs in the air for a moment, adding a special emphasis, the tune in the right hand is so endearing [0:13+], and when those gorgeous trills come along [0:33+], it's perfect, they make you truly melt, this opening is repeated again [0:50+], with the gorgeous trills on [1:10+], the opening is played a third time, but louder and different [1:46+], with constant trills until the original beginning comes back [2:10+], but this time the added trills are missing, in their place is some ghostly very quiet murmur of the trill in the left hand, very cute and appropriate in closing down the work, the piece lasts just over 3 minutes, but Rachmaninov is able to pack so much into so little, and Ashkenazy is a great advocate of Rachmaninov.
Here's Valentina Lisitsa playing Prelude No16 on YouTube.
