COMPOSERS: Rachmaninov
LABELS: Chandos
WORKS: Piano Concerto No. 1 in F sharp minor; Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
PERFORMER: Earl Wild (piano)RPO/Jascha Horenstein
CATALOGUE NO: CHAN 6605 ADD (1966)
Earl Wild’s technique has always been virtuosic but sensitive. Even in the most Romantic works he has a clear view of the architecture and avoids undue excesses. His playing here is on the fast side. He knocks more than 10 minutes off Howard Shelley’s timings for the same programme (also on Chandos) and sometimes reaches the Nigel Mansell level. But the music sparkles, the repeated chords clatter and the slow movements exude a velvety richness. Wadham Sutton
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 1 in F sharp minor; Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Earl Wild’s technique has always been virtuosic but sensitive. Even in the most Romantic works he has a clear view of the architecture and avoids undue excesses. His playing here is on the fast side. He knocks more than 10 minutes off Howard Shelley’s timings for the same programme (also on Chandos) and sometimes reaches the Nigel Mansell level. But the music sparkles, the repeated chords clatter and the slow movements exude a velvety richness. Wadham Sutton
Our rating
4
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:31 pm