Search - Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2/ Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 on DVD

What DVD Should be for Classical Music Lovers

Richard Vallis | New York | 04/01/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These performances are truly extraordinary. Zenziper, virtually unknown in the U.S., turns out to be a tremendously expressive musician. The experience of the music is aided greatly by his visual demeanor. The orchestra, composed mostly of young Russian musicians, plays with great dedication and youthful passion which is again enhanced by the visual presentation. The monologue by Zenziper, available on the DVD, is rambling but highly philosophical and is filmed with artful cinematic values.All in all, a wonderful experience for a music lover not available on conventional CD."

Do You Like Your Rachmaninoff Fast or Slow?

Joe Townley | Los Angeles | 10/27/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Excellent

Joe | 12/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

A must for fans of the Rach 2

Chris Magney | 01/16/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."