This ambitious project presents Rachmaninoff’s four piano concertos and the Paganini Rhapsody. The five works were recorded live at Walt Disney Concert Hall by Yuja Wang, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and its Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel in February 2023, as part of the Rachmaninoff 150 celebrations...

As part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of Rachmaninoff, Deutsche Grammophon release this 38 track (2 hr, 28 min, 53 sec) album recorded at the Walt Disney Concert Hall under the leadership of Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel. Performed by pianist Yuja Wang and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, this release features Sergei Rachmaninoff's four piano concertos as well as the Paganini Rhapsody.

The production values are impressive and the entire album really showcases arguably the composer's best work. What is compelling about theses pieces is that they are as accessible to those unfamiliar with the work as they are to classical music aficionados.

For those coming to this fresh, it may be interesting to discover that 'Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18 - II. Adagio sostenuto' was the inspiration for Eric Carmen's 1975 song 'All By Myself'. It's also been used in numerous movies, most notably Brief Encounter (1945).

Carmen would also go on to pen 'Never Gonna Fall in Love Again' which heavily borrowed from Rachmaninoff's 'Adagio' from Symphony No. 2. In addition, parts of Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini op. 43, were used as the theme tune to LWT show The South Bank Show.

The layers built into these pieces, not to mention the sheer emotion poured into the performances, makes this a wonderful introduction to one of the great classical composers. For those who enjoy their classical music to tug at the heart strings, then this album will be one you'll enjoy for years to come.

10

Darren Rea