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Label:
  LPO - http://www.lpo.co.uk/
Serial:
  LPO0004
Title:
  Rachmaninov: The Isle of the Dead, Symphonic Dances - Jurowski
Description:
  Rachmaninov: The Isle of the Dead Op. 29, Symphonic Dances Op. 45

London Philharmonic Orchestra
Vladimir Jurowski (conductor)
Track listing:
 
Genre:
  Classical - Orchestral
Content:
  Stereo/Multichannel
Media:
  Hybrid
Recording type:
 
Recording info:
  Recording producers: Tim Oldham (The Isle of the Dead), Tony Harrison (Symphonic Dances)
Recording engineer: Limo Hearn
Mastering engineer: Mike Hatch
The Isle of the Dead recorded live at the Royal Festival Hall on 8 December 2004, and Symphonic Dances recorded live at the Royal Festival Hall on 29 October 2003

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Related titles: 3


 
Reviews: 2

Site review by Polly Nomial June 2, 2007
Performance:   Sonics:  
The text for this review has been moved to the new site. You can read it here:

http://www.HRAudio.net/showmusic.php?title=3073#reviews

Review by beardawgs May 12, 2005 (9 of 11 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:  
The second SACD from LPO is even better than the first one (Shostakovich). There are much less non musical noises and, appropriately, Jarowski produces a completely different orchestral texture than Masur. LPO sounds like big lump of sound in The Isle of the Dead, building up slowly towards the central climax and dropping naturally back to the opening march rhythm, still full of tension and suspense. But in the Symphonic Dances the orchestra shines in much better light than with Masur.

Symphonic dances are meant to be an orchestral showpiece, and LPO players are top notch. Not just secure and accurate, they shade and paint every section and movement appropriately and the piece as a whole is bursting with energy. Jarowski keeps his players at the edges of their seats and manages to produce a distinct Slavic feel throughout, especially in the second movement making the waltz sounding like homage to Tchaikovsky. Even if this is the first available recording of these two pieces on SACD in Europe, it is a clear first choice.

The recording serves them well too. Thanks to the shorter timing LF channel is added, but it is still 4.1. Similar to the Shostakovich disc, hall acoustics are neutralised, but there are no occasional gaps in the middle. Just a bit of depth and perspective is missing (the other disc is slightly better in that respect), this one sounds like a good stereo recording even when listened in MC and it is recorded a bit closer. Lower range is distinct and solid, but the high strings in forte suffer from some shrillness, due to lack of space around them. All things concerned, it is a solid 4 star recording.

These recordings are made few months apart from their Shostakovich recordings and it is interesting to compare how orchestra responds differently to different conductors. Any reservations I had for recommending Shostakovich’s disc are gone here, with all the qualities of capturing a live event preserved. The density and richness of music inspired not just performers, but will inspire the listeners too to come back to this recording over and over again.

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Works: 2  

Sergei Rachmaninov - Symphonic Dances, Op. 45
Sergei Rachmaninov - The Isle of the Dead, Op. 29