Symphonies Vol 1: Symphony No 2 in E minor

Music at its grandest! Listening to this wonderfully romantic "Russian" symphony we may find it difficult to understand that Rachmaninov's first symphony was a disastrous flop - despite the fact that his extraordinary talent had already been recognized while he was a student at the Moscow Conservatory. And though his second piano concerto had been an enormous success he still felt a need to re-establish himself and he subtitled the first movement of the new symphony Et resurrexit? (And did he rise again?) Rachmaninov conducted the first performance of this large-scale work in 1908 and it was a success from the start. Susbequently many conductors have felt called upon to reduce the length of the symphony but it is claimed that when Eugene Ormandy requested Rachmaninov to make cuts himself the score was duly returned with two whole bars excised!

Owain Arwel Hughes, who requires no introduction to BIS fans, naturally gives us every bar of the complete score. Conducting the Royal Scottish National Orchestra he relishes in the sweep and beauty of this grandly romantic symphony. Sometimes music requests nothing more from us but to be enjoyed. Like this disc which is the first in a cycle of Rachmaninov symphonies.