S. Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 3, Vocalise & The Isle of the Dead

Rachmaninoff’s tone poem The Isle of the Dead was composed in Dresden in 1908 – 09, inspired by the 1880 painting of that name by the Swiss symbolist Arnold Böcklin. The painting depicts a ferryman rowing a coffin towards the Isle of the Dead, and Rachmaninoff, unusually setting the piece in five beats to the bar, captures the atmosphere and the motion of oars in the water in the most extraordinary detail. Dedicated to the outstanding Ukrainian-born coloratura soprano Antonina Vasilyevna Nezhdanova, the ‘Vocalise’ was first performed, by her with the composer, in January 1916. After creating a version with orchestral accompaniment, Rachmaninoff then produced the version heard here, for orchestra alone. Following the Russian revolution and his exile to the USA, the compositional output of Rachmaninoff declined dramatically. In great demand both as a virtuoso performer and as a conductor, he toured extensively, but struggled to incorporate ‘modern music’ into his compositional style. In the mid 1930s he acquired a holiday villa in Lucerne, and surprised the world with his ‘Paganini’ Rhapsody, quickly followed by the Third Symphony. Sinfonia of London and John Wilson demonstrate exceptional ensemble playing throughout, and their glowing string sound suits this repertoire perfectly. Recorded in Surround Sound, and available as a Hybrid SACD.

Reviews

Performance * Sonics (Multichannel) ***

“…On SACD until now there has been no version I have heard that combines both a top flight performance with the demonstration quality sound that the music deserves. I have no hesitation in stating that, at a stroke, Wilson’s masterly and sympathetic reading combined with the luxuriant Chandos 5.0 multi-channel recording makes this a clear first choice among modern recordings.” Graham Williams – HRAudio.net – 10 November 2022 “Full, rich, atmospheric, this Chandos recording is top of the class” Richard Fairman – Financial Times – 1 December 2022

“…On SACD until now there has been no version I have heard that combines both a top flight performance with the demonstration quality sound that the music deserves. I have no hesitation in stating that, at a stroke, Wilson’s masterly and sympathetic reading combined with the luxuriant Chandos 5.0 multi-channel recording makes this a clear first choice among modern recordings.” Graham Williams – cdchoice.co.uk – 29 November 2022

“… John Wilson and the Sinfonia of London here deliver an authoritative version of Rachmaninoff’s Third Symphony, in impressive SACD surround sound, along with The Isle of the Dead and Rachmaninoff’s own orchestral version of the Vocalise… for those who want an SACD take on the work, this will become the gold standard.” Barry Forshaw – cdchoice.co.uk – 29 November 2022

Crescendo Joker

Sound 9 Record 10 Repertoire 8.5 Interpretation 10

“…From the first minutes of the Isle of the Dead , John Wilson manages to impose the ideal climate of the flow of the waves and the backwash leading to the island place and to unleash the orchestral swells. The sound recording, fundamentally brilliant, plunges us into the heart of a white-hot orchestra and a formidable richness of timbres and colors. John Wilson and his Londoners impose a reading that is at the top of the discography … We stay on the same peaks with a superb Symphony No. 3 of colors and narrations. John Wilson knows how to find the right tone … Between these two orchestral maelstroms, the legendary Vocalise, given here in the composer’s orchestration, is an ideal transition, especially since John Wilson avoids all the sentimentality that so often tarnishes this score. A still essential album from a magical artistic tandem! Lovers of orchestras and demonstration sound will not be able to ignore this new huge success.” Pierre Jean Tribot – Crescendo-magazine.be – 24 November 2022

“… in the capable hands of John Wilson the piece [Isle of the Dead] is as riveting as it should be from the very beginning. The trick lies in bringing out all the little details, those whirls and eddies so often left buried in the texture …” Marina Frolova-Walker – Gramophone magazine – November 2022

Recommended

“A delectable trio of Rachmaninov works played by a virtuoso orchestra ideally conducted.” Ralph Moore – MusicWeb-International.com – 3 November 2022

“Implacable tread, eerie atmosphere, attention to the minutest of details (such as quiet timpani figures), a wide dynamic range, and great significance applied to invention and incident that makes this performance [The Isle of the Dead], so compelling … The slow movement [Third Symphony] is beautifully done – nostalgic and yearning – the scherzo-like middle section finely poised, played with virtuosity, with Charlie Lovell-Jones’s violin solos later especially enticing; and if the Finale is just a notch too quick (even quicker on the opening material’s return), it is also emotive and (fugue) exciting and exacting, with the coda, led-off by a notable flute solo, chased by demons, unstoppable…” Colin Anderson – ColinsColumn.com – 30 October 2022 “… This is one of the great 20th century symphonies – if you don’t already know it, start here. Wilson’s couplings are as impressive. The 5/8 rhythms [of The Isle of the Dead] are perfectly pointed, and Wilson makes the lyrical second theme soar. The orchestral transcription of the Vocalise offers light relief, played here with winning directness and sincerity. It’s all great. The Chandos widescreen sound is spectacular, and David Fanning’s notes are a good read. The Kandinsky sleeve art is appealing. You need this disc.” Graham Rickson – theartsdesk.com – 22 October 2022