Detroit Symphony Orchestra & Leonard Slatkin - Rachmaninov: The Isle of the Dead - Symphony No. 1 (2013/2015) [24/192]

After the disastrous failure of its première in 1897, Rachmaninov's youthfully exuberant Symphony No. 1 had to wait until after his death before it was reconstructed from the surviving orchestral parts and performed again, in Moscow in 1945. Since then it has taken its rightful place as one of the great Russian symphonic works of the late nineteenth century. The Isle of the Dead, Op. 29 is a vivid and powerful symphonic poem based on a well-known nineteenth-century painting by the Swiss symbolist artist Arnold Bocklin.

„This recording of the First Symphony is arguably the finest since Ashkenazy’s… Slatkin always has performed Rachmaninov as well as just about anyone alive today, and this cycle, quietly and with little fanfare as it has gradually appeared, sustains his reputation.“ (David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com)

„Slatkin fearlessly brings into the focus the symphony’s originality…through a sure grasp of salient detail and a long-term, disciplined notion of the architecture. These are impressive, highly desirable interpretations—budget in price but invaluable for the insights they bring so animatedly and poignantly into Rachmaninov’s world.“ (Geoffrey Norris, Gramophone)

Tracklist:
1. Ostrov myortvikh (The Isle of the Dead), Op. 29 21:19
2. I. Grave - Allegro ma non troppo - Moderato - Allegro vivace - L'istesso tempo - Allegro molto 13:55
3. II. Allegro animato - Meno mosso - Tempo I 08:28
4. III. Larghetto - Piu mosso - Largo un poco - Con moto - Tempo I 09:55
5. IV. Allegro con fuoco - Marciale - Con animo - Allegro mosso - Allegro con fuoco - Presto - Largo 12:43

Personnel:
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Leonard Slatkin, conductor

Digitally remastered