Osmo Vänskä conducts Rachmaninov and Bax: Recorded live at Royal Festival Hall, London, 8 December 2007.

Listen on Presto Music. Free thirty day trial. Find out more.

These are two marvellous orchestral display-pieces… Despite a host of sterling British competition from Boult, Barbirolli, Handley, Lloyd-Jones et al, Osmo Vänskä seems to have totally identified... — BBC Music Magazine, February 2009, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 27th Oct 2008
Catalogue No: LPO0036
Label: LPO
Length: 53 minutes

Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days

Bax: Tintagel

Work length13:48

$1.60

$2.60

Osmo Vänskä, London Philharmonic Orchestra

Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 44

Work length39:22

$4.40

$7.80

Osmo Vänskä, London Philharmonic Orchestra

I. Lento - Piu vivo

Track length14:44

$1.60

$2.60

II. Adagio ma non troppo - Allegro vivace

Track length12:36

$1.40

$2.60

III. Allegro

Track length12:02

$1.40

$2.60

About
Reviews
Explore

About

Osmo Vänskä conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra in thrilling live recordings of works by Bax and Rachmaninov, two composers renowned for their sweeping romanticism. As his tone poem unfolds, Bax’s music evokes legendary images of Tintagel whilst also reflecting a passionate love affair. Similarly, Rachmaninov’s third and most expressive symphony is a work of intense lyricism, unified by a melancholic and emotional melody.

This is a previously unavailable recording of two live performances.

Osmo Vänskä is a highly praised recorded conductor. He is currently recording the complete Beethoven symphony cycle with the Minnesota Orchestra.

In this recording Vänskä brings his innate understanding of Sibelius to Bax, one of Sibelius’s contemporaries. Vänskä can give the same voice to Rachmaninov as any great Russian conductor. He has a distinguished profile on both sides of the Atlantic. He is Chief Conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra and also has an active European career.

‘The players revelled in its glamorous seascape.’ The Guardian concert review on Bax, December 07

‘Drawing a surging performance that was by turns panoramic and passionate, the Finnish conductor proved himself a potent advocate for this neglected British composer… [This was followed by] a glittering and luxuriant performance of Rachmaninov’s Symphony No 3.’ The Sunday Telegraph concert review on Bax and Rachmaninov, December 07

Reviews

February 2009

These are two marvellous orchestral display-pieces… Despite a host of sterling British competition from Boult, Barbirolli, Handley, Lloyd-Jones et al, Osmo Vänskä seems to have totally identified with Bax and actually presents us with one of the most thrilling Tintagels currently available. The Rachmaninov is also a notable account. ...Vänskä accumulates strength through the first movement and the second and third movements are splendidly incisive, with a tumultuous impetus to the finale...

2010

Vänskä's Tintagel has real fire in its belly allied to a surging momentum, and he uncovers many a fleck of exquisite detail within Bax's endlessly resourceful and wondrously evocative scoring.
The ecstatic B major sunburst that heralds the second subject's unforgettable return has all the thrusting ardour one could wish for. The justly enthusiastic applause bursts in somewhat too precipitately for comfort.
The Rachmaninov (complete with exposition repeat in the first movement) is just as involving, not quite as volatile or heart-on-sleeve as some but intensely refreshing all the same in its zestful swagger, scrupulous preparation, limpid beauty and concern for the bigger scheme (how shrewd of Vänskä to keep in reserve such a scintillating burst of energy for the headlong closing pages).
The engineering does ample justice to some splendidly selfless and thoroughly invigorating music-making, though in the Bax you might need to crank up the volume a notch higher than usual. A strongly recommendable issue.

March 2009

…Vänskä's… Tintagel has real fire in its belly allied to a surging momentum, and he uncovers many a fleck of exquisite detail within Bax's endlessly resourceful and wondrously evocative scoring… The Rachmaninov… is just as involving… intensely refreshing... in its zestful swagger, scrupulous preparation... limpid beauty and concern for the bigger scheme (how shrewd of Vänskä to keep in reserve such a scintillating burst of energy for the headlong closing pages).

Osmo Vänskä conducts Rachmaninov and Bax

CD

Downloads

Contents

Download queue