Three other great recordings
Eiji Oue (conductor) This, from 2007, is one of much feted sound engineer
Keith O Johnson’s aural masterpieces, by some distance the most spectacularly recorded version on disc; also available on vinyl, it is a hi-fi buff’s dream. However, this would count for little unless the performance warranted all the loving care lavished on it. It does, superbly. Each movement is perfectly paced, inner detail is wonderfully clear even in the most densely scored passages and in the final pages, the Japanese conductor Eiji Oue whips his magnificently responsive Minnesota Orchestra players into a veritable frenzy. (Reference Recordings RR-96CD)
Vasily Petrenko (conductor) Liverpool’s ‘honorary Scouser’ will be sorely missed when he heads to pastures new next year. Petrenko’s 15-year tenure at the helm of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra has seen the ensemble’s fortunes continue to rise, and their set of the Rachmaninov symphonies is arguably their finest achievement on record. This beautifully recorded 2010 disc is terrific in all respects. Every member
of the cast deserves a gold star but, above all, Rob Buckland’s plangent alto saxophone solo is the most affecting I’ve heard. (Avie AV2188)
Mikhail Pletnev (conductor)
Mikhail Pletnev can be a rather cool customer at the best of times and there are few signs of him bearing his ‘Russian soul’ here. What we get instead in this 1997 recording are architectural grip and orchestral playing of the highest order from the hand-picked players of the Russian National Orchestra, the ensemble founded by Pletnev himself in 1990. With its sense of restraint and immaculate observation to detail, this account comes closest to being Rachmaninov’s Symphony No. 4 in all but name – which may, of course, be Pletnev’s intention. Sound quality is very good, but lacks the bloom found on the very best recordings.
(Deutsche Grammophon E457 5982)
And one to avoid…
Hailed as a sonic wonder in its day, Donald Johanos’s 1967 Dallas Symphony recording for the Vox label is still much sought after today, even at ridiculous asking prices on vinyl. The playing is decent enough, but the mangled sound quality is some of the worst so-called hi-fi I’ve ever heard.