Favorite Performances of Russian Compositions

Last friday I was driving home and after a long day of work I was looking forward to enjoying some nice mellow classical music on the radio.

Well, luck of all luck I happened to tune in right at the beginning of one of my favorite pieces Prokofiev's Piano Concerto #3. The first thing that struck me was the clarity and openess of this recording, but as I continued to listen I became absolutely riveted by both the orchestration and the performance of the pianist.

I've listened to classical music since I was a toddler, but by no means do I consider myself well versed in this genre. However, throughout life I've found that certain types of music/genres make slightly different emotional connections with me. I especially have an affinity for Russian composers such as Tchaikowsky, Rachmaninoff, Mussorgsky, Scriabin and Prokofiev.

During my drive home I heard many things in this interpretation of Prokofiev's 3rd I had never heard before, but more than anything I was completely absorbed by this performance. When I finally arrived in my parking structure I knew that there was still another five minutes remaining in this piece so I parked the car, shut off the engine and listened to the finale with my eyes closed. Wow, what a powerful performance. I don't think I'd ever heard Prokofiev's 3rd played like this and was never as affected by it like I was that night.

When the recording ended there was a short silence, then the radio announcer said this was "The" recording of Sergei P's Piano Concerto #3. I had to agree. But when he said the pianist was Gary Graffman, and that it was conducted by George Szell with the Cleveland Orchestra in a 1966 recording I felt pretty dumb. Although I have a limited knowledge of classical music I'm no newbie, but I thought, "who are these guys?"

After searching for the CD at Amazon and reading the reviews it seems many people feel the same way as the radio announcer on the LA station I heard it on. Some of the reviewers also mentioned recordings of this piece by Martha Argerich with Claudio Abbado and Vladimir Ashkenazy with Andre Previn. Are there any others to consider?

I've also never forgotten Barry Douglas's performance of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition during the 1986 Tchaikowsky Competition and Vladimir Horowitz's performance of Scriabin's two pieces during his return to Moscow.

As you relax during the holiday weekend, maybe you can reflect on some of your favorite performances and share them with your fellow A'goNers.

Happy Holidays!