What is not mentioned above is that Rachmaninoff was not only a great composer but made is living for the most part as a concert performer, perhaps the last great pianist/composer. His hands were massive, said to equal Liszt's, which is why it is the rare player who can play either with ease, they wrote for their hands.
For lushness there is little that compares with his Rhapsody on a Theme by Paginini, especially by Van Cliburn, I would second the Vespers by the Robert SHaw Singers, I would add his cello sonotas by Steven Isserliss, also the piano concertos by Askenazy, Rubinstien and late Agerich, his orchestral suites are also quite nice.
Hearing Rachmaninoff play his own works or Liszt is amazing his speed, acuracy and timing are different than what we are now used to but their compelling sound is worth listening to
For lushness there is little that compares with his Rhapsody on a Theme by Paginini, especially by Van Cliburn, I would second the Vespers by the Robert SHaw Singers, I would add his cello sonotas by Steven Isserliss, also the piano concertos by Askenazy, Rubinstien and late Agerich, his orchestral suites are also quite nice.
Hearing Rachmaninoff play his own works or Liszt is amazing his speed, acuracy and timing are different than what we are now used to but their compelling sound is worth listening to