Rachmaninoff: Solo Piano Recordings, Vol. 5

Rachmaninoff, Sergei

Sergey Rachmaninoff moved to America in 1918 and immediately began giving concerts to raise funds for his new life outside of Russia. Thomas Edison was the first to entice him into the recording studio in April 1919, and this fifth volume of Rachmaninov’s recordings opens with two works of his own composition. The ‘Barcarolle is the third of the set of pieces titled ‘Morceaux de salon, Op. 10,’ dedicated to the great Russian pianist Pavel Pabst. Only this and No. 5 ‘Humoresque,’ are heard today with any regularity and these are the only two from the set that Rachmaninoff recorded. These compositions complete Rachmaninoff’s work for Edison, the rest of which can be found on Volume 4. In 1920 Rachmaninoff moved to the Victor Company, and these first recordings, made with the acoustical process, reveal the perfectionist composer-pianist at his fascinating best.

Price: $19.98