Eugene Ormandy - Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2 (1959) [2016] Hi-Res

Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27 is a symphony by the
Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff, written in 1906–07. The
premiere was conducted by the composer himself in Saint
Petersburg on 8 February 1908. Its duration is approximately 60
minutes when performed uncut; cut performances can be as short
as 35 minutes. The score is dedicated to Sergei Taneyev, a
Russian composer, teacher, theorist, author, and pupil of Pyotr
Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Alongside his Piano Concerto No. 2 and Piano
Concerto No. 3, this symphony remains one of the composer's
best known compositions.
At the time his Symphony No. 2 was composed, Rachmaninoff
had had two successful seasons as the conductor of the Imperial
Opera at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. He considered himself
first and foremost a composer and felt that the performance
schedule was detracting from his time to compose. He then
moved his wife and infant daughter to Dresden, Germany, to
spend more time composing and to also escape the political
tumult that would put Russia on the path to revolution. The family
remained in Dresden for three years, spending summers at
Rachmaninoff's in-law's estate of Ivanovka. It was during this time
that Rachmaninoff wrote not only his Second Symphony, but also
the tone poem Isle of the Dead.
Rachmaninoff was not altogether convinced that he was a gifted
symphonist. At its 1897 premiere, his Symphony No. 1 (conducted
by Alexander Glazunov) was considered an utter disaster;
criticism of it was so harsh that it sent the young composer into a
bout of depression. Even after the success of his Piano Concerto
No. 2 (which won the Glinka Award and 500 rubles in 1904),
Rachmaninoff still lacked confidence in his writing. He was very
unhappy with the first draft of his Second Symphony but after
months of revision he finished the work and conducted the
premiere in 1908 to great applause. The work earned him
another Glinka Award ten months later. The triumph regained
Rachmaninoff's sense of self-worth as a symphonist.
Because of its formidable length, Symphony No. 2 has been the
subject of many revisions, particularly in the 1940s and 1950s,
which reduced the piece from nearly an hour to as little as 35
minutes. Before 1970 the piece was usually performed in one of
its revised, shorter, versions. Since then orchestras have used
the complete version almost exclusively, although sometimes with
the omission of a repeat in the first movement.


Tracks:

1 Largo. Allegro moderato 16:30
2 Allegro molto 8:00
3 Adagio 11:57
4 Allegro vivace 11:16

Personnel:

The Philadelphia Orchestra
Eugene Ormandy