St. Louis Symphony Orchestra; Abbey Simon; Leonard Slatkin - Sergey Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 4; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

Sergey Rachmaninov felt compelled to compose because I must give expression to my feelings, just as I talk to give utterance to my thoughts. His fame as a pianist initially overshadowed his stature as a composer, but it is the emotional intensity and lyrical expressiveness of scores such as the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini that we appreciate today. The youthful and sweepingly extrovert First Piano Concerto has hints of Tchaikovsky, while the marvellous Fourth Piano Concerto is truly emblematic of Rachmaninov's glorious final creative period. The Elite Recordings for VOX by legendary producers Marc Aubort and Joanna Nickrenz are considered by audiophiles to be amongst the finest sounding examples of orchestral recordings. This newly restored edition of legendary sessions will be eagerly sought out by audiophile collectors and the many fans of these vibrant and now classic performances.