Symphony No 2 / Vocalise Op 34 No 14
Rachmaninoff's lush Symphony No. 2 qualifies as the archetypal Romantic symphony, full of opulent melodies and plush orchestral textures. López-Cobos and his Cincinnatians ease into the work--the slow, dark opening, with its subterranean basses and the climb up the tonal ladder to the brighter winds and strings, is played beautifully but without the inner tension or forward impetus it needs. The performance kicks into high gear for a driving Scherzo; the Adagio, with its gorgeous clarinet solo, is lovely; and the powerful finale climaxes the work in grand style. There are more fervent recordings than López-Cobos's, but none that bring out as much orchestral detail. The filler, theVocalise, is a can't-miss delight.Ormandy,Temirkanov, and Previn's old EMI recording with the London Symphony may be preferable for the Symphony, but this one will give great pleasure. The disc is recorded at a low level, so you'll have to kick up the volume to get the most out of Telarc's stunning sonics.--Dan Davis