Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 4, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini / Ormandy, Entremont
These were the performances that generations of music  lovers in this country grew up with, and they have survived the test of time  remarkably well. The Philadelphia Orchestra plays Rachmaninoff with special  authority (it was the composer's favorite orchestra), and Ormandy was one of the  composer's best friends as a conductor. Philippe Entremont himself never enjoyed  a reputation as one of the world's most exciting pianists, but then you put on  the recording and it all sounds so good, so intelligently performed. The First  and Fourth piano concertos enjoy nothing like the popularity of the Second and  Third, but this inexpensive disc ought to win them many new friends.--David  Hurwitz