Sergei Rachmaninoff - Rachmaninoff Plays Rachmaninoff: Zenph Re-performance
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Free Music Notes for Rachmaninoff Plays Rachmaninoff: Zenph Re-performance
Free Music Review: Fascinating re-creation
Hit: 5 Stars
In addition to being one of the most important composers of the early 20th century to emerge out of Russia, Sergei Rachmaninoff was also one of the great pianists in the history of the instrument. Famous for his large hands that spaned a twelfth interval, capivating and nuanced melodic textures and complex figurations, Rachmaninoff's playing has always fascinated pianists and music lovers.
This modern recreation - using softwear analyzing his playing dynamics (touch, pedeling, speed etc) that is then fed to a Steineway Grand - seeks to recreate Rachmaninoff's exact style (minus missed notes, good or bad) in modern, quality stereo sound. Whether one agrees to its relevance and authenticity in the scheme of things, it is a totally fascinating approach from sound science and engineering.
First of all this is a rich collection of Rachmaninoff's solo piano compositions and transcriptions. I was not so familiar with Rachmaninoff's solo works until this disc and was transfixed to hear each piece over and over. It became clear why this pianist is so admired.
What I found most striking listening to this disc with no expectations was the exceedingly nuanced and beautiful pianism. There is a smoothness and a fresh, organic nature to the playing that shows no unnecessary/excessive elaboration, rubato, over pedaling. Its hard to decribe the effect - the music just seeems to flow effortlessly like a clear stream of water through a tranquil forest. You don't hear mushed-over textures from excess pedaling (which the composer was known not to engage in) but nice, clear sonorities and distinctiveness of the notes.
Not sure why so much negative press on the sound quality. From my ears, it sounds equal or better than any of the other 1000 classical discs. Of course SACD would have been ideal and that is a disappointment (but apparently not technically possible at time of recording - see first review). The bottom line for this reviewer was that I appreciated this project which has really pulled me into the world of Rachmaninoff - both as a fascinating composer and a supreme pianist. Compositions - 5 stars; Performance - 5 stars; Sound quality - 4.5 stars.
Free Music Review: Sitting in the room as Rachmaninoff plays.
Hit: 5 Stars
As a software engineer at Zenph Studios, I am especially proud of the work our production team did on this album. Rachmaninoff's compositions are well known, but this album brings to light his amazing artistry as a pianist. Listen, for example, to this performance of his famous C-sharp minor prelude; he plays it with much more subtlety than most modern interpretations, using dynamic contrast to establish a captivating dialog between one voice tolling the opening three-note motif and other distinctly-softer voices answering it.
The other pieces on the album are also pianistic treats. Rachmaninoff's transcriptions of "Flight of the Bumblebee" and "Scherzo from a Midsummer Night's Dream" showcase his dexterity, and are great fun to hear. The intricacy of voicing and rubato in Rachmaninoff's performances of his original works is astounding, and each track is packed full of little musical surprises.
This album was re-performed on a 1909 Steinway model D on which Rachmaninoff may have very well played. Thanks to recording engineer Richard King and everyone involved in the preparation of the piano, the sound of that wonderful instrument comes through beautifully in this album. This disc presents each piece from two perspectives: an exceptional stereo version places you near the front of the audience while Rachmaninoff plays, and an intimate binaural stereo version seats you on the bench next to him. The binaural version was recorded using a special dummy head with a microphone in each ear, carefully positioned so that when the tracks are played back through headphones, each note comes from its correct place in space (lower notes toward the left, higher notes toward the right). This may be one of the best sounding piano albums ever made.
The first two posted reviews warn that this is not a SACD like our first two releases. We would have loved to issue this in SACD surround, and Sony Masterworks recorded the masters necessary to do so (so, they exist), but Sony has since closed its SACD pressing facilities in the USA.
Free Music Review: Playing of unsurpassed beauty
Hit: 5 Stars
It is difficult to describe Rachmaninoff's playing. Words alone do not do justice to it. I will begin by mentioning that people who heard him play said that he just did not play wrong notes, ever. This is obvious given the total transparency of his delivery. All the notes are there, played with utter clarity, grouped according to their role in the phrase, and animated by feeling, expression, and utter musical sense. He takes a phrase and molds it exquisitely, plays with the rhythm as if creating it. All along, the different inflexions, the hierarchy of tones within a phrase, the subtle nuance, the attention to harmony, vertical as well as horizontal, the rhythmic creativity, all aspects of his performance make the listener feel that he is witnessing the creation of the piece.
In this disc I strongly prefer the Kreisler, all the Rachmainoff pieces, and the Mendelssohn. While the Bach is of course totally understandable and makes musical sense, we are used today to more historically oriented performances, and yet the Bach is beautifully played. Nothing that Rachmaninoff touches is devoid of magic and life.
Free Music Review: Magnificent pianism
Hit: 5 Stars
While many of the reviewers have commented (mostly positively) on the technical aspects of this recreation, I must say that the disc has given me ample musical pleasure and an opportunity to reflect on Rachmaninov's standing among 20th century pianists. The Zenph technology enables us to appreciate Rachmaninov's wide range, clear articulation and poetic imagination. He sounds to me like a very 'modern' pianist - rubatos are sensitively used, articulation is crystal clear and the precision of the playing remarkable. The Bach transcriptions are a joy to listen, the Tchaikovsky lullaby a 4-minute marvel and the playng of his own Etudes Tableaux and the famous C-sharp Minor preludes definitive. One more thought - I find that my appreciation for other great Rachmaninov interpreters, notably Horowitz and Richter, has increased after listening to this disc. It shows what creative artists like these can do, using their own imagination and technique to reveal different dimensions of the music from those revealed by the composer himself. More Rachmaninoff from Zenph, please!Free Music Review: Thank You.
Hit: 5 Stars
Zenph -
I cannot tell you how appreciative I am that you came out with this latest production. Rachmaninoff has long been a family favorite, and a topic of much discussion, I don't think any of us ever thought that we would actually hear him play - how could we imagine such a thing?
I have read all I can about Zenph and I do not fully understand how they do what they do ... but I quite honestly do not care. Bringing these artists back to life is enough for me. We are planning a family trip around hearing Zenph's Rachmaninoff performance at Carnegie Hall on November 6th - what a great way to start the holiday season.
A Huge Fan