Finally making its appearance on CD, Paul Kletzki’s 1969 Rachmaninov Third emerges as one of the finest-ever recordings of this work. Everything falls into place as Kletzki exploits Rachmaninov’s luxurious orchestral palette to create a magical atmosphere, with lively pacing, idiomatic phrasing, and uninhibited use of rubato. Listen to how he teasingly pulls at the first movement’s main theme, pegs the big climax, or milks the second movement’s swooning melody. This is an unabashedly romantic interpretation, for which Kletzki gets vibrant and colorful playing from the Suisse Romande orchestra, particularly the brass and woodwinds. Good as the first two movements are, his jubilant finale stands out as one of the truly engaging performances. The vintage Decca recording belies its age, with solid presence and wide dynamic range.
Even more impressive sonically is Vladimir Ashkenazy’s electric rendition of Rachmaninov’s Tchaikovsky-influenced Youth Symphony with the Concertgebouw Orchestra from 1983. Ashkenazy returns to his piano stool for a glittering and heartfelt account of Piano Concerto No. 4, with André Previn and the London Symphony providing a warmly passionate accompaniment. The sound is less open than for the other recordings, but otherwise it does the job. An excellent Eloquence release, required for Rachmaninov fans.
