Owain Arwel Hughes seems content to let Rachmaninov’s multi-faceted Third Symphony play itself, not a wise choice in this music, which needs a definite interpretive stance and emotional commitment if it isn’t to sound like the sterile throwback its early detractors claimed it to be. Ormandy, Jansons and Ashkenazy provide this in spades, while Hughes is rather plain-faced about the whole thing. We get no grand sweep in the climaxes of the first movement’s exposition and development, or in the finale’s swooning second theme, while the normally exciting central scherzo of the second movement is a decided non-starter. Though Hughes gets the Royal Scottish National Orchestra to play with an impressive degree of refinement, he misses many opportunities for orchestral coloring, as in the horn chorale at the end of the first movement exposition (listen to how Ashkenazy’s Concertgebouw players add a deliciously burnished richness to this passage). Hughes’ uninvolved stance in the finale sounds positively dull next to Jansons’ stirring energy and brilliance.
Hughes turns in an enjoyable performance of the rarely recorded “Youth Symphony”, an early work which bears strong the strong influence of Tchaikovsky’s Fourth. But this is not reason enough to warrant purchase of this disc (there are as good or better versions by Ashkenazy and Slatkin available). As for Vocalise, you’ve probably already got a couple of recordings in your collection, whether or not by choice. BIS’ recording is surprisingly dry and flat considering the lush sound often given this orchestra by Chandos and Naxos. Not the one you need.
