This set testifies to Leonard Slatkin’s fabled flair for Russian symphonic music–Rachmaninov in particular. His warmly romantic approach emphasizes the music’s lush textures, fluid phrasing, and vivid orchestral coloring, while pointing up the unique stylistic qualities that differentiate the three symphonies. Slatkin heightens the drama of Symphony No. 1 by adding extra percussion to the fiery first movement, while his highlighting of the woodwinds (especially the piccolo) in the finale reveals the influence of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade on the young Rachmaninov. In No. 2 Slatkin shies away from the intense passion and free rubato of Temirkanov on EMI, but his smoothly flowing reading nevertheless takes on a grand sweep and generates great feeling in the first- and third-movement climaxes.
Slatkin’s light and energetic approach to No. 3 underlines the work’s magical sense of new within the old while reveling in its glittering orchestration–all vividly rendered by the St. Louis Symphony, which provides finely honed and animated playing throughout the set. Vox’s minimally miked, naturally balanced recordings show their age only in the slightly rolled-off top end. While similar sets by Ashkenazy (better recorded, featuring a powerfully dramatic No. 1) and Maazel (a stunningly played No. 2) are more compelling overall, Slatkin’s makes for a highly recommendable budget-priced alternative.
