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Title: Smooth, silky Rachmaninov--this is Ormandy on a good day
Review: Avid collectors who read the American Record Guide know that its editor never passes up a chance to praise Eugene Ormandy far above Karajan or Bernstein, a quirk that maddens most serious music lovers, for whom Ormandy was a well-intentioned but dull conductor. This 1973 recording of the Rachmaninov Sym. #2 is a bit unfair to him; near the end of his life Ormandy's concentration and rhythm became feebler. There's no snap or bite to the rhythms here; it's all a smooth silky flow.That suits the Philadelphia Sound, which isn't overly lush here but agreeably flexible. If you don't want Rachmaninov to sound lush but not too melancholy, here's the recording for you. Even as a non-fan, there were moments of such gorgeous sonority from the orchestra that I sat up with admiration. It makes me wonder if Ormandy has an earlier Rachmaninov Second still available on Sony from a time when he was stronger. He certainly shows his love of the music on this CD.
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