Rachmaninoff: The Bells. Best Recordings.

I don't care what Hurwitz says, I like the Dutoit version with Philadelphia on Decca.

mbhaub said:

I don't care what Hurwitz says, I like the Dutoit version with Philadelphia on Decca.

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Ha ha, Hurwitz can't stand Dutiot. He also generally does not like Rattle, but says one of the best Bells is Rattle.

I haven't listened to Rachmaninov's The Bells very often too, but the Ashkenazy recording is excellent in my opinion.

Svetlanov is excellent too.

Rachmaninov The Bells - YouTube

Here is the Rattle recording that Horowitz is so excited about.
The Bells--Rattle

Lisztianwagner said:

I haven't listened to Rachmaninov's The Bells very often too, but the Ashkenazy recording is excellent in my opinion.

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You are not kidding! I just listened to it and it is an awesome performance. I think this one could be in the running for desert island disks.

As for Svetlanov, the performance relm1 posted above is a fine performance and looks like a CD cover but I do not see it listed on Amazon or Ebay. Maybe have to buy direct from the BBC. Only the older USSR recording of the Svetlanov Bells comes up for me.

I have to listen to the others in my collection but just poking around it seems Ashkenazy is going to be the best of those. I like the soprano, has a heavier voice (and since I am more into altos, that makes it better for me). Also Ashkenazy has an fine bass vocalist.

Re the Svetlanov BBC recording here is a link to the Amazon (US) item.

Amazon.com : B007LKMC2Q

One benefit of this disc is that it also has a very decent Alexander Nevsky.

Malx said:

Re the Svetlanov BBC recording here is a link to the Amazon (US) item.

Amazon.com : B007LKMC2Q

One benefit of this disc is that it also has a very decent Alexander Nevsky.

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Thanks. I will give that one serious consideration. Sad to say, but Amazon's search feature is not very good. Often I have to use Google or Startpage to bring up a listing on Amazon.

The Bells is a different beast with a Russian chorus (hit-or-miss with Russian soloists too), and I think I prefer Svetlanov in his earlier Soviet recording. I suppose Kondrashin would be good to search out in this instance too.

the Soviet Svetlanov recording. I don't find the BBC one as exciting.