Rachmaninov plays Rachmaninov ~ The Ampico Piano Recordings

The historic performances presented on this disc were reproduced on a specially-adapted Estonia 9' concert grand, and recorded at the Kingsway Hall, London, in 1978-9.
Most of the music on this disc was composed before Rachmaninov's self-imposed exile from Russia in 1917. His life until then, from the time of his graduation from the Moscow Conservatoire in 1892, had been occupied almost wholly with composition. He received help and encouragement from Tchaikovsky, and believed himself to have been much influenced by Rimsky-Korsakov, although he did not actually study with him. During this first part of his life he was also well known as a conductor, and for a short spell was at the Bolshoi Theatre. But of course his piano playing, particularly of his own music, was also highly regarded, and he undertook a number of tours both as pianist and conductor; these included visits to France, England and America.
Rachmaninov was very conscious of the changes taking place in Russia at the time of the 1917 Revolution, and by March of that year had decided to leave with his family. This had to be delayed because Europe was still at war, but on 23 December he left to undertake a series of concerts in Scandinavia. In 1918 he settled in America and, at the age of 45, embarked on the career of piano virtuoso which he pursued for the rest of his life.
The recordings on this disc span almost the whole of Rachmaninov1 s Ampico recording career. Although immense care had always been taken with the editing process there is no doubt that the quality of the Ampico roll did improve, resulting by the mid-Twenties in more polished and life-like results which could rival and in some cases surpass the best contemporary disc recordings.

tracks

01. Cinq Morceaux de fantaisie, op.3 - 01. Elegie in E flat minor (4:07)
02. Cinq Morceaux de fantaisie, op.3 - 02. Prelude in C sharp minor (3:47)
03. Cinq Morceaux de fantaisie, op.3 - 03. Melodie in E major (3:51)
04. Cinq Morceaux de fantaisie, op.3 - 04. Polichinelle in F sharpminor (3:25)
05. Cinq Morceaux de fantaisie, op.3 - 05. Serenade in B flat minor (3:28)
06. Barcarolle in G minor, op.10 No.3 (3:51)
07. Humoresque in G major, op.10 No.5 (3:47)
08. Prelude in G minor, op.23 No.5 (4:03)
09. Etude - tableau in B minor, op.39 No.4 (3:35)
10. Etude - tableau in A minor, op.39 No.6 (2:31)
11. Lilacs, op.21 No.5 (2:23)
12. Polka de V.R. (3:56)
13. Hopak(Mussorgsky, arr. Rachmaninov) (2:00)
14. Wohin? (The Brooklet) - Schubert, arr. Rachmaninov (2:09)
15. The Flight of the Bumble Bee(Rimsky - Korsakov, arr. Rachmaninov) (1:13)
16. The Star - Spangled Banner(arr. Rachmaninov) (1:23)
17. Liebeslied(Kreisler, arr. Rachmaninov) (3:49)
18. Liebesfreud(Kreisler, arr. Rachmaninov) (5:50)

The Flight of the Bumble Bee(Rimsky - Korsakov, arr. Rachmaninov)