RACHMANINOFF PIANO CONCERTO 2

What about Van Cliburn on RCA Living Stereo SACD?

Van Cliburn and Ashkenazy are the two standards. I like both of those more than Rachmaninoff's own recording (which I have on 78!)

This is one of the pieces that I come back to over and over. The haunting melody that reoccurs in all the movements just kills me. Those who've heard it know exactly what I'm talking about. And that moment of silence at the very end of the last movement, right after the cadenza, just before the orchestra comes back in full force? Aaaaaaaaah.

I'd love to hear Bernstein play this. Does anybody know of a recording?

Try Richter for Rach-2 and Horowitz for Rach-3 (both recordings). The sound is OK (except for Horowitz '30s recording) and the performance superb.

I also like the Richter on DG, a very idiosyncratic performance (he starts it slower than anyone and ends it up faster!). And Ashkenazy, of course, particularly the 1971 version Sugarbrie mentions from his first cycle. Forget sonics on this piece, the performance is what makes these worth getting.

For current 1CD version with best combination of Sound/Performance I like Zimerman/DG concertos 1,2.
I also like the new Hough/Hyperion complete set.

For older classic 1CD versions I like Richter/DG of course and Byron Janis/Mecury, also the remastered SACD hybrid of Van Cliburn/RCA sounds very good now, more relaxed style than Richter or Janis.

For older set I stick with the Wild/Chandos