The Finest Piano Concerto

Since I was a child I have been passionate about classical music. I remember in my teenage years listening to 'Semprini Serenades' on a Sunday on the BBC Light radio programme (or wireless as it was then called). He introduced his programme with the words: "Old ones, new ones, loved ones, neglected ones".  He introduced me to 'The Warsaw Concerto' by Richard Addinsell, 'The Dream of Olwen' by Charles Williams, 'Cornish Rhapsody' by Hubert Bath - and so many more light classics. But his signature tune was taken from Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto and I fell in love with a piece of music that has stayed with me for sixty years.

I have listened to Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.2 for six decades and I never tire of hearing it. It is, quite simply, the best piano concerto ever composed. Over the years I have collected many recordings of this opus. But there is one, just one, that always reduces me to tears. I listened to it again, just today. How many times have I listened to this sublime recording since it was released in 1971? I have no idea. Vladimir Ashkenazy, more than any concert pianist I know, lives and breathes Rachmaninov. His performance with the London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of André Previn stands head and shoulders above any other recording I own - and I have many. Ashkenazy's playing is so full of emotion and the LSO provides the perfect accompaniment to his virtuoso performance. The quality of the Decca recording is astonishing, given its age.

The most beautiful, romantic piano concerto of all time. If you don't know it, take a listen. If you do, like me, listen again, and again. And enjoy something that is beyond perfect....

Allegro Moderato

How does an orchestra conductor interpret 'Allegro Moderato'? it means 'moderately quick' between 112 and 124 beats per minute. That sounds fairly straightforward. Or is it?

My favourite symphony is Rachmaninov's 2nd Symphony. Always has been; always will be. I have listened to so many performances of this great opus. Many delight, others leave me perplexed.

The first movement - the Largo - Rachmaninov calls for allegro moderato. Did he have in mind a number of beats per minute? Orchestral conductors over the years of performing and indeed recording this magnificent work seem to have different opinions. For me, moderately quick is the essence of that first movement.

I have many recordings of the 2nd Symphony. I listen to them all regularly. I have always favoured the 1973 recording by André Previn and the London Symphony Orchestra. Previn works his way through that first movement in 19:10. For me that is pretty damn well perfect and what I suspect Rachmaninov planned. A more recent recording in 2006 by Evgeny Svetlanov conducting the USSR State Symphony Orchestra achieves a remarkable 18:11 for that first movement, the last 16 bars taken at tremendous tempo. It is exciting.

I like the 2010 recording by Valerie Gergiev conducting the LSO. He slows the pace of the first movement to 22:33. The slower tempo is rich and nuanced. The recording is warm and slightly understated but for all that a beautiful interpretation. Allegro Moderato? Who can judge what is right?

On the other hand, Gennadi Rozhdestvensky conducted the LSO in 2005 in a recording where he decided to slow the tempo in the first Largo movement to 24:30. Why? it is almost dirge-like and I reckon that Rachmaninov would have winced if he had ever heard this. Allegro Moderato means 'moderately quick' Mr Rozhdestvensky. Why do you drag it out for more than 5 minutes beyond my expectations?

If you have no recording of this most significant opus by Rachmaninov my recommendations are obvious. For me it will always be the Previn, closely followed by the Svetlanov.

Classic FM Hall of Fame

Every year over the Easter period Classic FM broadcast the top 300 classical works as selected by listeners to the channel. Participants have to send in their own top three selections and it is from these that the top 300 list is compiled. It makes for a wonderful four days of listening.

But how do you decide on your own three favourites from the thousands of available recordings? There are those works that always appear in the top 10, indeed those that always appear in the top 5. Like Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto and Ralph Vaughan Williams' The Lark Ascending. These two works are certainly amongst my favourites. But then so are Frederick Delius' The Walk to the Paradise Garden, Edward Elgar's Sospiri for Strings, Harp and Organ, Robert Schumann's 2nd Symphony, George Butterworth's A Shropshire Lad, Chopin's 2nd Piano Concerto, Rachmaninov's 2nd Symphony, Wagner's Siegfried Idyll and more recently as an introduction from my brother, Ivor Gurney's A Gloucestershire Rhapsody. I could go on. But which three to choose to submit to Classic FM? Maybe I should consider The Theme from Out of Africa or John Dunbar's Theme from Dances with Wolves or the heartbreakingly beautiful Theme from Schindler's List.

Which works would you choose? Whatever you like you would certainly enjoy the four days over Easter, listening to Classic FM. That is, if you like classical music of course.

Now, back to my deliberations......

Classic fM Hall of Fame 2014

Like 1000s of other classical music lovers I tuned in to Classic fM over the Easter weekend and enjoyed four days of people's favourite classical pieces as voted for by the public. The list of 300 pieces is eclectic and encompasses such composers as Holst, Vaughan Williams, Einaudi, Beethoven and Grieg. The scope of this annual event is unsurpassed by any other musical chart and I enjoy participating every year.

And so it was with a great deal of delight that I purchased today the 4CD set containing 42 tracks selected from the original 300, at Sainsbury's, for a bargain £7.99 (around $13.00). The recorded quality is superb and the pieces that came first and second are included:

1. The Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams here played by Nicola Benedetti and the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Andrew Litton
2. Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.2, 2nd Movement, with Vladimir Ashkenazy on pf, and the London Symphony Orchestra under André Previn

Whilst I have most of the composed extracts as full recordings on other CDs and mp3s this collection is a sheer delight to listen to. I recommend this collection without hesitation to all music lovers. CFMD34 on the DECCA label.

Semprini Serenades

A little bit of nostalgia for the more senior of my readers. "Old ones, new ones, loved ones, neglected ones" - Alberto Semprini's opening lines to his weekday evening programme, which ran from 1957 to 1982 on the BBC Light programme. My dad loved the music that Semprini played and as a family we listened intently to this wonderful programme on the 'wireless'. This expert concert pianist who graduated from the Verdi Conservatory in Milan in 1928, who played light classics and themes from films and shows that we came to love. "Warsaw Concerto", "Cornish Rhapsody", "The Dream of Olwen" composed by Charles Williams and so many more. But it was Semprini who introduced me to the music of Rachmaninov. In 1957 I was just 12 years of age. In 1957 Semprini played the 2nd Piano Concerto for the first time and in 1957 I fell in love with the music of Rachmaninov. Is there any music more romantic or heartbreakingly beautiful?

As I write this I am listening to Krystian Zimerman playing the 2nd Concerto, accompanied by the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Seiji Ozawa, a favourite conductor of mine. This is one of the best performances I have heard. If I conducted a poll amongst my readers for your favourite Rach Concerto, what would it be I wonder? Popular opinion would probably opt for the 2nd and its association with the 1945 David Lean film 'Brief Encounter' starring Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard. It often tops the Classic FM's Hall of Fame. But for me there is nothing to compare with the 1st Concerto. The 2nd movement is the most beautiful piece of music I know. It moves me to tears every time I listen to it. And I have listened to it many, many times.

So, where am I going with this? I still remember those family evenings when we gathered around the 'wireless' and listened to Alberto Semprini. He brought to me the joy of classical pianoforté music that has stayed with me all my life. Whenever I listen to the music of Rachmaninov it reminds me of my mum and dad. I have Semprini to thank for that...

Alberto Fernanco Riccardo Semprini