Stephen Hough, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Litton Rachmaninoff: Piano Concertos 1-4; Paganini Rhapsody LP

Stephen Hough’s four Rachmaninov Piano Concertos have long been viewed as reference recordings of this iconic repertoire, the standard by which others must be judged. Bolstered by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra under Andrew Litton, Hough made a conscious return to the fast and lean performance tradition of the composer himself, avoiding the sentimental ‘Hollywood’ approach that had become so prevalent, for this triumphantly successful, awards-lavished Rachmaninov cycle. A 3LP set.

Rachmaninoff tracklist:
LP 1
Side A
Piano Concerto No 1 in F sharp minor Op 1
1. Vivace
2. Andante
3. Allegro vivace

Side B
Piano Concerto No 2 in C minor Op 18
1. Moderato
2. Adagio sostenuto – Più animato – Tempo I

LP 2
Side C
3. Allegro scherzando
Piano Concerto No 3 in D minor Op 30
1. Allegro ma non tanto

Side D
2. Intermezzo: Adagio –
3. Finale: Alla breve

LP 3
Side E
Piano Concerto No 4 in G minor Op 40
1. Allegro vivace
2. Largo
3. Allegro vivace

Side F
Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini Op 43
1. Introduction Allegro vivace
2. Variation I Precedente
3. Theme L’istesso tempo
4. II L’istesso tempo
5. III L’istesso tempo
6. IV Più vivo
7. V Tempo precedente
8. VI L’istesso tempo
9. VII Meno mosso, a tempo moderato
10. VIII Tempo I
11. IX L’istesso tempo
12. X Poco marcato
13. XI Moderato
14. XII Tempo di minuetto
15. XIII Allegro
16. XIV L’istesso tempo
17. XV Più vivo scherzando
18. XVI Allegretto
19. XVII [Allegretto]
20. XVIII Andante cantabile
21. XIX A tempo vivace
22. XX Un poco più vivo
23. XXI Un poco più vivo
24. XXII Un poco più vivo (Alla breve)
25. XXIII L’istesso tempo
26. XXIV A tempo un poco meno mosso