Rachmaninoff: Piano Concertos 1-4; Paganini Rhapsody

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.