Karl Miller writes:

>My favorites are not on your list and would be happy to suggest, but would
>like to suggest you explore the original versions of the 1st and 4th which
>are available on a cd from Ondine with
>Ashkenazy conducting.

Just yesterday, I acquired the Ondine disc Karl recommends.  It strikes
me that the recordings Ashkenazy has made of the Rachmaninov Concertos,
conducting or performing on piano, constitute a healthy percentage of
all available recordings of the Concertos: his set with Haitink, the set
with Previn, a Decca Legends disc, and his conducting efforts on Ondine,
Teldec with Helene Grimaud, and the Decca set with Thibaudet.  The man
must really like Rachmaninov.

I'm sure that I have Karl's favorites, because my list was just a few
of the remaining recordings I have yet to acquire.  I've got over 60
recordings and am getting more to start a major review project.  All of
a sudden, the Russians are coming.  I have plans for reviews of Rachmaninov's
Symphonies and solo works, Prokofiev Piano Concertos/Symphonies/solo
works, Shostakovich Piano Sonatas, more Scriabin, etc.

As I told my wife, I need to retire from my current profession in order
to cover all the music I want to review.  As it is, I often only have
time late at night for intense listening.  Last night, my intent was
to listen to Sergio Fiorentino's recording of Schumann's Kreisleriana.
Unfortunately, I was in a stupor for the first four movements and totally
asleep for the last four.  That kind of regimen will get me nothing
except my beauty sleep.

Don Satz
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