Raphael Orozco – The Philips Legacy
Label
Decca Eloquence
Catalogue No.
4843734
Barcode
00028948437344
Format
8-CD
About
‘Fire-eating virtuoso’ is how Stereo Review described the finales of the Rachmaninoff concertos recorded by pianist Rafael Orozco (1946–1996) with Edo de Waart. Collected here are the complete Philips recordings of one of Spain’s piano aristocracy, winner of the 1966 Leeds Piano Competition. There is passion and poetry in equal measure, and an instinctive feeling for the ebb and flow of a phrase in these recordings of works by Chopin, Schumann, Liszt and Rachmaninoff.

LIMITED EDITION. SINGLE PRESSING ONLY.

Released 28 June 2024.
TRACK LISTING / ARTISTS

CD 1
CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 2
Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise brillante
Edo de Waart

CD 2
CHOPIN The Four Scherzos
Nocturne Op. 62 No. 2;* Berceuse
*FIRST RELEASE ON CD

CD 3
CHOPIN Piano Sonata No. 2
LISZT Piano Sonata in B minor

CD 4
SCHUMANN Kreisleriana; Fantasie

CD 5
RACHMANINOFF Works for Piano
Preludes Opp. 3/2, 32/10* & 23/5; Melodie Op. 3/3; Polichinelle Op. 3/4*; Liebesleid (after Kreisler); Études-tableaux Opp. 33/3,* 33/6* & 39/5*; Moment musical Op. 16/3*
*FIRST RELEASE ON CD

CD 6
RACHMANINOFF Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 4
Edo de Waart

CD 7
TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1
RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 2
Edo de Waart

CD 8
RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 3
Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini
Edo de Waart

Reviews

“Orozco goes at the finales like a real fire-eating virtuoso … Orozco carries it off impressively, with top-notch collaboration from Edo de Waart and absolutely superb recording in terms of sonic richness from Philips.” Stereo Review, April 1974 (Rachmaninoff: Concertos Nos. 1 & 4)

“A broad, bold, firmly delineated reading … the playing is healthy, extroverted, well-disciplined, and marvellously captured by the microphone.” High Fidelity, May 1975 (Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2)

“[This Rachmaninoff has] some unusual qualities: Orozco’s subtle, non-theatrical phrasing and his consistently mellow tone, never once sounding harsh or percussive; the orchestra’s suave, refined playing.” Fanfare, November 1979 (Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2, Paganini Rhapsody)

“When the Concerto started I thought it was going to be a real barnstormer of a performance, but I noted several moments of original interpretative thought and sensitivity.” Gramophone, January 1984 (Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1)

“A superb, commanding account.” Gramophone, April 1995 (Liszt: Sonata)