01. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, op.34 [23'30]
02. - 04. Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor, op.18 [34'50]
David Golub- piano, London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Wyn Morris
LSO (IMP Classics) PCD903 (recorded January 1988; CD issued 1989)
(flac and scans)
Recording venue: Watford Town Hall
Recording engineer: Tryggvi Tryggvasson; Producer: John Boyden
Here's a quite rare CD featuring a well-known American chamber musician, David Golub, who made many fine recordings with his colleagues Mark Kaplan and Colin Carr in the Golub Kaplan Carr Trio, mostly for the Arabesque label. The Welsh conductor, Wyn Morris, was best known for his Beethoven and Mahler Symphonies series and for his erratic behaviour. This was quite a rare outing in Rachmaninov orchestral works for both of them.
It's interesting that the expected staid figure of the pianist with the "maverick" conductor is turned on its head with Golub always pressing forward and Morris trying to hold him back. This leads to some at times ragged ensemble and tenuous understanding between the two, but nevertheless also to very exciting performances.
David Golub demonstrates an impressive technique and some individual ideas, not mannered, about both works. He died tragically young in October 2000, aged only 50. The recording was issued by IMP Classics on the LSO's own label - a short-lived venture before the independent LSO Live label was established.
Full disclosure: AccurateRip declared that track 4 converted with minor problems: AccurateRip status: Not accurate - partial matches with offsets. I couldn't hear any problem on playback and I was a bit surprised that AccurateRip had this obscure CD in its database when so many better known recordings are excluded.