Music Reviews

An Award-Winning Performance I am Thrilled to Rediscover


I was looking through some releases from last year when I was reminded of this award winner.  Sebastian Stanley’s Rachmaninoff album showcases his masterful playing, and HR’s superb recording quality.

Rachmaninoff has a special place in my life.  I began piano lessons just 7 years after his death. I’ve always seen the modern side of his works.  He was a superb conductor, a much admired concert pianist, and he sure could write a tune!

The Morceaux de Fantasie was first published in 1893.  The Prelude is certainly the most well known.  Melody and Serenade were revised with second versions much later in 1940. Although all five were performed frequently by Rachmaninoff, it was these two that he performed in many different versions.  The Chopin variations are delightful as well.

As I often say, when doing these reviews, I have too many different performances I like to say this one is RIGHT and that one is WRONG.  (Although…  Sometimes…) What I can say about this one is that I’m glad I found it again!  Stanley’s touch, his feeling, his total approach makes me eager to hear more from him.

Written by

Bill Dodd

Bill is Senior Music Reviewer at NativeDSD. He lives in the Portland, Oregon area. He is an avid photographer too! Along with his early interest in broadcasting and high fidelity audio, he was exposed to classical music in small doses from age 5, was given piano lessons from age 9— Starting with Bach and including Gershwin. Successful morning personality in San Francisco at age 22. (true). Sang in choirs in high school and college. Although the broadcasting experience was all in popular music, his personal listening has been mostly classical his whole life—along with others including Benny Goodman, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Joni Mitchell, The Who, and Led Zeppelin.

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