The best interpretation of Tchaikovsky`s First Concerto and Rachmaninov`s Second

[christiaan]

Thcaikovsky: Richter, Argerich, Olga Kern, Pletnev...?

Rachmaninov: Richter, Kissin, Hough, Ashkenazy...?

[iumonito]

Bolet in both accounts. Gilels for T#1.

And please, no Rachmaninoff for #2?

[nicco]

For rach 2 there is no doubt.

Benno Moiseiwitsch.

[franzliszt2]

I agree with nicco

Also rach himself

[nasalstein]

T#1  horowitz with george szell (live)
only recording of this concerto which is fast enough for me to listen from the beginning to end.
3rd mov. seems to show he(horowitz) really knew what's "con fuoco" mean.

R#2  weissenberg with karajan
sounds sometimes a little bit slow and rather german, my all time favorite.
makes me think of the state of mind when rachmaninoff fought against nervous breakdown.

[tompilk]

Hamelin's T1 is my favourite.
For R2, I don't hae a favourite. no recording has jumped out at me, unlike Hough's R3, which is just pure magic.
Tom

[phil13]

I can't get myself to listen to many different recordings of Tchaik 1.

For Rach 2, however, Rafael Orozco comes to mind. He also does a superb Rach 1.

Phil

[elevateme_returns]

I can't get myself to listen to many different recordings of Tchaik 1.

is that because you dont like it  ? because i really dont

[phil13]

is that because you dont like it  ? because i really dont

IMO, there are better concerti for me to spend my time listening to over and over. 

Phil

[mcgillcomposer]

Tchaik: Richter

Rach: Rach

[avetma]

Tchaikovsky: Pogorelich
Rachmaninov: Hough.

[elevateme_returns]

really you like hough's faster approach?

[avetma]

Yes. Actually, I adore all Rach concertos with Hough. Especially 3rd.

[soliloquy]

Tchaikovsky: Rubinstein
Rachmaninov: Bolet

[furtwaengler]

I'm not generally big on Ashkenazy, but his first recording of Rachmaninov's 2nd Concerto with Kondrashin is among the most beautiful recordings of anything...a ravishing tone, a great interpretation. It is far more representative of Ashkenazy's strengths then the recordings with Haitink and Previn. I love either Richter recording for a more menacing approach. I've a sentimental connection with the Rubinstein that benefits from the amazing Chicago Symphony/Reiner (been with me since youth).

The Tchaikovsky is not one of my favorite pieces. I like it most when it's abused, as is with the previously mentioned live Szell/Horowitz paring (if you can find it!). Szell brings the New York Philharmonic to a breaking point, a whirlwind of intensity...and Horowitz is involved! Also I like a certain "boom chick" which rides high in a live Rubinstein performance with Dmitri Mitropoulos (if you don't know this fantastic conductor, Mitropoulos often conducted Prokofiev's 3rd Concerto from the piano! That's all you need to know ) If Richter, then Richter live. The studio account with Karajan came up dry (I think the two never enjoyed working together). There are excellent live accounts, though...with Ancerl, with Mravinsky, ect.

I am writing to much.

If picking one for each, with a gun to my head...

Rach: Ashkenazy/Kondrashin
Tchaik: err...Richter/Mravinsky