Favorite Rachmaninoff Preludes!

[lisztisforkids]

straight forward question. Good recordings? Bad recordings? I have only played op.3 no 2 and op. 23 no 5 and i want to start another in the future, any advice on which one to start???   

[mlsmithz]

My personal favourite is Op.32 No.3 in E major if that's what the subject line is asking.  As for the content of the post, well, I have Ashkenazy's recording of the preludes and Sonata No.2 but it seems to inspire mixed reactions.  I like it, for whatever that may be worth, although I bought it largely for the sonata.  As for logical next steps after Op.3 No.2 and Op.23 No.5, I've found Op.32 No.5 in G major is rather accessible, or you could try Op.32 No.10 in B minor and Op.32 No.11 in B major as a pair.  Technically they're not too challenging, but it takes a bit of practice to pull off the musical effects.  Op.32 No.12 in G-sharp minor is also not too difficult.  I'm less familiar with the Op.23 preludes from a performer's perspective, but I know enough to know that Nos.7-9 in C minor, A-flat major, and E-flat minor are reckoned to be among the most difficult of all twenty-four.  Perhaps Op.23 No.4 in D major or Op.23 No.6  in E-flat major?

[lisztisforkids]

i was thinking of going ahead and doing op 32 no 12. I want to pair it up with clementi's sonata in f# minor. Do you think thats odd?

[shasta]

My favs are 3/3 and 23/7.

[mikey6]

I can't stand 23/2 - I played it SO many times - you never want to hear a Bb chord again! (mind you Kissin's live encore at the proms it amazing!)
The cmin. of op.23 (can't remember what number) is technically the same as feux follets.
Favourties would be bmin, gmin (yeh, the popular ones i know)

[rob47]

are u mikeyg, mikey6?

you mean eflatminor op.23 no. 9 which despite it's similar ability as feuxfollets to cause tendonitis, is a bit different technique than feuxfollets for the most part. 

my favs are the above eflatminor, as well as 32/1.

[mikey6]

are u mikeyg, mikey6?

Well, mikey6 obviously - no not the same person.

you mean eflatminor op.23 no. 9 which despite it's similar ability as feuxfollets to cause tendonitis, is a bit different technique than feuxfollets for the most part. 

ok, I haven't actually played it - they just look rather similar on the page (whoops, sorry meant eb min - don't know where that came from)

[arensky]

Eb major f# minor Bb major from op.23; Bb minor f minor e minor from op.32;

and of course c# minor (favorite recording William Kapell)

For recordings of the others I enjoy the ones Richter recorded  and the complete sets sets by Anievas and Ashkenazy.

[princessdecadence]

At the moment it's op.23 no. 5 - the most popular one. I'm gonna play it soonish - I hope. I like most of his preludes - all are beautiful.

[janne p.]

B minor, D minor, G minor and A major are my favourites.

Agree on Ashkenazy for recordings.