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Jean-Yeves Thibaudet, Truls Mørk Virgin Classics 1996, 7243 5 45119 2 9
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Summary:
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 Here is my favorite album. It is the most soothing of all the Rachmaninoff recordings.
These two are great musicians and their feeling is evident. The “andante” is my favorite on the disc. I highly recommend this recording. I have heard others, but this is the very best!
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Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances, Op. 45 The Isle of the Dead, Op. 29
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Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Enrique Batiz, Conductor Naxos 1992, 8.550583
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Summary:
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 Great orchestration of the Symphonic Dances
and Isle of the Dead. Interesting to note that the Isle of the Dead “...is based on a painting by the Swiss-German artist Arnold Boecklin, the leading German Romantic painter of the late
nineteenth century. The picture shows Charon, the ferryman of the dead of Greek Mythology, who rows the dead across the River Styx on their journey to the
Underworld and to the crags and cliffs of the Ominous Island of the Dead of Boecklin’s imagination.” -- From the CD Insert It is interesting
to point out that the Isle of the Dead, I believe, is written in 5/4 time. One can almost hear the slow waves against the boat. One thing you may recognize is
the similarity between the symphonic dances and the next cd listed here the “Vespers.” The first song, “Come let us worship” has the same melody as III
Lento assai-Allergo vivance. Allergo also Ties all three symphonic dances, borrowing it’s tones from the previous two. Every time I listen to these three, I hear something new!
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Emory Institute, Query, France, Robert Shaw, Conductor
Telarc Digital 1990, CD-80172
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Summary:
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 If you like a cappella, then this is the album for you! It is the Vespers, “...music written for a
night-long service celebrated in Russian monasteries and, on the eves of holy days, in Russian Orthodox churches.” CD Insert. The most Heavenly voices you will ever hear.
Truly one of Rachmaninoff's greatest works. This is conducted by Robert Shaw and sung by his festival singers in Query, France. The CD includes a brief explanation of the works as well as the lyrics in Russian
and English. This is the best a cappella you will ever hear! I guarantee it!
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BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Tadaki Otaka, Conductor. John Lill, Piano
Nimbus Records 6 disc Box set 1998, CD-NI 1761
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Summary:
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 I originally purchased just the one recording of Rachmaninoff's first symphony. However, I wore it out and consequently had to purchase the entire 6-disc set. I only value the first symphony in the entire box. All the rest of the recordings are a mere reference as to his music. The story of his first symphony is a sad one. It seemed like everything went wrong. He was 22 years old at the time, and was good friends with another famous composer: Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky had told Rachmaninoff that he wanted to be the first to conduct his first symphony. Sadly, Tchaikovsky died before Rachmaninoff could finish. At the premier, the symphony performed the piece poorly due to lack of practice, and worse of all, the conductor showed up intoxicated. The critics tore into Rachmaninoff's abilities as a composer and this single act sank the young Rachmaninoff into a deep depression for many years. Until he met the wonderful Dr. Dahl who (through hypnosis) told him that he would compose the greatest piano concerto ever. He was right. That is how we got the second piano concerto. I highly recommend owing this box set. If you are able to only acquire the disc with the first symphony on it, please don't hesitate to do so.
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Sergei Rachmaninoff - The Complete Recordings
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Philadelphia Orchestra Conductors: Leopold Stokowski, Eugene Ormandy, & Sergey Rachmaninoff
RCA 1992
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Summary:
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More to come!
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This Site is dedicated to the man, his music and his legacy as a grand virtuoso.
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If you have ever wanted to hear Rach without all the 'hiss' and 'pops'? Well, if so that this is the album for you! Rachmaninoff made these recordings by using a special type of piano called an 'ampico'. It was a device specially made to reproduce the music while the performer played on it by perforating on a roll of paper. This instrument was so precise that it could actually mimic the performers pedaling and loudness. These recording capture how Rach would have sounded today with modern recording equipment. It has been said that he was quite the charismatic performer, raising his hands high wile playing, and sometimes slouching over in order to interject more passion in his performance. 
This album is Rach at his finest! Music for two pianos is wonderful! It is great to hear how he allows each piano, back and forth, to share the melody, then institute a new one, then go back to another, then to the main melody. This album also contains some very 'hard' Rach. By that I mean that on a few of these tracks Rach seems to really show his true Russian side in both music and influence. His mentor, Tchaikovsky would be proud! The second disc is a piano rendition of the symphonic dances. Listening to this version helps me pick out certain tones that are missed when the full symphony is playing it. Overall, this 2 CD pack is at the top of my list!
This is by far the best version of 'The Bells' and '3 Russian Songs'. No other recording even comes close! The voices by Kaludov, Pendachanska, Leiferkus, make this the best Rach to own. Ms. Pendachanska the most wonderful voice in the second movement. I believe it to be her best performance. The Bells is based off of metaphor of life; birth through death. The lyrics are based off of poems from Edgar Allen Poe. I love how Rachmaninoff takes the melody and allows each section of the symphony to have it and pass it along to another. If you listen closely, you will even hear the timpani's tuned notes correspond with the melodic form.
Well, it doesn't get any better than this! My CD contains only the Rach 3 and the 5 preludes. This one has all 4 of Rachmaninoff's piano concerto's plus 5 preludes! This is the best rendition of the 2nd and 3rd piano concertos out there (sorry Van Cliburn!). Vladimir Ashkenazy's masterful performance really brings out the true emotion of Rach's music. Also, his rendition of the famous Prelude in C# minor, as well as the prelude in B and G minor is precisely on. Many other pianists do not use the middle pedal as Rachmaninoff intended. The Rach 3 holds the record for the amount of notes played in a minute of any classical piece. This 2-CD set is truly worth owning.
This album contains all 24 of Rachmaninoff's preludes. Many here are very rare recordings. It is extremely difficult to find recordings of all of these preludes. Some renditions are pretty good, others are not. However, it is nice to be able to hear the rare ones and know that someone is still playing them. This is a disc worth owning as a reference listener, meaning that it may not be the best recording of a particular piece, but at least there is one out there to listen to.
Well, this is a nice set of 2 CD's to complement anyone's classical collection. This rare find contains a nice mix of famous composers from all periods of the classical spectrum. I would like to call your specific attention to disc 2. The rendition of Prelude in G sharp minor, played by Peter Schmalfuss is the best rendition I have ever heard. Everyone else plays it too slow and the melodic flow is choppy. This version is smooth and the dynamics are perfect. He also plays Prelude in G major very well too, another I also recommend listening to. This CD is nice because it also contains Scriabin, another famous composer who Rachmaninoff shared a class with during his music studies. (Please pardon the image to the left. It was all I could find!) 
If there is any musical talent to meet, Van Cliburn is it. This genuine, good 'ol American boy from Texas, shocked the world with his exquisite performances of Master Rachmaninoff. He was the first American to win first prize, and a wonderful standing ovation at the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in April 1958. There he played the famous piano concerto #2, which is why this CD is so important to own. His rendition of Tchaikovsky's piano concerto #1 is wonderful as well! I was first introduced to Van Cliburn's music on a plane en route to Arizona. The station the airline played was a tribute to him, complete with performances and interviews. This man is the genuine article! I would love to meet him someday! 
In order to better understand the habits of the symphony, Rachmaninoff transcribed several works for the piano. Several famous works from the likes of Bach, Rimsky-Korsakov and Rachmaninoff's mentor Tchaikovsky, are all represented here. As an added treat, there are eight original compositions that include music for 4 hands and six. Rachmaninoff's patriotic side is evident as well with his own rendition of the Star Spangled Banner which can also be heard on the Ampico Recordings album. As an added note, Maestro Ashkenazy is accompanied by his wife and son. Their performance is truly great!
Here is the best historical library to own. In it contains ALL
of Rachmaninoff’s recordings that he was able to produce. I consider it to be a real treat to be able to hear most of his compositions by him either playing or conducting his works. The sound quality here is so-so, but hey, what do you expect
from the 1930’s and 40’s? I think it amazing to have all of his own recordings all in one nice packaged bundle. Truly worth having! 