Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2

The London Symphony Orchestra has a long history with Rachmaninoff’s ardently romantic Second Symphony, having made unforgettable recordings under its previous principal conductors André Previn and Valery Gergiev. Here, Sir Simon Rattle, the orchestra’s music director since 2017, takes charge and gives a wonderfully vivid performance. Unsurprisingly for Rattle, there is great attention to detail: Every marking in the score is observed and the orchestra’s response is superb, perfectly balancing expressiveness and restraint. As a result of that restraint, the work climbs toward the finale with a confidence that makes for an exhilarating close. The instrumental work, particularly from the clarinet in its big slow-movement solo, is glorious. The strings, meanwhile, have rarely sounded so sweet.