Rachmaninov's C sharp minor Prelude from Op 3 achieved such widespread fame in America that promoters and the public often only wanted to hear him play it.
Critical Reception
Rachmaninov often disliked playing his famous C sharp minor Prelude, with one critic noting he 'bowed to the inevitable, sat down wearily, and played the piece which … of all pieces, he most hates'.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in Wigmore Hall, London, on January 3 and 4, 1994, with Ken Blair as the Recording Engineer and Ates Orga as the Recording Producer.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Rachmaninov stated that his music is a product of his temperament and is therefore Russian music, aiming to express simply and directly what is in his heart.
Composition History
The Morceaux de fantaisie, Op 3, were written in autumn 1892 by a nineteen-year-old Rachmaninov, who had recently graduated from the Moscow Conservatoire.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Rachmaninov believed that a composer's music should express their country of birth, love affairs, religion, influential books, and beloved pictures, reflecting the sum total of their experiences.
Compositional Technique
Rachmaninov's Études-tableaux, Opp 33 and 39, each had a 'secret' programmatic explanation, though he rarely revealed their specific inspirations from pictures or poems.
