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Rachmaninoff: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3

2/2/2018, 6 Tracks, 1:15:14

Featuring

  • Sakari Oramo
  • Yevgeny Sudbin
  • BBC Symphony Orchestra
  • Sergei Rachmaninoff

Did you know?

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Compositional Technique

Rachmaninov always maintained that the Second Piano Concerto's difficulties were as great as the Third's, but focused on judging exact sonority and weight of notes for tonal gradations rather than just mastering the notes.

Source: Booklet

Critical Reception

For much of the 20th century, critical attitudes towards Rachmaninov's compositions were not generous, often viewing them as sprawling, nostalgic, and self-indulgent.

Source: Booklet

Composition History

Rachmaninov was encouraged to return to composing the piano concerto through a type of hypnosis therapy with neurologist Nikolai Dahl, an accomplished amateur musician.

Source: Booklet

Composition History

Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto marked his return to composition after three years of silence, following the disastrous premiere of his First Symphony in 1897.

Source: Booklet

Composer Biography

Rachmaninov's cousin, Alexander Siloti, a pianist and conductor, persuaded him to perform the first two completed movements of the Second Piano Concerto publicly before the entire work was finished.

Source: Booklet

Critical Reception

The Third Piano Concerto only achieved wide acceptance in the 1930s when it was championed by Vladimir Horowitz, despite Rachmaninov performing it 86 times.

Source: Booklet

Composition History

Rachmaninov completed the Third Piano Concerto under great time pressure for his 1909-10 US tour, practicing it on a silent keyboard during his Atlantic crossing.

Source: Booklet

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