The Symphony No. 1 was reconstructed from orchestral parts discovered in the Leningrad Conservatoire and received its second performance in 1945, two years after Rachmaninoff's death.
Compositional Technique
Rachmaninoff incorporated the main idea of his Symphony No. 1 into his late masterpiece, the Symphonic Dances, supplying it with a beautiful harmonization.
Composition History
Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 1 premiered in 1897 and was a disaster, mainly due to the conductor Alexander Glazunov's lack of interest.
Compositional Technique
The Symphonic Dances, Rachmaninoff's final work, features a saxophone melody, an instrument he had not previously used, and he consulted arranger Robert Russell Bennett for advice on its use.
Critical Reception
Following its disastrous premiere, the Symphony No. 1 received a vitriolic review from César Cui, comparing it to the Seven Plagues of Egypt.
Composition History
Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 1 was considered lost for decades after he emigrated from Russia and left the manuscript behind.
Recording & Production
This recording uses 24-bit / 96 kHz technology, which offers a dynamic range up to 48 dB greater and 256 times the resolution of standard 16-bit recordings.
