Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27 arrangement for Two Pianos
11/4/2022, 4 Tracks, 59:28
Featuring
Hiroaki Takenouchi
Simon Callaghan
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Did you know?
1/7
Composition History
Rachmaninoff's Second Symphony was completed in January 1908 and premiered successfully a few weeks later in St. Petersburg and Moscow, with the composer conducting.
Performer Biography
Simon Callaghan, a Steinway Artist, performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician, and has a highly successful career as a recording artist, focusing on British music and The Romantic Piano Concerto series.
Historical Context
Arranging orchestral works for two pianos or piano duet has a long history, dating back to the eighteenth century, to make them more accessible and reach a wider audience.
Compositional Technique
The 'dies irae' plainchant, a melody that haunted many of Rachmaninoff's works, appears to underpin much of the music in this symphony, particularly in the scherzo and finale.
Recording & Production
This album features an arrangement of Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2 for two pianos, created by the performers Simon Callaghan and Hiroaki Takenouchi.
Compositional Technique
The Second Symphony is known for its lyrical and expansive nature, with a profusion of sweeping melodies, making it the most popular of Rachmaninoff's purely orchestral works.
Composition History
Rachmaninoff's First Symphony had a disastrous premiere in 1897, deeply wounding the 23-year-old composer and impacting his confidence.
