Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 44 & Symphonic Dances, Op. 45

Featuring

Dmitri Kitajenko
Gürzenich-Orchester Köln
Sergei Rachmaninoff

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Compositional Technique

The Symphonic Dances, Rachmaninoff's final opus, contain numerous references to his earlier compositions, including his First Symphony, The Bells, and the Suite for two pianos.

Compositional Technique

Rachmaninoff's Third Symphony is considered his most advanced work in terms of its ideas, form, harmonic language, and instrumentation.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Rachmaninoff considered himself a Russian composer, believing his homeland shaped his temperament and views, and thus his music was an expression of Russian temperament.

Composer Biography

Sergei Rachmaninoff, despite living in America for decades, never applied for American citizenship, remaining a Russian in his status and music.

Compositional Technique

The 'Dies irae' theme, which Rachmaninoff used in his First Symphony, The Bells, The Isle of the Dead, and the Paganini Rhapsody, also appears in the Symphonic Dances.

Composition History

Out of Rachmaninoff's 45 works with opus numbers, 39 were composed before he permanently left Russia in 1917.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Rachmaninoff stated in a 1941 interview that he never tried to be original, romantic, or national in his compositions, but simply put down what he heard as faithfully as possible.