The Symphonic Dances, Rachmaninoff's last numbered work, includes quotations from his earlier First Symphony and the All-Night Vigil, as well as the Dies irae theme.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in June 2025 at Heuvellaan Hilversum in Hilversum, the Netherlands.
Composer Biography
After fleeing Russia due to the Bolshevik Revolution, Rachmaninoff's compositional output significantly decreased, completing only six numbered works between 1926 and 1943.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Rachmaninoff believed that music should speak directly to the listener, a conviction evident in his Symphonic Dances.
Composition History
Rachmaninoff's "The Bells" was inspired by a liberal Russian translation of Edgar Allan Poe's poem, sent to him anonymously by a female fan.
Composer Biography
Rachmaninoff, a leading Imperial Russian composer, was also a brilliant pianist and gifted conductor.
Composition History
Rachmaninoff dedicated "The Bells" to Wilhelm Mengelberg, a conductor, and the Concertgebouw Orchestra, whose playing he greatly admired.
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