Rachmaninov dedicated his Third Piano Concerto to the celebrated piano virtuoso Josef Hofmann, who never played it publicly due to reservations about its structure and the composer's demands.
Composition History
Rachmaninov composed his Third Piano Concerto as a musical calling card for a 22-concert tour of the United States, which he dreaded.
Critical Reception
The premiere of Rachmaninov's Fourth Piano Concerto in New York received harsh criticism, with one reviewer suggesting it could have been 'perpetrated by Chaminade [the Parisian miniaturist] after her third glass of vodka'.
Notable Performances
Rachmaninov performed his Third Piano Concerto in New York with the Philharmonic, conducted by their music director, Gustav Mahler.
Compositional Technique
Rachmaninov composed two first-movement cadenzas for his Third Piano Concerto: one of fleet-fingered brilliance (which he preferred) and another of symphonic sweep and colossal power (played on this recording).
Composer Biography
During the 12-day sea voyage to New York, Rachmaninov speedily learned and memorized the solo part of his Third Piano Concerto using a dummy keyboard.
Composition History
Rachmaninov's Fourth Piano Concerto was his first large-scale composition in 12 years and was written to financially support his recently widowed daughter, Irina.
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