The score of Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 1, believed lost after its disastrous premiere, was reconstructed by Soviet musicologists during World War II from orchestral parts and the composer's piano duet reduction.
Notable Performances
After nearly 50 years of neglect, the reconstructed Symphony No. 1 by Rachmaninov was given its first performance since its disastrous premiere on October 17, 1945, in Moscow.
Composition History
Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 1, composed when he was 22, had a disastrous premiere in 1897, leading him to tear up the score and refuse its publication.
Performer Biography
Vladimir Ashkenazy has a long-standing relationship with the Philharmonia Orchestra, the ensemble on this recording, having been appointed their Conductor Laureate in 2000.
Compositional Technique
Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 1 uses a recurring 'motto' motif, an upward-sliding theme from the first movement's introduction, which reappears at the beginning of each subsequent movement.
Critical Reception
At its premiere, Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 1 was harshly criticized by the press, with one critic suggesting it sounded like a symphony composed in hell on the subject of the seven plagues of Egypt.
Performer Biography
Vladimir Ashkenazy, the conductor on this album, is one of the few artists to achieve successful careers as both a pianist and a conductor.
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