The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), featured on this recording, was formed in 1904 as London's first self-governing orchestra and is the world's most recorded symphony orchestra.
Compositional Technique
Unlike contemporaries like Strauss and Mahler, Rachmaninov used a relatively modest orchestra and favored varied shades and combinations of instruments over unmixed colors, creating a full, sonorous blend.
Recording & Production
This recording was made live at the Barbican, London, in September 2008.
Composition History
Rachmaninov was wary of announcing his Second Symphony because his First Symphony's premiere in 1897 had been a disaster.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Rachmaninov believed that "Melody is music... the basis of music as a whole, since a perfect melody implies and calls into being its own harmonic design."
Composer Biography
Rachmaninov's confidence was shattered after his First Symphony was savaged by critics, leading him to seek hypnotherapy from Dr. Nikolai Dahl to regain his self-belief.
Performer Biography
Valery Gergiev, the conductor on this album, is the Principal Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra and has toured with the Mariinsky Theatre (formerly Kirov Opera, Ballet and Orchestra) in 45 countries.
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