The introduction to the second movement of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 reuses material from his earlier six-hand Romance, written nine years prior.
Composer Biography
Rachmaninoff was helped to overcome his compositional block by Dr. Nikolai Dahl, an amateur cellist who used innovative hypnotic treatment and musical conversations.
Cultural Impact
Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C sharp minor brought him international fame but earned him only forty rubles, as his publisher was not a signatory to international copyright law.
Composition History
Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 was written after a period of "paralyzing apathy" following the disastrous premiere of his First Symphony.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Rachmaninoff's famous Prelude in C sharp minor, and later his Second Piano Concerto, were influenced by his childhood fascination with the bell-ringing he heard in Novgorod.
Recording & Production
This album features four musicians named Alexander: Vedernikov, Madzar, Melnikov, and the pianist Alexandre Tharaud, all specialists in Russian music.
Composer Biography
Rachmaninoff spent his crucial formative years living and studying with legendary piano pedagogue Nikolai Zverev, starting at age 12.
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Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 1, Préludes & Moments musicaux
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2; Two Preludes - The Mercury Masters, Vol. 1
Medtner: Piano Concerto Nos. 1-3
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 4 - Chopin, Beethoven
