Rachmaninoff revered Chopin, programming his works in recitals and composing his own set of twenty-four preludes, similar to Chopin's.
Recording & Production
This recording of Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini was made on the very instrument on which the composer completed the work in 1934.
Composition History
The works composed around 1902, including the Variations on a Theme of Chopin and 12 Romances, Op. 21, mark the beginning of Rachmaninoff's most prolific period.
Composer Biography
Sergei Rachmaninoff's early career began with elegant piano miniatures, but his larger works, like his First Symphony, initially met with failure.
Compositional Technique
Rachmaninoff's Variations on a Theme of Chopin transform Chopin's short funeral march into an expansive piece that moves from darkness to light.
Composition History
Rachmaninoff's First Symphony premiere in 1897 was a 'fiasco,' leading him to withdraw the score and cease composing for several years.
Composer Biography
Rachmaninoff overcame a period of depression with therapy and married his first cousin, Natalia Satina, in 1902, who provided him with support.
