Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)

THE STORY

In 1895, Sergei Rachmaninoff began his first substantial piece, his First Symphony. At the age of 22 he already displayed what many of his teachers considered to be infinite potential, both as a pianist and as a composer. He was ready to take his first steps into the spotlight of Russia’s music scene. However, the premiere was a disaster and critics were merciless. Rachmaninoff fell into a deep depression and was unable to compose for three years.

Eventually he began daily visits to Dr. Nicolai Dahl, a neurologist who studied hypnosis. Rachmaninoff later recalled, “I heard the same hypnotic formula repeated day after day while I lay half asleep in an armchair in Dahl’s study. ‘You will begin to write your concerto. You will work with great facility… The concerto will be of an excellent quality.’ It was always the same without interruption. Although it may sound incredible, this cure really helped me.” Slowly Rachmaninoff overcame his paralysis, completing his Second Piano Concerto in 1900. He dedicated the piece “To Monsieur N. Dahl,” and the premiere brought him tremendous success, signaling his arrival as one of Russia’s foremost composers.

THE STORY

• The ominous opening of the Concerto, with the soloist alone striking nine steadily growing chords, which spark the haunting main theme of the movement in the strings
• The entrance of the gorgeous main theme of the second movement, first begun by the flute and taken over by the clarinet with the soloist taking on the role of accompanist
• The final moments of the third movement—following a brief solo improvisatory moment, the entire orchestra bursts into a romantic melody, with the soloist providing the swirling accompaniment

INSTRUMENTATION

Solo piano; two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, strings