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Sergei Rachmaninoff  (1873-1943)
Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18
Composed: 1900
Premiered: 1901, Moscow
Duration: 33 minutes

Although Rachmaninoff ultimately became one of the world’s foremost concert pianists, the last in the line of composer-performers in the Romantic tradition of Liszt, he had a remarkably slow start. It was not until after his departure from Russia after the Revolution that he began serious practice, and only by concentrated effort did he eventually achieve the technical mastery for which he was noted.

The premiere of Rachmaninoff’s First Symphony in 1897 was a disaster. It plunged the composer into despair, and he seemed unable to continue to work. In an encounter with Tolstoy at about the same time, the great author told him how much he disliked his music; this further exacerbated his depression. His worried relatives and friends sent him to Dr. Nikolay Dahl, a specialist in therapeutic hypnosis and a fine amateur musician. His treatment focussed on a projected new piano concerto. During the hypnotic trances, the doctor kept repeating “You will write your concerto... you will work with great facility... the concerto will be of excellent quality.” The outcome was not a permanent cure – Rachmaninoff’s depression recurred periodically throughout his life. But, for the time, the result seemed miraculous.

He started work on the concerto while in Italy. He returned to Russia to get away from the heat and quickly finished the second and third movements. These two movements were premiered in December 1900. Encouraged by their success, Rachmaninoff wrote the opening movement, and the complete concerto had its premiere in October 1901. This success triggered a period of intense creativity, during which most of his best works were composed.

After his departure from Russia after the Revolution, Rachmaninoff devoted himself mostly to performing and conducting, and composed relatively little. The Second Piano Concerto is probably the most popular, and one of the most frequently performed concertos in the repertoire. Rachmaninoff’s model was Liszt: its broad, sweeping melodies, like a series of romantic songs, and its lush orchestration are much more important than logic or form.

Program note by the late Dr. C.W. Helleiner.

Sergei Rachmaninoff  (1873-1943)
Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18
Composed: 1900
Premiered: 1901, Moscow
Duration: 33 minutes

Although Rachmaninoff ultimately became one of the world’s foremost concert pianists, the last in the line of composer-performers in the Romantic tradition of Liszt, he had a remarkably slow start. It was not until after his departure from Russia after the Revolution that he began serious practice, and only by concentrated effort did he eventually achieve the technical mastery for which he was noted.

The premiere of Rachmaninoff’s First Symphony in 1897 was a disaster. It plunged the composer into despair, and he seemed unable to continue to work. In an encounter with Tolstoy at about the same time, the great author told him how much he disliked his music; this further exacerbated his depression. His worried relatives and friends sent him to Dr. Nikolay Dahl, a specialist in therapeutic hypnosis and a fine amateur musician. His treatment focussed on a projected new piano concerto. During the hypnotic trances, the doctor kept repeating “You will write your concerto... you will work with great facility... the concerto will be of excellent quality.” The outcome was not a permanent cure – Rachmaninoff’s depression recurred periodically throughout his life. But, for the time, the result seemed miraculous.

He started work on the concerto while in Italy. He returned to Russia to get away from the heat and quickly finished the second and third movements. These two movements were premiered in December 1900. Encouraged by their success, Rachmaninoff wrote the opening movement, and the complete concerto had its premiere in October 1901. This success triggered a period of intense creativity, during which most of his best works were composed.

After his departure from Russia after the Revolution, Rachmaninoff devoted himself mostly to performing and conducting, and composed relatively little. The Second Piano Concerto is probably the most popular, and one of the most frequently performed concertos in the repertoire. Rachmaninoff’s model was Liszt: its broad, sweeping melodies, like a series of romantic songs, and its lush orchestration are much more important than logic or form.

Program note by the late Dr. C.W. Helleiner.