SERGEI RACHMANINOFF

(1873 - 1943)

PianoConcertoNo.2

A virtuosic pianist and an excellent composer, Rachmaninoff composed for the piano according to his tastes and strengths. His influences are of the romantic period, as evident through the lyrical passages. His strengths? Remarkably large hands, allowing him to navigate large chords and wide passages with ease, as well as a monstrous level of pianism. Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No 2 demonstrates his absolute mastery of the piano with its agile passages and large thunderous chords, both of which demanded techniques of considerable proficiency. It is no wonder that his Second Piano Concerto became widely known to be one of the most challenging piano concertos

A large portion of Rachmaninoff’s influence in this piano concerto lay in his dark times; Rachmaninoff suffered from a significant depression phase after the premiere of his poorly received Symphony No 1, which was so severe that he could barely compose He agreed to receive treatment from a pioneer in hypnotherapy, Nicolai Dahl, which went successfully and allowed him to complete his Piano Concerto No 2 Rachmaninoff eventually dedicated the score to Dr Dahl in gratitude for his efforts through Rachmaninoff’s difficult times

Pay close attention as the piano opens the first movement (Moderato –Allegro) with a series of gloomy chords that surge into a fiery roll, that is shortly joined by the orchestra with a rich and passionate melody. The piano enhances the melody with elaborate harmonies, occasionally reinforcing melodic lines throughout the piece, and drives the intensity growth every time the theme repeats.

The second movement (Adagio sostenuto) brings immense relief to the exciting ending of the first movement, through a very steady and hypnotic accompanying theme from the piano, layered with a warm and graceful melody in the woodwinds. While the piece develops, serenity is briefly interrupted with a slightly more mobile second theme, before it is thrown back to the recapitulation, where it reintroduces the melody in its fullest and most majestic form with the swirling sounds of the string section, accented by a very punchy winds section

Without much time for a break, a march-like beat paves the way for a virtuosic piano passage in the third movement (Allegro scherzando) that elegantly melds into a flowing melody underlined with an exciting flurry of notes Occasional interjections of another hypnotic theme which serves as a breath of fresh air Eventually, the piece fully matures, flourishing into its final form, where the piano steadily but intensely drives the orchestra to the last bars