Sergei Rachmaninov was a legendary romantic Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. His music is characterised by sweeping melodies, virtuosic pianism, and heady orchestration. His Moscow coaching geared up him firstly to be a live performance pianist however as a younger composer he confirmed prodigious items, beautiful his mentor Tchaikovsky with the C Sharp Minor Prelude and the one-act opera, Aleko, he composed whereas nonetheless in his teenagers. Most of his items are in a late Romantic model akin to Tchaikovsky, though sturdy influences of Chopin and Liszt are obvious. His compositions embrace, amongst others, 4 piano concerti, three symphonies, two piano sonatas, three operas, a choral symphony, a setting of the Vespers, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, 41 Preludes and Etudes, Symphonic Dances, and plenty of songs. Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2 is among the best works within the piano repertoire.
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Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor, Op.18
Following the disastrous premiere of his First Symphony Rachmaninov composed virtually nothing for round three years. He sought assist from a hypnotherapist and his comeback piece, the Piano Concerto No 2, devoted to his hypnotherapist, is among the best works within the piano repertoire. The concerto opens with a steadily intensifying sequence of piano chords, earlier than the violins and violas embark on the primary of a number of lovely, slowly unfolding melodies.
Within the principally serene sluggish motion (famously used within the movie Transient Encounter), melodic duties are shared between the pianist and the woodwind soloists. The finale begins with some virtuoso fireworks, though Rachmaninov quickly makes time for an additional celebrated massive tune. This melody even made it into the charts, within the type of the music Full Moon and Empty Arms, recorded by artists together with Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, and Bob Dylan.
Sonata for Cello and Piano in G minor, Op.19
After the success of his Op.18 Rachmaninov threw himself into his work. This fantastic cello sonata appeared not lengthy after the Second Piano Concerto’s confidence-restoring premiere, its magical ‘Andante’ at instances paying homage to the sooner work’s ‘Adagio’. Within the sonata, nonetheless, the music feels much less comfortable, extra delicately poised between hope and despair.
Rachmaninov composed the cello half for his buddy (and greatest man) Anatoly Brandukov. The cello writing is passionately melodic virtually all through: the sonata’s lengthy first motion is a present for any cellist who can actually sing. The piano half, although, is fiendish. Any cellist considering of taking over the work must discover a very gifted accompanist.
10 Preludes, Op.23
Rachmaninov composed 24 piano preludes: one in every main and minor key. The well-known C sharp minor Prelude got here first, in 1892; the whole Op.23 set adopted 11 years later, and the ultimate 13 preludes arrived in 1910.
The set of ten Op.23 preludes vary extensively in temper. Alongside the mysterious opener and the craving No.4 (with shades of Chopin) are the barnstorming No.2 and the critically testing No.7, which calls for the niftiest of fingerwork.
After the obsessive whirling of No.9, the tenth and closing prelude of the set brings issues to a peaceable shut. By far the best-known is No.5, a well-liked encore. The outer sections of this prelude are dominated by the snappy march rhythms heard proper at first. The contrasting center part once more harks again to the massive tunes of the Piano Concerto No 2.
Symphony No.2 in E minor, Op.27
The premiere of Rachmaninov’s Second Symphony passed off in St Petersburg, the scene of the First Symphony fiasco. However this time, with Rachmaninov on the rostrum (somewhat than a most likely drunk Glazunov), issues went to plan and the symphony, one in every of Rachmaninov’s greatest works, went on to turn out to be an viewers favorite.
Highlights embrace the athletic ‘Scherzo’, with its dazzling central fugato through which the strings frantically chase every others’ tails. The sluggish motion can also be a gem, that includes one of many best (and longest) clarinet solos within the orchestral repertoire. The finale rapidly establishes a carnival ambiance – though, as all the time, Rachmaninov is more than pleased to sluggish issues down for an additional lyrical theme or two.
The Isle Of The Lifeless, Op.29
The Isle Of The Lifeless was impressed by an Arnold Böcklin portray through which Charon, the ferryman of the useless in Greek mythology, is seen rowing a coffin throughout to a spooky island. Rachmaninov’s symphonic poem opens with a repeated five-in-a-bar determine, maybe representing Charon’s oars pulling by means of the water.
Excessive we hear fragments of the Dies Irae plainchant. This ominous theme, which interprets as ‘Day of Wrath’ and is historically included within the Catholic Requiem Mass, crops up an terrible lot in Rachmaninov’s music. Whereas the opening part is clearly involved with demise, Rachmaninov asserted that the freer central portion is a mirrored image on life. The ‘life’ music steadily turns into extra tormented (make up your individual story right here), earlier than the Dies Irae returns and the ferryman rows away, his work accomplished.
Piano Concerto No.3 in D minor, Op.30
Rachmaninov wrote this concerto for a US tour, utilizing a silent keyboard to study the piano half on the boat crossing. This, the third piano concerto, is recognizably by the identical composer because the second, though it’s longer, extra intense, and even harder to play.
The opening piano melody in all fairness laid again, however earlier than lengthy sparks start to fly. Later within the first motion there’s a spectacularly difficult cadenza for the soloist to barter (Rachmaninov even offered two variations). The sluggish motion is far darker than the corresponding motion within the second concerto: there are a number of indignant outbursts from the piano and a devilishly fast waltz that breaks out in direction of the top. The finale is sort of unreasonably troublesome.
Vocalise, Op.34, No.14
Rachmaninov’s Op.34 consists of 14 songs for voice and piano. Numbers one to 13 make use of texts by a number of big-name Russian poets. Vocalise, however, is wordless: the performer sings the identical vowel sound all through. This poignant music with out phrases, the most effective Rachmaninov works, has captured the eye of numerous composers and performers and has been organized for almost each instrument possible – from the violin of Jascha Heifetz to the electrical guitar of Slash from Weapons N’ Roses.
Top-of-the-line-known preparations of all was made by the composer himself. In Rachmaninov’s orchestral model, the melody is generally performed by the violins. In the direction of the top, a clarinet takes over, releasing up the violins to play a hovering new line.
The Bells, Op.35
Rachmaninov’s excellent choral symphony is a setting of a Russian adaptation of a poem by Edgar Allan Poe. The poem is handily divided into 4 sections, specializing in delivery, marriage, terror, and demise respectively. In flip, every of those life experiences is related to a kind of bell: silver, gold, brass and iron.
Within the first motion, Rachmaninov takes us on a high-speed sleigh trip. Within the slower, second motion (‘The Mellow Wedding ceremony Bells’), a solo soprano predicts a peaceable future for the completely happy couple. This temper is swept away by the third motion, a relentless depiction of terror, through which Rachmaninov pushes the choir to its limits. His fourth motion, a meditation on demise, ends extra positively than Poe’s unique, with rising string traces and a gently positioned main chord.
All-Evening Vigil, Op.37
This setting of the Russian Orthodox All-Evening Vigil service is scored for unaccompanied choir, with tenor and alto soloists. In 9 of the 15 actions, Rachmaninov makes use of conventional Orthodox chants: easy, single-line melodies. The wealthy harmonies, nonetheless, are the composer’s personal all through. He writes for the choir with nice freedom: at one level, he subdivides it into as many as 11 elements – elsewhere, he asks for buzzing somewhat than singing.
To get an concept of the particular great thing about this rating, pattern the fifth motion, which Rachmaninov needed carried out at his personal funeral. Right here, over completely chosen chords within the choir, the tenor soloist sings a spellbinding melody based mostly on a Ukrainian chant. Within the final couple of bars, the bass half famously descends to a ridiculously low B flat. Rachmaninov will need to have identified some significantly gifted singers.
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43
The final of Nicolò Paganini’s 24 Caprices For Solo Violin has offered the idea for music by many different composers, together with Brahms, Liszt, Lutosławski and Szymanowski (in addition to Benny Goodman and Andrew Lloyd-Webber). Rachmaninov’s tribute to his fellow composer-performer is a set of variations for piano and orchestra and is one in every of Rachmaninov’s greatest works.
There are 24 variations in all, though, for those who’re counting, bear in mind that the primary variation precedes the theme. That is one other work through which the Dies Irae performs a giant half. The pianist introduces the mantra in variation seven, whereas the orchestra continues with the Paganini. On the coronary heart of the work is the majestic 18th variation, based mostly on a slower, upside-down model of the theme. The demanding closing six variations are an exhilarating trip for pianist, orchestra and listener.
Advisable Recording
Daniil Trifonov’s album Vacation spot Rachmaninov: Departure, that includes Rachmaninov’s Piano Concertos 2 & 4, gained the Concerto Award on the BBC Music Journal Awards 2019.
“Trifonov is maybe probably the most thrilling pianist to have emerged internationally within the final 30 years, and peerless as we speak as a Rachmaninov interpreter …this is among the releases of the yr,” famous Andrew Clements, The Guardian.
Daniil Trifonov’s album Vacation spot Rachmaninov: Departure could be purchased right here.
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