Essential Rachmaninov

The Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninov, considered by many to be the natural successor to Tchaikovsky, was responsible for some of the most powerful romantic works written in the first part of the 20th century. His first popular success came in 1892 with the Prelude in C sharp minor for solo piano, but it was his Second Piano Concerto (1901) that fully established him as a major composer. Its haunting themes are heard in the famous films Brief Encounter and The Seven Year Itch, and music from the Third Piano Concerto (1909) makes a profound impression in the film Shine. Extracts from these and Rachmaninov’s other main compositions are performed by leading artists including the pianists Leif Ove Andsnes, Vladimir Ovchinikov, Cécile Ousset Read more and Andrei Gavrilov, the singers Natalie Dessay and Nicolai Gedda, and the conductors Sir Simon Rattle, André Previn, Mariss Jansons and Stephen Cleobury Read less

1.

Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performer: Cécile Ousset (Piano)
Conductor: Simon Rattle
Period: Post-Romantic
Written: 1900-1901; Russia
Length: 34 Minutes 57 Secs.

2.

Vocalise, song for voice & piano, Op. 34/14 by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performer: Natalie Dessay ()
Conductor: Michael Schoenwandt
Period: Post-Romantic
Written: 1915; Russia
Length: 5 Minutes 20 Secs.

3.

Prelude for piano No.1 in C sharp minor ("The Bells of Moscow"), Op. 3/2 by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performer: John Ogdon (Piano)
Period: Post-Romantic
Written: 1892; Russia
Length: 4 Minutes 0 Secs.

4.

Vespers, Op. 37: O praise the name of the Lord by Sergey Rachmaninov
Conductor: Stephen Cleobury
Period: Post-Romantic
Written: 1915; Russia
Length: 2 Minutes 6 Secs.

5.

Moment musicaux, Op. 16: No. 3 in B minor. Andante cantabile by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performer: Jean-Phillipe Collard (Piano)
Period: Post-Romantic
Written: 1896; Russia
Length: 4 Minutes 57 Secs.

6.

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini: Variation 18 by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performer: Cécile Ousset (Piano)
Conductor: Simon Rattle
Period: Romantic
Written: 1934; Russia
Length: 3 Minutes 0 Secs.

7.

Cello Sonata in G minor, Op.19: 3. Andante by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performer: Natalie Clein (Cello), Charles Owen (Piano)
Period: Post-Romantic
Written: 1901
Length: 5 Minutes 52 Secs.

8.

Spring waters, song for voice & piano, Op. 14/11 by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performer: Gerald Moore (Piano), Nicolai Gedda ()
Period: Post-Romantic
Written: 1902; Russia
Length: 1 Minutes 55 Secs.

9.

How fair this spot, song for voice & piano, Op. 21/7 by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performer: Gerald Moore (Piano), Nicolai Gedda ()
Period: Post-Romantic
Written: 1902; Russia
Length: 1 Minutes 39 Secs.

10.

Aleko: Look how beneath the distant vault by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performer: Gerald Moore (Piano), Nicolai Gedda ()
Period: Post-Romantic
Written: 1892; Russia
Length: 1 Minutes 12 Secs.

11.

Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 44: 2. Adagio ma non troppo - Allegro vivace by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performer: Vladimir Ovcharek (Violin)
Conductor: Mariss Jansons
Period: Post-Romantic
Written: 1935-1936
Length: 12 Minutes 16 Secs.

12.

Symphonic Dances, Op. 45: 1. Non allegro by Sergey Rachmaninov
Conductor: Mariss Jansons
Period: Post-Romantic
Written: 1940
Length: 11 Minutes 19 Secs.

13.

Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor, Op. 40: 2. Largo by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performer: Agustin Anievas (Piano)
Conductor: Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos
Period: Post-Romantic
Written: 1926
Length: 6 Minutes 6 Secs.

14.

Étude-Tableau, Op. 39: No. 9 in D. Allegro moderato by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performer: Vladimir Ovchinikov (Piano)
Period: Post-Romantic
Written: 1916-1917; Russia
Length: 4 Minutes 2 Secs.

15.

Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27: 3. Adagio by Sergey Rachmaninov
Conductor: André Previn
Period: Post-Romantic
Written: 1906-1907; Russia
Length: 15 Minutes 45 Secs.

16.

Vespers, Op. 37: Nunc dimittis by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performer: James Gilchrist ()
Conductor: Stephen Cleobury
Period: Post-Romantic
Written: 1915; Russia
Length: 3 Minutes 25 Secs.

17.

Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30: 1. Allegro ma non tanto by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performer: Leif Ove Andsnes (Piano)
Conductor: Paavo Berglund
Period: Post-Romantic
Written: 1909; Russia
Length: 16 Minutes 32 Secs.

18.

To the children, song for voice & piano, Op. 26/7 by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performer: Leif Ove Andsnes (Piano), Dimitri Kharitonov ()
Period: Post-Romantic
Written: 1906
Length: 3 Minutes 23 Secs.

19.

Prelude for piano No.6 in G minor, Op. 23/5 by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performer: Andrei Gavrilov (Piano)
Period: Post-Romantic
Written: 1901; Russia
Length: 3 Minutes 43 Secs.

20.

Symphony No. 1 in D minor, Op. 13: 4. Allegro con fuoco by Sergey Rachmaninov
Conductor: Mariss Jansons
Period: Post-Romantic
Written: 1895
Length: 13 Minutes 18 Secs.

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