Piano Concerto No.2, Mvt.1 // RACHMANINOFF

The Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18, is a concerto for piano and orchestra composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff between the autumn of 1900 and April 1901. The second and third movements were first performed with the composer as soloist on 2 December 1900. The complete work was premiered, again with the composer as soloist, on 9 November 1901, with his cousin Alexander Siloti conducting. This piece is one of Rachmaninoff's most enduringly popular pieces, and established his fame as a concerto composer. At its 1897 premiere, Rachmaninoff's first symphony, though now considered a significant achievement, was derided by contemporary critics. Compounded by problems in his personal life, Rachmaninoff fell into a depression that lasted for several years. His second piano concerto confirmed his recovery from clinical depression and writer's block, cured by courses of hypnotherapy and psychotherapy and helped by support from his family and friends. The concerto was dedicated to Nikolai Dahl, the physician who had done much to restore Rachmaninoff's self-confidence. The opening movement begins with a series of chromatic bell-like tollings on the piano that build tension, eventually climaxing in the introduction of the main theme. This leads into the key and main theme of the piece, C Minor. In this first section, the orchestra carries the Russian-character melody, while the piano provides an accompanimental role, consisting of rapid oscillating arpeggios between both hands. After the statement of the long first theme, a quick and virtuosic "piu mosso" pianistic figuration transition leads into the lyrical second theme in E flat major, the relative key. The second theme is first stated by the solo piano, with light accompaniment coming from the upper wind instruments. A transition which follows the chromatic scale eventually lead to the final reinstatement of the second theme, this time with the full orchestra at a piano dynamic. The exposition ends with an agitated closing section with scaling arpeggios on the E flat major scale in both hands. (Source: Wikipedia) ► Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/PianoAdventure?sub_confirmation=1 ► Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PianoAdventureX ► Like our Facebook Page: https://fb.me/PianoAdventureX ► Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/PianoAdventure Movement I: Moderato (C minor) Work Title: Piano Concerto No.2 #Rach2 Composer: Sergei #Rachmaninoff Year of Composition: 1900–1901 First Publication: 1901 - Moscow: A. Gutheil Piece Style: Romantic Midi: Sequences © Dario Galimberti Artwork: © PianoAdventure Visualization: #Synthesia