Happy New Year!
Today’s post completes my recording of Rachmaninoff’s 1st concerto, with the 2nd and 3rd movements. Be sure to also check out my first post covering movement 1 here.
The 2nd movement of this concerto is a sentimental favorite of mine, and is probably my favorite single work by Rachmaninoff. Rachmaninoff’s recording of himself playing this piece was a big influence on my conception of what great piano playing should be like—flexible and totally without constraint or stiffness, but at the same time with an absolutely unerring sense of pulse and rhythmic vitality.
The 3rd movement is simply a tour-de-force, in which Rachmaninoff seems to use every pianistic trick in the book to create an unbelievably rousing conclusion. It’s interesting to compare this later version with the original form of the movement, which was significantly more stilted and episodic. In the revision, everything is tightened up and flows along like clockwork, and the constant lightning fast interplay between the soloist and orchestra keeps the listener on their toes at all times.
The lyrical middle part, which never returns later in the piece, (contrary to the expectation of anyone familiar with Rachmaninoff’s 2nd and 3rd concertos) is another gloriously conceived and emotionally generous bit of writing.
I hope you enjoy the recording, and best of luck to everyone for the new year!