the painting of The Island of Death

Rachmaninoff, Sergei (1873-1943)

December 2, 2024, 7:00 pm

The finest example of late Russian Romanticism. This Russian composer held on to being a Romantic composer well into the twentieth century, a time when his fellow composers like Stravinsky and Prokofiev were forever reinventing Classical music. We will dedicate this week to exploring the private life and music of this lyrically gifted pianist and composer. Rachmaninoff once said, “If you want to know me, you must know my music.”

Playlist


Episode 1 - MONDAY

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Vespers Op. 37 (excerpt)
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir/Hillier
Rachmaninoff: Vespers, Op. 37
Harmonia Mundi 807504
0:51

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Suite for two pianos, II (excerpt)
Argerich & Montero, pianos
Rachmaninov: Music For Two Pianos
Warner Classics 2564623594
1:06

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Piano Concerto No.1 in F Sharp Minor, Op. 1, Vivace
Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy; Rachmaninoff, piano
Rachmaninoff Plays Rachmaninoff: The 4 Piano Concertos
RCA 61658
12:08

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Aleko: Women’s Dance & Men’s Dance
Philharmonia Orchestra/ Neeme Jarvi
Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances, Dances from Aleko & Capriccio bohémien
Chandos 9081
4:19

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Aleko: Women’s Dance & Men’s Dance
Philharmonia Orchestra/ Neeme Jarvi
Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances, Dances from Aleko & Capriccio bohémien
Chandos 9081
4:59

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Aleko; “The Moon Is High In The Sky”
Orchestra/ Goossens; Chaliapin, bass
Prima Voce
Nimbus 7823
4:10

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Prelude in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 3, No. 2
Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano
Rachmaninoff: Prelude Op. 3 No. 2 in C sharp minor, etc.
Decca 43666386
4:29

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Capriccio On Roma Themes, Op. 12, “Caprice Bohemien”
Russian State Symphony Orchestra/Polyansky
Rachmaninov – The Rock
Chandos 10104
18:45


Episode 2 - TUESDAY

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Piano Trio No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 9,
Trio Élégiaque, I (excerpt)
Kogan, violin; Luzanov, violoncello; Svetlanov, piano
Piano Trio No. 2, Op. 9
Russian Disc 10 046
1:05

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Piano Trio No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 9,
Trio Élégiaque, III
Kogan, violin; Luzanov, violoncello; Svetlanov, piano
Piano Trio No. 2, Op. 9
Russian Disc 10 046
7:27

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Symphony No. 1 in D minor, Op. 13, I
Russian State Symphony/ Polyansky
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 1 in D minor, Op. 13, etc.
Chandos 9822
14:09

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Symphony No. 1 in D minor, Op. 13, III
Russian State Symphony/ Polyansky
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 1 in D minor, Op. 13, etc.
Chandos 9822
10:45

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Piano Concerto No.2 in C Minor, Op. 18 I.
Philadelphia Orchestra/Stokowski; Rachmaninoff, piano
The Complete Recordings
RCA 61265
9:49

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: The Bells, I. Allegro Ma Non Tanto
Russian State Symphony/Polyansky
Symphonic Dances · The Bells
Chan 9759
6:07


Episode 3 - WED

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31
X. “We Praise Thee”
The Sixteen/ Harry Christophers
The Sixteen Conducted By Harry Christophers – Ikon
UCJ Music 476 3160
2:24

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Symphony No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 27, I
Philadelphia Orchestra/ Eugene Ormandy
Symphony No. 2
RCA 60132
18:49

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Symphony No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 27, III
Philadelphia Orchestra/ Eugene Ormandy
Symphony No. 2
RCA 60132
12:59

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Concerto for Piano No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 30:
I. Allegro ma non tanto

New York Philharmonic/ Seiji Ozawa; Andre Watts, piano
Rachmaninoff Goes To The Cinema
Sony 63032
15:55


Episode 4 - THURSDAY

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Vespers, Op. 37
“Come, let us Worship”
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir/Hillier
HM 807504
2:51

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Vespers, Op. 37
“Come, let us Worship”
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir/Hillier
HM 807504
0:42

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: The Isle of the Dead, Op. 29
Russian State Symphony Orchestra/Polyansky
HE ROCK, THE ISLE OF THE DEAD
Chan 10104
22:12

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Suite No.1 For 2 Pianos, Op. 5, IV
Argerich & Rabinovitch, pianos
Suites Op. 5 & Op. 17 • Symphonic Dances Op. 45
Teldec 74717
2:48

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Symphony No.3 in A Minor, Op. 44, II
Philadelphia Orchestra/ Charles Dutoit
Symphony No. 3 / Symphonic Dances
Lon 433181
12:38

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Suite No.2 For 2 Pianos, Op. 17, IV
Emanuel Ax & Yefim Bronfman, piano
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances, Op. 45
Sony 61767
6:20

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Lilacs, Op. 21/5
Sergei Rachmaninoff, piano
Rachmaninoff Plays Rachmaninoff: Solo Works And Transcriptions
RCA 7766
2:20


Episode 5 - FRIDAY

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Vespers Op. 37 (excerpt)
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir/Paul Hillier
Rachmaninoff: Vespers, Op. 37
Harmonia Mundi 807504
1:14

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
London Symphony Orchestra/Previn; Ashkenazy, piano
Complete Piano Concertos / Rhapsody
Decca 473251
23:41

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Symphonic Dances, Op. 45 1.(Non) allegro and III. Finale
Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy
Complete Piano Concertos / Rhapsody
Decca 473251
25:29

Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14
Detroit Symphony Orchestra/Järvi
String Quintet / String Quartet No. 1 / Canons (to the memory of Igor Stravinsky)
Transcriptions for Orchestra/Concerto Elegiaque/Variations on a Theme of Corelli/Vocalise
Chandos 9261
2:52

You can email me using peter8dg at the usual yahoo email with any corrections or comments. Please do email me if you find any of this useful.

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