Four Centuries of Great Music October 7, 2023 New Releases of the Music of Sergei Rachmaninoff

Today on Four Centuries of Great Music is the first of two episodes playing recent releases of the music of Sergei Rachmaninoff.  Unlike the large number of recent releases of the music of Franz Schubert this year, for which I have no explanation, the recent releases of the music of Sergei Rachmaninoff is to celebrate the sesquicentennial of his birth on April 1, 1873.  Known as perhaps the greatest pianist of his day, he was also a composer of a considerable amount of piano music as one would expect.  But he also has music for other instruments and orchestra.

Let’s start today’s episode with perhaps one of his most famous works Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini op. 43.   It is composed of the theme and 24 variations on that theme.

Lets open this second half hour of today’s Four Centuries of Great Music featuring recent releases of the music of Sergei Rachmaninoff with his 6 Romances, Op. 4
No. 1, Oh No, I Beg You, Forsake Me Not!
No. 2, Morning
No. 3, In the Silence of the Secret Night
No. 4, Do Not Sing, My Beauty
No. 5, Oh You, my Field
No. 6, How Long, my Friend


Sergei Rachmaninoff: Morceaux de Fantasie, Op.3 No.1 Elégie


Sergei Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 27 which is in four movements
I.  Largo, Allegro moderato, Moderato
II.  Allegro molto
III.  Adagio
IV.  Allegro vivace

Thank you for joining us on Four Centuries of Great Music featuring recent releases of the music of Sergei Rachmaninoff celebrating the sesquicentennial of his birth on April 1, 1873