Rachmaninoff’s legendary Opus 18, often lovingly referred to as “Rach 2,” is for many the epitome of the Romantic piano concerto. Following its acclaimed premiere in Moscow in 1901, it proved to be a show-stopper around the globe, finally helping cement Rachmaninoff’s international reputation as a composer. To this day, the concerto’s enchanting themes and elegiac melodies in the strings are considered the trademark of Rachmaninoff, indeed, of Russian music in general.

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