Rachmaninoff, Sergei - Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 4; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini - Giltburg, Boris

Rachmaninoff's First Piano Concerto was composed while he was studying at the Moscow Conservatory, and it was completely reworked before he left Russia in 1917 and again in 1919. It is difficult to explain why it never achieved greater popularity – it has all the melodic beauty, passion, and brilliance typical of the composer's music. The Fourth Piano Concerto was heavily revised after harsh criticism at its premiere, but it occupies a unique place in Rachmaninoff's output, marking a progression from lush romanticism to the muscular transparency of his later works. The electrifying Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini is a concerto in name only – its playfulness and demonic bravura have secured its place among the most beloved and frequently performed works for piano and orchestra.