(MSO) under Edo de Waart performs two of Rachmaninoff’smusical masterpieces.
The successful premiere of Rachmaninoff’s SecondPiano Concerto in 1901 confirmed that he had finally emerged from afour-year-long depressionthe result of the utter critical and popular failureof his First Symphony. But sudden success proved very taxing on the 33-year-oldcomposer-pianist-conductor, so he, his wife and daughter departed Russia for a three-year stay in Dresden, Germany(only venturing back every so often to see his in-laws at the family estate inIvanovka). During this relatively relaxed period Rachmaninoff found the timeand inspiration to compose, producing his next great triumph: the Symphony No.2 in E Minor, Op. 27.
Beginning with its 1908 St. Petersburg premiere, the accessible and melodiousE Minor Symphony was a terrific success. Though rather a lengthy symphony, itslanguage is straightforward, colorful and nicely proportioned. Perhaps no otherwork Rachmaninoff ever composed so perfectly fits his own professionalphilosophy.
In the autumn of the following year, Rachmaninoffembarked upon his first American concert tour. In preparation for this event hecomposed his Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 30. The world premiere tookplace in New Yorkunder Walter Damrosch, followed shortly by a concert at Carnegie Hall underGustav Mahler. Of his four piano concertos, the D Minor contains the mostchallenging piano writing and is generally acknowledged as the finest overall(the composer certainly said as much himself). Indeed, there are few othermajor concertos that so thoroughly integrate the solo instrument with theorchestra.
Maestro de Waart leadsthe MSO in Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony and, accompanied by pianist JoyceYang, the Third Piano Concerto at Uihlein Hall from Oct. 16-18.
