Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2

Rachmaninov composed his Piano Concerto No. 2 in 1900-1901, following harsh criticism of his First Symphony that had plunged him into a severe creative crisis. It was the physician Nikolai Dahl who helped him recover, and the concerto is dedicated to him. While the symphony was a failure, the piano concerto became the work that restored Rachmaninov's reputation and cemented his position as one of the leading Romantic composers of his time. The 1945 film Brief Encounter brought the concerto to a worldwide audience, and the love theme in the second movement has since become an enduring musical symbol of love and longing.

At the piano is Saskia Giorgini, a pianist who has been gaining attention in recent years for her recordings. On the podium stands Anna Rakitina, who placed second in the Malko Competition in 2018 and has since become one of the most sought-after conductors of her generation.

Program: S. Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2 - P.I. Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6