Rachmaninoff’s masterpieces. Recommended pieces by Rachmaninoff.

Easter from a Fantastical PaintingSergei Rachmaninov

Rachmaninoff / Suite No. 1 “Fantastical Pictures” 4. Easter, Op. 5

Each piece in Fantastical Pictures is a duet for two pianos.

The work depicts the journey toward a “holy victory,” as chants from the Russian Orthodox Easter and the resonance of bells are repeated and layered ever more thickly.

One is overwhelmed by the solemn peal of the bells.

VocaliseSergei Rachmaninov

Rachmaninoff: Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14

Vocalise originally refers to a method of singing using only vowels such as [a] and [u], but Rachmaninoff used it as the title of an art song that became one of his signature works.

Composed in June 1912 for soprano or tenor with piano, it was later arranged for orchestra several times by Rachmaninoff himself.

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in A minor, Op. 43, Variation 18Sergei Rachmaninov

S. Rachmaninoff (arr. Jojiro Hirai) / Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Variation 18: Andante Cantabile / Hiromi Arisaki (Pf.) [OPUS Vol. 03]

One of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s signature works, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, is a set of variations on the theme from Niccolò Paganini’s Caprice No.

24 for solo violin.

The piece consists of the theme and 24 variations, and among them, the Variation 18 introduced here is especially often performed on its own and frequently used as background music in films.

Its sweet yet wistful melody may sound familiar to you.

Some may feel that the 18th variation truly comes alive with the violin, but its melody is more than beautiful enough to be enjoyed as a piano solo.

It’s an accessible and highly recommended piece even for newcomers to classical music.

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Island of DeathSergei Rachmaninov

Sergei Rachmaninov – The Isle Of The Dead

It is a symphonic poem composed by Rachmaninoff in 1909 after he saw the copperplate engraving of the same title by Max Klinger.

The original work on which the engraving was based is an oil painting by the Swiss painter Arnold Böcklin.

Later, upon seeing the oil painting, Rachmaninoff was surprised by its unexpectedly bright color palette and remarked, “If I had seen this, I would not have written that piece.”

Trio of Sorrow No. 1 (G minor)Sergei Rachmaninov

Rachmaninoff: Piano Trio No. 1 (Trio élégiaque) Pf. Masayo Miwa

A trio consisting of piano, violin, and cello.

While the violin and cello carry much of the main melody, the sparkling piano in the background also has a strong presence.

It may not be as flashy as an orchestra, but the interplay of the three instruments is even more enjoyable when accompanied by visuals, not just the sound.

Trio of Sorrow No. 2 in D minor, Op. 9Sergei Rachmaninov

Rachmaninov – Trio élégiaque n°2 op.9 – Kogan / Luzanov / Svetlanov

A piece composed in just over a month following the news of Tchaikovsky’s death.

It begins in a strict and solemn manner, but gradually the violin’s heartrending melody resonates as if expressing rising emotions.

The violin’s sense of urgency even sounds like memories of the lost person are racing through one’s mind.

Piano Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 28Sergei Rachmaninov

Rachmaninoff Piano Sonata No. 1 in D Minor Op. 28 – Weissenberg (Score)

Originally a piece based on Goethe’s play Faust.

Each of the three movements was titled after a character from Faust, but those titles were reportedly discarded before publication.

The performance time is about 40 minutes—symphony-length! While the frequent changes in rhythm and character make it challenging, it becomes more rewarding the more you listen.