Rachmaninoff’s masterpieces. Recommended pieces by Rachmaninoff.

Sergei Rachmaninoff is one of the composers who represent Russia.

Although his talent was recognized by fellow Russian composer Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff once experienced a setback in his musical career.

Perhaps because his works were born from that state of mind and environment, they resonate with people today as well—their wistful, fleeting, and at times passionate style captivates everyone who listens.

This time, I’ve selected pieces ranging from symphonies performed by orchestra to vocal works and piano pieces.

Even when you hear a piece you don’t know, you might find yourself thinking, “Ah, this is Rachmaninoff.”

Please give them a listen.

Playlist

Rachmaninoff’s masterpieces. Recommended pieces by Rachmaninoff.
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27Sergei Rachmaninov		Rachmaninoff's Ma… in Saint Petersburg
2	Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18Sergei Rachmaninov		A famous work often cited as the foremost piano symphony...
3	Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14Sergei Rachmaninov		Sergei..., a Russian composer who epitomized the 20th century,
4	Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43, Variation 18Sergei Rachmaninov		An immortal masterpiece by the Russian composer Rachmaninoff…
5	Ten PreludesSergei Rachmaninov		As the name suggests, it consists of ten tracks...
6	Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30Sergei Rachmaninov		Rachmaninoff, on his first performance tour to America...
7	Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 36Sergei Rachmaninov		This piece was composed by Rachmaninoff while he was staying in Italy…
8	Vigil Prayer, Op. 37Sergei Rachmaninov		Rachmaninoff composed for Orthodox Church prayers and…
9	Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in A minor, Op. 43Sergei Rachmaninov		Rachmaninoff, who had emigrated to the United States, spent the summer holi...
10	Variations on a Theme by Corelli, Op. 42Sergei Rachmaninov		In 1918, fleeing the Russian Revolution to the United States...
11	Choral Symphony “The Bells”Sergei Rachmaninov		The great Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff...
12	Symphonic Dances, Op. 45Sergei Rachmaninov		Rachmaninoff’s final work. The dramatic opening...
13	Prelude in C-sharp minor “Bells”, Op. 3 No. 2Sergei Rachmaninov		One of the pieces included in Fantasiestücke, Op. 3…
14	Symphonic Poem “Isle of the Dead,” Op. 29Sergei Rachmaninov		A painter from Switzerland who was active in the 19th century...
15	13 PreludesSergei Rachmaninov		In the summer of 1910, breaking away from a hectic schedule of performances...
16	ArekoSergei Rachmaninov		Composed in 1892 as his graduation piece from the Moscow Conservatory…
17	Oriental SketchSergei Rachmaninov		The Ru... by the Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff
18	Symphonic Poem ‘Prince Rostislav’Sergei Rachmaninov		A symphonic poem written for a large orchestra, …
19	Pictorial Études ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ Op. 33 No. 1 in F minorSergei Rachmaninov		Composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff in 1911…
20	Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 19Sergei Rachmaninov		Right after the famous Piano Concerto No. 2...
21	Piano Concerto No. 2 in C major, Op. 18Sergei Rachmaninov		Composed by Russia’s proud composer, Rachmaninoff…
22	Lilac (A-flat major), Op. 21 No. 5Sergei Rachmaninov		Rachmaninoff’s homeland, Russia, around May every year…
23	Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43, Variation 18: Andante cantabileSergei Rachmaninov		The great composer, Sergei Rachmaninoff. Pi…
24	This is a wonderful place, Work 21-7Sergei Rachmaninov		It’s not widely known, but a masterpiece of Russian songs...
25	Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor, Op. 40Sergei Rachmaninov		Compared to Piano Concertos No. 2 and No. 3, it isn’t very well known…
26	Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 44Sergei Rachmaninov		This is the final work among Rachmaninoff’s symphonies...
27	Symphony No. 1 in D minor, Op. 13Sergei Rachmaninov		Compared to the hugely successful Piano Concerto No. 2, …
28	Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 3Sergei Rachmaninov		Like the All-night Vigil, it was composed for the prayers of the Orthodox Church...
29	Etudes Collection “Pictures at an Exhibition”Sergei Rachmaninov		Eight pieces composed around 1911, Opus 33…
30	Etudes-Tableaux, Op. 39Sergei Rachmaninov		Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff...
31	Symphony No. 2, Movement IIISergei Rachmaninov		A masterpiece whose beautiful melody stirs the heart
32	Oriental Sketch in B-flat majorSergei Rachmaninov		In 1917, amid the unfolding Russian Revolution, ...
33	Capriccio on Gypsy Themes, Op. 12Sergei Rachmaninov		“Gypsy” refers to people scattered across various parts of Europe…
34	Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27 – Movement IIISergei Rachmaninov		Premiered in 1908 under Rachmaninoff’s own baton…
35	Fantasiestücke, Op. 3 No. 1: ElegySergei Rachmaninov		Sergei Rachmaninoff completed it in 1892...
36	From “Fantasy Miniatures,” No. 1: ElegySergei Rachmaninov		A world-renowned composer and pianist born in Russia…
37	13 Preludes, Op. 32 No. 5 in G majorSergei Rachmaninov		Sergei Rachmaninoff completed in 1910…
38	Suite No. 2 for Two Pianos “Tarantella”Sergei Rachmaninov		Always enveloped in Rachmaninoff’s sparkling aura…
39	Song Collection of 14, No. 14: VocaliseSergei Rachmaninov		A famous a cappella piece sung using only vowels
40	Variation 18 from Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini for Piano and OrchestraSergei Rachmaninov		Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, a masterpiece
41	Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 – II. Andante (Second Movement)Sergei Rachmaninov		Sergei Rachmaninoff, as a composer of concertos, ...
42	Fantasy Pieces, Op. 3 No. 2 “Prelude”Sergei Rachmaninov		Rachmaninoff’s Bells, an eerily magnificent masterpiece
43	Piano Concerto, Episode 3Sergei Rachmaninov		The beauty of Rachmaninoff that is founded upon advanced technique…
44	Piano Concerto No. 3, Third MovementSergei Rachmaninov		One of Rachmaninoff’s representative works, and a performance…
45	Symphony No. 2Sergei Rachmaninov		He also achieved great success as a composer and gained public recognition, …
46	Moments Musicaux, Op. 16Sergei Rachmaninov		A fiercely driving melody and a leisurely…
47	Suite No. 1: Fantastical PaintingsSergei Rachmaninov		In 1893, when Rachmaninoff was around 20 years old...
48	Etude-Tableaux, Op. 39 No. 2 in A minor “The Sea and the Seagull”Sergei Rachmaninov		A summer piano piece, a masterpiece by Rachmaninoff
49	Piano Concerto No. 2Sergei Rachmaninov		Rachmaninoff, a composer who represents Russia…
50	Italian PolkaSergei Rachmaninov		A brilliant tone and exquisitely nuanced breathing intertwine to create…
51	Three NocturnesSergei Rachmaninov		A work Rachmaninoff wrote at the age of 14, with a boyish…
52	Salon Small Works CollectionSergei Rachmaninov		A work from Rachmaninoff’s younger years, set in Moscow…
53	Piano Concerto No. 2, First Movement [Duet]Sergei Rachmaninov		Rachma..., a Russian composer who represents the 20th century
54	Etude (Study) “Pictures of an Exhibition,” Op. 39-1Sergei Rachmaninov		Too abstruse to be called an “étude,” la…
55	Variations on a Theme by Chopin, Op. 22Sergei Rachmaninov		The theme of Chopin’s Prelude No. 20 in C minor keeps re-…
56	Fantasy Pieces, Op. 3 No. 2: Prelude “The Bell”Sergei Rachmaninov		Figure skater Mao Asada turned 20…
57	Fantasy Pieces: “Elegy” in E-flat minor, Op. 3 No. 1Sergei Rachmaninov		Lyrical, with a melody as if it were being sung…
58	Scherzo in D minor for OrchestraSergei Rachmaninov		Among Rachmaninoff’s surviving orchestral works, the mo...
59	Suite No. 2Sergei Rachmaninov		This is also a duo piece performed on two pianos, and…
60	Piano Concerto No. 1 in F-sharp minor, Op. 1Sergei Rachmaninov		Rachmaninoff, who was enrolled at the Moscow Conservatory…
61	Piano Concerto No. 2, First MovementSergei Rachmaninov		Piano Concerto by Sergei Rachmaninoff
62	Picturesque Etudes “Tableaux,” Op. 39, No. 6: “Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf”Sergei Rachmaninov		Sergei, the great composer who represents Russia, ...
63	Prelude in C-sharp minor “The Bells”Sergei Rachmaninov		In the late Romantic era, there were wonderful works from Russia…
64	Moments Musicaux No. 4Sergei Rachmaninov		A Russian-born composer who represents modern classical music…
65	Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 36Sergei Rachmaninov		Sergei Rachmaninoff wrote two p…
66	13 Preludes, Op. 32 No. 11 in B majorSergei Rachmaninov		Sergei Rachmaninoff completed in 1910…
67	Nocturne No. 1 from Three NocturnesSergei Rachmaninov		A Russian who was active from the 19th to the 20th century...
68	Six Pieces, Op. 11: No. 6 “Slava (Glory)”Sergei Rachmaninov		He is also hailed as the greatest classical composer of the 20th century…
69	Moments Musicaux, Op. 16 No. 3 in B minorSergei Rachmaninov		Comprising six improvisational, free-form pieces, “Six …”
70	Salon Pieces Op. 10 No. 2: WaltzSergei Rachmaninov		Composed between 1893 and 1894…
71	Salon Pieces, Op. 10: No. 3, BarcarolleSergei Rachmaninov		The Salon... contains seven short pieces of differing character.
72	Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 19Sergei Rachmaninov		Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Cello Sona...
73	Rhapsody on a Theme of PaganiniSergei Rachmaninov		Sergei, a composer representing the Russian Romantic movement...
74	Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Variation 18: Andante cantabileSergei Rachmaninov		A work composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff…
75	Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18Sergei Rachmaninov		Not just a glamorous atmosphere, but also a heavy, cool vibe...
76	Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18, Movement ISergei Rachmaninov		Figure skating program music, television…
77	Symphony No. 2, Movement 3Sergei Rachmaninov		The success and fulfillment of Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 3
78	Symphony No. 2, Movement IIISergei Rachmaninov		Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2, third movement. A beautifully Slavic slow movement.
79	Prelude, Op. 3 No. 2 “The Bells”Sergei Rachmaninov		Rachmaninoff’s “The Bells,” a resounding fantasy piece
80	Prelude Op. 23 No. 5 in G minorSergei Rachmaninov		A Russian pianist who represents the 20th century, Sa...
81	Fantasiestücke, Op. 3 No. 4: The JesterSergei Rachmaninov		The Fantastical (Fantasy) Pieces, a set of five short works of differing character...
82	Fantasy Pieces: Prelude in C-sharp minor, Op. 3 No. 2 “The Bell”Sergei Rachmaninov		A Russian composer who was extremely active in the 1890s, ...
83	ElegySergei Rachmaninov		Rachmaninoff’s Exile and Music of Yearning
84	Moments musicaux, Op. 16 No. 5Sergei Rachmaninov		Sergei..., a Russian-born master of Romanticism,
85	Moments Musicaux No. 4 in E minor, “Presto”Sergei Rachmaninov		Sergei, with a poignantly wistful melody that leaves a lasting impression...
86	Moments Musicaux No. 4 in E minorSergei Rachmaninov		Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer and pianist...
87	bellSergei Rachmaninov		Rachmaninoff’s work published in 1913...
88	ElegySergei Rachmaninov		Tchaikovsky’s emotionally rich elegy
89	Rachmaninoff – The Miserly Knight, Op. 24Sergei Rachmaninov		Born in Russia in 1873, he was a composer and pianis...
90	Salon Pieces Op. 10 No. 4: MelodySergei Rachmaninov		Rather than flashiness, we value cohesion and elegance…
91	Prelude Op. 23 No. 5Sergei Rachmaninov		Rachmaninoff's piano concertos are masterpieces.
92	Easter from a Fantastical PaintingSergei Rachmaninov		Expressing the Russian Orthodox Easter with two pianos
93	VocaliseSergei Rachmaninov		Vocalises were originally sung using [a] and [u] and…
94	Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in A minor, Op. 43, Variation 18Sergei Rachmaninov		One of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s representative works is...
95	Island of DeathSergei Rachmaninov		of the same title by Max Klinger…
96	Trio of Sorrow No. 1 (G minor)Sergei Rachmaninov		Consisting of piano, violin, and cello…
97	Trio of Sorrow No. 2 in D minor, Op. 9Sergei Rachmaninov		Upon receiving the news of Tchaikovsky’s death, just one…
98	Piano Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 28Sergei Rachmaninov		Originally based on Goethe's play Faust...
99	Prelude in G minor, Op. 23 No. 5Sergei Rachmaninov		Sergei Rachmaninoff, the Russian musician…
100	Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14Sergei Rachmaninov		Originally written as a song, it had no lyrics and the mother…
101	Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43Sergei Rachmaninov		The master of Russian Romanticism, Sergei Rachmani...