The Eternal Classic: Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concertos

Abstract

Standing at the end of the line of great Romantic pianist-composers, Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) is undoubtedly a fascinating character and enigma. As a celebrated pianist, composer and conductor, Rachmaninoff’s contribution to the evolution of piano literature remains significant throughout the next century. Among all of his piano works, his five piano concertos are the masterworks adored by both performer and audience and still frequently performed nowadays in the concert hall all over the world. These piano concertos are not only a treasure of classical music heritage, but also a brief delineation of the composer’s life and music career that includes his success and frustration.