on Aug 19th, 2009Sergei Rachmaninov Suite no. 2 Op. 17 I. Introduction (Alla marcia, in C major)
This work was composed in Italy in the first months of 1901, and like the famous second piano concerto Op.18, it confirms the comeback of the creativity of the composer after four years of silence since the flop of his first symphony. The Suite was first performed on November 24, 1901 by the composer and Alexander Siloti.
In contrast to the first Suite for two pianos, the work is not based on literature, and the form tends to approach the traditional suite. The movements are:
I. Introduction (Alla marcia, in C major)
II. Valse (Presto, in G major)
III. Romance (Andantino, in A flat major)
IV. Tarentelle (Presto, in c minor)
The most famous performance of this piece was in Los Angeles in the early 1940’s, just before Rachmaninov died. He and Vladimir Horowitz were at a party and played the piece, the last and only time they ever did.
