Sergey Rachmaninoff
Piano Concerto 2
in C Minor, Op. 18
From its bold start, with those iconic, still and heavy solo piano chords, the Second Piano Concerto grows into an epic, rapturous storm of emotion.
Year: 1901
Period: Late Romantic
Piano score: Scanned score 
Audiovisual Study Tool
A spectacular creative comeback
The premiere of Rachmaninoff’s first symphony had been a complete failure, and he went into a deep depression regarding its on-stage demise. For three years, he basically did nothing. Then, inspiration struck him again, and the second piano concerto was the result. Unlike the first symphony, the second concerto became a favorite of performers and audience members alike. Interestingly enough, it was when Rachmaninoff visited a hypnotist that he recovered his desire to compose. From January to April 1900, he visited Nikolai Dahl, a neurologist who specialized in hypnosis, daily. Himself a musician, Dahl would repeat a triptych formula while the composer was half-asleep: "You will begin to write your concerto ... You will work with great facility ... The concerto will be of an excellent quality".
The premiere of the work was fraught with danger. On the eve of the concert, Rachmaninoff caught a cold, prompting his friends and relatives to stuff him with remedies, including an excess of mulled wine. It had been eight years since he performed as a soloist with orchestra. Still, it was an enormous success and propelled Rachmaninoff right back into the thick of things. The critic Ivan Lipaev wrote: "it's been long since the walls of the Nobility Hall reverberated with such enthusiastic, storming applause as on that evening ... This work contains much poetry, beauty, warmth, rich orchestration, healthy and buoyant creative power. Rachmaninoff's talent is evident throughout."
Forum posts about this piece:
Rach concerto 2 by zephylx
Hello, i got a question. I just finished Chopin nocturne op 48 no 1 and i want to play rachs concerto 2 with string quartet, just the first mvt. Do you think i can play it? or is it much harder. Thanks for...
Rach Piano Concerto no 2 by thedodocotimes
I posted this on Repitoire as well but might as well... I'm currently 13 and absolutely love Rachmaninoff's second concerto. There's a local concerto contest where you can play a concerto...
What to do about Rach 2 ? by bryfarr
I remember when I first heard Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto #2 at age 15. I was in awe - such rapturous beauty, the intricate blend of piano of and orchestra, the heart wrenching melodies.
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto no 2 by thedodocotimes
I'm currently 13 and absolutely love Rachmaninoff's second concerto. There's a local concerto contest where you can play a concerto with a symphony orchestra if you get 1st place in your division....
Your opinion by arpeggio
Hello Just wanted to know your opinion on the difficulty of Liszt concerto no. 2, compared to Rach no. 2 of Tchaikovsky no. 1 for example I know there is already a lot of discussion about...
new piece suggestions by meingott
Hello all, I am looking for a new piece to learn for a school event. It shouldn't be any more than 5 minutes at a maximum. Something flashy would be good for a largely non-musical audience, but...
Concerto for Competition by adariation
I am planning on doing a competition and need a concerto a for the grand final. I have played many concertos with orchestra; Rach 2, Chopin 1, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven 3,4, 5. This is an...
Am I ready to play Rach 2 ?? by fannysmithpiano
Am I ready to play Rach 2, or close? For reference, the hardest piece I'm playing currently is Mirroirs 3 by Ravel. I'm also currently studying for the ARCT playing test. Sorry if this question is...
Does anyone know anything about the MusicAddicts version of rach 2 by ttk33202nezidcom
I was looking to play a solo arrangement of rachmaninoffs second piano concerto and i really like the Christopher Falzone version on youtube (www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFoPX3LoDxY). However, he never...
Maintaining a large repertoire by alberlos
Hi there! I am a piano college student, and I am intending to maintain a large repertoire. I find myself lost so many times, wondering what to practice, and I end up losing time and procrastinating....
How Does Rachmaninoff Write a Melody? 🎵 by fredviner
How does Rachmaninoff write a melody? 🎵 Check out my latest video in which I wade through the many sumptuous passages of his famous 2nd Piano Concerto discussing motifs, phrase structure and...
Am I ready for Rach 2? by rocky99
School starts in a few weeks, and I am in the process of looking for repertoire to play for the spring semester. Rachmaninoff's 2nd Piano Concerto is my favorite piano piece of all time, and it's my...
Piano Concerto Question by imnotapianist
Hi, I have a question concerning piano music that I'm wondering if I could have your guys' opinion on. Recently, my teacher wanted me to listen to some piano concertos to play, and I listened to Rach...
Concerto choices/recommendations for me? by aaaaaa
I'm currently a 15-year-old high school junior, and I'm hoping to audition in one year for the single spot to perform a concerto (movement) with my school orchestra. It will be a single piece in a...
Rachmaninov Concerto No. 2 mvt. 2 Adagio Sostenuto?? by leonardhofstader1
Hi there, this is one of my first posts on this forum, maybe the first on this page. Before I start, I want to make a full disclaimer that it is not my intention to make this another 'how hard is this...
Rachmaninoff PC 2 Practice Tips by rashina_horora
Hi! I know Rach PC 2 is a very popular piece, and I'm sure many of you have played it. So for those that have played it, what was your methodology in practicing the third movement? Sidenote, do...
If you’re in Chicago come to this by rachmaninoff_forever
I’m playing rach 2 with orchestra next Sunday if you’re in town HMU I’ll let you know details. If not someone’s gonna record it idk who or how but it’s getting done and I might post it in the...
Curious, what sort of hands is everyone working with? by virtuoso80
I was recently lamenting that my fingers could not be just a [i]bit[/i] longer, thus facilitating significantly greater ease with certain pieces. Although I suppose I can't complain about having especially...
Rachmaninov Concerto No. 2 mvt. 2 Adagio Sostenuto by petrovianov
Hi there, this is one of my first posts on this forum, maybe the first on this page. Before I start, I want to make a full disclaimer that it is not my intention to make this another 'how hard is this...
Piano concerto that can be learned quickly and has a simple orchestra part? by _piano_angel
Hello everyone :) Is here anyone, who knows a piano concerto which fits what is written in the subject? I've been learning Rachmaninov's second for a while but my teacher told me that...
Rachmaninov piano concerto n.2 - the second piano part by pianola22
Hi there! I'm new to this place, it seems very nice! I have two questions. I'm wondering if anyone has ever come across any piano reduction of the Rachmaninov second piano...
Rank these concerto movements in terms of difficulty by kornv9022
I am just curious how one would rank the movements of the Tchaikovsky concerto no.1 and the Rachmaninoff concertos 1 and 2 in terms of difficulty. I am curious not just the difficulty within the concerto, but...
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Piano Concerto 2 Op. 18 in C Minor, a composition by the late romantic composer Sergey Rachmaninoff. The piano score of this piece was first published in 1901 and is part of Concertos by Rachmaninoff.