Sergei Rachmaninov - Symphony No. 2, Op. 27 (1907) Live

Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff (Russian: Серге́й Васи́льевич Рахма́нинов, tr. Sergéj Vasíl'evič Rahmáninov; 1 April [O.S. 20 March] 1873 - 28 March 1943) was a Russian pianist, composer, and conductor of the late-Romantic period, some of whose works are among the most popular in the classical repertoire. He is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century.
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Symphony No. 2 in e minor, Op. 27 (1906-1907)
Dedication: Sergey Taneyev (1856-1915)
I. Largo - Allegro moderato (0:00)
II. Allegro molto (21:40)
III. Adagio (31:43)
IV. Allegro vivace (45:13)
Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Thomas Dausgaard
Live recording: Stuttgart, Liederhalle, 2 October 2009.
Description by Robert Cummings
By 1906, the time when Rachmaninov began work of the Second Symphony, he had become not only a well-known pianist and conductor, but a composer of considerable renown. Ten years before, however, the abject failure of his First Symphony had robbed him of his confidence and plunged him into a dark depression. Unable to compose for the next three years, he finally sought the help of Dr. Nicolai Dahl at the behest of relatives. Dahl used the then-new technique of hypnotism, which rapidly restored the composer's confidence. Shortly after his therapeutic sessions with Dahl, Rachmaninov produced his popular Second Piano Concerto. It must have been with some trepidation, though, that he started work on the Second Symphony, memories of the fate of the First undoubtedly still lingering in his mind.
Indeed, after composing the first draft of this symphony in 1906-1907, Rachmaninov declared his dissatisfaction with it; he would remark that it was not in his nature to compose symphonies. Nevertheless, he forced himself to rework the piece, and on February 8, 1908, he led the first performance in St. Petersburg. It was enthusiastically received, and by the end of the year, Rachmaninov was awarded the Glinka prize for his new work.

[@Axelotl322]

22:56 is such a Rachmaninoff moment

[@davidrehak3539]

Szergej Rachmaninov:2.e-moll Szimfónia Op.27 1.Largo - Allegro moderato 00:00 2.Allegro molto 21:40 3.Adagio 31:43 4.Allegro vivace 45:13 Stuttgarti Rádió Szimfonikus Zenekara Vezényel:Thomas Dausgaard

[@sebastientraglia1351]

I must confess I didn't know this symphony. And now i consiser myself stupid for ignoring it. Such pathos, such lyrical melodies, such power, such a clever orchestration. One of the best symphonies I've ever heard.

[@NothingFunnyAboutTheseCarpets]

it's the kind of piece you only like sometimes :)

[@bartjebartmans]

You are speaking for yourself. I like it every day.

[@avrumgolub2735]

Bartje Bartmans Thank you for your most praiseworthy efforts. Not only is this an uplifting symphony, it is fun to play (it's a long "blow" for horn players).

[@TheVaughan5]

I agree with Francisco Cabrita. Not however because it isn't a great symphony because it most certainly is but because you hear so many bad performances where the conductor drags out the music and over sentimentalizes the melodies. This work needs to have momentum which is what we have here in this recording. I was introduced to the symphony by a recording with Paul Kletski/OSR and it's remained the benchmark ever since, very few performances I've heard since (and there have been many) have come anywhere near it.

[@georgealderson4424]

Sebastien Traglia Do not consider yourself stupid at all Sebastian. Just consider yourself lucky as I do that we have such wonderful sounds to hear. Blessings and peace be with you

[@bobcochran1072]

Perhaps the most romantic of all symphonies. If the finale doesn't give you goosebumps and teary eyes, not much else in the romantic repertoire will. Certainly one of my favorite symphonies.

[@ThankYouKiwi]

@The Truth lol no. Mahler 6 is the apex of symphonic tragedy.

[@gigogrom216]

Elgar 1st, Tchaikovsky 5th and 6th

[@Dylonely42]

*most post-romantic

[@sebastientraglia1351]

The few bars of the introduction to the first movement must be some of the most powerful ever written. I'm obsessed, for some reason to me they capture perfectly the state of contemplating and craving desperately something beautiful, being unable to achieve it.

[@njklhs4578]

Yes, the whole symphony is very yearning, I think it's my favorite of all.

[@dang5874]

Oh, boys, then you would love his First Symphony

[@Dylonely42]

This masterpiece deserve as much fame as the two well known concertos by Rachmaninoff.

[@wafries02]

why no one talks about the beginning of the 3rd movement 31:43 this part is soo beautiful like... imagine you're in a castle in a room with candle or orange lighting and it's raining outside. outstanding music Rach!

[@aidandavis7657]

what r u talking about thats what everyone talks about

[@Dylonely42]

🙄

[@lucasdelliosiv7493]

The bit at 2:53 always sends shivers down my spine... Just incredible...

[@uranus_crunch_cake87]

This symphony will always be the fastest hour ever. I don't know where the time goes. But I always end up getting lost in the music and then it's over.

[@Axelotl322]

36:11 getting goosebumps and a tear in my eye every time

[@fluffly3606]

Listening to this while doing something else; the violas and timpani at 20:05 caught my attention. I would not have expected such a combination to work so well.

[@Cephalopoda]

That's on our open C string (bottom string), so an interesting effect, particularly with that tricksy syncopation. We're playing this this term and there's a lot of great viola moments. I'm realising that often it's not that we're doubling the first violins, but it's a viola tune the first violins add some high harmonics too. :)

[@magicianchicken4797]

@@Cephalopoda I always find myself listening to the viola parts. I just have a huge bias towards them

[@nlv7125]

The best version of this first movement in my opinion

[@FueganTV]

9:05 This is a bVI-bVII-i progression, very popular in modern music, but quite rare in classical (another prominent example of it, if you're wondering, is the closing of La Boheme by Puccini, the three last chords).

[@Dylonely42]

Thank you for this information.

[@Kyubiwan]

And then in the 3rd movement there is the IV-V-iii-vi progression, known as the "Anime progression" or the "Royal Road progression". Found all over the place in anime/J-pop.

[@dp53plante95]

This is a wonderful performance of the 2nd Symphony from every perspective - at least I think so. It is absolutely without any cuts and with the first movement repeat, which I think works perfectly well. (For many years, conductor's followed the cuts that Rachmaninoff himself when he performed it in the 1920s and 30s. ) I was really stunned by the sound of the Stuttgart Radio Symphony, although I have known for a long time that they were a really first class orchestra - especially under Celibidache in the 1970s.

[@dp53plante95]

I should add, though, this orchestra no longer exists. It went defunct in 2016 as it was "merged" out of existence with the SWR Orchestra of Baden-Baden.

[@user-hb7jd2rb1u]

Extremely beautiful, especially the breath-taking third movement. Thank you very much for sharing.

[@harryandruschak2843]

Thank you for this upload. This symphony has always been one of my favourites.

[@thomasennser3113]

9:06 is probably one of my favorite chords progressions in music

[@jei9957]

Beautiful isnt enough to describe this

[@user-iv3vo5pw6q]

Main theme 4:53 Second theme 6:27 Main theme in development 11:55 Second theme in development 17:40 Coda 20:06 Correct me if I'm wrong, hope that I helped someone

[@Dylonely42]

The second theme parts are out of this world.

[@samaritan29]

*second theme in recap

[@redfishplayz4476]

2:50 omg the climax of the intro is best

[@jacobschiller4486]

Part of the beginning of the 2nd movement of this Symphony is featured in the 2014 black comedy drama Birdman!

[@charlietian9843]

creative and beautiful use of the strings in orchestration

[@OliverG12345]

17:39 such a good part

[@Dylonely42]

The beauty of Rachmaninoff

[@ayandas8299]

This is my favorite piece of music of all time

[@Dylonely42]

Good taste.

[@Khayyam-vg9fw]

Gigantic stuff from one of the great geniuses of 20th century music.

[@benijoss1609]

36:12 One of my favourites

[@lucasdelliosiv7493]

Eargasms: 2:53 4:44 5:45 6:44 16:32 17:57

[@erikfreitas7093]

And those are in just the first movement! All 4 movements offer multiple eargasms. Remarkable, isn’t it? 👂😍👂

[@anandsamuel1978]

There are three Composer's closest to my heart and they are Rachmaninoff, Mahler and Chopin even though Chopin didn't write any symphony.

[@Dylonely42]

What about Tchaikovsky ?

[@anandsamuel1978]

@@Dylonely42 I am sorry but by oversight I missed out on the great Tchaikovsky! Thank you for pointing this out.

[@jochanaan58]

A competent performance (I'm writing after hearing the first movement), and I appreciate that they play it without cuts and with the repeat. But for me, Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra will always own this symphony.

[@lucasdelliosiv7493]

The rhythmic pattern of the 2nd movement reminds me alot of the 3rd movement of his 2nd Concerto

[@user-ym4lz3sn8n]

I. 0:00 II. 21:40 Ⅲ. 31:43 Ⅳ. 45:13

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

What is this? I've found it. Finally a recording where the conductor observes the repeat sign in the first movement. I thought something like this didn't exist of the Rach 2 as I heard dozens of them and all of them ignored it.

[@dang5874]

I'm still waiting for a performance that is daring, not lethargic, with energy and drive, such that is not intoxicating to repeat the exposition. A good example of this is the recording of the R's 3rd Symphony by Ashkenazi, he repeats the exposition in the first movement and the piece still feels alive.

[@Khayyam-vg9fw]

Yes, that non-observation of the repeat sign is a major source of irritation to me. Even Previn perpetrated it in his otherwise excellent recording.

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

@@Khayyam-vg9fw It is so common with this symphony that I actually didn't know there was a repeat sign for two decades of knowing the piece until I finally played the piano reduction and then stumbled across that repeat sign. Kind of like the Beethoven recordings of Leonard Bernstein on CBS were even advertized as complete recordings on the sleeves, which in this case just meant that Bernstein observed all repeats as opposed to everybody else back in that time. Karajan? Nope. Szell? Nope Furtwängler? Nope Cluytens? Nope. Same with the Rachmaninov 2. The first Previn recording is even a cut one.

[@Khayyam-vg9fw]

@@Quotenwagnerianer The Previn recording was the first one I knew. However, I had already acquired the Boosey & Hawkes miniature score of the work, and noticed immediately on following the work with it that the repeat was not observed. (A few years later I noticed the same thing with Franz Schmidt's Quintet in A major for clarinet, piano (left hand) and strings.) A listener without a score might well imagine that the first movement was repeat-less, given the dimensions of the work (even without the repeat, the first movement is relatively long). But, as they know all too well in the film industry, cuts (including the non-observance of a repeat in a musical composition) can often actually lengthen a work, from a psychological (specifically, phenomenological) point of view.

[@MisterPathetique]

​@@QuotenwagnerianerWhat planet do you live on? I could name a dozen conductors who performed it with the repeat: Petrenko, Litton (both with the RPO and Bergen), Temirkanov (with St Petersburg), Rozhdestvensky, Zinman, Gergiev (both with Kirov and the LSO), José Cura, Kitajenko, Ticciati, Lan Shui... Although it's true that it is a relatively recent trend.

[@maestrotheoretically519]

33:26 always gets mw

[@conan2717]

This is an unbelievable masterpiece. Does someone else also know (and love) the performance by the national symphony orchestra olsztyn under igor golovchin?

[@MrGer2295]

Beautiful ! Thanks for sharing!

[@amirsanjaricomposer9535]

38:50 that horn line...

[@richardwagner8758]

grandioso Rachmaninov

[@colinmoore317]

One of the greatest symphony. ❤

[@RNCM_Philosophy]

25:01 for my violin II excerpt pals

[@nnthadani1]

Exceptional interpretation.

[@AlexanderWollheim]

First horn rushing as fuck at 3:10

[@giulianodouglas329]

Can you share the symphonic dances? With score...

[@bartjebartmans]

Sure, wasn't thinking of it, but a good idea.

[@NothingFunnyAboutTheseCarpets]

And symphony no. 3, and the bells also, would be an interesting idea...

[@bartjebartmans]

Symphony No. 3 is already on KZbin with piano score.

[@NothingFunnyAboutTheseCarpets]

i know, but i thought you would make a video with full score, and the performance used in that video by olla-vogala is definitly not the best... (sorry for the poor english)

[@hectorberlioz9569]

Bartje Bartmans Why did you choose this poor and underplayed account under a mediocre conductor? No pleasure at all ,to follow the score this way. For instance,there exist a terrific live rendering of this symphony conducted by Kitaenko and the Residentie-Orchestra the Hague,which exceeds all other live accounts I know. Otherwise use the best studio versions by Svetlanov,Ormandy or Previn.

[@oceancheung6139]

For some reason, the score is going faster than the music by 2-3 bars, which makes it very confusing

[@bartjebartmans]

I checked it. Nothing wrong. It must have to do with band with or slow wifi

[@hdk5973]

I noticed it as well. I noticed one off around 30:58. But I guess it might as well be fine.

[@brendanward2991]

I noticed it as well in the scherzo.

[@michaelfischer5800]

Im quite good in reading scores, but this one is a challenge even I know it for years

[@claireh987]

16:18 30:21 56:33

[@nickwright6034]

Magnificent!

[@naplau344]

39:20

[@alexandradelliou]

2020: 3902

[@kliinex8746]

와 완전 폭발하네 익스플로딩...예아...

[@julia-vb1hh]

25:00

[@andreauribe6454]

Me encanta tu toque chilote rachmaninoff

[@advanceguarding7850]

😀

[@anangryjuicebox2799]

54:03 54:19

[@andrewchin6277]

I like this part too

[@fulviopolce9785]

Apogeo dell'ultra post-romanticismo di questo compositore,grande pianista ma un po' troppo melomane fino al parossismo (Adagio del terzo movimento).

[@franckmousset4022]

Interprétation parfois confuse.

[@bartjebartmans]

Et alors?

[@franckmousset4022]

Une bonne interprétation sert à faire percevoir la structure et à transmettre l'émotion d'une oeuvre. Ici, l'oeuvre sonne confuse, lourde et interminable. Le responsable, c'est le chef d'orchestre.

[@bartjebartmans]

C'est un enregistrement en direct. Vous avez déjà pensé à ça? Le placement des microphones et etc. Et cet enregistrement n'a pas de droits d'auteur. Copyright safe.

[@franckmousset4022]

Bien sûr j'y ai pensé. Mais le problème ne réside pas dans la prise de son, mais vient bien du chef.

[@bartjebartmans]

Je suis plus intéressé à montrer le score avec une performance qui n'a pas de problèmes de copyright. Je sais qu'il ya de meilleures performances comme Vladimir Ashkenazy et etc.

[@orgue2999]

Scriabin was better at it

[@Dylonely42]

?

[@mangomerkel2005]

Yes, he certainly was better at being completely overrated and being favoured by the conductor of the Moscow Conservatory...