Sergei Rachmaninov composed the concerto in 1909 – a full nine years after the premiere of his Piano Concerto No.2. The third is grander, fuller, and more expansive in tone and style – with the soloist stretched to the very limits of her/his ability.
The soloist whom Rachmaninov intended to premiere the piece was his friend Josef Hofmann; curiously, though, Hofmann never actually performed it, apparently declaring that the work was not right for him.
This three-movement masterpiece sits alongside Brahms’ Piano Concerto No.2 as the most demanding of all Romantic concertos. It’s also one of the most electrifying.
Here is Ms. Wang to play it for you:
