SERGEJ RACHMANINOV

Sergei Rachmaninov is one of the greatest pianists of all time and the last representative of late Russian romanticism as a composer. In terms of genre, his opuses are of great diversity. He wrote music for piano, orchestra; also favoured vocal lyrics, chamber music, opera genre. The largest and most important part of Rachmaninov’s legacy is piano music. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini for piano and orchestra, Op. 43 is one of his greatest piano music gems. Due to its special virtuosity and complexity, it is often referred to as Rachmaninov’s Fifth Concerto. It is a large-scale variation cycle. The thematic framework consists of several themes: the first and the main theme is the famous Capriccio No. 24 by Niccolò Paganini, the lionized 19th-century violin virtuoso. The 7th variation employs the theme of the medieval sequence Dies irae, which sounds like a symbol of the invincible power of destiny in coda. The 18th variation presents a new theme of love, one of the most beautiful examples of Rachmaninov’s lyrics. Rhapsody was first performed on November 11, 1934 in Baltimore (USA). The Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra was conducted by Leopold Stokowski, and the composer himself played the solo part.

Rachmaninov’s vibrant masterpiece is performed by Lukas Geniušas, one of the most internationally renowned Lithuanian pianists, and the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Modestas Pitrėnas.