Accompanied by the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie, Ukrainian classical pianist Anna Fedorova performs Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor, Op. 40. Conductor: Marzena Diakun. Recorded during the Sunday Morning Concert of Sunday, May 29, 2022, in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Published by the AVROTROS Klassiek channel.
With this performance, Anna Fedorova concludes her illustrious Rachmaninoff cycle.
Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 4
Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor, Op. 40 does not enjoy the same popularity as the famous 2nd Piano Concerto, with its melancholic melodies that reverberate in your head long after a concert, or as the 3rd Piano Concerto, which thanks to its melodic theme, many virtuoso passages, and a heroic finale in D major. 3rd is a favorite of young pianists at piano competitions.
With the 4th Piano Concerto, Rachmaninov broke with his early period in many respects. Melody and classical structure were subordinated to his feeling, and that was bitterly tragic.
The concerto was completed in 1926. There are three versions. Following its unsuccessful premiere (1st version), the composer made cuts and other amendments before publishing it in 1928 (2nd version). With continued lack of success, he withdrew the work, eventually revising and republishing it in 1941 (3rd version, most generally performed today).
The original manuscript version was released in 2000 by the Rachmaninoff Estate to be published and recorded.
The work is in three movements:
- Allegro vivace (G minor).
- Largo (C major)
- Allegro vivace (G minor – D flat major – G major)
Sources
- Piano Concerto No. 4 (Rachmaninoff) on Wikipedia
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