Conducted by Eivind Gullberg Jensen, the Dutch Radio Filharmonisch Orkest (Radio Philharmonic Orchestra) plays Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27. Recorded on October 3,
Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27
The symphony is written in 1906-07 and the premiere was conducted by the composer himself in St. Petersburg on 8 February 1908.
The symphony is in four movements:
- Largo – Allegro moderato (E minor). The first movement begins with a slow introduction followed by an allegro in sonata form. Rachmaninoff’s choice to compose a movement in sonata-allegro form (including a full repeat of the exposition) is an indicator of his pronounced conservatism compared to other symphonists during the early twentieth century.
- Allegro molto (A minor). This movement really only resembles a scherzo insofar as it relates to the early- to the mid-Romantic tradition of symphonic movements, i.e. first movement allegro, slow movement, fast scherzo, and final allegro. The movement opens with a lively ostinato in the upper strings.
- Adagio (A major). This theme, again related to the work’s motif, sings through primarily in the first violin, echoed by a solo clarinet and the oboe section. The symphony reaches its climax in this movement, this development is considered the complement for the first movement Largo introduction.
- Allegro vivace (E major). The final movement is set in sonata form. The development incorporates ideas from the previous movements.
Radio Filharmonisch Orkest
The Radio Filharmonisch Orkest (Radio Philharmonic Orchestra; Dutch abbreviation RFO) is a Dutch radio orchestra, based in Hilversum. The RFO performs under the aegis of the Muziekcentrum van de Omroep (Broadcasting Music Centre; NMBC), an umbrella organization bringing together the music departments of the various broadcasting associations affiliated with Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (Dutch Public Broadcasting).
Sources
- Symphony No. 2 (Rachmaninoff) on Wikipedia
- Radio Filharmonisch Orkest on Wikipedia
