Lot 246

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Description:

Rachmaninoff's First Edition of his Second Piano Concerto, "Intensely Passionate Melodies"

RACHMANINOFF, SERGEI. Second Concerto pour Piano. Op. 18. Moscow: A. Gutheil, [1901]. 11" x 13.5", 51 original parts, loose as issued; original paper wrappers laid down on protective card portfolio. Housed in a custom clamshell box. A bit of dampstaining to top margin of a few parts only. Without piano parts, else near Fine and Rare.  

Although regarded today as a masterpiece, Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 1 was met with widespread derision after its disastrous premier in 1897, due in part to the incompetence of conductor Alexander Glazunov. "Glazunov was a good composer and so uncommonly decent a man that one hates to speak ill of him, but he does seem to have a terrible conductor, and on this occasion he wrought disaster. Rachmaninoff hid on a staircase, his fists pressed against his ears, so appalling was the cacophony" (Steinberg, The Concerto, 357).

Rachmaninoff quickly sunk into a deep depression; only after repeated visits to Dr. Nikolai Dahl (for a combination of hypnotic suggestion and a bit of talk therapy) did he recover. The Second Piano Concerto is one of the immediate results, and Rachmaninoff gratefully dedicated it to Dahl. "In the Second Concerto the headstrong youthful impetuosity of the symphony has largely given way to Rakhmaninov's predilection for sumptuous harmonies and broadly lyrical, often intensely passionate melodies. And there are certain technical developments. In place of the often garish orchestration of the symphony, the colours of the concerto are subdued and more subtly varied; the textures are carefully contrasted; and Rakmaninov's writing is altogether more concise" (New Grove 15:555). Plate number A8103G. Fuld, 183.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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September 29, 2021 10:30 AM EDT
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