Classical Music Playlist, September 11, 2024
Young Sergei Rachmaninoff had a nervous breakdown after scathing reviews of his Symphony No. 1 in 1897. He was so shaken that he couldn’t compose for three years and eventually sought treatment, including hypnosis, from Dr. Nicolai Dahl, a Russian physician of neurology and psychiatry. After more than three months of hypnotherapy and psychotherapy, Rachmaninoff was again able to compose and wrote his Piano Concerto No. 2 which he dedicated to Dr. Dahl. Premiered in 1901 with the composer as soloist, the work was a smashing success and assured Rachmaninoff’s fame as a composer and the Concerto remains an enduring favorite today. (In 1975, pop singer Eric Carmen wrote his hit “All By Myself” based on a theme in the Concerto’s 2nd movement and Céline Dion had a hit with her cover of that song in 1996).
British pianist Sir Stephen Hough is the soloist in the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 for today’s Midday Masterpiece.
6:00 a.m.
Johann Sebastian Bach
Harpsichord Concerto in D minor BWV 974
Vikingur Olafsson, piano
6:10 a.m.
Louis Spohr
Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in Eb major Opus 57
Seattle Symphony; Gerard Schwarz, conductor Jon Manasse, clarinet
6:38 a.m.
Lili Boulanger
One Spring Morning (D'un Matin de Printemps)
Neave Trio; Odaline de la Martinez, conductor Tasmin Little, violin; John Lenehan, piano
6:44 a.m.
Marianne Martinez
Sinfonia in C major
Bay Area Women's Philharmonic; JoAnn Falletta, conductor
7:00 a.m.
John Field
Rondo for piano & strings in Ab major
London Mozart Players; Matthias Bamert, conductor Miceal O'Rourke, piano
7:09 a.m.
Franz Schubert
Symphony No. 5 in Bb major D 485
Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields; Neville Marriner, conductor
7:38 a.m.
George Friederich Handel
Water Music Suite No. 1: Alla Hornpipe in F major Water Music Suite in F
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra; Nicholas McGegan, conductor
7:42 a.m.
Paul Dukas
Villanelle for horn and orchestra
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra; Kurt Masur, conductor Hermann Baumann, horn
7:50 a.m.
Jean Sibelius
Karelia Overture Opus 10
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra; Jukka-Pekka Saraste, conductor
7:59 a.m.
Antonio Vivaldi
Concerto for 2 mandolins in G major RV 532
Europa Galante; Fabio Biondi, conductor
8:11 a.m.
Felix Mendelssohn
Athalia: March of the Priests Opus 74
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra; Christoph Von Dohnanyi, conductor
8:20 a.m.
Aaron Copland
Appalachian Spring
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra; Robert Spano, conductor