Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor played by Rachmaninov

Rachmaninov in 1892 aged 19

Rachmaninov is one of the greatest composers of all time. He composed his piano concerto no.  2 in 1901 after recovering from a bout of clinical depression by following a course of ‘autosuggestive therapy’ (a form of hypnotism). This piano concerto established his fame as a composer and is one of Rachmaninov’s most enduringly popular pieces (some think his piano concerto no. 3 is even better). The No. 2 piano concerto was also used as the background music for the classic 1945 film of thwarted love – Brief Encounter.

Here is the 1st Movement played by Sergei Rachmaninov himself in 1929 with the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski

Movement No. 2 played by Earl Wild, one of the greatest pianists of the modern era, in 1965 conducted by Jascha Horenstein

Movement No. 3 played by Earl Wild in 1965 conducted by Jascha Horenstein