WHY IS Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 so BEAUTIFUL? (Playing and talking)

The piece, premiered in 1901, has some of the most beautiful themes ever heard. Here Grammy-nominated pianist Duane Hulbert looks at three elements that make those themes even more sublime: Rachmaninoff's use of tenuto, legato line and harmonic tension. Hear examples of all three, and then listen to how the composer combined them as Duane plays one of the famous passages.
This concerto has been featured in David Lean's classic 1945 movie "Brief Encounter," as well as The Seven Year Itch starring Marilyn Monroe (1955) and Clint Eastwood’s Hereafter (2010). In 1945, it inspired the pop song Full Moon and Open Arms (sung by Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan and many more). The concerto's second movement inspired the song "All by Myself."

In 1983, Duane played Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Dallas Symphony. To listen to this performance, check out this video on Learn & Love Music:    • Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No.  2  (...  

To hear another one of Rachmaninoff's most exquisite themes, check out our video: RACHMANINOFF'S Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, 18th Variation: the most SUBLIME theme ever written!    • RACHMANINOFF'S Rhapsody on a Theme of...  

To hear Dr. Hulbert talk about "Why I Love Rachmaninoff!"(a professional pianist gives 6 reasons)    • "Why I Love Rachmaninoff!"  A profess...  

Dr. Hulbert received his BA and MM from The Juilliard School of Music and his DMA from The Manhattan School of Music. Hulbert received the Gold Medal at the 1980 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, and also won prizes in the 1981 Leeds Competition and 1985 Carnegie Hall International American Music Competition. He has performed as a soloist with symphonies across the United States and has given recitals at Merkin Hall in New York, Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and Benaroya Hall in Seattle. In 2002, his recording of the piano works of late-romantic Russian composer Alexander Glazunov was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Solo Instrumental Recording. David Hurwitz of ClassicsToday.com called the CD “a production that makes the best possible case for this really excellent but sadly neglected repertoire.” Dr. Hulbert taught at the university level for over thirty years.

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