Rachmaninov and Korngold

In the last of his 24 Caprices for solo violin, the virtuoso Nicolò Paganini created a theme that has long fascinated audiences and inspired countless composers. Simple on the surface, it holds endless possibilities – something Sergei Rachmaninov fully explored in his virtuosic and at times breathtakingly beautiful variations for piano and orchestra.

We hear the Canadian pianist Bruce Liu, who won First Prize at the Chopin Competition in Warsaw in 2021. He has been praised not only for his dazzling technique, but also for his curiosity and versatility. He has previously collaborated with Chief Conductor Ryan Bancroft, but this marks his debut with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.

In his very last work, the Symphonic Dances, Rachmaninov looks back to the Russia of his childhood. He quotes one of his great inspirations, Rimsky-Korsakov, and also reuses the opening theme from his own First Symphony, itself inspired by Russian church music.

Between Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody and the Symphonic Dances, we hear Korngold’s Theme and Variations, his final work. Korngold’s warmly expressive music was embraced by Hollywood when he arrived in the United States in the 1930s, earning him two Academy Awards. The same glowing sonority we associate with his film scores is also present in Theme and Variations.

Read more about chief conductor Ryan Bancroft