Under hypnosis, Dahl would repeat: "You will start to write your concerto... you will work with great facility... the concerto will be of excellent quality." It worked. Rachmaninoff dedicated the finished piece to Dahl in 1901, and its success cemented his legacy forever.
It begins with eight iconic "bell-like" piano chords that grow in intensity, leading into a dark, soaring theme played by the strings while the piano provides churning, wave-like accompaniment. Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto 2
Based on the third movement’s main theme. Under hypnosis, Dahl would repeat: "You will start
The concerto is famous for its lush orchestration and notoriously difficult piano part, designed for Rachmaninoff’s own massive hands. Rachmaninoff dedicated the finished piece to Dahl in
You have likely heard this concerto without even realizing it. Its emotional "hook" is so powerful that it has been borrowed by modern artists for decades: