Rachmaninoff's Dazzling Piano Concerto No. 3

This reviewer is really into the piano concertos this week. Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto Number 3 is a fabulous followup to number 2. However, it is also a bit of a different animal. It has some of the same amount of virtuosic piano work and stylings as Number Two, perhaps more of it. The orchestra glides in and out of the piano’s rapid solos as a sweeping comment to the solo instrument. The piano is definitely more present in this concerto than the last Number Two had more breaks in which the orchestra was allowed to take over. Number Three has more of the piano interspersed with the orchestra. After what seems to be a rather creative and lovely cadenza between the two parties, the original D minor theme comes back if only for 30 seconds. Then, it’s back to the runaway solo cadenza again. The piece really gives you a thrilling edge to what was on the composer’s mind. The music bubbles minute upon minute until a final climax ensues with numerous clangs of the piano and orchestra. It really brings down the concert hall. It is definitely some of the most beautifully challenging music to hear let alone to play.