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Rachmaninoff's Swan Song

Posted at 3:22 AM on March 10, 2010 by Ward Jacobson
Filed under: Programs

The Symphonic Dances was Rachmaninoff's last complete work, composed initially for two pianos. Supposedly, the composer himself was surprised by how great the orchestrated version sounded when he attended its premiere. As he was being congratulated and patted on the back he is reported to have said, "I don't know how it happened, it must have been my last spark."

We'll hear that last spark later tonight (12:05am, Thursday) when our weekly Euro Classic ventures to Brussels for a 2008 performance with the Toulouse Capitol Orchestra.


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