Rachmaninoff's Vespers, Op. 37
The music of Rachmaninoff is usually associated with his virtuoso writing for the piano, the composer's instrument of choice and for which he wrote most of his music. You may have seen in the Hollywood movie Shine how David Helfgott went crazy trying to learn "Rock 3" (his father's ambitious nature didn't help), but the concerto that used to bring concert pianists of the 20th century to their knees is now considered standard repertoire for conservatory students. The gentle giant among the composers wrote other music, too. Among my very favorite of all works for orchestra is his Second Symphony, and the piece I'd like to present today is neither for the piano nor for the orchestra: his Op. 37, the All-Night Vigil or Vespers. I discovered this piece when the CD recording with Mstislav Rostropovitch and Maureen Forrester was released in 1987. I had the opportunity to ask the Canadian contralto soloist how it was to work with the Russian master musician on this ...