Sergei Rachmaninow

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, op. 43

Written by Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) in 1934, this set of variations for piano solo and orchestra on Niccolò Paganini's Caprice No. 24 for solo violin is much like a concerto, though it consists of a single movement with an introduction of the theme and twenty-four variations. The most well-known of the variations is the lyrical 18th, and it has been used in numerous movies over the years. In addition to Paganini's theme as the thematic foundation, the Dies irae theme found in the requiem mass and which features so prominently in Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique is also featured at times. The work premiered with immediate success on November 7th, 1934 by the Philadelphia Orchestra under Leopold Stokowski, with Rachmaninoff himself as soloist. 2+Picc.2+EH.2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(3): Hp: Solo Pno: Str. A full score and study score are available from the publisher, but the set of parts is not.