Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast · Joshua Weilerstein

Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2

January 8, 2026·53 min·5 clips

Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto revived his career after a symphony premiere so awful it lives in musical history.

Host Joshua Weilerstein explores Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2, detailing how it revived the composer's career after the disastrous premiere of his First Symphony. He analyzes the concerto's structure, performance nuances, and its unexpected connections to pop music hits.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast