Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Iván Fischer

Sergei Rachmaninoff was initially known primarily as a pianist and composer of piano music. However, he also wrote three symphonies, the famous Symphonic Dances and several Symphonic Poems. Having been deeply troubled by the failure of his First Symphony, he wrote his Second in 1906–07, which, after many revisions, was fortunately premiered to great acclaim in St Petersburg the following year.