Description

Rachmaninoff's C-Sharp Minor Prelude is possibly the most famous late Romantic piano work and is now finally available in the prestigious Henle Urtext edition. First published in 1892 as part of the "Morceaux de Fantaisie" op. 3 piano cycle, the work soon became renowned internationally, largely due to the concert tours of Rachmaninoff's cousin, the pianist Alexander Siloti.

The thundering chords of the Prelude's final section are legendary, though not as technically demanding as some may have believed. In fact, Rachmaninoff himself was soon unable to perform the piece in America without the audience erupting in applause and cries of recognition at the iconic opening notes.