One of the greatest pianists of the twentieth century, Serge Rachmaninoff was also among the era's most popular composers of piano music. His Suite No. 2 for Two Pianos ranks among the finest in the repertoire of piano duets, and it is frequently performed and recorded.
Dramatic and lyrical by turns, this work displays Rachmaninoff's keyboard characteristics: intense Russian flavor, rich and bold sonorities, compelling rhythmic drive, and brilliant virtuosity. It opens with a somber "Introduction",followed by a "Waltz" with a lively first section and vibrant, more lyrical second part. The languid and highly melodic "Romanza" is succeeded by a "Tarantella"finale, in which the popular theme from Italian folk music is expressed in turn by each of the two players for a high-energy dialogue that brings the piece to a spirited conclusion.