Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 is in C minor.
Rachmaninoff composed the concerto between 1900 and 1901 after a difficult period following the disastrous premiere of his First Symphony. He dedicated the work to physician and hypnotist Nikolai Dahl, whom Rachmaninoff credited with helping restore his confidence. The composer played the solo part at the Moscow premiere on 9 November 1901.
The concerto is in three movements. Its opening begins with tolling piano chords that lead into a powerful orchestral theme, while the slow second movement is in E major, providing a contrasting lyrical center. The finale returns to C minor before moving toward a triumphant C major conclusion.
The work is sometimes confused with Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, which is in D minor. The key of C minor identifies the Second Concerto, one of the composer’s most frequently performed works.