Rachmaninov

Rachmaninov's music is characterised by dark, brooding colours and much lyrical gift. If he has a shorter profile than other composers, it's not because I love his music any less; I just think that first sentence more or less sums up its overall atmosphere. I'll cut to the chase:

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Introductory pieces

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Piano Concerto 2: The most famous of Rachmaninov's four piano concerti, which showcases all the hallmarks of his work: soaring melodies alternating with percussive darkness, lush textures, dark, brooding ambience.

Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini: A set of variations on a famous theme by 19th-century violinist Paganini

 Most famous for the meltingly lyrical 18th variation, but the unhinged wildness of the overall piece (Rachmaninov himself needed to take a shot of creme de menthe before performing that finale) is enthralling.

Other favourites

Piano Concerto 3: Everyone knows the chant-like opening, but the entire thing is another damn good concerto, if a bit more subdued in tone than no 2.

Etudes-Tableaux: Impressionistic pieces. Knotty, brilliantly textured and fervent.

Piano Sonata 2: A titanic piece, heavily revised over the years (performers often cobble together their own version out of the 2). Nikolai Lugansky has a terrific performance, also very accessible for Rachmaninov newbies, but I'd recommend Van Cliburn's once you've heard 

Piano Sonata 2: The 

Symphony 2: A sombre titan

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