Antonio Pappano conducts Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2

Antonio Pappano and the Staatskapelle Dresden perform Sergei Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2 in the spectacular Semperoper, a work that is particularly associated with the city of Dresden.

When Rachmaninoff was working on his second symphony in 1906/1907, he lived in the Saxon residence and raved about the local court orchestra: ‘I also attended the symphony concert here. Another first-class orchestra’.

Sir Antonio Pappano, born in London to Italian parents and raised in Connecticut, was Music Director of the Royal Opera House in London between 2002 – 2024 and holds the title of chief conductor-designate at the London Symphony Orchestra since their 2023/24 season. He conducted the orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome between 2005 and 2023.

 A spirited, charismatic, technically accomplished craftsman who is also passionate about his work away from the stage: he is able to play the keyboard of new media. Opera introductions, commercials and interviews, amusing and instructive, live or on the Internet, are proof of this.

In conversation with Pappano, we learn about Rachmaninoff's time in Dresden. When Rachmaninoff came to Dresden in November 1906, he had just caused a sensation on the international stage with his Piano Concerto No. 2. In Russia, however, his star was falling. He suffered the scorn of the critics and plunged into a deep life crisis. In tranquil Dresden, the virtuoso came to rest and found strength in initial seclusion.  

Pappano also gives a comprehensive introduction to the work and plays the key passages of the symphony.