The most touching moment in music: Sokolov plays Rachmaninov Prelude Op. 23 no. 4

The world human rights concert
Palace of Nation, Geneva
11 December 2021

⭐️⭐️Background about Op. 23⭐️⭐️
The Opus 23 Preludes were composed by Rachmaninov between 1901 and 1903 and dedicated to Alexander Siloti. He premiered three of them on February 10, 1903, in a Moscow recital.

As a composer-performer, Rachmaninov created music that highlighted his strengths as a touring pianist. After the success of the C-sharp Minor Prelude, he was inspired by Chopin and Bach to write a total of 24 preludes, one in each key.

The Opus 23 preludes, possibly inspired by his marriage to Natalia Satin in May 1902, mark a joyful period in Rachmaninov's life. These bravura works for concert grand piano symbolize a creative resurgence after the setback of his First Symphony failure. They are seen as a personal testament reflecting his artistic journey.