Classical Music | Piano Music

Sergei Rachmaninov

Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op 42  Play

Elena Ulyanova Piano

Recorded on 06/05/2007, uploaded on 01/22/2009

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op 42             Sergei Rachmaninov

Variations on a Theme of Corelli is based on a theme which Rachmaninoff attributed to Corelli, but in fact it is an ancient Spanish folk melody called "La Folia."  This theme is also present in Liszt's "Rhapsody Espagnol", which implies that Liszt knew its origins, while Rachmaninoff did not.  The composition was written in 1931, after many years of inactivity of his pen, due mostly to his busy performance schedule.  Nevertheless, it opened a new period of stylistic creativity, which was followed by the immensely popular Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.      Elena Ulyanova