Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, 7 P.M.

Buckley Recital Hall, Arms Music Center, Amherst College​

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Romantic master Sergei Rachmaninoff, despite virtuosic prowess at the piano, faced deep and near-debilitating insecurity as to his compositional abilities up until with the completion of his Second Symphony in E minor, which received a rapturous reception at its premiere in 1908 and put these doubts to rest forever. The sumptuous Second brims with passion and affirms Rachmaninoff's place as a uniquely gifted melodist in the tradition of Tchaikovsky.

Rachmaninoff had a close association with Western Massachusetts, and made his first appearance in the United States as piano soloist at nearby Smith College in 1909 -- just two years after completing the Second.  (The ASO last performed this work in 2014.)

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Program:

Nino Rota: Concerto for Bassoon & Orchestra, I. Toccata, Allegretto vivace 

   (Henry Dizard '27, soloist) [First ASO Performance]

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Symphony #2 in E minor (1907)

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