Sergei Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 19, a sonata for cello and piano, was completed in November 1901[1] and published a year later. As typical of sonatas in the Romantic period, it has four movements. Rachmaninoff disliked calling it a cello sonata because he thought the two instruments were equal.[2] Because of this, it is often referred to as Sonata in G Minor for Cello and Piano. Most of the themes are introduced by the piano, while they are embellished and expanded in the cello's part.[3]
He dedicated it to Anatoliy Brandukov, who gave the first performance in Moscow[4] with the composer at the piano, on 2 December 1901. Rachmaninoff seems to have made some last-minute alterations after the premiere, as he wrote the date "12 December 1901" on the score.[1]
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The sonata was overshadowed by the huge success of his second piano concerto, which premiered on 27 October 1901.
The work takes approximately 30 minutes to perform.[5]
Arcadi Volodos transcribed the Andante of this work for piano solo. Volodos also recorded this transcription.