From the CSO’s Archives: The First 130 Years

Legends at the Piano

April 20, 2021 — 1 hr 45 min listen

Cecile Licad made her debut recording on CBS Masterworks with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, performing Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto and Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in 1983. Claudio Abbado conducted.

Iconic piano soloists are featured on this program, opening with Van Cliburn in MacDowell’s Second Piano Concerto. Ivo Pogorelich essays Chopin’s second concerto followed by Peter Serkin in Bartók’s first concerto, and Cecile Licad concludes the broadcast with Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.

MacDowell Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 23
Walter Hendl conductor
Van Cliburn piano
October 1960 (RCA)

Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21
Claudio Abbado conductor
Ivo Pogorelich piano
February 1983 (Deutsche Grammophon)

Bartók Piano Concerto No. 1
Seiji Ozawa conductor
Peter Serkin piano
July 1966 (RCA)

Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Claudio Abbado conductor
Cecile Licad piano
February 1983 (CBS)

From the CSO’s Archives: The First 130 Years—featuring recordings from the CSO’s vast discography, including releases on CSO Resound—is a cultural and community partnership between the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association and WFMT, Chicago’s Classical Music Station.

FTA130-31