Cuban Overture (1932)

George Gershwin wrote this exciting work after he took a vacation in Havana, which he described as "two hysterical weeks in Cuba where no sleep was had." Gershwin was clearly inspired by the street musicians and the Cuban dances he heard in the clubs along with some new percussion instruments that were not then well-known in the U.S., such as claves, bongos, and maracas. The work , originally titled "Rumba", was premiered on August 16, 1932 at the first all-Gershwin concert held by the New York Philharmonic at Lewisohn Stadium, a huge success that would become an annual event. 17,845 people paid to get in and about 5,000 were left at the closed gates trying to fight their way in. As Gershwin wrote: "It was the most exciting night I ever had." This two-piano arrangement is by Gregory Stone.


Second Suite for Two Pianos, Op. 17 (1901)

Sergei Rachmaninoff wrote this incredible Suite soon after one of the most difficult times of his life. In 1897, the young wunderkind had