John Drummond presents an evening of programmes celebrating the piano music of Rachmaninov, regarded by some as the greatest pianist of the 20th century. At the core of the evening is an unusual event from the Piano 2000 festival at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester - all four of his piano concertos played in one evening. During his lifetime Rachmaninov appeared serious, sombre and melancholic. He died thinking himself a failure as a composer. Critic David Fanning and Rachmaninov biographer Geoffrey Norris join Sir John Drummond to discuss the composer's legacy.

BBC Philharmonic, conductor Vassily Sinaisky

7.30 John Drummond and his guests explore Rachmaninov's reputation, at its lowest in the years after his death.

7.40 Piano Concerto No 1 in F sharp minor - Stephen Hough (piano)

8.10 Piano Concerto No 2 in C minor - Martin Roscoe (piano)

8.40 John Drummond and his guests discuss Rachmaninov's reputation as a composer for the piano.

9.00 Piano Concerto No 3 in D minor - Nelson Goerner (piano)

9.40 Piano Concerto No 4 in G minor - Howard Shelley (piano)

10.20 Rachmaninov claimed that each piano piece "has a culminating point or tochka, which may be at the end or middle, it may be loud or soft, but must be approached with absolute precision or the whole performance crumbles."
John Drummond and his guests select classic Rachmaninov performances, ending with his 1934 recording of his own Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, with the Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Leopold Stokowski.

A grand scale: page 47