by Ben Hogwood public domain image, used courtesy of Wikipedia

On this day 90 years ago, the first performance of Sergei Rachmaninoff‘s Symphony no.3 in A minor took place, with Leopold Stokowski conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra.

The symphony, one of the composer’s final published works, did not find favour immediately with the public, and has proved to be something of a slow burner. Yet now it has proper recognition as one of Rachmaninoff’s finest works – and indeed was one of his own favourites.

The symphony has had a number of champions over the last few decades, with few more passionate than Vladimir Ashkenazy, whose recording with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is included below:

Published post no.3,070 – Friday 6 November 2026