Pianist Daniil Trifonov Photo: @Dario Acosta
Rachmaninov's third - it's one of the most popular. It's also one of the toughest of all piano concertos to play.
Daniil Trifonov wanted to perform it as a twenty year old when he entered Russia's prestigious Tchaikovsky piano competition. His teacher talked him out of it, but only for a few years.
The concerto, which demands not just technical brilliance but physical and emotional stamina from anyone who plays it, was part of Trifonov's repertoire by the time he was 23.
But then Daniil Trifonov is one of the best pianists in the world right now.
Trifonov spoke with RNZ Concert's Bryan Crump ahead of two performances with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
He talked about how he prepares for such a big work, his love for nature, and how - like Rachmaninov - he enjoys train travel.
Rachmaninov: exiled from the Soviet Union. Lucky he enjoyed travelling. Photo: wikicommons
Rachmaninov had his own private apartment in a rail carriage, complete with a specially designed Steinway piano, that he used to travel around the US and Canada in the 1920s, and avoid the need to book into endless hotels.
Trifonov himself tries to avoid being away from home and his family (he now lives in New England in the USA) for longer than three weeks.
But for this trip to New Zealand, which is part of a month-long tour, he has his partner and son with him.
He's already enjoyed Wellington's Botanic Gardens and Space Place at Carter Observatory.
We'd love to recommend he and his family take the train for his second performance in Auckland, but we doubt there's a Steinway on board.
