Rachmaninov's chamber-vocal lyrics are a special artistic world that captures the best features of the composer's talent: emotional openness, subtle psychologism, colorful writing and melodic richness. Romances were for Rachmaninov a confession of his soul and one of the symbols of his homeland. It is no coincidence that after emigrating, the composer never returned to this genre.
Romances were created by Rachmaninov over a quarter of a century - from the first opuses of the 1890s, still within the framework of Russian chamber vocal writing of the 19th century, to the last cycle of six romances op. 38 (1916). Without being a convinced innovator, Rachmaninov significantly updates the musical language and tradition as a whole.
An important feature characterizing chamber vocal music at the beginning of the 20th century was the growing role of the piano part. The piano not only supported the soloist, but also helped to express for him what words were unable to express. This is how it happens in Rachmaninov’s romances. The piano parts are distinguished by their brightness, virtuosity and emotional fullness.
