Cadenza to Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No.2

Sergei Rachmaninoff

RomanticKnownrhapsodyC-sharp minorLento4/4~2 min
H9
Henle (estimated)

About this piece

Rachmaninoff's legendary, highly virtuosic cadenza for Liszt's second Hungarian Rhapsody. It is famous for its extreme difficulty and massive, pianistically demanding textures.

Teacher notes

Mastering the double-note runs and massive chordal climaxes requires immense hand stamina and technical facility.

Technical focus

speed-agilityoctave-runslarge-chordswide-span

Mood

brilliantdramatic

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Free sheet music on IMSLP

Pieces similar to Cadenza to Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No.2

Comparable difficulty and character — good candidates for what to learn next.

Browse all Henle level 9 pieces (Virtuoso) →

Frequently asked questions

How hard is Cadenza to Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 by Sergei Rachmaninoff?

Cadenza to Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 is rated Henle level 9 of 9 — virtuoso repertoire, roughly concert / virtuoso level.

What level do I need to play Cadenza to Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No.2?

You should be comfortable at Henle level 9 — meaning you can already play level 8–9 pieces cleanly. Learning it one level early is possible as a stretch piece, but more than that usually leads to months of frustration.

How long is Cadenza to Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No.2?

A typical performance of Cadenza to Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 lasts about 2 minutes.

Where can I get free sheet music for Cadenza to Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No.2?

Cadenza to Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 is available as free public-domain sheet music on IMSLP — the score is linked directly from this page.

What pieces are similar to Cadenza to Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No.2?

Pieces at a comparable difficulty and character include Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor by Sergei Rachmaninoff, Variations on a Theme of Corelli by Sergei Rachmaninoff, Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C-sharp minor by Franz Liszt — see the full similar-pieces list on this page.