The Piano Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 28, occupies a unique position among Rachmaninoff's major works and is rarely performed in concert halls. It was composed between 1907 and 1908 by the Russian pianist and composer Sergei Rachmaninoff and premiered on October 17, 1908, in Moscow by his friend Konstantin Nikolayevich Igumnov.
This comparatively substantial work is overshadowed by the far better-known Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 36. It is noteworthy that the first sonata features a musical program based on Goethe's Faust tragedy. Along with the Second Symphony, it is the second major work composed during Rachmaninoff's time in Dresden, although sketches date back to 1906.
The struggle between good and evil permeates the entire work and defines its character. The musical structure indicates a deep engagement with the Faust theme, making the sonata a sophisticated and multifaceted work.