Sergei Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor born on April 1, 1873 (March 20 Old Style), in Oneg near Semyo...
Sergei Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor born on April 1, 1873 (March 20 Old Style), in Oneg near Semyonovo, Russia, regarded as the last major figure of Russian Romanticism.
Early Life
From an aristocratic family with musical roots, Rachmaninoff displayed prodigious piano talent young, studying at the St. Petersburg Conservatory before transferring to Moscow in 1888 under teachers like Nikolai Zverev, Sergei Taneyev, and Anton Arensky. He graduated as a pianist in 1891 with his famous Prelude in C-sharp Minor and as a composer in 1892, earning a gold medal for his opera Aleko based on Pushkin's "The Gypsies."
Career Peak
His First Symphony's poor 1897 premiere caused depression, but Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor (1901) launched his fame, followed by Symphony No. 2 (1907), Piano Concerto No. 3 (1909), and The Bells (1913). As Bolshoi conductor during the 1905 Revolution, he moved to Dresden in 1906, then returned to Moscow before the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution forced exile.
Later Years and Legacy
Settling in the U.S. in 1918, Rachmaninoff focused on concertizing, producing Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (1934), Symphony No. 3 (1936), and Symphonic Dances (1940) while rarely composing. He became a U.S. citizen shortly before dying on March 28, 1943, in Beverly Hills from cancer, leaving a legacy of lush, melodic works blending Russian soul with virtuoso demands.
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