😉 Greetings to regular and new readers! In the article “Sergei Rachmaninov: biography, interesting facts” – about the main stages in the life of a Russian composer, pianist and conductor.
Biography of Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff from the nobility. Born on April 1, 1873 in the Semenovo estate of the Novgorod province. He inherited his talent on his father’s side. Sergei’s grandfather gave piano concerts in Tambov, St. Petersburg and Moscow.
From an early age, Sergei became interested in music. At the age of 4, he received his first musical literacy lessons from his mother Lyubov Petrovna.
From the age of 9 he studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. Then, due to absenteeism, he was transferred to a private musical boarding house in Moscow. At the age of 19 he graduated from the Moscow Conservatory as a composer and pianist. At first, for the sake of earning money, Rachmaninov gave piano lessons at women’s institutes. He also earned private lessons, which he did not like very much.
Rachmaninoff’s creativity
While still a student, he wrote “1st Piano Concerto”. The diploma work was the opera “Aleko” (based on the work of Alexander Pushkin “Gypsies”). This opera was noticed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and staged at the Bolshoi Theater together with Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta.
The premiere of the First Symphony in 1897 was a failure. Drunk conductor Alexander Glazunov absolutely did not understand the work and conducted accordingly. The reviews were devastating. He was especially saddened by the criticism of Rimsky-Korsakov, after which the composer for a long time (until 1901) was in the deepest depression.
After undergoing treatment with the famous psychotherapist Dahl, Rachmaninov returned to his work again and finished the Second Piano Concerto, which he dedicated to Dahl.
After the Great October Revolution of 1917, Sergei Vasilyevich decided to emigrate from Russia.
Together with his wife and two daughters, he went on tour to Sweden and never returned. The composer had to leave all his property. He left Russia practically without funds and was forced to make a living giving concerts as a pianist.
Imagine, dear reader, what could have happened to a man from the nobility after the revolution if he had not left? I am afraid to imagine that the Bolsheviks were capable of anything …
Far from home
At first, Rachmaninoff lived in Denmark, then, in 1918, he moved to the United States. In the new country, he also earned the fame of a famous composer and pianist. In emigration, the composer put his writing talent on the back burner. Only in 1927 was the Fourth Concerto for Piano and Orchestra published.
Only 6 works were written abroad, but they are considered the apogee of the composer’s work. The last work “Symphonic Dances” (1941) is compared with “The Master and Margarita” by Bulgakov. After all, these masterpieces were written at about the same time.
The most famous and highly appreciated are rightfully considered:
- Aleko Opera;
- Poem “The Bells”;
- “Rhapsody on the theme of Paganini”;
- “Variations on a Corelli Theme”;
- “Symphonic Dances”;
- 4th piano concert;
- 3rd Symphony.
During the Second World War, Sergei Vasilyevich sent all the money collected from concerts to the Red Army fund. He was very helpful. This act influenced the loyalty of the Soviet government to the memory and heritage of the brilliant composer.
Personal life
Height 1,98 m, zodiac sign – Aries. Main character traits:
- truthfulness;
- modesty;
- accuracy;
- punctuality;
- observation;
- restraint;
- kindness;
- amorousness;
- sense of humor,
- suspicion.
He loved his cousin, Natalya Alexandrovna Satina. After the wedding, she became his wife and gave birth to two daughters.
Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninov with his wife Natalya Alexandrovna. 1925 g.
His romantic nature led to frequent falling in love. And he dedicated songs and romances to each of his beloved ones. The composer dedicated a number of works to Russian and American opera singer Nina Koshyts.
During a period of depression, he was in love with Lana, the daughter of psychotherapist Dahl. In the last hour of Rachmaninoff’s life, two women stood at his head: Natalya and Lana.
Sergei Vasilievich died on March 28, 1943 in the USA, California, Beverly Hills. Cause of death: cancer (lung cancer). Probably, this disease was a consequence of constant smoking. Buried in New York at the Russian cemetery.
Sergei Rachmaninoff: biography (video)
If you liked the article “Sergei Rachmaninov: biography ..”, share in the social. networks. 😉 Come for new stories!