Sergei Rachmaninov Biography

Sergei Rachmaninov, also Sergey Rachmaninov or Sergei Rachmaninoff, (April 1, 1873 - March 28, 1943) was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor.

Born in Semyonovo, near Novgorod into a wealthy family with a strong military background, Rachmaninov had his first piano lessons with his mother at the family estate at Oneg. After a decline in their fortunes, the family moved to Saint Petersburg where Rachmaninov studied at the conservatory, before going on to Moscow, where he studied piano with Nikolay Zverev and Alexander Siloti. He also studied harmony with Anton Arensky and counterpoint with Sergei Taneyev. While still a student he wrote this one act opera Aleko, and the set of piano pieces, Op. 3, which contains the Prelude in C sharp minor, probably Rachmaninov's most popular piece for solo piano.

Rachmaninov's first symphony was premiered in 1897, but was a complete flop with the critics. Some have suggested that this was as much due to the conducting of Alexander Glazunov, who may have been drunk, as it was to Rachmaninov. The bad reception led to a nervous breakdown and complete loss of self-confidence for Rachmaninov. He wrote very little music until he began a course of therapy with Nikolai Dahl. The result of these sessions was the Piano Concerto No. 2, which Rachmaninov dedicated to Dahl. The piece was very well received at its premiere, for which Rachmaninov played the solo part himself, and remains one of his most popular compositions, gaining some fame from its use in the film Brief Encounter.