Late RomanticSergueï Rachmaninov
Sergei Rachmaninoff was born in Russia.
Sergueï Rachmaninov’s life
The big moments of this life, and what was happening in the world at the same time.
A life at a glance
- 1873👶 Birth
Born on 1 April on an estate near Novgorod
- 1875🌍 Meanwhile
The Palais Garnier opera house opens in Paris
- 1877🌍 Meanwhile
Edison invents the phonograph: sound can be recorded!
- 1882📚 Trainingage 9
St Petersburg Conservatory
- 1892🎼 Workage 19
Gold medal at the Conservatory; Prelude in C-sharp minor
- 1897❤️ Private lifeage 24
The failure of his Symphony No. 1 plunges him into depression
- 1901🎼 Workage 28
Piano Concerto No. 2, dedicated to Dr Dahl — a triumph
- 1909🎼 Workage 36
Concerto No. 3 for his first American tour
- 1912🌍 Meanwhile
The Titanic sinks
- 1917🧳 Journeyage 44
Russian Revolution: leaves Russia for ever
- 1927🌍 Meanwhile
First talking picture (The Jazz Singer)
- 1943🕯️ Deathage 70
Dies in Beverly Hills on 28 March
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Excerpts of up to 90 seconds, freely licensed recordings from Wikimedia Commons.
Once upon a time…
Sergei Rachmaninoff was born in Russia. As a child he didn’t work very hard at music school! So he was sent to a very strict teacher who made him get up early and practise the piano for hours. He became a wonderful pianist.
One day his first symphony was played very badly and the audience hated it. Rachmaninoff was so sad that he could no longer compose. A doctor helped him regain confidence, and he wrote his Concerto No. 2, a huge success, which he dedicated to that doctor.
After the Russian Revolution he went to live in America and became one of the most famous pianists in the world. He had gigantic hands: he could reach thirteen white keys in a single stretch!
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