Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff entered the world on the 28th of March 1873 in a family estate located near Staraya Russa. His mother noticed his ability to correctly reproduce passages from memory at age four and hired Anna Ornatskaya to give him formal lessons. The family moved to Oneg when Sergei turned four, though he later mistakenly cited it as his birthplace. Financial incompetence forced his father to sell five estates to pay off debts, leaving them with only a small flat in Saint Petersburg by 1882. Ornatskaya arranged for the ten-year-old boy to study music under Gustav Kross at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. Tragedy struck quickly after his sister Sofia died of diphtheria at thirteen and his father left the family for Moscow. A year later, his sister Yelena passed away from pernicious anaemia while introducing him to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. His grandmother took him to a farm retreat by the Volkhov River as respite from these losses. He adopted a relaxed attitude at the conservatory but failed his spring exams, prompting his mother to seek advice from Alexander Siloti. Siloti recommended transferring to the Moscow Conservatory to study under Nikolai Zverev, which lasted until 1888.
Rachmaninoff entered a decline following Tchaikovsky's death in November 1893. He lacked inspiration to compose and management dropped his opera Aleko from programs. To earn money, he returned to giving piano lessons that he hated and quit a tour across Russia before it ended. In September 1895, he completed his Symphony No. 1 based on chants heard in Russian Orthodox church services. The piece was brutally panned by critic César Cui who likened it to seven plagues of Egypt during its premiere on the 28th of March 1897. Glazunov conducted the performance poorly and may have been drunk according to witnesses. Rachmaninoff felt deeply distressed because the symphony did not please him after rehearsal. He experienced depression lasting three years where he struggled with writer's block. He described this period as being like a man who had suffered a stroke and lost use of his head and hands. A stroke of good fortune came when Savva Mamontov offered him an assistant conductor post for the 1897, 98 season. By February 1899, he attempted composition again but only completed two short pieces. His depression worsened in late 1899 despite an unsuccessful visit from Leo Tolstoy.
By 1900, composing had become near impossible due to self-criticism. His aunt suggested professional help from physician Nikolai Dahl who used hypnotherapy. Between January and April 1900, sessions occurred daily for over three months to improve sleep patterns and mood. That summer new musical ideas began to stir within him. His first fully completed work was the Piano Concerto No. 2 finished in April 1901 and dedicated to Dahl. The piece earned him a Glinka Award and a 500-ruble prize in 1904. After the second and third movement premiered in December 1900 with Rachmaninoff as soloist, the entire piece received enthusiastic reception in 1901. Amid this success, he married Natalia Satina on the 12th of May 1902 after a three-year engagement. They organized a small ceremony in a Moscow suburb army barracks chapel because Canon law forbade their marriage. Upon return they settled in Moscow where he resumed teaching at St. Catherine's Women's College. By February 1903 he completed Variations on a Theme of Chopin which stood as his largest piano composition at that time.
Rachmaninoff left Russia permanently following the October Revolution and arrived in New York City eleven days after boarding the SS Bergensfjord on the 1st of November 1918. News spread causing crowds to gather outside The Sherry-Netherland hotel where he stayed. He hired pianist Dagmar de Corval Rybner as secretary and interpreter for American life. Charles Ellis organized 36 performances for the 1918, 1919 season starting with a recital on the 8th of December at Providence, Rhode Island. As a touring performer he became financially secure without much difficulty while living an upper middle class life. Steinway was the only manufacturer offering no money so he chose them for the rest of his life. In 1920 he signed a recording contract with Victor Talking Machine Company earning needed income. A hectic 1922, 1923 concert season included 71 performances in five months. He rented a railway carriage fitted with a piano to save time with suitcases. Despite speaking some English, correspondence remained translated into Russian. He enjoyed personal luxuries including quality tailored suits and latest car models. By 1925 his first daughter Irina became widowed while pregnant with Sophie Volkonsky.
From 1929 to 1931 Rachmaninoff spent summers in France meeting émigrés and daughters before buying land near Hertenstein on Lake Lucerne. He oversaw construction of Villa Senar named after letters from his and Natalia's surnames plus the r from family name. Summers were spent there often with grandchildren driving motorboats on the lake. In comfort of home he completed Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in 1934 and Symphony No. 3 in 1936. An October 1932 tour marked fortieth anniversary of debut as pianist though economic situation resulted in smaller audiences. During May 1934 he underwent minor operation and retreated to Aix-les-Bains two years later for arthritis. Talks with choreographer Michel Fokine about a ballet featuring his rhapsody premiered in London in 1939. The 1939, 40 season saw fewer concerts totaling 43 appearances mostly in US. After slipping on floor at villa he injured himself but recovered enough to perform at Lucerne International Music Festival on the 11th of August 1939. It was final concert in Europe before returning to Paris days later. Upon return to US he performed with Philadelphia Orchestra conducting Symphony No. 3 and The Bells marking first conducting since 1917.
In early 1942 doctor advised relocation to warmer climate after suffering sclerosis, lumbago, neuralgia, high blood pressure, and headaches. Rachmaninoff moved to Beverly Hills settling initially on Tower Road then purchasing home at 610 North Elm Drive in June. He lived close to Vladimir Horowitz who visited often to play duets. Shortly after performance at Hollywood Bowl in July 1942 he suffered lumbago and fatigue. He informed doctor Alexander Golitsyn that upcoming 1942, 43 season would be last to dedicate time to composition. Tour began the 12th of October 1942 receiving positive reviews despite deteriorating health. On the 1st of February 1943 he and wife Natalia became naturalised American citizens among 220 people. Later month complaints of persistent cough led to diagnosis of pleurisy. Feeling ill during travels to Florida dates were cancelled and train returned him to California where ambulance took him to hospital. Diagnosis revealed aggressive form of melanoma. Last appearances as concerto soloist occurred 11 and the 12th of February with Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Hans Lange. Final recital came the 17th of February at University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Health declined rapidly week ending March 1943 when he lost appetite and found breathing difficult. On the 26th of March composer lost consciousness and died two days later at age 69.
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Common questions
When and where was Sergei Rachmaninoff born?
Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff entered the world on the 28th of March 1873 in a family estate located near Staraya Russa. His mother noticed his ability to correctly reproduce passages from memory at age four and hired Anna Ornatskaya to give him formal lessons.
What caused Sergei Rachmaninoff's three-year writer's block?
The brutal panning of his Symphony No. 1 by critic César Cui during its premiere on the 28th of March 1897 triggered a depression lasting three years. He experienced deep distress because the symphony did not please him after rehearsal and described this period as being like a man who had suffered a stroke and lost use of his head and hands.
How did Nikolai Dahl help Sergei Rachmaninoff recover his composing abilities?
Physician Nikolai Dahl used hypnotherapy between January and April 1900 to improve sleep patterns and mood for over three months daily sessions. That summer new musical ideas began to stir within him leading to his first fully completed work, the Piano Concerto No. 2 finished in April 1901 and dedicated to Dahl.
Why did Sergei Rachmaninoff leave Russia permanently in 1918?
Rachmaninoff left Russia permanently following the October Revolution and arrived in New York City eleven days after boarding the SS Bergensfjord on the 1st of November 1918. News spread causing crowds to gather outside The Sherry-Netherland hotel where he stayed while he hired pianist Dagmar de Corval Rybner as secretary and interpreter for American life.
Where did Sergei Rachmaninoff spend summers from 1929 to 1931?
From 1929 to 1931 Rachmaninoff spent summers in France meeting émigrés and daughters before buying land near Hertenstein on Lake Lucerne. He oversaw construction of Villa Senar named after letters from his and Natalia's surnames plus the r from family name and spent summers there often with grandchildren driving motorboats on the lake.
When and how did Sergei Rachmaninoff die?
On the 26th of March 1943 composer lost consciousness and died two days later at age 69 after diagnosis revealed an aggressive form of melanoma. Health declined rapidly week ending March 1943 when he lost appetite and found breathing difficult following a persistent cough diagnosed as pleurisy earlier that month.