Early years and musical formation 

Sergei Rachmaninov was born on April 1, 1873 Born on the Oneg estate in the Novgorod Governorate, Russia. From a young age, he showed extraordinary musical talent. His grandfather was an amateur pianist and his mother provided his first piano lessons. At the age of nine, he was admitted to the Saint Petersburg Conservatory.

A decisive turning point in his life occurred when he moved to Moscow in 1885 to study with the strict but renowned pedagogue. Nikolaj Zverev. In Zverev's house, Rachmaninov lived together with other talented pupils and was completely immersed in music. Later, he continued his studies at the Moscow Conservatory with Alexander Siloti and Sergei Taneyev. In 1892, he obtained his diploma with the highest distinction — a rare honor.

First successes and the disastrous premiere 

His graduation piece, the one-act opera Aleko (based on Pushkin's poem 'The Gypsies'), was very well received. Also his Prelude in C-sharp minor (Op. 3 No. 2) quickly captured the hearts of the public — and would remain with Rachmaninov for his entire life as his most recognizable work.

Yet fate struck hard on January 27, 1897, when his First Symphony in D minor premiered in Saint Petersburg. The performance was a disaster. The audience and the critics — including the notorious César Cui — completely destroyed the work. The criticism was so devastating that Rachmaninov fell into a deep depression and was barely able to compose for nearly three years.

The Renaissance: Second Piano Concerto and international breakthrough 

On the advice of his family, Rachmaninov sought help from the hypnotherapist. Nikolaj Dahl. The treatment worked miraculously: in 1900 Rachmaninov began composing again, and the result was his Second Piano Concerto in C minor (Op. 18) — perhaps the most popular piano concerto ever written.

The premiere in 1901 was an overwhelming success. The concerto possesses everything that makes Rachmaninov so beloved: an unforgettable lyrical theme, a rich orchestral texture, and a piano part of dazzling virtuosity. He dedicated the work to Dahl, as thanks for his recovery.

🎬 Listen here: Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 – Anna Fedorova (live HD)

🎬 Or view: Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 – Evgeny Kissin, Paris 2014 (live HD)

In the years that followed, Rachmaninov grew into an international star as a composer, pianist, and conductor. His Second Symphony (1906–1907), the symphonic poems and his Third Piano Concerto (Op. 30, 1909) reinforced his reputation as one of the grand masters of romantic music.

🎬 Listen here: Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 – Anna Fedorova (live HD)

🎬 Or view: Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 – Yunchan Lim, Cliburn Final 2022 (live)

The Russian Revolution and the road to exile 

The Russian Revolution of 1917 changed everything for Rachmaninov. Politically uncertain and deeply concerned about his future under the new Bolshevik regime, he left with his family for Stockholm in late 1917 — for what initially seemed like a short concert tour. He returned never return to Russia.

This break with his homeland left a deep wound. Rachmaninov would later say that upon leaving Russia, he also lost his musical inspiration. In the decades that followed, he composed only a handful of new works — but those works belong to his absolute masterpieces.

Life in Exile: America and the Life of a Pianist 

Rachmaninov settled in America, where he built a successful career as a concert pianist. He performed in sold-out halls, made countless recordings that are still considered among the most admired pianistic recordings in history, and achieved a comfortable life.

Yet this success came at a price. As a performing artist, Rachmaninov had hardly any time to compose, and nostalgia for Russia weighed heavily on his mind. His late masterpieces — the Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini (1934), the Third Symphony (1936) and the Symphonic Dances (1940) — bear witness to a deep melancholy, but also to an undiminished mastery.

🎬 Listen here: Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini – Yuja Wang (live, 2023)

On March 28, 1943 Sergei Rachmaninov passed away in Beverly Hills, California — just a few days before his seventieth birthday. His legacy lives on in concert halls around the world.

The musical work of Rachmaninov

Piano Concertos

Rachmaninov wrote four piano concertos, of which the Second (Rev. 18) and the Third (Rev. 30) belong to the most played and beloved works in the classical repertoire. The Second Piano Concerto opens with a series of mysterious piano chords that immediately capture the listener's heart. The Third is famous for its technical demands — many consider it the most difficult piano concerto ever written.

🎬 Listen here: Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 – Yuja Wang & Mariinsky Orchestra, Paris 2021 (live)

Symphonies

Are Second Symphony in E minor (Op. 27) is one of the most frequently performed Russian symphonies, particularly the dreamy Adagio in the third movement. After the failure of his First Symphony, it took a long time before Rachmaninov ventured his Third — which was released in 1936 and initially met with less acclaim, but is highly regarded today.

🎬 Listen here: Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2 – III. Adagio (London Symphony Orchestra, live)

Choral works: the Vespers and the Liturgy

In addition to his piano music, Rachmaninov wrote impressive choral music. Vespers (Op. 37, 1915) are considered one of the most beautiful a cappella choral cycles ever written. The work draws its inspiration from the Russian Orthodox musical tradition and possesses a spiritual depth that leaves not even the most secularized listener unmoved.

🎬 Listen here: Rachmaninov Vespers – Netherlands Radio Choir, live concert Utrecht (TROS)

Orchestral works and preludes

His symphonic poem The Island of the Dead (1909) is a sublime orchestral painting. In addition, his 24 Preludes for Piano (including the famous Prelude in C-sharp minor) and the Études-Tableaux masterpieces of pianistic composition.

🎬 Listen here: Rachmaninov Prelude in G minor Op. 23 No. 5 – Yuja Wang live, Berlin Philharmonie 2018