Rachmaninoff
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943) was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor whose lush, emotionally intense works represent the final flowering of Russian Romanticism.
In Depth
Rachmaninoff was one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, and his compositions exploit the full expressive and technical range of the instrument. His Piano Concerto No. 2, composed after a period of depression treated by hypnotherapy, is one of the most beloved concertos ever written. His four piano concertos and Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini remain cornerstones of the pianistic repertoire.
His symphonies, choral works (especially the All-Night Vigil), and solo piano preludes display a gift for sweeping melody and rich orchestral color. He left Russia permanently after the 1917 Revolution, settling eventually in the United States, where he supported himself primarily through his concert career. His music fell out of critical favor in the mid-20th century but has been firmly rehabilitated.
Rachmaninoff had extraordinarily large hands that could span a 13th on the keyboard — some scholars believe he may have had Marfan syndrome.