Rachmaninoff Life, Works, Recordings

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) is now widely regarded as one of the greatest 20th-century composers and pianists. In this illuminating and accessible biography, Max Harrison covers the span of Rachmaninoff's life, taking in his career as composer, pianist and conductor, offering full analyses of his scores and a uniquely detailed treatment of his 1919-1942 recordings. A fascinating account of the man, his life and work, this book sheds much new light on its subject and the ways that Rachmaninoff was viewed during his own time and beyond.

Introduction1. Before the beginning2. The family breaks up3. Zveref and Moscow4. Composition starts5. The break with Zveref6. To Ivanovka7. More compositions8. Towards graduation9. Aleko and the graduation10. First moves as 'Free Artist'11. More productions and Tchaikovsky's death12. The long road to Symphony No. 113. A symphony misunderstood14. London visit, Moscow cure15. The Crimea, Italy, Concerto No. 216. Composition concludes and there is a marriage17. Variations, Preludes and a child is born18. Two operas19. An abortive revolution, the operas produced20. Sonata, Symphony, part of an opera21. The Isle of the Dead and Concerto No. 322. America and the Liturgy23. 1910, more preludes, more conducting24. Etudes Tableaux, Marietta Shaginian, more songs25. The Bells and a last sonata26. World War I, All-Night Vigil, last songs27. Final composing in Russia, escape from Petrograd28. The expatriate artist: first concerts, first recordings29. Rachmaninoff fully established30. Two more seasons, more recordings31. Concerto No. 4, Chansons Russes32. Rachmaninoff the pianist33. Classic recordings and orchestration by another34. Senar and LaFolia35. Rapsodie, Sympony No. 336. Four more seasons, major recordings37. Symphonic Dances38. Last recordings, a final tour39. EnvoiAppendices: Chronological list of worksClassified list of works Discography BibliographyIndex