Sergei Rachmaninov short biography. Sergei Rachmaninov: life and brilliant work The story of one of the works of Rachmaninov

Early years.
Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov was born on April 1, 1873. his childhood years were spent in the Oneg estate near Novgorod. For the rest of my life, wonderful pictures of Russian nature were imprinted in my memory: the endless expanses of fields and forests, the majestic waters of the Volkhov River, with which the epic tale about the singer-guslier Sadko is connected.
The first music teacher of the future composer (he began studying at the age of four) was his mother Lyubov Petrovna. the boy made rapid progress, but, despite his outstanding musical abilities, he, along with his brother Volodya, decided to assign him to the page corps. However, the ruin of the family changed this decision. Education in the page corps, which was expensive, was now beyond their means. Volodya was sent to cadet corps, and nine-year-old Seryozha - to the St. Petersburg Conservatory.
Petersburg Conservatory.
The conditions for classes at the conservatory were unfavorable. The father left the family - mother and six children. Serezha settled with his grandmother and aunt, who took pity on him and spoiled him in every possible way. Left to his own devices, Seryozha pretty much messed around. “My grandmother,” Rachmaninov later recalled, “was very good-natured, she believed everything I told her. I received 10 kopecks a day from her for expenses and for travel to the conservatory, but I went straight to the skating rink and spent the whole morning there ". As a result, there were oftenpoor grades in general education subjects. WITH music lessons things were more prosperous thanks to natural abilities. But there was no serious systematic work in the piano class.
Summer holidays Serezha spent with his grandmother Sofya Alexandrovna Butakova near Novgorod, where he listened with great pleasure to the chimes of ancient church bells singing of the monastery choir. These childhood impressions were later reflected in the works of Rachmaninoff.
At the same time, the first attempts to compose music arose. these were improvisations on the piano, which Seryozha often passed off as works famous composers.
In 1885, Rakhmaninov's cousin Alexander Ilyich Ziloti arrived in St. Petersburg. in the recent past, the favorite student of N.G. Rubinstein and F. Liszt, he, despite his youth (being only ten years older than Seryozha), was already famous pianist, taught at the Moscow Conservatory. After listening to Seryozha play the piano, Siloti suggested that his mother transfer him to the Moscow Conservatory and received consent.

Moscow Conservatory.
Siloti assigned his brother to the class of a teacher, a friend of Tchaikovsky, Nikolai Sergeevich Zverev, who took Seryozha to full board. This is what he used to do with gifted students. Zverev not only did not take money for education, but, on the contrary, he himself paid for teachers who taught boys foreign languages ​​and general subjects. he took them to the theater, to concerts. In the summer months, the pupils went with him to a dacha near Moscow, to the Crimea, to Kislovodsk.
Zverev was a demanding teacher, accustomed his students to systematic work. Strictly exacted for faults, did not tolerate lies, laziness, boasting. Lessons began at exactly six in the morning, and the one who was first on the schedule sat down at the instrument. There were no exceptions for anyone, even if the day before the students returned late from the theater or from a concert.
At first, such a harsh regime weighed on Seryozha, but gradually he got used to it and turned into an exceptionally collected, strong-willed, disciplined person.
"The best that is in me. I owe him," Rachmaninov later said about Zverev.
in 1885/86 A. Rubinstein gave his famous historical concerts in Moscow. Zverev's pupils listened to the entire cycle, and this left an indelible impression. Rachmaninov Recalled: "This is how we learned to play in Russia: Rubinstein gave his Historical Concerts .... He used to go on stage and say:" Every note of Chopin is pure gold. listen!" And he played, and we listened." Anton Grigorievich was visiting Zverev. Other interesting guests also came to Zverev: university professors, artists, actors, musicians. Tchaikovsky often visited. He immediately singled out Rachmaninoff from all the pupils, followed his musical development. An exciting event for Rachmaninoff was the exam in music theory during the transition to the senior department of the conservatory. Rachmaninov received an 5+ rating on it. Tchaikovsky helped his pet Seryozha to put in Bolshoi Theater opera "Aleko". He knew from his own experience how hard it is for an aspiring musician to make his own way.
At the senior department of the conservatory Rachmaninov Studied in the class free composition at Arensky, in counterpoint class at Taneyev, piano - at Siloti. Already at that time, everyone was amazed by the phenomenal talent young musician, his rare musical memory. It was enough for him to hear once the complex musical composition, such as the first movement of a symphony, to be played immediately. He memorized the piece by looking at the notes 3-4 times. Rachmaninoff often performed in concerts, they started talking about him as a outstanding pianist.
In 1891, Siloti left the conservatory, and Rachmaninoff decided to take his final piano exams ahead of schedule, a year earlier. he learned the complex examination program in three weeks and performed it brilliantly. The next year, in 1892, he graduated from the conservatory in the composition class with a large gold medal.

Early writings.

Already at the conservatory, Rachmaninoff achieved great success in the field of composition. The works created by him in these years testify to talent, strong,deep, selfish. A true masterpiece among them was the famous Prelude in C-sharp M and Nor, composed in19 - summer age. “One day the prelude just came and I wrote it down. She came up with such force that I couldn’t get rid of her even if I tried. She had to be, and she became,” writes l Rachmaninoff.

With each new holding, the melody sounds more and more passionately. In the middle section of the prelude (Agitato) it is transformed into a rebellious-impulsive theme, striving upwards. A tense development follows, after which, in the reprise of the prelude (it is written in three-part form), the drama reaches highest point. The bell motif, repeatedly reinforced by octaves, sounds menacing, but the second element has also lost its mournful character. In a powerful presentation of eight-chords, it is perceived as a protest, a will to act. However, the outcome of the fight is unclear. The tension subsides, the bells sound quieter, completing the prelude.

The Conservatory also wrote the First Piano Concerto in F sharp minor. This work, youthfully direct, is a wonderful success young composer. It clearly manifested his melodic gift.

Rachmaninov's graduation work was the opera "Aleko" based on the plot of Pushkin's poem "Gypsies". The theme for composing an opera was proposed to him and two classmates a month before the final exams. Rachmaninoff wrote the opera in 17 days! Such creative activity amazed Arensky, who exclaimed: "If you continue at such a speed ... you will be able to write twenty-four acts a year! This is so good!".

For Rachmaninoff, the plot of gypsy life was the strongest stimulus for creative inspiration. It was the gypsy nature for many artists of the past that was the personification natural beauty, a mighty impulse to the will.

With the sensitive soul of a musician, Rachmaninov caught and embodied in his youthful opera the tragic conflict between the individual's desire for freedom and the unrealizability of this desire. The dreams of Aleko, who hoped among the gypsies living a free nomadic life, "despite the fetters of enlightenment", to find happiness, are crumbling: Zemfira and her lover perish. One of the impressive pages of the opera is Aleko's Cavatina. It becomes the expression of the main idea of ​​the work. This psychological picture close-up, lyrical confession great strength and passion.

A decade after graduating from the conservatory (1890s).

The great success of "Aleko" at the exam, and then at the Bolshoi Theater inspired Rachmaninov. He composes a lot. The orchestral fantasy "Cliff", the First Symphony, piano pieces, romances, a spiritual concerto a cappella and other works appear. Rachmaninoff the composer becomes famous, articles are written about him.

During these years, Rachmaninov read a lot. For a long time he stood in front of the paintings of Russian artists in the Tretyakov Gallery, often visited the Tretyakov House. He liked to go to the theater, especially to the Maly, where the luminaries of the Russian stage performed - Maria Yermolova, Prov Sadovsky. But life was difficult. Decisive and powerful in performance and creativity, Rachmaninoff was by nature a vulnerable person, often experiencing self-doubt. Interfere with worldly disorder, loneliness, wandering but in strange corners, material difficulties.

The sudden death of Tchaikovsky on October 25, 1893 became a strong emotional shock for Rachmaninoff. Under the tragic impression, Rachmaninoff wrote the trio "In Memory of the Great Artist" for violin, cello and piano.

The first symphony, performed in St. Petersburg under the direction of Glazunov, was not successful, and Rachmaninov was very upset by this event. He returned to Moscow gloomy, upset. He lost faith in himself, in his talent, began to doubt the correctness of the chosen life path. For several years he did not compose anything, only performed in concerts, however, always with the same success. His financial situation was getting worse. But then, unexpectedly, Rachmaninov received an invitation from the famous philanthropist S. I. Mamontov to take the position of conductor in his opera house. The season spent in it was of great importance for the composer. He thoroughly studied the scores of many operas, gained experience as a conductor, got acquainted with outstanding artists who designed the performances - Vasnetsov, Polenov, Serov, Vrubel, Korovin. A strong friendship began between Rachmaninov and Chaliapin, who was then working at the Mamontov Theater. Both musicians often performed together. According to a contemporary, "these two giants, captivating one another, literally worked miracles."

Rachmaninoff visited Leo Tolstoy, from whom he always found moral support. He developed friendly relations with Chekhov and Bunin, with the artists of the Art Theater.

In 1899, Rachmaninoff performed for the first time abroad (in London), in next year visited Italy. A joyous event for him was the production of "Aleko" in St. Petersburg on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Pushkin with Chaliapin as Aleko. Thus, an internal turning point was gradually prepared, and in the early 1900s Rachmaninoff returned to creativity.

Years of creative maturity (1900-1917).

The 20th century began in the life of the composer with the Second Piano Concerto, which sounded like a mighty alarm. Contemporaries heard in him the voice of the New Age - tense, explosive, with a premonition of future changes. The success of the concerto, which was first performed in its entirety in Moscow in 1901, was enormous. He inspired Rachmaninov, caused an unprecedented creative upsurge. "I study all day long and burn in the fire," Rachmaninoff says in one of his letters. One after another, the cantata "Spring", preludes, romances, the Second Symphony appear. For this symphony, as well as for the Second Concerto, Rachmaninov was awarded the Glinka Prize. In 1909, the Third Piano Concerto was written - one of Rachmaninov's outstanding creations.

There is a lot of ardent enthusiasm and enthusiasm in the music of this time. But there are other sentiments as well. Reflections on life and death give rise to tragic images of the First piano sonata, inspired by the tragedy "Faust" by Goethe; symphonic poem "Isle of the Dead" based on a painting by the Swiss artist L. Böcklin. Over time, these sentiments deepen. Difficult times, revolutionary upheavals, which began in 1914, the first World War, heavy losses suffered Russian art, give rise to a sense of impending disaster. Aggressive images, gloomy, depressed moods appear more and more often in Rachmaninov's music (for example, in certain parts of the vocal-symphonic poem "The Bells" to poems by Edgar Allan Poe, in a number of romances, in "Etudes-Pictures" op. 39). However, creating such works, Rachmaninoff found the strength to overcome these moods. Russian sacred music, beloved since childhood, becomes the personification of eternal beauty. In 1910 he wrote "The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom", and in 1915 - "All-Night Vigil" for the choir a cappella.

During these years, Rachmaninov combined intensive creativity with no less intensive concert - pianistic and conductor - activities. For some time he worked at the Bolshoi Theater and left a memory of the wonderful productions of Russian operas. This work inspired the composer to create two one-act operas - "Francesca da Rimini" (based on " Divine Comedy"Dante) and" Miserly knight(based on Pushkin's "little tragedy"). They were staged at the Bolshoi Theater and were a success.

In addition, Rachmaninoff took part in the Russian Historical Concerts organized by Diaghilev in Paris. At one time he directed the Philharmonic concerts in Moscow. Traveled with many concerts European countries, toured America, where his performances were held in triumph.

But Rachmaninov was much more willing to speak to the Russian public. During the First World War, he gave many concerts in different cities of Russia. He gave half of the fees from them for charitable purposes, for the needs of the Russian army.

Rachmaninov was sympathetic person. Outwardly severe, however, he was always ready to help. He loved his children very much. "I have two daughters ... their names are Irina and Tatyana or Bob and Tasinka. These are two naughty, rebellious, ill-mannered - but sweet and interesting girls. I love them terribly! The most precious thing in my life! And bright!"

Rachmaninov was fond of sports, in the summer he went horseback riding, in the winter he went skating. Shortly before the start of the war, he bought a car that he drove himself. “When the work is done beyond my strength, I get into the car and fly about fifty versts from here, to the open space, to big road. I breathe in the air and bless freedom and blue skies."

Rachmaninoff loved his estate Ivanovka in the Tambov province. Here it was created the best works. “He loved the Russian land, the village, the peasant, he loved to be the boss on the land, he himself took a scythe in the summer, he hated quinoa and other weeds as a personal enemy, and he often told me for hours how good the village was,” recalled the famous writer Marietta Shaginyan.

Rachmaninov abroad. Latest works. 1917 was a turning point in the fate of Rachmaninoff and his family. February Revolution he met with joy, the October Revolution forced him to leave Russia forever. The main reasons were fears for the fate of the family, the feeling of being useless to the new society.

In December 1917, Rachmaninov and his family left for Sweden. He gives concerts in the Scandinavian countries and then moves to the USA. An exhausting concert activity began, first in America, then throughout Europe, subject to the harsh laws of the music business. The number of performances was enormous: in the 1919/20 season alone, he gave 69 concerts. World celebrities performed with him: violinist Jascha Heifetz, cellist Pablo Casals, conductors Leopold Stokowski, Arturo Toscani, Eugene Ormandi, Bruno Walter. His concerts were held in crowded halls, portraits did not leave the pages of American newspapers. He was recognized by sellers, taxi drivers, porters, pursued by an army of correspondents and photojournalists. But the triumph of Rachmaninoff as a performer could not drown out in him a passionate longing for the fatherland. Even the circle of close friends abroad was limited mainly to people from Russia. Rachmaninov used a significant part of his fees for material support of compatriots both abroad and at home.

The name of this great musician is known all over the world, and he can safely be called a "Russian genius". Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff was a magnificent pianist who had no equal, a brilliant conductor and composer who left behind a huge cultural heritage. He created such outstanding works that, with their inspiration, cannot leave anyone indifferent. fatal fate ordered that the maestro had to leave his homeland, but the love of the motherland, like the love of music, he carried in his heart throughout his life and reflected this in his brilliant work.

Read a brief biography of Sergei Rachmaninov and many interesting facts about the composer on our page.

Brief biography of Rachmaninov

Sergei Rachmaninov was born on April 1, 1873 in the Oneg estate in the Novgorod province. WITH young years the boy began to show a special interest in music, so his mother Lyubov Petrovna began to teach him to play the instrument from the age of four. When Sergei Vasilyevich was nine years old, the whole family was forced to move to live in the northern capital, as their estate was sold for debts. The father of the future composer left the family, so one mother now took care of the children. It was she who decided to give Sergei precisely musical education just like I originally wanted.

Soon Rachmaninov was admitted to the junior department at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. But the boy did not work out with his studies, because he preferred to spend time on the street, and not at the piano. Then, on the advice of Alexander Siloti, who was Rakhmaninov's cousin, it was decided to translate young musician to the Moscow Conservatory to N.S. Zverev. This teacher has long been famous for his special system of educating gifted students. He chose two or three talented children from the class and took them to his home for full board. There, Nikolai Sergeevich taught his students to discipline, the highest organization and systematic studies, dealing with each of them individually. In 1887, Rachmaninoff began composing and recording his first works. At that time, his teacher in counterpoint becomes S.I. Taneev .

Sergei Vasilyevich graduated from the conservatory in two classes - piano (1891) and composition (1892). His thesis became the opera "Aleko", created by him in just seventeen days. For his essay, he received the highest mark "5+". In 1892, Sergei Vasilyevich first appeared before the public as a pianist, with his famous Prelude in C sharp minor, which became a real gem of his work.

In 1897, the long-awaited premiere of the First Symphony took place, on which Rachmaninov had been working for a long time. After this concert, which was extremely unsuccessful for the composer, he did not compose anything for three years, as the work failed. The public and ruthless critics greeted the symphony negatively, and Rachmaninov himself was extremely disappointed. As a result, he destroyed the score, forbidding it ever to be performed. Leaving the composition for a while, Sergei Vasilievich came to grips with performing activities. In 1900, he returned to his favorite pastime and began to write the Second Piano Concerto. Following him, other popular works of the composer come out. In 1906, Rachmaninoff decides to leave permanent job at the Mariinsky Women's College, where he taught music theory in order to engage in creativity.

In 1917, the composer and his family went to Sweden with a concert program, and it was assumed that they would return in two months. However, as it turned out, they said goodbye to their native lands forever. Soon the Rachmaninoff family moved to America. They greatly appreciated the talent of Sergei Vasilyevich and considered him a world-class pianist. He had to work hard and hard, preparing concert programs, sometimes because of which my hands hurt a lot.

During this period, Rachmaninoff again takes a long break and does not compose anything for almost eight years. Only in 1926 did the Fourth Piano Concerto appear from his pen.

In 1931, the Rachmaninov family bought a plot on the lake in Switzerland, and soon the Senar villa appeared there. It is here that he creates his iconic compositions - and the Third Symphony. The composer wrote symphonic dances in 1940 and this was his last work.

On March 28, 1943, the seriously ill Rachmaninov died in the circle of his family in Beverly Hills.

Interesting facts from the life of Rachmaninov

• Rachmaninov and his teacher N. Zverev had a conflict over composition. Both were very upset by this, and the musicians were able to reconcile only after the final exam. Then Zverev gave Rachmaninov his gold watch, which the composer carefully kept all his life.
• IN senior class the piano department Sergei Rachmaninov was left without a teacher, since A. Siloti left the conservatory, and his student did not want to change his mentor. As a result, he had to independently prepare the graduation program, with which he performed brilliantly in the exam.
• Since Rachmaninov graduated from two faculties at once with honors, he was awarded the Big Gold Medal.
• When there were rehearsals for the first opera " Aleko ”, approached the novice composer P.I. Chaikovsky and offered to perform Rachmaninov's composition together with his new performance " Iolanta ', if he doesn't mind. From happiness and delight, Rachmaninoff could not even utter a word.
• From the biography of Rachmaninov, we know that in 1903 Rachmaninoff married Natalya Satina, who was his cousin. Because of this, the musician even had to forgive " Highest Resolution» for marriage.

• The composer admitted that the failure of the first symphony upset him not because of negative reviews, but due to the fact that he himself did not like the composition already at the first rehearsal, but he did not begin to correct anything.
• Despite the fact that Rachmaninoff spent the last decades of his life in the United States, he renounced the citizenship of this state, as he did not want to renounce his homeland.
• Villa "Senar" was named after the first syllables of the names of Sergei Vasilyevich and his wife Natalia Rakhmaninova. This place became special for the composer, he even specially brought Russian birches there, and he created the estate in the national style.

• When the Great Patriotic War began, Rachmaninov was extremely upset by this, and he even transferred one of the fees for his performance (the amount was about 4 thousand dollars) to support Soviet army. His example was immediately followed by other famous musicians.
• Rachmaninov's extraordinary talent was passed on to him from his grandfather Arkady Alexandrovich, who was not only an excellent pianist, but also composed small piano works.
• From childhood, Sergei Vasilyevich had a fantastic memory. He could easily perform a piece from memory, even if he heard it only once.
• Rachmaninov also performed as a conductor, and all his productions (“ Prince Igor » Borodin, « Mermaid » Dargomyzhsky and others) have become the standard.
• In addition to a good memory, the composer had another unique feature, which was noted by many researchers of his life and work. He could easily cover 12 white keys on the piano at once, which was beyond the power of many famous pianists.
• With the money transferred by Rachmaninov to his homeland during the Great Patriotic War, an aircraft was built for the army.
• The composer really wanted to visit his native country again, there is evidence that he tried to do this shortly before his death, however, he was not allowed.
• Rachmaninoff practiced his favorite instrument every day, until the end of his life.
• Sergei Vasilievich did not really like the attention of reporters, photographers and always preferred to avoid meeting with a crowd of journalists.
• Few people know from music lovers, but the melody famous single"All by myself", which was performed by popular singer Celine Dion , was borrowed from Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto . Songwriter Eric Carmen believed that the legacy of the great composer is national treasure, but soon he had to settle all issues with the heirs of the maestro for a long time. Moreover, he was even forced to indicate the name of Rachmaninoff as the real author of the song.

• Rachmaninov's biography says that the young composer was very amorous, and he often broke out strong feelings to the girls. So, one of his hobbies was Vera Skalon, whom he met at the age of 17. It was to this girl that he dedicated several of his works: “In the Silence of the Secret Night”, part 2 of the First Piano Concerto. And he called his beloved Rachmaninov Verochka or "My Psychopath". It is interesting that almost at the same time he falls in love with the wife of his friend Anna Lodyzhenskaya and also composes romances for her.
• Few people know, but during his lifetime, Rachmaninov patented a special device for pianists - a heating pad, in which performers could warm their hands before an important performance.

The creative image of Sergei Vasilyevich is unusually multifaceted, because throughout his life he turned to the most diverse musical genres and left real masterpieces in almost every one of them. There is one common feature, which unites all his works with an invisible thread - this is love for the Motherland and connection with Russian culture. It is no secret that it was the image of his native land that took center stage in his work. Most surprisingly, Rachmaninoff did not compose historical works or software that were associated with historical theme. But this did not prevent him from expressing the depth of patriotic feelings in his music. Another one distinguishing feature Rachmaninoff is lyricism, a large role in his work is given to song, lingering melody.

Unusual habits and sayings of a true musician

• Very often, the composer noted that he was only 85 percent a musician. If they were interested in where the remaining 15 had gone, Rachmaninov answered that he was also a man.
• Sergei Vasilyevich was very upset by the failure of his works, but a successful performance could also cause creative doubts in him. Once, after a successful performance, he was forced to lock himself in the dressing room so as not to see anyone. When the maestro opened the door, he immediately asked that they not tell him anything about the concert, since he was not a musician, but a shoemaker.
• Despite the large fees for his performances, Rachmaninov preferred to dress quite modestly, which was noticed by many journalists of that time. But this did not stop him from keeping the latest models of expensive cars in his garage.
• Rachmaninoff always treated his hands with care, many contemporaries noted that he had very beautiful ones. Even the buttons on his shoes before concerts were always fastened by his wife so that he would not injure his fingers.
• Rachmaninoff was demanding not only to himself, but also to the public. He especially did not like it when people in the hall began to cough and talk during his performance. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the fact that he could miss several variations in the work.

Personality famous musician has always attracted the attention of filmmakers, who, based on the biography of Rachmaninov, shot a sufficient number of films that tell about the life of the composer.

The film "Poem of Wings" (1980), directed by Daniil Khrabrovitsky, tells about Soviet aviation, however, the figure of Sergei Rachmaninoff, played by Oleg Yefremov, appears quite often in the film.

In 1992, the Tsentrnauchfilm studio released the film "Portrait of Rachmaninoff" in two parts. The director of the film is A. Kosachev.

Film Sergei Rachmaninov. Two Lives ”can be called the first film dedicated to the composer, which covered the entire life path musician. It is noteworthy that the grandson of the talented performer Alexander Rachmaninov was directly involved in the creation of the picture. The film shows two lives of Sergei Vasilievich - in his homeland and in the USA. This picture is especially interesting because it contains rare materials and information that was obtained from personal conversations with Rachmaninov's relatives and friends. Very accurately tells about his foreign life and creative path.

In 2003 Andrei Konchalovsky filmed documentary"Sergei Rachmaninov", which entered the cycle "Geniuses". The picture introduces the audience to rare footage from the life of a famous musician. Konchalovsky himself admitted that this is his favorite composer, endowed with a strong, real Russian character.

In 2007, Pavel Lungin's film Lilac Branch was released, which was dedicated to the 135th anniversary of the musician. First of all, this Feature Film, where they interact very closely real facts and the imagination of the screenwriter. Even at the very end of the tape there is a note that the events are fiction, however, like himself main character. Nevertheless, this film deserves the attention of all lovers and admirers of Rachmaninov's talent. From the very first minute, the audience is immersed in the world of music, finding themselves at the maestro's concert at Carnegie Hall. great game actors (Evgeny Tsyganov, Victoria Tolstoganova), as well as the famous compositions of Sergei Vasilyevich, will instantly transfer all viewers to that time, forcing them to deeply experience all the moments of their personal life together with the main character of the picture.

In 2012, the Kultura TV channel presented a film about Sergei Vasilyevich from the Scores Don't Burn series. Artem Vargaftik in his author's program touched on the old Spanish theme "Folia", on which Rachmaninov composed his famous Variations.

There is a huge number of films in which you can hear excellent examples of Sergei Rachmaninov's work, and every year their number is constantly replenished. We will give only some list of the most popular films in which the composer's music is found.

1. Dreamland (2016)
2. Zootopia (2016)
3. Bridget Jones' Diary 3 (2016)
4. The Good Wife (2015)
5. Party's Over (2015)
6. Birdman (2014)
7. Paganini: The Devil's Violinist (2013)
8. Ben-Stevenson: The Choreographer and His Muses (2012)
9. Miracle (2012)
10. One Evening (2010)
11. Chorus (2009)
12. Tear (2007)
13. Six Demons by Emily Rose (2005)
14. Shrek 2 (2004)
15. The Bridget Jones Diaries (2001)
16. Petty Rascals (2000)
17. Proscenium (2000), Sabrina (1995)
18. Brief Encounter (1993)
19. my wedding best friend (1997)
20. Glitter (1996)
21. New York Nights (1984)
22. Doctor Zhivago (1965)

Despite emigration, Rachmaninov always thought about his native land and deeply worried about the outbreak of hostilities. The great musician had a dream that he never parted with for a moment. Rachmaninov really wanted to be on his native land again, however, this was not destined to come true. During the First International Competition pianists. Tchaikovsky, held in 1958, one of the laureates named Van Cliburn took a small handful of Russian soil to America to pour on the grave of S. Rachmaninov, the great "Russian genius".

Video: watch a film about S. Rachmaninoff

Sergei Rachmaninov (whose work and biography are studied in all musical educational institutions not only in our country, but also in the world) is a great Russian composer, as well as a pianist and conductor. He is the author of a huge number of works of various genres - from sketches to operas. S. Rachmaninov's music is imbued with romance, energy, lyrics and freedom.

Briefly about the composer

Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov, a biography whose photo is presented in this article, was outstanding composer. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky himself, when he first heard the student of the conservatory S. Rachmaninov, predicted a great future for him. The composer had an unusually fine ear and an excellent musical memory. The first opera written by S. Rachmaninov, Aleko, was staged at the Bolshoi Theater when the author was only 20 years old. Since 1894 S.V. Rachmaninov began teaching. During the years of the Revolution, he emigrated from the country and lived the rest of his life abroad, where he was very homesick, but he was not destined to return.

Childhood and youth

Rachmaninov's biography is interesting since his childhood. The composer was born on April 1, 1873. The place of birth has not been precisely established. But Sergei Vasilievich spent all his childhood on an estate called Oneg near Novgorod, which belonged to his mother. Although in some sources you can find the statement that he was born in the Starorussky district, in the Semyonovo estate. Sergei Vasilyevich was not the only child in the family. In total, his parents had six children. He had two brothers - Arkady and Vladimir, and three sisters - Varvara, Sofia and Elena. S. Rachmaninoff has been studying music since the age of 5.

Biography of Rachmaninov S.V. associated with such names as V.V. Demyansky, Nikolay Zverev and S.I. Taneev. These are the three great teachers with whom Sergei Vasilyevich studied. The composer began to receive higher musical education in St. Petersburg. But after 3 years of study, he moved to Moscow. Then he studied at the Moscow Conservatory in two departments: composition and piano. Graduated from Sergei Vasilyevich Conservatory with a gold medal. S. Rachmaninov began to give concerts in his student years. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was present at the exam with Sergei Vasilyevich and gave him five with three pluses.

Composer's parents

The composer Sergei Rachmaninov was born into a family of a military man and a pianist. The biography of his mother Lyubov Butakova is not well known. She was the daughter of a general. She was born in 1853 and died in 1929. She graduated from the conservatory in piano. Her teacher was Anton Rubinshtein. She had a rich dowry - five estates with large plots of land. One estate was ancestral, while the rest were received by her father as a reward for his service.

The biography of Rachmaninov Vasily Arkadyevich - the father of the great composer - is connected with the army and music. He was born in 1841 and died at the age of 75. He was an officer, a hussar, and at the same time he was musically gifted. He entered the service at the age of 16 with the rank of non-commissioned officer. A year later he became a cadet, and a year later - an ensign. Then he was in the ranks: second lieutenant, cornet, senior adjutant, staff captain, lieutenant. Several times he retired for family reasons and again returned to the ranks of the military.

He was finally dismissed from service for health reasons in 1872. After that, he was appointed at several counties of the Novgorod province as an intermediary of land demarcation. Over the years military service was awarded: a cross for the conquest of the Caucasus, a Silver medal for the conquest of Chechnya and Dagestan, a medal for the pacification of the Polish rebellion and silver medal for the conquest of the Western Caucasus.

Wife of Sergei Vasilyevich

Biography of Rachmaninov S.V. would not be entirely complete without a story about his beloved wife. The personal life of the composer changed in 1902. With my future wife He spent almost all of his teenage years with Natalya Satina, they were very friendly. The composer dedicated his famous romance “Do not sing, beauty, in front of me” to her.

On April 29, 1902, the wedding of a couple in love took place in a small church on the outskirts of Moscow, after which the newlyweds immediately left for the station and set off on a journey. They returned to Russia only a few months later.

Soon they were born eldest daughter Irina. Sergey and Natalya were relatives - cousins ​​​​and sisters. At that time, it was forbidden for close relatives to marry, for this it was necessary to obtain permission from the emperor himself, and he gave such permission only in especially exceptional cases. Sergei Rachmaninov submitted a petition to the tsar, but the lovers got married without waiting for an answer from him. Everything worked out. A few years later their second daughter was born.

Descendants of the great composer

Sergei Rachmaninov was a loving father. The biography of his descendants is also connected with music. The composer had two wonderful daughters who loved their father very much and cherished the memory of him. Irina studied in the USA, was fluent in two languages ​​- English and French. For a long time lived in Paris. She was the wife of Prince P. Volkonsky. The marriage lasted only 1 year, the husband died, although he was only 28 years old. The second daughter of S.V. Rachmaninoff, Tatyana, also studied in America. In the 1930s she moved to Paris. Her husband was Boris Konyus - the son of a violinist, composer and teacher, who studied at the conservatory on the same course as her father - S. Rachmaninoff.

Alexander Rachmaninoff-Konius is the son of the composer's daughter Tatyana. He is the only grandson of Sergei Vasilyevich. He inherited his grandfather's letters, his archive and autographs. Alexander organized competitions named after his great grandfather, and also held celebrations dedicated to S.V. Rachmaninoff in Switzerland.

The most famous opuses

A huge number of works were written by Sergei Rachmaninov. The biography and work of this great Russian composer are significant for our country. He left a huge legacy for posterity.

Works by Sergei Rachmaninov:

• Operas: The Miserly Knight, Francesca da Rimini, Aleko.
• Sonata for cello and piano.
• Concertos for piano and orchestra.
• Vocalise for voice with piano accompaniment (dedicated to opera soloist A. Nezhdanova).
• Symphonies.
• Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.
• Poems: "The Island of the Dead", "The Bells" and "Prince Rostislav".
• Suite "Symphonic dances".
• Cantata "Spring".
• Fantasy "Cliff".
• Fantasy Pieces for Piano.
• Sonatas for piano.
• Capriccio on gypsy themes.
• Pieces for cello and piano.
• Works for choir a-capella: "All-Night Vigil" and "Liturgy of John Chrysostom".
• Russian songs for choir and orchestra.
• Pieces for piano in 4 hands.

As well as a large number of romances, preludes, Russian songs, etudes and much more.

Conducting activities

Composer Rachmaninoff, whose biography is not limited to performing and composing activities, began conducting in 1897. He served as bandmaster at the Opera House of the famous philanthropist Savva Mamontov. Here Sergei Vasilievich met Fyodor Chaliapin, with whom he had been with him all his life in friendly relations. In 1898, Sergei Rachmaninov was on tour in the Crimea with opera house, there he met Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. A year later, the conductor S. Rachmaninoff went on tour abroad for the first time - to England.

Emigration

During the 1917 revolution, Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov went on tour abroad. The composer never returned to Russia. First, the family settled in Denmark, and a year later they moved to America. Sergei Vasilyevich lived there until his death. He was very homesick and dreamed of returning. For a long time, living in exile, he did not write new works. Only 10 years later, the muse visited him again, he continued his composing activity, but he rarely performed as a conductor. Most of the works written by Sergei Vasilyevich abroad are saturated with longing for home country. In America, S. Rachmaninoff was a huge success. The composer died on March 28, 1943. Buried near New York.

In this article, given complete biography Rachmaninov - from childhood to last days life.

S. Rakhmaninov was a passionate, honest, demanding person to others and to himself. Biography, Interesting Facts from which testifies to this, was considered by us in this article. But few people know that:

• as a child, Sergei Vasilyevich was very fond of visiting monasteries with his grandmother and listening to the ringing of bells;
• the composer's grandfather was an amateur pianist, took lessons from John Field, wrote music and several of his works were published;
• at the age of 4, Sergei Vasilievich already knew how to play four hands in a duet with his grandfather;
• the first love of the composer was Vera Skalon, she also fell in love with the young S. Rachmaninov, he dedicated the romance “In the Silence of the Secret Night” and several other works to her, wrote touching letters to her;
• Sergei Vasilyevich was very punctual;
• when the composer was angry, his face became terrible;
• S. Rachmaninov had a very quiet voice;
• the composer did not like to be photographed;
• preferred Russian cuisine;
• S. Rachmaninov's favorite pastimes are horseback riding, skating, swimming, cars and motor boats, and agriculture.

Rachmaninov Sergei Vasilyevich (1873-1943), composer, pianist and conductor.

Born on April 1, 1873 in the estate of Semyonov, Novgorod province, in a noble family. In 1882, the Rachmaninovs moved to St. Petersburg. In the same year, Sergei entered the conservatory.

Since the autumn of 1886, he became one of the best students and received a scholarship named after A. G. Rubinstein.

At the final exam in harmony, P. I. Tchaikovsky liked the preludes composed by Rachmaninoff so much that he gave a five, surrounded by four pluses.

The most significant of early works- one-act opera "Aleko" on the plot of A. S. Pushkin. It was completed in an unprecedentedly short time - just over two weeks. The examination took place on May 7, 1892; the commission gave Rachmaninov the highest mark, he was awarded the Big Gold Medal. The premiere of "Aleko" at the Bolshoi Theater took place on April 27, 1893 and was a huge success.

In the spring of 1899 Rachmaninoff completed the famous Second Piano Concerto; in 1904 the composer was awarded the Glinka Prize for him.

In 1902, the cantata "Spring" was created based on the poem "Green Noise" by N. A. Nekrasov. For it, the composer also received the Glinka Prize in 1906.

A significant event in the history of Russian music was the arrival of Rachmaninoff in the fall of 1904 to the Bolshoi Theater as a conductor and head of the Russian repertoire. In the same year, the composer completed his operas The Miserly Knight and Francesca da Rimini. After two seasons, Rachmaninoff left the theater and settled first in Italy and then in Dresden.

Here was written symphonic poem"Dead island". In March 1908, Sergei Vasilievich became a member of the Moscow Directorate of the Russian musical society, and in the fall of 1909, together with A. N. Skryabin and N. K. Medtner, to the Council of the Russian Music Publishing House.
At the same time, he created the choral cycles "Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom" and "Vespers".

In the autumn of 1915, Vocalise appeared, dedicated to the singer A.V. Nezhdanova. In total, Rachmaninov wrote about 80 romances.

In 1917, the situation in the country worsened, and the composer, taking advantage of an invitation to tour in Stockholm, went abroad on December 15. He did not assume that he was leaving Russia forever. After touring Scandinavia, Rachmaninov arrived in New York.

In the summer of 1940, he completed his last major work, Symphonic Dances.
On February 5, 1943, the last concert of the great musician took place.

Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff was born on March 20, 1873 into a noble family on the Oneg estate, owned by his mother, near Novgorod. It's been here early childhood future composer. In childhood and adolescence, an attachment to the poetic Russian nature arose, to the images of which he turned more than once in his work. In those same years, Rachmaninov had the opportunity to listen to Russians quite often. folk songs who loved him very much all his life. Visiting the Novgorod monasteries with his grandmother, Sergei Vasilievich listened to the famous Novgorod bells and ancient Russian ritual melodies, in which he always noted the national, folk origins. In the future, this will be reflected in his work (poem-cantata "The Bells", "All-Night Vigil").

Rachmaninoff grew up in a musical family. His grandfather, Arkady Alexandrovich, who studied under John Field, was an amateur pianist and composer. Several of his writings were published in the 18th century. The father of the great composer, Vasily Arkadyevich Rachmaninov, was a man of exceptional musical talent. His mother was his first piano teacher, although, according to the memoirs of the composer himself, the lessons gave him "great displeasure". But by the age of four, he could already play four hands with his grandfather.

When the future composer was 8 years old, his family moved to Petersburg. By that time it musical ability were quite noticeable, and in 1882 he was admitted to the St. Petersburg Conservatory, in the junior piano class of V. V. Demyansky. In 1885 Rachmaninoff heard at that time a very young, but already famous musician, cousin of Sergei Vasilievich, A. I. Ziloti. Convinced of the talent of his cousin, Siloti takes him to the Moscow Conservatory, to the class of Nikolai Sergeevich Zverev. Having studied with Zverev, and then with Siloti (because Zverev studied only with children), at the senior department of the conservatory, Rachmaninov began to study composition under the guidance of S. I. Taneyev and A. S. Arensky. Here Sergei Rachmaninov first met P. I. Tchaikovsky. famous composer I noticed a capable student and closely followed his progress. After some time, P.I. Tchaikovsky said: "I predict a great future for him."

Gifted with the extraordinary ear for music and memory, Rachmaninoff brilliantly completed piano lessons at the age of 18. And a year later, in 1892, when he graduated from the Moscow Conservatory in the composition class, he was awarded a large gold medal for outstanding performing and composing successes. Together with him, Scriabin graduated from the conservatory, who received a small gold medal, because. the big one was awarded only to students who graduated from the conservatory in two specialties (Scriabin graduated as a pianist). For the final exam, Rachmaninoff presented the one-act opera Aleko (based on Pushkin's poem The Gypsies), which he wrote in just 17 days! For her, Tchaikovsky, who was present at the exam, gave his "musical grandson" (Rakhmaninov studied with Taneyev, Pyotr Ilyich's favorite student) five with three pluses. A year later, the 19-year-old composer's opera was staged at the Bolshoi Theatre. The music of the opera, captivating with youthful passion, dramatic power, richness and expressiveness of melodies, was highly appreciated by the largest musicians, critics and listeners. The music world reacted to "Aleko" not as school work but as a creation of the highest master. P. I. Tchaikovsky especially appreciated the opera: “I really liked this lovely piece,” he wrote to his brother. IN last years life of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff often communicates with him. He highly appreciated the creator " Queen of Spades". Encouraged by the first success and moral support of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, after graduating from the conservatory, composes a number of works. Among them are the symphonic fantasy "Cliff", the first suite for two pianos, "Musical Moments", a C-sharp minor prelude, romances: "Do not sing, beauty, with me", "In the silence of a secret night", "Island", " Spring Waters. Impressed by the death of Tchaikovsky in 1893, the Ellegiac Trio was created.