Sergei Rachmaninoff

The Profile

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943) was a Russian composer, virtuoso pianist and conductor, one of the last great figures of the late-Romantic era known for his piano concertos, solo piano works and orchestral pieces.

Born in 1873 in the Russian Empire and died in 1943, Rachmaninoff was a composer, pianist and conductor. He emigrated after the 1917 Russian Revolution and spent his later years in the United States. His best-known works include the Piano Concertos (especially Nos.2 and 3), Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, the Prelude in C-sharp minor and the All-Night Vigil (Vespers). He was renowned as a virtuoso pianist and for his late-Romantic compositional style.

DeBaser hosts two detailed, admiring reviews focused on Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No.3 and major performances. The reviews discuss virtuosity, interpretation (Horowitz, Argerich, Helfgott) and the concerto's late-Romantic language. Both reviews rate performances very highly.