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Rachmaninoff in AmericaRussian Composer-Pianist's Career as a Concert Pianist in the USA
A brief look at the life and career as a concert pianist of the great Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff, and his time in America.
When the subject of great pianists comes up in conversation there is one man whose name always appears...that of Sergei Rachmaninoff. His contemporaries in the piano world -- Josef Hofmann, Arthur Rubinstein, Arthur Schnabel to name a few -- and all of the modern pianists agree that Rachmaninoff's playing was superb. It is fortunate for us that he recorded his Piano Concertos, thus giving us a picture of how he meant them to be played. Rachmaninoff in New York CityBorn in 1873 in Russia, Rachmaninoff had already made a name for himself as a pianist, composer and conductor when he decided, in 1918, to go to America. He sailed on November 1 and ten days later arrived in the harbor of New York City. The city was musically endowed with two symphony orchestras, The New York Philharmonic and the New York Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Metropolitan Opera. He made his debut as a pianist on December 8, 1918, in Providence, Rhode Island, and made thirty-six appearances in that first season, which included a performance of the revised First Concerto in Boston and his Cello Sonata with Pablo Casals. In April of 1919 Rachmaninoff recorded some Chopin and Mozart, the first time he had ever attempted this innovation. Rachamaninoff's Early RecordingsIn 1920 Rachmaninoff signed with Victor Records for a five-year contract. He was to record at least twenty-five compositions in that time and was assured a guaranteed advance of $15,000 per year. His first recording featured his own Prelude in g minor and Prelude in G Major along with Troika, from The Seasons, by Tchaikowsky. His early recordings were very successful and featured Chopin's Waltz Op.34, No.3, Mendelssohn's Spinning Song, and Daquin's Le Coucou. Unfortunately, during this time the pianist suffered from severe eye trouble and the operation he underwent was unsuccessful. He was forced to resort to painkillers so he could continue working. Rachmaninoff's Concert CareerFrom the time Rachmaninoff arrived on American shores until shortly before his death he was a sought-after piano soloist with all the major symphony orchestras. While he was often asked to play one of his own Concertos, he also performed concertos by other composers. He also composed his Fourth Piano Concerto, a seldom-played work these days. He undertook European tours and in his spare time played jazz. There is story that may or may not be true that when asked who the greatest pianist was (other than himself), Rachmaninoff replied without hesitation, "Fats Waller." Last ConcertsRachmaninoff had been bothered for some time by a nasty cough, probably brought on by his cigaret smoking, but in 1943 it became very serious. In February of that year he performed a Beethoven Concero as well as his Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with the Chicago Symphony. While travelling to his next concert in Knoxville, Tennessee, he became violintly ill and was forced to cancel the remaining appearances He was diagnosed with cancer at the Hospital of the Good Samaritan in Los Angeles, and on the morning of March 28,1943, Rachmaninoff was gone. The world of music lost a giant that day, but his recordings give listeners an idea of what his public concerts must have been like. For further reading about Rachmaninoff see The Early Rachmaninoff Rachmaninoff the Conductor. Source Rachmaninoff, by Robert Walker, Omnibus Press, New York,1979.
The copyright of the article Rachmaninoff in America in Classical Composers is owned by Anya Laurence. Permission to republish Rachmaninoff in America in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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