Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) was a Russian pianist and composer best known for his piano concertos and symphonies. He overcame an early ravaging by critics and several years of depression to create works which are today amongst the most popular and most-performed of any 20th-century composer. Rachmaninoff was the last of the group of composers known as the Russian Romantics.
More about: Sergei RachmaninoffDefinition
Timeline
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1873 - 1943Life of the Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff.
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1 Apr 1873Sergei Rachmaninoff is born in Semyonovo, Russia.
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1882Sergei Rachmaninoff enters the St. Petersburg Conservatory.
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1885Sergei Rachmaninoff enters the Moscow Conservatory.
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1891Sergei Rachmaninoff graduates in piano from the Moscow Conservatory.
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1891Sergei Rachmaninoff completes his First Piano Concerto.
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1891Sergei Rachmaninoff completes his orchestral work The Rock.
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1892Sergei Rachmaninoff wins the gold medal prize for composition at the Moscow Conservatory.
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1892Sergei Rachmaninoff completes his Prelude in C sharp minor for piano.
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1897 - 1900Sergei Rachmaninoff descends into depression and does not compose but is treated successfully by hypnotist Dr Nikolay Dahl.
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15 Mar 1897Sergei Rachmaninoff’s First Symphony is publicly performed for the first time to disastrous reviews.
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9 Nov 1901The triumphant premiere of Sergei Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto.
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1902Sergei Rachmaninoff marries his cousin Natalya Satina.
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1908Sergei Rachmaninoff composes his Second Symphony.
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1909Sergei Rachmaninoff's Third Piano Concerto premieres in the United States.
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1910Sergei Rachmaninoff composes his Liturgy of St John Chrysostom.
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1913Sergei Rachmaninoff composes The Bells.
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1915Sergei Rachmaninoff composes his All-night Vigil.
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1926Sergei Rachmaninoff completes his Fourth Piano Concerto.
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1931Sergei Rachmaninoff composes his Variations on a Theme of Corelli.
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1934Sergei Rachmaninoff composes his Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.
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1936Sergei Rachmaninoff completes his Third Symphony (he revises it in 1938).
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1940Sergei Rachmaninoff composes his last major work, Symphonic Dances.
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28 Mar 1943Sergei Rachmaninoff dies of cancer at his home in Beverly Hills.
