Rachmaninov: Preludes, Op. 32 / Liebesleid And Liebesfreud

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Cat No: 8550466

Release Date: 12 January 2000

Label: Naxos - Nxc / Naxos Classics

Packaging Type: Jewel Case

No of Units: 1

Barcode: 4891030504660

Genres: Classical

Composer/Series: RACHMANINOV

Description
Sergey Rachmaninov (1873 - 1943)ThirteenPreludes, Op. 32 Kreisler (arr. Rachmaninov) Liebesleid Liebesfreud Sergey Vasilyevich Rachmaninov was bornat Semyonovo in 1873. His family, one of strong military traditions on both his father'sand mother's side, was well-to-do, but the extravagance of his father made it necessary tosell off much of their land. Rachmaninov's childhood was spent largely at the oneremaining family estate at Oneg, near Novgorod. The reduction in family circumstances hadat least one happier result. When it became necessary to sell the estate at Oneg and tomove to St. Petersburg, the expense of education for the Imperial service proved toogreat. Rachmaninov could make use, instead, of his musical gifts, entering St. PetersburgConservatory at the age of nine as a scholarship student.Not a particularly industrious student and lacking theattention that he needed at home, in 1885 Rachmaninov failed his general subjectexaminations at the Conservatory and there were threats that his scholarship would bewithdrawn. His mother, now separated from his father and responsible for the boy'swelfare, arranged that he should move to Moscow to study with Zverev, a teacher of knownstrictness. In Zverev's house, however uncongenial the strict routine, he acquired much ofhis phenomenal technique as a pianist, while broadening his musical understanding byattending concerts in the city. At the age of fifteen he became a pupil of Zverev's formerpupil Ziloti at the Conservatory, studying counterpoint and harmony with Sergey Taneyevand Arensky. His growing interest in composition led to a quarrel with Zverev and removalto the house of his relations, the Satins. In 1891 Rachmaninov completed his pianostudies at the Conservatory and the composition of his first piano concerto. Thefollowing year he graduated from the composition class and composed his notorious Prelude in C sharp minor, a piece that was to haunthim by its excessive popularity. His early career brought initial success as a composer,halted by the failure of his first symphony, conducted badly by Glazunov, apparently drunkat the time, and reviewed in the cruellest terms by Cesar Cui who described it as astudent attempt to depict in music the seven plagues of Egypt. Rachmaninov busied himselfas a conductor, signing a contract with the Mamontov opera company. As a composer,however, he suffered from the poor reception of his symphony and was only enabled tocontinue after a course of treatment with Dr. Nikolay Dahl, a believer in the efficacy ofhypnotism. The immediate result was the second of his four piano concertos. The years before the Russian revolution brought continuedsuccessful activity as a composer and as a conductor. In 1902 Rachmaninov married NatalyaSatina and went on to pursue a career that brought him increasing international fame.There were journeys abroad and a busy professional life, from which summer holidays at theestate of lvanovka, which he finally acquired from the Satins
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