Rachmaninoff: The Isle of the Dead & Symphony No. 1

Featuring

Leonard Slatkin
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Sergei Rachmaninoff

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Composer Biography

Sergey Rachmaninov, like many Russian composers, chose to leave Russia after the Revolution of 1917, settling in exile.

Composition History

Rachmaninov's symphonic poem, The Isle of the Dead, was inspired by a black-and-white reproduction of a painting by the Swiss-German artist Arnold Boecklin.

Recording & Production

This recording of Rachmaninov's First Symphony includes alterations shared by conductor Eugene Ormandy, who worked closely with Rachmaninov.

Performer Biography

Conductor Leonard Slatkin, born in Los Angeles, is the son of conductor-violinist Felix Slatkin and cellist Eleanor Aller, who were founding members of the Hollywood String Quartet.

Composer Biography

After the disastrous premiere of his First Symphony, Rachmaninov was only able to return to composition after undergoing treatment with Dr. Nikolay Dahl, who used hypnotism.

Composition History

Rachmaninov's First Symphony was a failure at its 1897 premiere, conducted badly by Alexander Glazunov (a Russian composer and conductor) and harshly criticized by César Cui (a Russian composer and critic).

Compositional Technique

In The Isle of the Dead, Rachmaninov frequently uses fragments of the traditional plainchant 'Dies irae,' a hymn associated with death in Catholic Requiem Masses.