Rachmaninov's early musical education included studying with Nikolay Zverev, a pupil of John Field's pupil Dubucque, and later with his cousin Alexander Ziloti, a former pupil of Liszt.
Notable Performances
The American premiere of Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 2 was given in January 1909 by Leonard Slatkin's great-uncle, Modeste Altschuler, with the Russian Symphony Orchestra of New York.
Compositional Technique
Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 2 is an extended work dominated by lyrical feeling, and it features the composer's recurrent 'idée fixe,' the Dies irae, a musical allusion to death.
Composition History
After the failure of his First Symphony, Rachmaninov was unable to compose until a successful course of hypnotherapy with Dr. Nikolay Dahl in 1900, to whom he dedicated his Second Piano Concerto.
Composer Biography
Sergey Rachmaninov, a Russian composer and pianist, was born into an aristocratic family, but increasing debts forced his family to move to St. Petersburg.
Composition History
Rachmaninov's First Symphony was a public failure at its 1897 premiere, conducted badly by Alexander Glazunov and savagely reviewed by César Cui, which diverted Rachmaninov from composition.
Performer Biography
Leonard Slatkin, the conductor of this recording, was born in Los Angeles to conductor-violinist Felix Slatkin and cellist Eleanor Aller, who were founding members of the Hollywood String Quartet.
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