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Donald Macleod focuses on Rachmaninov after the Russian Revolution, following his escape to Stockholm and then his move to the United States.

In this week's edition of Composer of the Week, Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Sergei Rachmaninov.

In the concluding programme of this week, Donald Macleod looks at Rachmaninov after the Revolution - his escape to Stockholm, his passage to the United States, and the new career he built for himself there. To his constant regret it was a career that left little time for composition; 39 of Rachmaninov's 45 opuses were written before he left Russia.

Nonetheless, he created some of his best-loved music in this final phase of his life; Donald Macleod introduces the composer's own performance of the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, as well as extracts from his 3rd Symphony and his Symphonic Dances in their original version for two pianos, thrillingly performed by two present-day Russian pianists, Dmitri Alexeev and Nikolai Demidenko.

1 hour

Last on

Fri 8 Apr 2011 22:00

Music Played

  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    'Flight of the Bumble Bee', Rimsky-Korsakov arr. Rachmaninov (?1929)

    Performer: Sergei Rachmaninov (pno)

    • RCA 82876-67892-2,.
  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, op.43 (1934)

    Performer: Sergei Rachmaninov (pno) / Philadelphia Orchestra / Leopold Stokowski (cond)

    • RCA 82876-67892-2,.
  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Symphony no.3 in a minor, op.44 (1935-6, rev 1938) - mvt 2

    Performer: 2. Allegro ma non troppo Performer: Russian State Symphony Orchestra / Valeri Polyansky (cond)

    • Chandos CHAN 9802,.
    • 3.
  • Sergey Rachmaninov

    Symphonic Dances, op.45 (1940) - no.3, original version for two pianos

    Performer: 3. Lento assai - Allegro vivace - Lento assai - Allegro vivace Performer: Dmitri Alexeev, Nikolai Demidenko (pnos)

    • Hyperion CDA66654,.
    • 11.

Broadcasts

  • Fri 6 Feb 2009 12:00
  • Fri 6 Feb 2009 22:00
  • Fri 8 Apr 2011 12:00
  • Fri 8 Apr 2011 22:00

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