Throughout his career as composer, conductor, and pianist, Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) was an intensely private individual. When Bertensson and Leyda's 1956 biography appeared, it lifted the veil of secrecy on several areas of Rachmaninoff's life, especially concerning the genesis of his compositions and how he was affected by their critical reception. These pages are fabulously peopled. Here we find the Tchaikovsky brothers, Rimsky-Korsakov, Scriabin, Glazunov, and Stravinsky, as well as Chekhov, Stanislavsky, Chaliapin, Fokine, Hofmann, and Horowitz. This biography reflects direct consultation with a number of people who knew Rachmaninoff, worked with him, and corresponded with him.Even with the availabilty of such sources and full access to the Rachmaninoff Archive at the Library of Congress, Bertensson, Leyda, and Satina (Rachmaninoff's cousin and sister-in-law) were tireless in their pursuit of privately held documents, particularly correspondence. The wonderfully engaging product of their labours masterfully incorporates primary materials into the narrative. Almost half a century after it first appeared, this volume remains essential reading.

Table of Contents

Introduction to the 2000 Reprint, by David Cannata Preface Prologue Part I 1. Zverev and His Cubs 2. A New Family 3. Aleko and "Free Artist" 4. Deaths and Failure 5. Second Concerto 6. Imperial Theater 7. Operas and Projects 8. Dresden 9. Europe 10. First American Tour 11. "Re" and The Bells 12. War and Night Vigil Part II 13. Virtuoso 14. Ties with Russia 15. The Composer Resumes 16. Work and Rest 17. Exile Reinforced 18. Senar and Rapsodie 19. The "Russian" Symphony 20. The Composer Rebuffed 21. Retreat from Europe 22. Symphonic Dances 23. California Notes on the Text Appendix 1. Works Index

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An indispensable and captivating document, now back in print!