A new direction in Rachmaninov's work. Chamber and vocal works of Rachmaninov: general characteristics. On the way to new achievements

However, his creative path was not strewn with roses. There were failures that he felt acutely. In 1895, Rachmaninov completed his first symphony, which at the beginning of 1987 was performed in one of the “Russian Symphony Concerts” under the baton of A.K. Glazunov. The symphony was a fiasco; it was not understood. According to Rachmaninov’s relative L.D. Rostovtseva-Skalon, Glazunov stood phlegmatically at the console and also phlegmatically conducted it. This upset Rachmaninov to such an extent that he did not write anything for several years. He became depressed and lost faith in his abilities. He then even had to be treated by a psychiatrist. But the best medicine for the composer was music. In 1900, Rachmaninov returned to composing; he writes two parts of the second piano concerto, completed a year later; At the same time, the second suite for two pianos was written. Along with his creative upsurge, a very important event takes place in the life of Sergei Vasilyevich: he marries his cousin Natalya Alekseevna Satina, with whom he will spend his entire long life. life path. The successful performance of his Second Piano Concerto in 1901 completely restored Rachmaninoff's strength and helped him regain confidence in his creative abilities. The Second Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, written in 1901, is one of the most famous works Rachmaninov. It combines the composer’s characteristic bell-like sound and rapid, stormy movement. This is a national-coloristic feature of Rachmaninov’s harmonic language. The flow of melodious, broad Russian-style melodies, the element of active rhythm, brilliant virtuosity, subordinate to the content, distinguish the music of the Third Concerto. It reveals one of the original foundations of Rachmaninov's musical style - an organic combination of breadth and freedom of melodic breathing with rhythmic energy. The second concert opens the most fruitful period in Rachmaninov’s composer activity. The most beautiful works appear: preludes, sketches, paintings. The best romances have been created, among them: “Lilac”, “Vocalise”, “At my window”. The largest symphonic works of these years are the Second Symphony, the symphonic poem “Island of the Dead”. During these same years, the following poem-cantata “Bells” was created, wonderful work for choir a cappella “All-Night Vigil”, the opera “The Miserly Knight” after A. S. Pushkin and “Francesca da Rimini” after Dante.

Sergei Rachmaninov gained no less fame as a pianist. Since 1900, Rachmaninov constantly gave concerts in Russia and abroad. In 1899 he successfully performed in France, and in 1909 in America. It seemed to Rachmaninov’s listeners that he did not know any pianistic difficulties: his performance was so brilliant, virtuosic, distinguished by enormous inner strength. And at the same time, Rachmaninov played unusually melodiously. Contemporaries recognized Rachmaninov as the greatest pianist of the twentieth century. But he was also a talented opera and symphony conductor, who gave a unique interpretation of many classical works. He first stood at the conductor's stand when he was only twenty years old - in 1893, in Kyiv, as the author of the opera "Aleko". In 1897, he began working as a second conductor at the Moscow Private Russian Opera of S.I. Mamontov, where he acquired the necessary practice and experience. He stayed there only for a year, but this year played an important role in his life: there he met with outstanding Russian artists - V. Serov, K. Korovin, Vrubel - and artists, and a close friendship with F. I. Chaliapin began there. Before this, Rachmaninov had never studied conducting, although he felt that he was “capable of conducting.” He was helped by natural talent, exceptional taste, phenomenal memory and impeccable hearing. On September 3, 1904, Rachmaninoff made his conducting debut at the Bolshoi Theater. Here he led a number of performances, primarily operas by Russian composers. Under the leadership of Rachmaninov, new productions of “Ivan Susanin” by M. I. Glinka and “The Queen of Spades” by P. I. Tchaikovsky were carried out. Since 1899, Rachmaninov has been performing as a conductor on tours in other countries. In May 1907, at the Paris Grand Opera, Rachmaninov conducted one of four historical concerts of Russian music (the other concerts were conducted by A. Nikisch, K. Chevillard and N. Rimsky-Korsakov). Performing concerts in the United States for the first time, he not only conducted his own compositions, but also offered interesting interpretations of works by composers such as Tchaikovsky and Mozart.

Piano music takes special place in the works of Rachmaninov. He wrote his best works for his favorite instrument, the piano. These are 24 preludes, 15 etudes-pictures, 4 concertos for piano and orchestra, “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini” for piano and orchestra (1934), etc. The range of feelings and states expressed in them is wide - from quiet peace to strong excitement, from bright joy to gloomy sadness. Rachmaninov followed best traditions classics, and, above all, Russian, being a soulful singer of Russian nature. In his Second Symphony, written in 1907, in the cantata “Spring”, in the poem “The Bell” lyricism, an open expression of direct and strong feelings, and majestic epic images closely coexist. Rachmaninov’s music merges traditions coming from P. I. Tchaikovsky and the composers of the “Mighty Handful,” especially A. P. Borodin. Rachmaninov's music, which has inexhaustible melodic riches, absorbed Russian folk song origins and some elements of Znamenny chant.

In 1915, Rachmaninov's comrade and fellow student in Zverev's class, the great Russian composer and pianist Alexander Scriabin, died. Rachmaninov's concert repertoire consisted mainly of his own compositions. But in memory of Scriabin, Rachmaninov gave several concerts from his works, including in order to financially support Scriabin’s family.

Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninov is a great Russian composer, also famous as a pianist and conductor. He first gained fame while still a student, as he wrote a number of very popular romances, the famous Prelude, the First Piano Concerto and the opera “Aleko”, which was staged at the Bolshoi Theater. In his work, he synthesized two main Russian schools of composition, Moscow and St. Petersburg, and created his own unique style, which became a pearl classical music.

Sergei was born in the Semyonovo estate, located in the Novgorod province, but grew up on the Oneg estate, which belonged to his father, nobleman Vasily Arkadyevich. The composer's mother, Lyubov Petrovna, was the daughter of the director of the Arakcheevsky Cadet Corps. Rachmaninov apparently inherited his musical talent through the male line. His grandfather was a pianist and performed in concerts in many cities Russian Empire. Dad was also known as an excellent musician, but he played only in groups of friends.

Sergei Rachmaninov became interested in the music in his very early years. His first teacher was his mother, who introduced the child to the basics of musical notation, then he studied with a visiting pianist, and at the age of 9 he entered the junior class of the St. Petersburg Conservatory. But finding yourself in this early age Being his own master, the boy could not cope with the temptation and began to skip classes. At a family council, Sergei Rachmaninov briefly explained to his family that he lacked discipline, and the father transferred his son to Moscow, to a private boarding school for musically gifted children. The students of this institution were under constant supervision, honed their playing of instruments for six hours a day and without fail went to the Philharmonic and Opera theatre.

However, four years later, having quarreled with his mentor, the talented teenager quits his studies. He remained to live in Moscow, as his relatives sheltered him, and only in 1988 he continued his studies, already at the senior department of the Moscow Conservatory, from which he graduated with a gold medal at the age of 19 in two areas - as a pianist and as a composer. By the way, even at a tender age Sergei Rachmaninov short biography who is inextricably linked with the greatest Russian musicians, met Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. It was thanks to him that the first opera young talent“Aleko” based on the work of A. S. Pushkin was staged on the stage of the Moscow Bolshoi Theater.

After graduating from the conservatory, the young man began teaching young ladies at women's institutes. Sergei Rachmaninov also taught piano privately, although he always did not like being a teacher. Later, the composer took the place of conductor at the Moscow Bolshoi Theater and led the orchestra when they staged performances from the Russian repertoire. Another conductor, the Italian I. K. Altani, was responsible for foreign productions. When the October Revolution of 1917 occurred, Rachmaninov did not accept it, so he emigrated from Russia at the first opportunity. He took advantage of the invitation to give a concert in Stockholm and never returned from there.

It should be noted that in Europe, Sergei Vasilyevich was left without money and property, since otherwise he would not have been released abroad. He decided to perform as a pianist. Sergei Rachmaninov gave concert after concert and very quickly paid off his debts, and also gained enormous fame. At the end of 1918, the musician sailed by boat to New York, where he was greeted as a hero and a star of the first magnitude. In the USA, Rachmaninov continued to tour as a pianist, and occasionally as a conductor, and did not stop this activity until the end of his life. Americans literally idolized the Russian composer, and a crowd of photographers always followed him. Sergei even had to use tricks to get rid of the annoying attention. For example, he often rented a hotel room but slept in a private railroad car to confuse reporters.

Works

While still a student at the conservatory, Rachmaninov became famous at the Moscow level. It was then that he wrote the First Piano Concerto, the Prelude in C-sharp minor, which became his calling card for many years, as well as many lyrical romances. But the career that had started so successfully was interrupted due to the failure of the First Symphony. After its performance in St. Petersburg concert hall The composer received a barrage of criticism and devastating reviews. For more than three years, Sergei Vasilyevich did not compose anything, was depressed and spent almost all the time lying at home on the sofa. Only by resorting to the help of a hypnotist did the young man manage to overcome his creative crisis.

In 1901, Rachmaninov finally wrote a new major work, “Second Piano Concerto.” And this opus is still considered one of the greatest works of classical music. Even modern musicians celebrate the influence of this creation. For example, based on it, Matthew Bellamy, frontman of the group Muse, created such compositions as “Space Dementia”, “Megalomania” and “Ruled by Secrecy”. You can also feel the melody of the Russian composer in the songs “The Fallen Priest”, “All by Myself” and “I Think of You” by Frank Sinatra.

The symphonic poem “Island of the Dead”, “Symphony No. 2”, which, unlike the first, was a tremendous success with the public, as well as the very complex “Piano Sonata No. 2” turned out to be absolutely stunning. In it, Rachmaninov made extensive use of the effect of dissonance and developed its application to the maximum level. Speaking about the work of the Russian composer, one cannot help but mention the magically beautiful “Vocalise”. This work was published as part of the collection of Fourteen Songs, but is usually performed alone and is an indication of the performance's mastery. Today there are versions of “Vocalise” not only for voice, but also for piano, violin and other instruments, including with orchestra.

After emigration, Sergei Vasilyevich did not write significant works for a very long time. Only in 1927 did he release Piano Concerto No. 4 and several Russian songs. In the last years of his life, Rachmaninov created only three musical works - “Symphony No. 3”, “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini for piano and orchestra” and “Symphonic Dances”. But it is noteworthy that all three belong to the pinnacle of world classical music.

Personal life

Rachmaninov was a very amorous man, in whose heart feelings for the ladies around him repeatedly flared up. And it was precisely thanks to such emotionality that the composer’s romances turned out to be so lyrical. Sergei was about 17 years old when he met the Skalon sisters. The young man especially singled out one of them, Vera, whom he called either Verochka or “My Psychopath”. Rachmaninov's romantic feeling turned out to be mutual, but at the same time purely platonic. The young man dedicated the song “In the Silence of the Secret Night,” a romance for cello and piano, as well as the second part of his First Piano Concerto, to Vera Scalon.

After returning to Moscow, Sergei writes the girl a huge number of love letters, of which about a hundred have survived. But at the same time, the ardent young man falls in love with Anna Lodyzhenskaya, the wife of his friend. For her, he composes the romance “Oh no, I pray you don’t go!”, which has become a classic. And with my future wife, Natalya Alexandrovna Satina, Rachmaninov met much earlier, because she was the daughter of the very relatives who sheltered him when Sergei dropped out of school at the boarding house.

In 1893, Rachmaninov realized that he was in love and gave his beloved a new romance, “Don’t sing, beauty, in front of me.” The personal life of Sergei Rachmaninov is changing after nine years - Natalya becomes official wife a young composer, and a year later - the mother of his eldest daughter Irina. Rachmaninov also had a second daughter, Tatyana, who was born in 1907. But Sergei Vasilyevich’s love of love did not exhaust itself there. One of the “muses” of the Russian classical legend was the young singer Nina Koshits, for whom he specially wrote a number of vocal parts. But after Sergei Vasilyevich’s emigration, only his wife accompanied him on his tours, whom Rachmaninov called “ good genius all my life."

Despite the fact that the composer and pianist spent most of his time in the USA, he often visited Switzerland, where he built the luxurious villa “Senar”, which offers an amazing view of Lake Firvaldstät and Mount Pilatus. The name of the villa is an abbreviation of the names of its owners - Sergei and Natalia Rachmaninov. In this house, the man fully realized his long-time passion for technology. There you could find both an elevator and a toy store. railway, and one of the new products of that time - a vacuum cleaner. The composer was also the holder of a patent for his invention: he created a special muff with a heating pad attached to it, in which pianists could warm their hands before a concert. Also in the star’s garage there was always a brand new Cadillac or Continental, which he changed every year.

The biography of Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov would be incomplete if we did not talk about his love for Russia. All his life the composer remained a patriot; in exile he surrounded himself with Russian friends, Russian servants, and Russian books. But he refused to return because he did not recognize Soviet power. However, when Fascist Germany attacked the USSR, Rachmaninov was almost on the verge of panic. He began sending money collected from many concerts to the Red Army Fund and encouraged many of his acquaintances to follow his example.

Death

All his life, Sergei Vasilyevich smoked a lot, almost never parting with cigarettes. Most likely, it was this addiction that caused melanoma in the composer in his declining years. True, Rachmaninov himself cancer didn't suspect, worked until last days and just a month and a half before his death he gave grand concert in the USA, which was his last.

The great Russian composer did not live to see his 70th birthday by only three days. He died in his California apartment in Beverly Hills on March 28, 1943.

Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov was born on March 20 (April 1, new style) 1873 in the Semyonovo estate, Starorussky district, Novgorod province.

The Rachmaninoff family was ancient noble origin and apparently originated from the Moldavian rulers Dragos, who founded the Moldavian state and ruled it for more than two hundred years (XIV - XVI centuries). From one of the descendants of this ancient family, Vasily, nicknamed Rachmanin, the Rachmaninov family began.

Father, Vasily Arkadyevich, at the age of sixteen, entered military service as a volunteer and fought in the Caucasus. After retiring, he married Lyubov Petrovna Butakova and settled with her on her parents’ estate Oneg.

Vasily Arkadyevich was secular charming person, not alien to artistic interests: he spent hours improvising on the piano, fantasizing, telling extraordinary stories, in a word, was the soul of society. Vasily Arkadyevich apparently inherited his musical talent from his father. Arkady Aleksandrovich, although he was a military man in his youth, had only one strong passion in life - music. He played the piano superbly, studied with John Field in his youth, and composed piano pieces and romances.

Lyubov Petrovna was completely different - always sad, preoccupied with something, upset.

Vasily Arkadyevich and Lyubov Petrovna had five children: two daughters - Elena and Sophia, two sons - Vladimir and Sergei, another daughter - Varya - died quite a baby.

The Oneg estate, where it took place early childhood Sergei Rachmaninov, located thirty miles from Novgorod, on the left bank of the Volkhov.

The house was wooden, one-story, with a mezzanine overlooking the Volkhov with three windows. On the north side there was a kitchen, barnyard, cowsheds, stables. There is an orchard all around, surrounded along with the house by a thick “fence” of fir trees. Three ponds glittered in the garden, in which there were crucian carp. Next was a shady park. wide alley,

Lined with linden and maple trees, it went down to the very bank of the river.

The discreet nature of the Russian north remained forever imprinted in the memory of Sergei Rachmaninoff.

In the large living room of the Onega house there was a long, tailed piano. When Seryozha was still very young, the elders began to notice something. As soon as he heard himself playing the piano or singing, the boy would “freeze”: he would freeze in place and completely cease to see what was happening around him. From this observation, the parents drew two very different conclusions. One of them was that they decided to train Seryozha piano playing. He was not yet five years old when Lyubov Petrovna, who at one time took music lessons at the boarding school, took up this matter.

The boy made rapid progress and soon began to perform simple pieces. It soon became clear that he had a beautiful musical memory.

Later, to study with Seryozha, her mother’s friend, music teacher A.D. Ornatskaya, was invited to the estate.

However, despite his obvious artistic inclinations, according to the tradition that had developed in the family, Seryozha had to be sent to the Corps of Pages.

But fate decreed otherwise. When Rachmaninov was seven years old, his father went bankrupt, the estate was sold for debts to the Counts Muravyov, and the family moved to St. Petersburg. Seryozha entered the junior department of the St. Petersburg Conservatory, in the piano class with teacher V. Demyansky.

In the early eighties, the family's material well-being collapsed. The father left the family, leaving his wife and children.

There was no one to oversee Rachmaninov’s upbringing. He studied poorly, was often lazy and skipped classes. Seryozha's conservative affairs did not bode well. At that time, the closest person to the young musician was his grandmother, Sofya Aleksandrovna Butakova. It was to her that he owed one of the strongest childhood musical impressions. Being very religious, S. A. Butakova often took her grandson to St. Petersburg cathedrals. Rachmaninov’s love for church singing remained forever: his famous “All-Night Vigil” and “Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom" are rooted in distant childhood. However, Serezha’s musical interests were limited to church singing. He was still of little interest in studying at the conservatory. During the three years of study there, he coped only with musical subjects - thanks to his excellent abilities, but completely neglected the general education subjects.

Three years later, the mother turned to her relative, Serezha’s cousin Alexander Ziloti, for help. At that time, Ziloti was very young, but already a very famous pianist. Having appreciated the extraordinary abilities of his younger brother, Ziloti immediately offered to take him with him to Moscow and place him in the class of Nikolai Sergeevich Zverev, with whom he himself studied.

2. Conservative years:

In 1885, Rachmaninov was transferred to the fourth year of the junior department of the Moscow Conservatory. Zverev not only took Seryozha into his class, but also accepted him on full board.

N.S. Zverev treated his students as his own children - they lived in his house and studied at his expense. The training regime was quite strict. It was supposed to start playing at six o'clock in the morning. If the night before Zverev took his students to the theater - and this happened quite often - then in the morning classes would still begin at the appointed time.

In 1888, Rachmaninov moved to the senior department of the Moscow Conservatory and was enrolled, at the insistence of Zverev, in the class of A. Siloti. Rachmaninov studied theoretical disciplines with Taneyev (theory and composition), and later with Arensky (class of fugue and free composition). Rachmaninov passed the final exam in harmony, which preceded transfer to senior courses at the conservatory, more than successfully. P. I. Tchaikovsky liked the preludes he composed so much that he surrounded the top five with four pluses and strongly recommended that the young musician take up composing seriously.

Studying at the senior courses at the conservatory was easy for Rachmaninov. He studied a lot, participated in conservatory concerts, and constantly composed. The first surviving works were written by him in 1887–1888. These are three nocturnes, “Melody” and Gavotte. In 1890, the young composer turned to a genre that was to occupy a special place in his work - the piano concerto.

Written in the tradition of the romantic piano concerto, Rachmaninov's First Concerto is distinguished by the special freshness of its harmonic language and its tendency toward spicy “oriental” images. Subsequently, the composer reworked the concerto, creating a more virtuosic, brilliant second edition. The concerto was one of the young composer's first major works.

In 1891, as an eighteen-year-old young man, Rachmaninov received a diploma as a pianist.

A year later, the final exam in composition took place. S. Rachmaninov, who completed the course, had to compose a one-act opera based on the libretto compiled by V. Nemirovich-Danchenko based on the poem “Gypsies” by A. S. Pushkin. "Aleko" was written incredibly quickly. On March 27, the theme became known, and already on April 13, the opera in the score, completely rewritten, decorated with a dark crimson binding with gold embossing, was presented to the commission.

Rachmaninov’s opera not only received a high praise from the commission, it was accepted for production by the Bolshoi Theater, and the famous music publisher Gutheil immediately signed a contract with the author to publish “Aleko”. Upon graduating from the conservatory, Rachmaninoff was awarded the Big Gold Medal.

The work of a very young, nineteen-year-old composer was also highly appreciated by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

A year later, the premiere of “Aleko” took place at the Bolshoi Theater.

3. Years of creativity:

After graduating from the Moscow Conservatory as a composer and pianist, Rachmaninov received the title of free artist. But financial situation he left much to be desired: despite the Big Gold Medal and brilliant reviews in the final exams, he did not receive an offer to teach at the conservatory and was forced to earn money by giving private lessons. The first published works brought some income. In the spring of 1893, the Fantasy Plays of opus 3 (Elegy, Prelude, Melody, Polichinelle, Serenade) were published. Particularly great success fell on the Prelude in C sharp minor.
This small three-part piece fully revealed the young composer's musical style. Heavy, powerful sounds open the prelude: these are, of course, the echoes of Russian bells, which he heard so often in childhood. Deep low bass high “bell” echoes respond, and it seems that this ringing is floating over the wide Central Russian plain.

Rachmaninov spent the summer of 1893 with his friend M. Slonov in one of the estates of the Kharkov province. There the symphonic fantasy “The Cliff” was born on the theme of Lermontov’s poem, Fantasia for two pianos in four parts and other works.

4. First symphony. Creative crisis:

In 1895, Rachmaninov’s idea for the First Symphony matured. This was the first major work young author. The score was completed in August 1896.

Rachmaninov chose a quote from the Bible as the epigraph to the symphony: “Vengeance is mine, and I will repay.”

When composing the symphony, Rachmaninov hoped that it would be performed at the Russian symphony concerts", and had high hopes for her. However, these hopes were not justified, and the symphony was first performed in St. Petersburg on March 15, 1897 under the baton of A. Glazunov. Now it is difficult to judge what was associated with the complete and deafening failure of Rachmaninov’s “first-born symphony”.

“As I now see the atmosphere of the concert,” writes L. Scalon, “Glazunov stood phlegmatically at the conductor’s stand and also phlegmatically conducted the symphony. He failed it."

“During the performance, I could not bring myself to go into the hall,” Rachmaninov later told Rizerman. “I left the artistic room and hid in the stairwell, sitting on the iron steps of the stairs leading to the choir. Here I sat, huddled, the entire time the symphony, which had awakened so many great hopes in me, was performed. I will never forget this torment: it was the most terrible hour of my life.”

This failure made the most depressing impression on the young composer. After this symphony, Rachmaninov did not compose anything near three years.

5. Meet Chaliapin:

In 1897, Rachmaninov gladly accepted the offer of the famous philanthropist Savva Mamontov to take the post of second conductor in his Private opera. Rachmaninov unexpectedly easily entered the Mamontov company, becoming especially close friends with Chaliapin. This was the beginning of a friendship that both the singer and composer carried throughout their lives.

There are many memories of those contemporaries who had the opportunity to hear the duet Rachmaninov - Chaliapin. They all speak with one voice: Russia has never heard such a duet. “When Rachmaninov accompanied me,” Fyodor said more than once, “I had to say not “I sing,” but “We sing”!

In the 1897/98 season at the Mamontov Private Opera, Rakhma-ninov was to conduct ten performances.

In April 1898, he accepted an invitation from the London Symphony Society to perform in one of its concerts. The tour was a triumph. Rachmaninov conducted his orchestral fantasy “The Cliff” and performed some piano pieces, from time to time including the notorious Prelude in C sharp minor in the program. Inspired by the reception of the public and critics, Rachmaninov began to think about creating the Second Piano Concerto.

6. At the Bolshoi Theater:

In 1904, Rachmaninov again turned to conducting, this time taking the post of conductor of the Bolshoi Theater. All productions conducted by Rachmaninov - Dargomyzhsky's "Rusalka", Borodin's "Prince Igor", Mussorsky's "Boris Godunov" - became standard. But the best in his interpretation were, of course, the works of Tchaikovsky - “Eugene Onegin”, “ Queen of Spades", "Iolanta" and "Oprichnik".

While working at the Bolshoi, Rachmaninov staged two of his one-act operas there - “The Miserly Knight” based on the text of one of A. S. Pushkin’s Little Tragedies and “Francesca da Rimini” based on a plot from Dante.

7. Flourishing creativity:

In 1906, Rachmaninov left the Bolshoi Theater and left Moscow with his family, moving abroad: first to Florence, then to Dresden.

In 1907, the famous entrepreneur Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev invited Rachmaninov to participate in the “Russian Symphony Concerts” in Paris, where Sergei Vasilyevich performed his Second Concerto and conducted the cantata “Spring”. At the end of the same year, the composer completed his Second Symphony. Unlike the previous symphony, the Second is a success, and for it the composer was awarded the Glinkin Prize for the second time (he received the first back in 1904 for the Second Piano Concerto).

In 1910, he made a long tour of cities in the United States and Canada - playing in Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Chicago, Toronto. Here his new work is heard for the first time - the Third Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (and to this day it is considered one of the most difficult works in this genre).

The pre-war years turned out to be rich in new works. In 1910 he completed the “Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom,” one of his largest spiritual works.

During these same years, Rachmaninov worked intensively on piano and chamber vocal works. Preludes op. appear. 32, six etudes-paintings, numerous romances. In 1912 - 1913, based on the poems of K. Balmont, Rachmaninov wrote “Bells” - a poem for symphony orchestra, choir and soloists. In various bell ringings - festive, wedding, funeral - he recreates the entire human life, from birth to death.

In 1915, the second major spiritual work appeared -

"All-night vigil" Ancient church melodies, the so-called Znamenny chants, once carefully collected by the boy in his “musical piggy bank”, have now found new life. In the “All-Night Vigil” Rachmaninov used these chants, which are part of the so-called “Obikhod” and are still heard in Orthodox services.

The last works created in the homeland were the cycles of romances op. 38 to poems by symbolist poets A. Blok, A. Bely, I. Severyanin, V. Bryusov and others, as well as six sketches of paintings.

8. Far from the Motherland:

On the eve of Christmas 1917, Rachmaninov and his family crossed the Finnish border. So he began his overseas tour, which lasted for the rest of his life. The Rachmaninovs did not stay in Scandinavia for long. On November 1, 1918, they boarded a ship and left Europe. Their path lay overseas, to the United States of America - “the land of unlimited opportunities.”

This was the most difficult turn in Rachmaninov's long life. He was - and he himself was well aware of this - a Russian artist. All his work was inextricably linked with Russia, its nature, its culture. Composing far from his homeland turned out to be incredibly difficult for him; In addition, it was necessary to provide for the life of his family - his wife and two beloved daughters, Tatyana and Irina.

And from that time on, Rachmaninov’s main occupation became the concert activity of a virtuoso pianist. For several years he toured only in the USA and Canada and only returned to Europe in 1923. As a pianist, Rachmaninov had such success that, perhaps, he never had as a composer.

In America, Rachmaninov is an unconditional “star”

His repertoire was enormous. The main place in it was occupied, in addition to his own piano works, by works of the romantics - Chopin, Schumann, Liszt; he played a lot of Tchaikovsky, whom he idolized, and, although he did not like modern music, he occasionally performed Debussy.

His interpretations were unforgettable. Brilliant virtuoso technique, powerful and soft sound, an absolutely individual reading of any composition was remembered not just for a long time - forever.

And yet, although composer activity became less intense - Rachmaninov returned to composing.

In 1926, the Fourth Concerto for Piano and Orchestra appeared, and in the summer of 1932, “Variations on a Theme of Corelli.” Following it in 1934, “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini” was created. In 1935 – 1936 – the Third Symphony. Rachmaninov's last major work, “Symphonic Dances,” was written on the eve of World War II in 1940.

For the rest of his life, Rachmaninov was very homesick for his homeland.

In 1931, on the advice of Rizeman, Rachmaninov bought a plot of land in Switzerland on the shores of Lake Firvaldstät.

And he built a villa on it. The carefully thought out and planned estate was somehow subtly reminiscent of Russia, beloved Ivanovka. Rachmaninov named the villa "Senar" - short for "Sergei and Natalia Rachmaninoff". His later works were born in Senar - “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini”, and then the Third Symphony. "Rhapsody" is often - and rightly - called Rachmaninov's Fifth Piano Concerto, although it was written in the form of variations on the famous

The atmosphere in Senar was reminiscent of living in Ivanovka for a long time - compatriots constantly visited Rachmaninov, and young people visited - friends and girlfriends of the daughters Tatyana and Irina. And if ancient Russian round dances started, he himself sat down at the piano and improvised wonderful arrangements of Russian folk songs. But when World War II began, Switzerland became inaccessible. Rachmaninov was again forced to leave for America: he never returned to Europe until the end of his life.

The composer experienced the war between Russia and Nazi Germany very hard. In the fall of 1941, he made an appeal to support Russia and the entire fee from the first concert of the season - $3,920 - was completely transferred to the USSR Consul General in the USA V. Fedyushin. During the last two years of his life, Rachmaninov helped his compatriots as best he could, listing large amounts to various funds and sending parcels with food and things to friends and acquaintances who were in the Soviet Union. Mine last concert Rachmaninov gave in Knoxville. He was already ill and felt unwell, but wanted to continue touring. However, worsening illness forced him to interrupt the tour.

On the day of his seventieth birthday, a congratulatory telegram arrived from Moscow, signed Soviet composers. But Sergei Vasilyevich was already unconscious.

Rachmaninov died on March 28, 1943 at his home in Beverly Hill, California. Rachmaninov's funeral was held in the Russian Church on the outskirts of Los Angeles. He was buried in the Russian cemetery in Kensico.

II.Analysis of the work

1.Second concert for piano and orchestra:

One of Rachmaninov's best works is the Second Concerto for Piano and Orchestra.

Inspirational and at the same time deep music includes various images- sometimes bright, joyfully - jubilant, sometimes excitedly - pathetic, tragic. And this entire sublime and poetic world is embodied in strict and harmonious proportions. What makes the concert one of the brightest masterpieces of world music.

The first part of the Concerto is the most significant and dramatically rich. This character is given to it by the very first theme - courageous and stern, sounding like the alarm of a mighty bell. The dominance of lyrical feelings is asserted in the second theme.

These two main themes of the first part are very bright, imaginative and individual. In the first topic I found a vivid expression

Russian folk song character. There is a mood of excited, anxious anticipation in it. This is a generalized image and old Rus', And contemporary composer Russia, looking for its own path. The main theme amazes with its capacity and depth. And it ends with an excited burst of lyrical feeling. Each of these constituent elements is emphasized in the reprise, where the main theme takes on an epic, marching, and hymn character. The development is very laconic, it dynamically develops the main images of the exhibition. The mood here is tense, full of drama. This section is based on a short motive, and intonationally close to the individual elements of the main and secondary parts; acquiring independence, becoming more and more dynamic, it penetrates into reprise, where it sounds simultaneously with main theme, which creates the impression of solidity and cohesion of individual sections of the exhibition.

The side part in the reprise has been significantly changed - its character becomes calmer, more peaceful thanks to the slower tempo and soft sound of the strings. And only a few decisive final chords give the end of the movement an active strong-willed character.

The main theme of the second part of the Concerto is similar in character and even intonation to lyrical theme first part. It is also lyrical, contemplative and determines the character of the entire second part. Thanks to the cold, detached sound of the flute, which sings this theme at the beginning, the impression of enthusiasm and high trepidation of feelings is created.

The Second Concert ends with a violent, rapid finale, two main themes - energetically strong-willed and lyrically enthusiastic - creating a mood of special festivity and elation, which at the very end results in a solemnly jubilant anthem.

With Sergey Vasilievich Rachmaninov, hereditary Russian nobleman, genius pianist and composer, became a symbol of Russian music throughout the world. After October revolution he emigrated to America and lived there the last third of his life, but Rachmaninov’s musical works were known throughout the world, not excluding the Soviet Union.

Five with three pluses

Sergei Rachmaninov was born in the Semenovo estate, Novgorod province (according to other sources, in the Oneg estate, Starorussky district, Novgorod province) in April 1873. The Rachmaninov family was very musical. My grandfather studied with the famous teacher and composer John Field in Russia, and several romances and piano pieces by him, published in the 18th century, have survived. His father, a hereditary Tambov nobleman, was also fond of music, but did not play professionally. Sergei Rachmaninov's first music teacher was his mother Lyubov Rakhmaninova, daughter of General Pyotr Butakov, director of the Arakcheevsky Cadet Corps.

When Sergei Rachmaninov was 8 years old, the family moved to St. Petersburg. In the fall of 1882, the boy entered the junior department of the St. Petersburg Conservatory in the class of Vladimir Demyansky. At first young musician I was burdened with my classes and often skipped them. But later he met his cousin- a young but already famous Moscow pianist Alexander Ziloti. Ziloti listened to the boy's play and convinced his parents to send Rachmaninoff to Moscow to apprentice with Nikolai Zverev. The famous teacher ran a private boarding school for gifted students in his house and, under conditions of the strictest discipline, taught them six hours a day.

In 1888, Rachmaninov continued his studies at the senior department of the Moscow Conservatory in the class of Ziloti. He graduated from the conservatory as a pianist and composer, receiving a Grand Gold Medal for his graduation work - the one-act opera "Aleko". Tchaikovsky, who examined the young composer, gave the opera a rating of “five with three pluses” and recommended it for production at the Bolshoi Theater.

From the first symphony to the “symphonic dances”

Sergei Rachmaninov with his wife. Photo: clubintimlife.ru

Young Rachmaninov quickly became a favorite of the Moscow public: he was known as a talented pianist, composer and conductor. But in 1897, the musician suffered a real failure: composer Alexander Glazunov performed his First Symphony in St. Petersburg extremely unsuccessfully. The reviews were devastating. Rachmaninov's innovative work was not accepted by either critics or the public. The composer fell into depression and for almost four years did not compose anything and practically did not leave the house.

A new stage in his life and career began in 1901, when the composer completed his Second Piano Concerto. The composition returned Rachmaninov to the status of famous Russian musician: he wrote a lot, conducted performances organized by Ziloti, and traveled with concerts to Europe, America and Canada. The composer took the position of conductor at the Bolshoi Theater, where he directed all Russian opera repertoire for several seasons, and headed the artistic council of the Russian music publishing house.

In 1902, Sergei Rachmaninov married his cousin, the daughter of a state councilor, Natalya Satina. They had two daughters - Tatyana and Irina.

Shortly after the 1917 revolution, the composer was invited to perform at a concert in Stockholm. Rachmaninov left Russia - together with his family, practically without a livelihood. The revolution, the death of imperial Russia, the destruction of foundations became a real tragedy for him. However, Rachmaninov had to provide for his family and pay off his debts, so he again began to play the piano and give concerts. The pianist captivated European audiences, and in 1918 he left for America, where he continued to give concerts. Critics and listeners recognized him as one of the greatest pianists and conductors of the era.

Sergei Rachmaninov. Photo: classicalarchives.com

Sergei Rachmaninov. Photo: meloman.ru

Sergei Rachmaninov. Photo: novostimira.net

For almost the entire first 10 years of emigration, Rachmaninov was unable to write: “After leaving Russia, I lost the desire to compose. Having lost my homeland, I lost myself...". He created his first composition - the Fourth Concerto and Russian Songs - only in 1926–1927.

Rachmaninov was intolerant of Soviet power, but was not indifferent to his former compatriots. During the Second World War, he transferred proceeds from concerts to the Red Army Fund and the USSR Defense Fund - with this money a military aircraft was built in Russia. “From one of the Russians, all possible assistance to the Russian people in their fight against the enemy. I want to believe, I believe in complete victory.", wrote the musician.

In the last years of his life, Rachmaninov created “Symphonic Dances,” which music researchers consider one of his best works. All this time he continued to perform - and gave his last concert 6 weeks before his death. The composer died in 1943; he was only a few days short of his 70th birthday. Rachmaninoff was buried in Kensico Cemetery in New York next to his wife and daughter.

The influence of music on a person 30.07.2017

Dear readers, today in our column we will mentally relax and be filled with the music of the Russian composer, pianist, conductor Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov. Let us also recall some points of his biography. Lilia Szadkowska, a music teacher with extensive experience, will talk about everything. Many people already know Lilia from her blog articles. I give her the floor.

Good afternoon to all readers of Irina Zaitseva’s blog! Summer is in full swing. I want to enjoy the sun and wander through the forest. My God! How cheerfully everything sparkles, how fresh the air is, how it smells of strawberries and mushrooms! Bees are buzzing, nightingale trills are heard. The day is coming to an end, the coolness of the evening gives us freshness and relaxation, and our favorite melodies will undoubtedly help us immerse ourselves in an unchanging and beautiful world. Today we present to our dear readers the composer S.V. Rachmaninov - the genius of the Russian spirit.

Sergei Rachmaninov – talented composer, a brilliant pianist, an outstanding conductor, one of the most prominent representatives of symbolism in Russian classical music of the 19th-20th centuries. All his work, filled with inspiration, is connected with the image of the Motherland, permeated with love for the Russian land and the Orthodox faith.

Origins of talent

On April 1, 1873, the future musician S. Rachmaninov was born in the Novgorod province. He grew up in musical family, and therefore we can say with complete confidence that he received his talent by inheritance.

His grandfather was an amateur pianist, and his father was also a musically gifted man. His mother graduated from the conservatory and became her son’s first piano teacher. And although little Seryozha did not really like music lessons, nevertheless, at the age of 4 he played his first musical works four hands with his grandfather.

He continued his further studies, first at the St. Petersburg and then at the Moscow Conservatory. It was here that he met masters of music, among whom was Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, who predicted a brilliant future for Sergei Rachmaninov. After graduating from the conservatory with a gold medal, the young composer presented his opera “Aleko” based on the plot of Pushkin’s poem “Gypsies” as an examination work. In the same year, the opera was staged at the Bolshoi Theater.

Talent is gaining strength

S. Rachmaninov conducts brilliantly at the Bolshoi Theater, and his tours bring him triumphant recognition of his talent as a pianist and composer. One after another, he writes works of a wide variety of genres. One of the most early works piano music is “Elegy”, which is known and very popular among classical music connoisseurs. The wave-like flowing melody evokes either sadness, then light sadness, or excitement. However, listen for yourself, maybe this music will evoke different feelings in you.

S. Rachmaninov “Elegy”

“I dreamed of golden-domed Moscow that stood on churches.
The miracle domes burned with gold, the Russian sky shone with azure...”

Music that makes you soar above the world

A special place in the vocal lyrics of S. V. Rachmaninov is occupied by the brilliant “Vocalise” (singing in which words are not used), dedicated to Antonina Vasilievna Nezhdanova, an outstanding Russian opera singer. The music, with some kind of indescribable sadness, is so expressive that it literally mesmerizes us. Vocalise is often called music of repentance. It is interesting that the vocalise most often sounds not in the vocal version, but in numerous arrangements and transcriptions. IN in this case the velvety, viscous voice of the cello captivates us and carries us on its wings to the heavenly heights.

S. Rachmaninov “Vocalise”

“The harmony of heaven sounds:
Here I see a magical forest,
And the valley, and the meadow by the fast river,
Where in the depths is crystal clear
The mermaid has lived for a long time.
attracts and carries you
In the coolness of the bright lunar waters..."
A. Arzhantsev

Beautiful sounds of romance

The pinnacle of the vocal chamber genre in the composer's work is undoubtedly romances. Rachmaninov wrote about 80 romances of different character, but with exceptional richness and colorful piano accompaniment. They were a kind of spiritual confession of the composer.

A true masterpiece of vocal lyrics can be called well famous romance to the poems of A. Pushkin “Don’t sing, beauty, in front of me.” The image of the East in the piano introduction, the expressiveness and beauty of the melody evoke the deepest emotions. Performed by the magnificent baritone D. Hvorostovsky, I suggest you listen to this romance.

S. Rachmaninov “Don’t sing, beauty, in front of me”

Sergei Vasilyevich loved his estate in Ivanovka, its large shady park, ponds, clean air and the aroma of meadows. He also really loved blooming lilacs. Images of nature were embodied in the inspired romances “Lilac”, “It’s Good Here” and many others, melodies equally beautiful in their expressiveness and beauty. Let's listen to the poetic, heartfelt romance “It’s Good Here” performed by A. Netrebko.

S. Rachmaninov “It’s good here”

"Listen, there's music all around,
She is in everything - in nature itself,
And for countless melodies
She herself gives birth to sound.
It is served by the wind and the splash of waves.
Rolling thunder, ringing drops.
Birds incessant trills
Among the green silence."

They say there is such a sign that if you find a flower with five petals on a lilac branch, it will bring you happiness. The soulful romance “Lilac” about this tender dream is one of the most precious pearls of the composer’s vocal lyrics. The romance was written during a happy time in the life of young S. Rachmaninov, when feelings for his beloved arose in him, just during the period of extraordinary flowering of lilacs. The listener is left with a feeling of morning freshness and peace of mind in the romance “Lilac” based on the poems of E. Beketova.

S. Rachmaninov “Lilac”

“So from the bell towers of eternal Rus'
the crimson ringing rushes down,
a lilac aroma flows,
and the world becomes new and clean..."

One of Rachmaninov’s best romances is “Spring Waters” to the words of F. Tyutchev. This is a musical picture of the Russian spring, a picture of the exciting power of the awakening of nature, a poem of enthusiastic, joyfully jubilant feelings, rise mental strength, which are performed in full voice by the choir.

S. Rachmaninov “Spring Waters”

The harmony of heaven sounds

The endless expanses of Russia. Magnificent cathedrals, whose golden domes proudly rise to the sky, monasteries, rural churches, and above all this the festive bell of the morning bell. Love for bells, choral singing Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninov kept in his heart forever.

Anxiety for the fate of his homeland at the height of the First World War prompts the composer to turn to the roots of Russian musical culture- ancient church chants, choral singing. Inspired by the poetic part of the New Testament, Rachmaninov wrote his famous “All-Night Vigil”. Listen to the excerpt “Great Doxology.”

S. Rachmaninov “All-Night Vigil”

The composer's calling card

One of the most beloved genres of piano music by the composer was the genre of prelude. “Prelude in C sharp minor” became Rachmaninov’s calling card for many years. On September 26, 1892, at one of the Moscow exhibitions, S. Rachmaninov publicly played his “Prelude in C sharp minor” for the first time. An alarming, stern motive is associated with the theme of fate and a terrible fate, which is opposed by the motive of unquenchable human hope.

S. Rachmaninov “Prelude in C sharp minor”

Another one of the most popular among listeners is the G Minor Prelude. The sounds seem to mercilessly cut through the air in their nervous tension, and then there is a brief lull. Surprisingly, each performer interprets this work in his own way. Listen to how this prelude sounds from Valentina Lisitsa.

S. Rachmaninov “Prelude in G minor”

"If you want to know how I feel, listen to my music"
S. Rachmaninov

Rachmaninov's piano concertos

Piano concertos can be called musical novels, which glorified the composer throughout the world, revealing his talent to the fullest. In 1900, S. V. Rachmaninov wrote his “Second Piano Concerto,” dedicated to the psychotherapist V. Dahl, who managed to convince the composer that this work would be a tremendous success. This concert has entered the repertoire of the world's leading pianists.

The genius of Rachmaninov, who created this masterpiece, cannot leave anyone indifferent! Every time I listen to this concert, I have associations associated with rebirth, with power, with something eternal. Music is so charged with its power that I would advise listening to it every morning in order to live the whole day with enthusiasm and the desire to do good and make the world a better place.

The work is performed by the ebullient Lang Lang.

S. Rachmaninov “Second Concerto”

“It’s not enough to see here - you need to look closely,
So that your heart is filled with clear love.
Here it is not enough to hear - here you need to listen,
So that consonances flood into the soul.”

Farewell to the Motherland

That time can be characterized by Blok’s lines: “In those distant, deaf years, sleep and darkness reigned in our hearts...” Rachmaninov welcomed the February revolution, but soon the feeling of joy gave way to anxiety, which intensified due to the heated events. During the atrocities, his beloved estate in Ivanovka burned down, many close people died...

The old Russia no longer existed. Saving his life and the lives of his family, he leaves the country that has suddenly become foreign to him. Leaving Russia, Rachmaninov kissed the Russian soil goodbye. But then the composer did not imagine that he was leaving forever. In December 1917, Rachmaninov went on tour to Scandinavia, and then moved with his family to the USA.

The world's first pianist

This is how it begins new stage in his life. America greeted the musician with delight. He was recognized on the streets and in transport, correspondents from newspapers and magazines rushed to see him. Here he is known as a “Russian” composer; it is with Russia that he is associated in this country and in European countries.

Offers poured in from all sides. Rachmaninov enters into contracts in different cities and travels a lot with concerts. Each of his performances becomes an event. He is recognized as one of the best pianists in the world.

Nature endowed the composer with a unique gift - the hands of a pianist, amazingly large, amazingly beautiful. He could cover twelve white keys at once! Listeners were attracted not only by Rachmaninov’s perfect performing skills, but also by his manner of playing.

S. Rachmaninov “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini” (recording performed by the author)

“And then the sounds will fill the hall,
hands will rise in the heat of octaves.
There is a Russian spirit - the piano will announce,
there is the Russian spirit - there... there... there... there..."

Alexandra Odrina

Unfortunately, during the period of immigration he wrote almost nothing. Only in the summer of 1940 did the composer complete the second edition of the Fourth Concerto and the last, Symphonic Dances. Having finished the score, Rachmaninov wrote at the end of the page: “I thank you, Lord!”

On February 17, 1943, Rachmaninov played his last concert in Knoxville. A serious illness literally took away all his strength in just 2 months. Sergei Vasilyevich died on March 28, 1943, three days short of his seventieth birthday.

“There is enough music to last a lifetime, but a whole life is not enough for music.”
S. Rachmaninov

Do you know what?

• Mother Lyubov Petrovna was her son’s first music teacher, but these lessons gave him “great displeasure”;
• Rachmaninov’s grandmother Sofya Andreevna often visited church and took her grandson with her. It was there that he became inspired by the ringing of bells and church singing;
• at one of the exams in harmony, P. I. Tchaikovsky gave the young composer an A with four pluses;
• Once Rachmaninov shielded himself from the paparazzi, not wanting to be photographed, and in the evening a photo of the composer appeared in the newspaper: his face was not visible, only his hands. The caption under the photo read: “Hands that are worth a million”;
• one of the clergy present at the premiere of “The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom” said: “The music is wonderful, even too beautiful, it’s difficult to pray with such music”;
• Sergei Rachmaninov was the only composer who was officially banned in the country in the early thirties;
• from the memoirs of A. Nezhdanova: “S. Rachmaninov wrote for me and dedicated the wonderful “Vocalise” to me... When I expressed to him my regret that there are no words in this work, he said: “Why words, when with your voice and performance you can express everything better and much more than anyone in words? It was said so convincingly, seriously, and I was so touched by it that I could only express my deep gratitude to him from the bottom of my heart... The manuscript of “Vocalise” is kept in my possession as a precious memory of the brilliant composer”;
• one day Rachmaninov received a letter from a certain gentleman in which he wrote: “When I stopped you at Carnegie Hall to ask for a light, I had no idea who I was talking to, but soon recognized you and left the second match as a souvenir.” Rachmaninov replied: “Thank you for your letter. If I had known earlier that you are an admirer of my art, then without a doubt and any regret I would have given you not only the second match, but even the entire box”;
• After each performance, someone brought Rachmaninov a bouquet of white lilacs. According to legend, it was a beautiful stranger who relentlessly followed the musician;
• being an immigrant, Rachmaninov always remained a patriot and was very worried about the fate of his Motherland. The composer found an opportunity to provide help, for example, during the Second World War, Rachmaninov gave concerts, the money collected from which he sent to help the Russian people with the words: “I want to believe. I believe in complete victory!” Alas, the composer did not wait for this victory.

The power of S. Rachmaninov’s music and the sincerity of his feelings still excite millions of listeners today. And of course, greatest monument the composer is our love. Until the end of his days, Rachmaninov felt like a Russian person, despite the fact that he lived abroad half of his life.