Philadelphia Orchestra/Sergei Rachmaninoff Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 3/Isle of the Dead/Vocalise (RCA Gold Seal)
During most of his life, Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) was best known as a pianist and composer. He only took up conducting through an odd set of circumstances. The premiere of his First Symphony in 1897 was seriously marred by the inept conducting of Glazunov, who was reputedly drunk. Not only did this impress on the young Rachmaninoff how crucial a good conductor was to the success of his music, the critical rejection of his First Symphony on the basis of that performance sent him into a depression and caused a mental block against composing.
The mental block was eventually overcome through hypnosis, but in the meantime, business magnate Savva Mamontov somewhat charitably hired Rachmaninoff to conduct his Moscow Private Russian Opera Company, overlooking the composer's lack of experience in that role. He quickly became a fine baton-wielder,...
During most of his life, Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) was best known as a pianist and composer. He only took up conducting through an odd set of circumstances. The premiere of his First Symphony in 1897 was seriously marred by the inept conducting of Glazunov, who was reputedly drunk. Not only did this impress on the young Rachmaninoff how crucial a good conductor was to the success of his music, the critical rejection of his First Symphony on the basis of that performance sent him into a depression and caused a mental block against composing.
The mental block was eventually overcome through hypnosis, but in the meantime, business magnate Savva Mamontov somewhat charitably hired Rachmaninoff to conduct his Moscow Private Russian Opera Company, overlooking the composer's lack of experience in that role. He quickly became a fine baton-wielder,...
- 12/11/2014
- by SteveHoltje
- www.culturecatch.com
Getty Stephen Sondheim in March 2011.
Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim has helped to create some of Broadway’s greatest stage shows. But he says the world of classical music is behind some of his deepest influences, including such composers as Sergei Rachmaninoff and Joseph-Maurice Ravel.
“It is aesthetically fulfilling to hear composers take my music seriously,” said Sondheim, who was interviewed briefly on stage this weekend during a concert of 17 compositions inspired by songs from his musicals “Sweeney Todd,” “Company,...
Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim has helped to create some of Broadway’s greatest stage shows. But he says the world of classical music is behind some of his deepest influences, including such composers as Sergei Rachmaninoff and Joseph-Maurice Ravel.
“It is aesthetically fulfilling to hear composers take my music seriously,” said Sondheim, who was interviewed briefly on stage this weekend during a concert of 17 compositions inspired by songs from his musicals “Sweeney Todd,” “Company,...
- 4/23/2012
- by Kathy Shwiff
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
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