Sergei Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. 1)
He was born in 1873 in Semyonovo, Russia. 2)
Rachmaninoff began playing the piano at the age of four and composing at the age of nine. 3)
He studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory and later at the Moscow Conservatory. 4)
Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 1 premiered in 1897, but was a failure and caused him to suffer a period of depression and writer's block. 5)
He underwent hypnotherapy to overcome his depression, which helped him to regain his confidence and ability to compose. 6)
Rachmaninoff's most famous work is his Prelude in C-sharp minor, which is often used in film and television. 7)
He was also a renowned pianist, and his performances were known for their virtuosity and emotional depth. 8)
Rachmaninoff was a close friend of fellow composer and pianist, Alexander Scriabin. 9)
He was also a close friend of Russian author Leo Tolstoy. 10)
Rachmaninoff emigrated from Russia after the Russian Revolution in 1917. 11)
He lived in the United States and later in Europe and he gave many concerts as a pianist and conductor. 12)
He composed four piano concertos, one symphony, and many other works including preludes and vocal pieces. 13)
Rachmaninoff was also a talented conductor, leading many of his own compositions, as well as those of other composers. 14)
Rachmaninoff died in 1943 in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 70. 15)