Rachmaninoff did not belong to Russia
NewsFrom my review in this weekend’s Wall Street Journal of Fiona Maddocks’s post-exilic biography:
… In the past decade Vladimir Putin’s Russia has applied to repatriate Rachmaninoff’s remains from a cemetery in Valhalla, N.Y., and to buy up his villa at Senar. Both bids were resisted, and the villa has been lately restored for public visitation. Ms. Maddocks quietly reframes Rachmaninoff’s context as a man of the world—belonging not to Russia or America but to civilization as a whole, basking in its inventions and distractions, balancing life’s joys and sorrows in his ever-enduring concertos. In the right mood, Rachmaninoff would have made a wonderful dinner guest.
Read on here.
To give credit where due: Good article. I will try to read the book.
And if the only things of consequence he composed once he left Russia were the Paganini Rhapsody and Symphonic Dances (widely played but still underappreciated, IMHO), that’s still pretty good.
Third Symphony, Corelli Variations.
Not really a fan of the 3rd symphony; it’s definitely not in the same class as Symphonic Dances.
The Third Symphony, as well
3rd Symphony isn’t bad either
Very good book! Highly recommended.
Weak attempt. When you fall in such a conclusions, better call Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich and others UKRANIANS.
It’s the point, right?
The only problem (doesn’t matter you like it or not) : HE loved and missed Russia…………….
Yes the Russia that didn’t existafter 1917 coup.
“… and inspiration was anyway drying up”.
What? The last works before he left Russia: The second piano sonata, the 2nd book of Études tableaux, the total makeover of 1st piano concerto (turning it into masterpiece), the Bells, and not to forget Vesper, one of the most glorius achivements of any composer. All masterpieces.
Rachmaninov always composed slowly. One average one opus per year. And everybody knows his inspiration was very much drawn to Russia. Rachmaninov was not an “anywhere” person. Beverly Hills was of course not the same to him as Ivanovka. Nobody would dream of saying this before 2022, but well, the main point for many people nowadays is to bash Russia for all it’s worth…
Happy new year!
Da, what comrade Sergey says: Always banging innocent motherland when we just rape and murder and steal toilets from countries that cannot defend. Like we always do. Eto ne tak, tovarish?
P.S.: Ty dolzhen mne yaytso.
Nice try, Mr. Lebrecht. Of course, Rachmaninoff belongs to Russia and he would feel right at home in Putin’s Russia with its flourishing Christian culture and, at the same time, his music transcending cultural barriers. I understand the desire of the elite class of Brits of wanting to divorce the Russian identity, i.e., soul, from Mother Russia, and reframe it in a global manner because the current zeitgeist is to isolate Russia, however, it cannot be done. I’ll read Ms. Maddocks’s book to determine for myself her meaning of the title, Goodbye Russia: Rachmaninoff in Exile.
Da, comrade Nikolas smart and not russian troll. That why tsar give him egg every weak.
P.S.: give Ivan egg Nikolas, Sergey stole egg of Ivan that was present babushka.
Vanya – Baba Yaga say boo, Kolya scared, yaytso on floor, splat, no give present babushka. Kolya have bublitchki. Staraya baba wants, dorogoi moi?
Well,Rachmaninoff himself would have seen it very differently.
He doesn’t belong to political Russia, but much of his identity and creations are based on and in Russian culture. (which then in itself is naturally an amalgam of various trans-human cultural influences.)
Of course in the end, all is an achievemnent of a genius person for all mankind. Like with all artists and scientists.
Let the nationalistic (or hyper-religious) scoundrels get lost in their own dwarfish mentality.
“in 1931, Rachmaninov signed a letter condemning the Soviet regime, that was published in the New York Times. There was retaliation immediately, and his music was condemned by the Soviets as “representative of decadent art.”
https://www.singers.com/bio/6554
Rachmaninoff died in 1943 at the age of 69, at 610 North Elm Drive, Beverly Hills. The current owners of this historic home have lovingly preserved and maintained it since 1987. So far, so good. Before and during World War 2 Los Angeles became the focal point of exiled European culture, especially music. The only rub is Beverly Hills has almost NO historic preservation in place. The large Beverly Hills home George Gershwin lived, and composed in, with brother Ira,during most of the 1930’s, was later purchased by Jose Ferrer and Rosemary Clooney (a young George Clooney lived in the guest house early in his Holkywood career.) At Clooney’s passing the grand house was quickly sold, and lickedy-split turned into a very expensive pile of dirt. A rather characterless McMansion now occupies this site. In England both houses would wear blue historic plaques!