Composer of the Week - Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943) - Episode 1

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Sergei Rachmaninov, focusing on the composer as a teenager in love, his recognition from Tchaikovsky when aged 20 for his first orchestral piece, and the disastrous premiere of his First Symphony. It was conducted by an inebriated Glazunov and dubbed fit 'for the inmates of Hell' by Cesar Cui. Valse, for piano six hands (1890) Ingryd Thorson and Julian Thurber with David Gardiner Paula PACD 46 Dbl. CD 1 track 12 Romance, for piano 6 hands (1891) Ingryd Thorson, Julian Thurber, David Gardiner (piano) Paula PACD 46 Dbl. CD 1 track 13 The Rock, symphonic poem, Op 7 (1893) Russian National Orchestra Mikhail Pletnev (conductor) DG 439 888-2 Track 5 Trio elegiaque No 2 in D minor, Op 9 (1893, rev. 1907, 1917) - finale Beaux Arts Trio: Menahem Pressler (piano) Isidore Cohen (violin) Bernard Greenhouse (cello) Philips 420 175-2, track 4 Symphony No 1 in D minor, Op 13 (1895) - 3rd, 4th mvts London Symphony Orchestra Andre Previn (conductor) EMI 7 64530 2, tracks 3, 4.