Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943) With Donald Macleod. 4/5. The Concert Pianist When Rachmaninov found himself facing the events of the October Revolution in 1917, and the disintegration of the Old Russia he had grown up with, he felt unable to remake himself and chose emigration. Once abroad, out of necessity, he began to carve out an exhausting life touring as a concert pianist. Etudes tableaux, No 8, Op 33; No 5, Op 39 Mikhail Pletnev (piano) The Isle of the Dead, Op 29 St Petersburg Philharmonic Mariss Jansons (conductor) Variations on a theme of Corelli, Op 42 Helene Grimaud (piano) Philharmonia Orchestra Vladimir Ashkenazy (conductor).