Stars on the Stage: Sergei Rachmaninoff

Over the last several weeks we have looked at several composers who were also virtuosos of their time. Do you have a favorite who perhaps wasn’t mentioned? This week, let’s wrap things up by looking at the talented pianist and composer, Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943).

Courtesy of sheetmusicplus.com

During his time, Rachmaninoff was known as a precise pianist whose interpretations of many of the great virtuosic pieces of the nineteenth century were superb. He found it difficult to simultaneously put his full self into both composing and performing, so often he would focus on one thing at a time. Below you can listen to Rachmaninoff perform one of his own works, Elegie Op. 3, No. 1. What a treat to be able to hear a piano roll of a true master!

Rachmaninoff began his studies with piano under his mother’s tutelage. He later went on to attend the St. Petersburg Conservatory where he remained until his parents separated, causing his grades to suffer. At that point, he moved to the Moscow Conservatory where he lived and studied with Nikolay Zverev. He met Tchaikovsky during this time, who would have a great influence on the young musician.

Join me next time as we learn more about Rachmaninoff as a composer! 

Clara Schumann Rediscovered

Clara Schumann was a piano virtuoso of her time, performing publicly beginning at age nine. Today, we also know Clara by her lovely compositions which, unfortunately, were forgotten following her death and not re-discovered until the twentieth century.

Nineteenth-century Germany was not exactly supportive of its women composers and Clara once wrote in her diary ‘I once thought that I possessed creative talent, but I have given up this idea; a woman must not desire to compose—not one has been able to do it, and why should I expect to?’

That being said, Clara did write quite a few reputable works that she likely performed during her career. Today, let’s look at her Piano Concerto in a minor, Op. 7—a work composed when she was just 13 and premiered at age 16 at the Leipzig Gewandhaus under the direction of Felix Mendelssohn. Robert Schumann, who was studying with Clara’s father at the time, helped the young girl with some of her orchestrations for this lyrical piece. You can listen below:

Can you believe this is the work of a child? 

Stars on the Stage: Clara Wieck Schumann

Clara Wieck Schumann (1819–1896) was the daughter of Friedrich Wieck who may have been instrumental in his daughter’s success, encouraging her as a virtuosic pianist from an early age. Her first public performance was at the age of nine and she was recognized as a leading pianist in Europe by the age of twenty. Unlike many performers at the time, Clara focused more on being true to the composer’s work rather than simply giving a showy performance. Touring throughout Europe as a child prodigy, Clara had many admirers including Goethe, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Paganini, and her future husband, Robert Schumann. 

Courtesy of wikimedia.org

Robert Schumann met Clara when he began taking piano lessons from her father. Early on, she was actually the better known of the two! They were eventually married despite objections from Clara’s father. Amazingly, the talented Clara was able to continue to perform and compose while managing her eight children. After Robert passed away, she quit composing and focused on teaching and performing, promoting her late husband’s work.

Next time we’ll look at one of Clara’s own compositions that she likely performed publicly!