Rachmaninoff 150: A Celebration

April 1, 2023, 10:00 am

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Sergei Rachmaninoff looks over his shoulder at the camera at the piano at Villa Senar
Sergei Rachmaninoff at the piano at Villa Senar (Photo courtesy Staatsarchiv Luzern)

Celebrating the 150th anniversary of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s birth, acclaimed musicians discuss and perform his compositions, and Rachmaninoff himself is also heard performing one of his works. Additionally, the composer’s grandson, Alexander Rachmaninoff, remembers his grandfather.

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Rachmaninoff 150 – A Celebration is produced by the WFMT Radio Network in collaboration with the Serge Rachmaninoff Foundation and Decca Classics, which has issued all the music Rachmaninoff composed on the 32 CD box set, Sergei Rachmaninoff – The Complete Works.

Sophia, Alexander, and Sergei Rachmaninoff

Sophia, Alexander, and Sergei Rachmaninoff at Villa Senar, 1937 (Photo courtesy Staatsarchiv Luzern)

Speakers in this feature include pianist Hélène Grimaud, pianist Nikolai Lugansky, conductor Gianandrea Noseda, conductor Sir Antonio Pappano, conductor and pianist Mikhail Pletnev, and the composer’s grandson Alexander Rachmaninoff. WFMT listeners will also recognize presenter Kerry Frumkin, making a cameo appearance! The host and producer of Rachmaninoff 150 – A Celebration is Jon Tolansky.

An extended version of the program in the form of 20 podcasts will release periodically through June on the WFMT website (wfmt.com) and also on the Serge Rachmaninoff Foundation website (rachmaninoff.org) and the Decca Classics website (deccaclassics.com).

This year, the Canton of Lucerne — in collaboration with the Serge Rachmaninoff Foundation — opens Rachmaninoff’s newly restored home Villa Senar on the shores of Lake Lucerne to the public as a Cultural and Educational Centre with a program of performances, masterclasses and talks.


Bonus Episodes