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Sergei Rachmaninoff

Russian composer, pianist, and conductor (1873–1943).

Born April 1st, 1873 in Starorussky Uyezd. [ref]

Died March 28th, 1943 at 69 years old in Beverly Hills (melanoma). [ref]

Occupations
composer, conductor, musicologist, pianist, virtuoso

Sergei Rachmaninoff, world-renowned classical composer and pianist, died on March 28, 1943 at the age of 69. Born on April 1, 1873 in, Semyonovo, Novgorod, Russia, Rachmaninoff became the toast of Russian classical music. At age 9, he began studying piano and composition at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. Rachmaninoff's compositions and concert performances earned him worldwide recognition and critical acclaim. He was revered for his unique use of harmony, melody, rhythm, and textures to create a romantic yet contemporary sound. He achieved great success performing his compositions throughout Europe. He relocated to the United States in 1918, where he would remain until his death. He composed influential works such as the Piano Concerto No. 2 (1900), Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (1934), and Symphony No. 3 (1936). He was also remembered for performances of his concerto No. 2, which he performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Rachmaninoff will be remembered for transforming the music of his era, leaving an indelible mark in classical music for generations. He is survived by his wife, Natalia Rachmaninoff, and three daughters: Elena, Irina, and Sophie.

I’m not afraid to die, I just don’t want to be there when it happens. Woody Allen