The WFMT Radio Network is delighted to present a new special celebrating the 150th anniversary of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s birth this April. In this special, acclaimed musicians discuss and perform his compositions and Rachmaninoff himself is heard performing one of his works. The special weaves together music, interviews, and stories to present an exquisite portrait of the influential composer and performer. 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.
Rachmaninoff 150: A Celebration is produced by the WFMT Radio Network in collaboration with the Serge Rachmaninoff Foundation and Decca Classics, which has issued a comprehensive survey of all the music Rachmaninoff composed on the 32 CD box set, “Sergei Rachmaninoff – The Complete Works”.
The host and producer of Rachmaninoff 150: A Celebration is Jon Tolansky.
An extended version of the program in the form of 20 podcasts is available on the WFMT website and also on the Serge Rachmaninoff Foundation website, rachmaninoff.org and the Decca Classics website deccaclassics.com.
This year, 2023, 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.
