Recording of Rebecca Mitchell's seminar "Rachmaninoff at 150" - part of "Kirill Gerstein invites" hosted by Kronberg Academy. 29.03.2023 @KronbergAcademy1993
During this seminar, Rebecca Mitchell delves into Sergei Rachmaninoff's legacy, examining the various myths and stereotypes that have arisen around the composer. She also offers insights into his position both during his lifetime and the way his creative output is viewed in the present day.
Rebecca said prior to the seminar: "Unquestionably one of the most popular composers of classical music, Sergei Rachmaninoff has not always been so admired by critics. Detractors have long perceived Rachmaninoff as part of an outdated Romantic tradition from a bygone Russian world, aloof from the modernist experimentation of more innovative contemporaries such as Igor Stravinsky.How might audiences today, 150 years after the composer’s birth, gain new appreciation of the composer and his music? Drawing on extensive archival research in Russia, the United States and the UK, I endeavour to resituate Rachmaninoff in the remarkably dynamic era in which he lived. Far from a nostalgic echo of a lost era, Rachmaninoff and his music were profoundly modern expressions of life in tune with an uncertain world".
In her discussion, Rebecca explores the concept of nostalgia, and the longing for it, which became increasingly prevalent in the 20th century following World War I, due to the increasingly rapid pace of change brought about by modernization and industrialization. Rebecca contextualizes Rachmaninoff's fascination with Orthodox a cappella music, and the emergence of private arts initiatives and music societies in pre-revolutionary Moscow. Furthermore, the conversation touches upon Rachmaninoff's extensive travels, his mastery of orchestration, his deep admiration for Rimsky-Korsakov, and his recurring struggles with self-doubt, as evident in his personal letters. Several areas deserving of potential research are outlined and numerous questions were contributed by the participants of the seminar and answered in the live session.
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29 мар 2023
