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Presto Music Classical Podcast, Episode 40: A Russian Soul in Exile - Sergei Rachmaninoff with Fiona Maddocks

The great Russian Romantic composer Sergei Rachmaninoff declared that his music was "the product of his temperament, therefore Russian", but he spent the final 26 years of life in exile after fleeing Russia in 1917.

While in exile he composed his late masterpieces including the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and the Symphonic Dances, while also preserving his legendary piano playing for posterity through a series of recordings.

To discuss this fascinating period of Rachmaninoff's life it was a great pleasure to be joined by critic and author Fiona Maddocks, who has explored this period of the composer's life in her highly enjoyable new book Goodbye Russia.


If you are enjoying the Presto Music Podcast please like and subscribe to it on your preferred platform, and maybe even give us a short review. And we would love to hear your feedback and suggestions for future topics, and also guests who you would like us to talk to. Please email us at info@prestomusic.com

Fiona Maddocks

Available Format: Book

The music played in this episode...

Sergei Rachmaninoff (piano)

Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC

Stephen Hough (piano), Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Litton

Available Formats: 2 CDs, MP3, FLAC

Concertgebouw Chorus, Concertgebouw Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy

Available Format: Presto CD

Boris Giltburg (piano), Brussels Philharmonic, Vassily Sinaisky

Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC

Orchestre de Paris, Paavo Järvi

Available Formats: MP3, FLAC