Sergei Rachmaninov

Russian composer, pianist and conductor Sergei Rachmaninov was born on 1 April 1873 at Semyonovo near Great Novgorod, into an old aristocratic family. At the age of four, he received casual piano lessons from his mother, and then studied privately with Anna Ornatskaya from St Petersburg, who later arranged for Sergei to study at the St Petersburg Conservatory. He transferred to the Moscow Conservatory to complete his studies.

His final composition at Moscow Conservatory, the one-act opera Aleko, based on Pushkin, was very successful, and the Bolshoi Theatre agreed to produce it.

He was greatly influenced by Tchaikovsky, whose unexpected death in 1893 was a great blow to Rachmaninov.

Rachmaninov's first symphony, first performed in 1897, was slated by critic César Cui. The performance, conducted by Alexander Glazunov, had not been a good one - possible reasons were poor use of rehearsal time and the possibility that Glazunov had been drunk. The bad reception caused a three-year depression, during which Rachmaninov was unable to write. In 1900, Dr Nikolai Vladimirovich Dahl, a competent amateur viola player, gave Rachmaninov a course of autosuggestive therapy, and the composer's confidence gradually returned. The following year he completed his second piano concerto, which became an immediate success.

He left Russia with his family at the end of 1917, his way of life threatened by the series of revolutions that year. After a year playing concerts in Scandinavia, he decided to emigrate to the USA at the end of 1918, and supported his family by touring as a pianist. Pressure of work and homesickness slowed his composition work, and he only completed six works between arriving in the USA and his death from melanoma on 28 March 1943, aged sixty-nine, in Beverly Hills, California.

 

A selection of articles about Sergei Rachmaninov

The Title - Introducing 'The Pianistic Crown'

Beautifully Articulated - Jeffrey Neil finds, in Gillian Wills' novel 'Big Music', a drama that entertains, instructs, and makes you laugh

Ensemble. Romantic Beauty and Excitement - Ron Bierman describes an evening in La Jolla capped in triumph by Mahler's first symphony

Classical music news. January 2025 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our January 2025 video newsletter - Music and the Visual World

Classical music news - Festival Napa Valley 2025 - A 2025 festival in California, USA provides a first look at its summer season

Ensemble. Deeply Satisfying - Mike Wheeler enjoys Leon McCawley's Nottingham recital of Beethoven, Rachmaninov, J S Bach transcribed by Liszt, and Mendelssohn

Ensemble. Utterly Gripping - Mike Wheeler is pleased to hear Sheku Kanneh-Mason, John Wilson and the Sinfonia of London performing music by Kenneth Hesketh, Shostakovich and Rachmaninov

Ensemble. An Exciting New Performance Space - Ron Bierman visits the newly restored Jacobs Music Center in San Diego

Ensemble. From Sherwood to LA - Mike Wheeler is impressed with music by Carwithen, Kelly, Rachmaninov, Chaminade, Korngold and Sibelius from Clare Hammond, Anna-Maria Helsing and the BBC Concert Orchestra

'Obscure' Repertoire - Important advice for pianists

Spotlight. Musical Siblings - Gerald Fenech heartily recommends Isata Kanneh-Mason's new Mendelssohn album. 'An enchanting album, sensitively performed and sumptuously recorded ...'

Ensemble. Touchingly Apt - Mike Wheeler was at Nottingham Royal Concert Hall's farewell to Mark Elder as he steps down as musical director of the Hallé Orchestra

Ensemble. Impressively Sung - Ron Bierman listens to a song recital by Andrea Carroll and Joshua Guerrero, accompanied by Stephen Hopkins

Ensemble. Top of the Liszt - Robert McCarney marvels at the music making of young Kosovar pianist Melisa Ibrahimi

Ensemble. A Huge Dynamic Range - Mike Wheeler listens to Maria Ioudenitch, Stanislav Kochanovsky and the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra

Classical music news. May 2024 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our May 2024 one hour video newsletter - Improvisation in the classical world and beyond

Ensemble. A Generally Engaging Performance - Mike Wheeler listens to Elgar, Rachmaninov, Debussy and Dvořák in Derby Cathedral

Ensemble. Satisfyingly Impressive and Exciting - Ron Bierman listens to Musorgsky, Rachmaninov and Elgar in San Diego

Ensemble. A Sure Feel for Dramatic Pacing - Mike Wheeler reviews Opera North's Mascagni/Rachmaninov double bill

Ensemble. Dazzling Virtuosity - Mike Wheeler listens to Valentin Silvestrov, Rachmaninov, Manuel de Falla and Musorgsky from Russian pianist Victor Maslov

Classical music news. March 2024 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our March 2024 one hour video newsletter - Classical Music and Politics

Ensemble. Luminous Playing - Mike Wheeler is impressed by French/German pianist Elena Fischer-Dieskau's performances of Mélanie Bonis, Robert Schumann and Rachmaninov

Spotlight. Absolute Brilliance - Gerald Fenech recommends Warner Classics' forty-two disc set of recordings by Paavo Berglund. '... a precious treasure-trove packed with musical diamonds that took twenty-seven years to complete.'

Spotlight. A Romantic Piano Master - Esdras Mugatik listens to Shura Cherkassky. '... a magical capacity to differentiate levels of sound ...'

Spotlight. Unbelievably Delicate - Geoff Pearce appreciates a recording of Yoav Levanon playing Rachmaninov. '... fine performances by an exciting young pianist.'

Ensemble. An Undisclosed Narrative? - Mike Wheeler was delighted with music by Chabrier, Saint-Saëns, J S Bach and Rachmaninov from Bruno Philippe, Chloé van Soeterstède and the Hallé Orchestra

Spotlight. Colourful and Exciting - Geoff Pearce listens to early orchestral music by Sergei Rachmaninov conducted by Leonard Slatkin. '... this reissue is most welcome ...'

Ensemble. Baba-Yaga's Whistle - Mike Wheeler is impressed by Lyadov, Tchaikovsky, Chopin and Rachmaninov from Pavel Kolesnikov and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Vasily Petrenko

CD Spotlight. Beyond Recommendation - Gerald Fenech welcomes Rachmaninov orchestral music from the Philadelphia Orchestra and Yannick Nézet-Séguin on Deutsche Grammophon. 'Intensity, ebullience, vibrancy, passion and realism are the ingredients of these performances ...'

Classical music news. August 2023 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our August 2023 one hour video newsletter - The Creative Spark

Ensemble. An Evening of Marvelous Musical Variety - Ron Bierman listens to Pacho Flores, Rafael Payare and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra playing music by Roberto Sierra, Bernstein and Rachmaninov

Quality or Taste? - Béla Hartmann discusses quality in the Arts

Ensemble. Visits to the Doctor - Ron Bierman appreciates music by John Adams, Mozart and Rachmaninov from Ingrid Fliter, Edo de Waart and the San Diego Symphony

Astounding! - An open letter to a great artist, from Esdras Mugatik

Ensemble. Complete Assurance - A delectable recital by Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Looking Back and Forward - Mike Wheeler was at the first concert in Nottingham Royal Concert Hall's orchestral season

Classical music news. Bard Music Festival - Bard Music Festival, beginning 5 August 2022, explores the life and times of one of the last great romantics in 'Rachmaninoff and His World'

Ensemble. Wonderfully Gutsy - Mike Wheeler listens to Franz Schmidt, Rachmaninov and Dvořák in Nottingham

Ensemble. Neatly Characterised - The Cann Twins play Rachmaninov, Rimsky-Korsakov, Brahms, Johann Strauss II, Tchaikovsky, Gershwin and Jeffrey Reid Baker, heard by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Rachmaninov's 'Choral Symphony' - Stephen Francis Vasta is impressed by Dmitrij Kitajenko's recordings of Rachmaninov and Taneyev. '... a colourful, engaged reading ...'

Ensemble. Appreciation of Nature - Maria Nockin reviews a 'Met Stars' online concert from the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, featuring Anna Netrebko, Elena Maximova and Pavel Nebolsin

CD Spotlight. An Atmosphere of Serene Beauty - Matthew Washington Kennedy's 'familiar favorites', recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Hugely pleasant stuff, passionately executed and recorded.'

Classical music news. Obituary - Leon Fleisher (1928-2020)

Ensemble. Youthful Maturity - Mike Wheeler listens to Schubert and Rachmaninov from Lauren Zhang

120 Years Ago - A snapshot of the musical world at the turn of the twentieth century, by George Colerick

Ensemble. A Wide Expressive Range - Mike Wheeler listens to piano duets from Dina Duisen and Martin James Bartlett

Ensemble. A Vivid Sense of Theatricality - Mike Wheeler listens to Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov and Khachaturian from Peter Donohoe and the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yuri Simonov

Ensemble. Germanic Gravitas? - Adam J Sacks marks the opening of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra's new season

Ensemble. Lieder with Harp - Giuseppe Pennisi reports on a world tour by Diana Damrau and Xavier de Maistre

Ensemble. Packed With Good Things - Roderic Dunnett reports from the 2019 Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester

CD Spotlight. Hauntingly Beautiful - Rachmaninov's Vespers, recommended by Gerald Fenech. 'Although the choir is not Russian, performances are as passionately devotional as one can expect, particularly the soprano and bass sections, who capture the wide range of dynamics with astounding clarity and vision.'

Ensemble. From the Poignant to the Zany - Russian-born musicians Yulia Northridge and Ekaterina Shetliffe, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Bravado and Introspection - Mike Wheeler listens to Rachmaninov and Shostakovich from Daniel Kharitonov, Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Philharmonia Orchestra

Vital Work - Margaret Fingerhut's UK piano recital tour raising awareness of the needs of refugees, recommended by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. A Fresh Pair of Ears - Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov and Sibelius from Vasily Petrenko and the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Satisfyingly Mysterious - Mike Wheeler listens to Lyadov, Stravinsky and Rachmaninov from Derby Concert Orchestra

Ensemble. Imaginative Freshness - Mike Wheeler listens to Beethoven, Mozart and Rachmaninov from Sasha Grynyuk

CD Spotlight. Past and Present - Gerald Fenech finds music for trombone and piano worthy of serious investigation. 'Performances are wonderfully attractive, with a certain exquisite timbre and beautifully shaped nuances permeating each piece.'

CD Spotlight. Technical Mastery - Yevgeny Sudbin plays Rachmaninov, heard by Lucas Ball. '... most of the time, what Sudbin does with these fiendishly difficult works is hard to criticise.'

CD Spotlight. Imaginative Undertaking - Four composers' humoresques impress Gerald Fenech. 'The approach of the young yet precocious Russian pianist Daria Rabotkina reveals an acquaintance full of affection and warmth ...'

Ensemble. Plus and Minus - Songs and arias from Jennifer Davis and Caroline Dowdle at the Buxton Festival, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Puppyish Ebullience - Beethoven, Rachmaninov, Mendelssohn, Ravel, Dushkin, Bob Marley, Coleridge-Taylor and Monti from the Kanneh-Mason Trio, heard by Mike Wheeler

Vigorously Rhetorical - A piano recital by Martin James Bartlett, heard by Mike Wheeler

Strongly Projected - A piano recital by Colin Stone for Derby Chamber Music impresses Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Deftly Navigated - Jeffrey Reid Baker, Tchaikovsky, Debussy, Bizet and Rachmaninov from the Cann Twins at Nottingham's Royal Concert Hall, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Subdued Radiance - Mike Wheeler listens to music on the theme of Remembrance from the Derwent Singers

Ensemble. A Jubilant Celebration - Rachmaninov, Shostakovich, Offenbach and Tchaikovsky from Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, enjoyed by Mike Wheeler

Engrossing Results - Hungarian pianist Daniel Lebhardt plays Schubert, Mozart and Rachmaninov, heard by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. A Unique Journey - Boris Giltburg plays Rachmaninov, delighting Gerald Fenech. '... the soloist is consistently hands on on these challenging scores and his sense of timing and innate feeling for shaping grand tunes are effectively relayed.'

CD Spotlight. Gloomy and Worthless? - Sergei Rachmaninov's First Symphony impresses Gerald Fenech. 'Ashkenazy and his Philharmonia forces exude a quite brilliant performance full of explosive intensity and exuberance, and yet when warranted, their sensitive attention to detail is consistently refreshing.'

Ensemble. A Renewed International Chigiana Prize - Giuseppe Pennisi was in Siena for the Chigiana Award concert

Ensemble. A Neat Bit of Programming - Khachaturian, Rachmaninov, Musorgsky and Shostakovich from Freddy Kempf, the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra and Yuri Simonov, heard by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Fine Indeed - Rikke Sandberg plays Rachmaninov, heard by the late Howard Smith. '... most clearly true to the spirit of the music ...'

Ensemble. Emotional Complexities - Alexei Grynyuk plays Scarlatti, Chopin, Rachmaninov and Schubert, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Nostalgic or Prophetic? - Sergei Rachmaninov's Symphony No 2 and 'Vocalise', heard by Lucas Ball. '... there is a great sense of direction in this recording.'

Ensemble. A Stunning Display - Mike Wheeler is impressed by the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain playing Lauren Marshall, Brett Dean, Szymanowski and Rachmaninov

CD Spotlight. Performance Technique - Cameron Roberts' piano transcriptions, heard by the late Howard Smith. 'The novelty value of this crystal clear recording can hardly be denied.'

CD Spotlight. Imaginative and Original - Kirill Kondrashin conducts Rachmaninov, heard by Geoff Pearce. 'The final few minutes are electrifying.'

Dies Irae - George Colerick takes a look at secular and romantic uses of the old Latin hymn

A Standard-Bearer - Nicholas McCarthy plays Reinecke's Sonata for the left hand, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ferocious Energy - Jackie Campbell's piano recital at Buxton, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Mellow Lyricism - Chabrier, Tchaikovsky, Rakhmaninov and Dukas from Alexandra Dariescu, Jamie Phillips and the Hallé Orchestra, heard by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Expertly Sculpted - James Brawn's time traveller recital delights Andrew Schartmann. 'Each time a passage repeats ... Brawn shows us something new.'

Ensemble. Musical Integrity - Sunwook Kim and the Hallé Orchestra play Rachmaninov, and impress Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Sonic Distinction - The British vocal octet Voces8, heard by the late Howard Smith. '... a luminous selection of pieces spanning over four hundred years ...'

A Higher Standard - Malcolm Miller reports from the Wigmore Hall / Kohn Foundation International Song Competition

Ensemble. A Special Aura - Malcolm Miller describes Goldsmith College's special tribute to Alexander Ivashkin

Memorable Distinction - Halida Dinova brings her Liszt to New Zealand, by Howard Smith

Ensemble. Undeniably Spellbinding - A cello and piano recital by Jessie Richardson and Simon Callaghan, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Astonishing Performances - Early recordings by Nelson Freire impress Gerald Fenech. 'An ideal set for ... all who admire this truly great soloist.'

CD Spotlight. A Rich Culture - Russian music from SWR Vokalensemble, appreciated by Howard Smith. '... a gift for those eager to hear voices in chorus ...'

CD Spotlight. A Marvellous Set - The complete Sergei Rachmaninov, sampled by Robert Anderson. '... a flow of fine works ...'

Ensemble. On the Mountain Top - Giuseppe Pennisi was at the opening concert of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia's season

CD Spotlight. True Command - James Brawn plays Bach, Liszt, Musorgsky and Rachmaninov, recommended by Andrew Schartmann. 'The "Promenade" ... is like butter in Brawn's hands.'

Ask Alice - On Schnabel and Rachmaninov, with classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

CD Spotlight. Likeable Discs - Music for cello and piano, heard by Howard Smith. '... affectionately presented throughout.'

Full Marks - Bill Newman listens to Nikolai Demidenko

Ensemble. Whipped Cream - Buxton Festival's 2014 Opera Gala, attended by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Collective Virtuosity - Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Rachmaninov and Britten from Natalie Clein, the Moscow Philharmonic and Yuri Simonov, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Convincingly Integrated - Sibelius, Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky from the Philharmonia Orchestra impress Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Fourteen People and a Dog - Brits in Rome, heard by Giuseppe Pennisi

Nicely Pointed - A piano recital by Robert Thompson, heard by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Rich Sounds - Russian choral music, heard by Howard Smith. '... wholly satisfying and consistently worshipful.'

Ensemble. Overload - A long evening with the Cleveland Orchestra, described by Suzanne Torrey

Beautifully Spun - Steven Osborne's Prokofiev, Ravel and Rachmaninov impress Keith Bramich

Ensemble. Full Value - The Vienna Tonkünstler Orchestra, heard by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Marvellous Sounds - Rachmaninov's All-Night Vigil, admired by Robert Anderson. '... tender and powerful ...'

CD Spotlight. A Special Affinity - Beethoven, Chopin and Liszt from Viktor Bijelovic, heard by Andrew Schartmann. '... beautiful voicing and highly sensitive phrasing.'

CD Spotlight. Tonal Clothing - Slatkin conducts Rachmaninov, heard by Andrew Schartmann. '... Leonard Slatkin and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra perform admirably.'

Ensemble. Virtuoso Dazzle - Andrei Korobeinikov and the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra, Moscow, conducted by Nikolay Vinokurov, heard by Mike Wheeler

Andrew Schartmann's Musical Tidbits - Pop Music and the Classical Idiom. Part II: Creative Quotations

Ensemble. A Virtuoso Storm - Alexander Romanovsky joins Cristian Mandeal and the Hallé Orchestra, heard by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. A Manipulating Baton - Rachmaninov orchestral music, heard by Ron Bierman. 'Vasily Petrenko gives us an extreme interpretation ...'

CD Spotlight. Tip Top Music - Tine Thing Helseth and Kathryn Stott, heard by Howard Smith. 'Ever full of daring ...'

Ensemble. Still Radical - Stravinsky's 'The Rite of Spring', heard by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. The Flame of Music - Malcolm Troup reports on new arrivals from China and Lithuania at the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe's Summer Festival in London

Calmness and Frenzy - H J Lim plays at Wigmore Hall, and Bill Newman passes judgement

Ensemble. Superb Playing - Bill Newman listens to a selection of instrumental chamber music in London

CD Spotlight. Beauteous Tone - Flautist Lisa Friend's debut disc, heard by Howard Smith. '... pleasing and ideally accomplished.'

Ensemble. Haunting Performance - Rob Buckland joins Jonathan Trout and Derby Concert Orchestra for Borodin, Glazunov, Piazzolla and Rachmaninov, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Suitable Diligence - A recital by Simone Leitão, heard by Howard Smith. '... diverse rhythms and trenchant physicality are commandingly observed ...'

Ensemble. Sensuous Depths - A selection of orchestral concerts at London's Royal Festival Hall, heard by Bill Newman

Ensemble. Natural Affinity - Klaggerud, Petrenko and the Philharmonia, heard by Bill Newman

CD Spotlight. Limitless Passion - Hélène Grimaud plays Rachmaninov, recommended by Howard Smith. '... glowing drive and triumphant resolve.'

Ensemble. A Variety of Events - Giuseppe Pennisi reports on music for the Christmas and New Year period in Italy, for children and for those who love children

CD Spotlight. Handsome Praise - Rachmaninov piano music, heard by Robert Anderson. 'The uncelebrated John Lill is totally in command throughout ...'

Power and Delicacy - Alexander Romanovsky plays Haydn and Rachmaninov, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Brilliant Throughout - Kirill Karabits conducts the RPO, reviewed by Bill Newman

CD Spotlight. Enviable Technique - Rachmaninov piano music, heard by Robert Anderson. '... no compromise for the faint-hearted.'

CD Spotlight. Lyric Expressiveness - Russian music for cello and piano, recommended by Howard Smith. '... much here to praise ...'

Ensemble. Dance Rhythms - A visit from the Moscow Philharmonic, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Castles from the Mist - Vassily Primakov plays Rachmaninov, recommended by Barbara Sealock. '... a triumph in more ways than one.'

Profile. All-Involving - Turkish pianist Idil Biret talks to Bill Newman

CD Spotlight. Compelling and Pleasurable - Arthur Friedheim plays Liszt, Chopin, Gottschalk and Henselt, heard by Patric Standford. '... a slightly improvisatory interpretation ...'

CD Spotlight. Unaffected Restraint - Halida Dinova plays music that tells stories, heard by Howard Smith. '... a mesmerising interpreter ...'

CD Spotlight. Striking Power - Leslie Howard plays Rachmaninov, heard by Howard Smith. '... a staggering technique.'

Ensemble. Musical Outlooks - Bill Newman attends a selection of concerts at London's Wigmore Hall

Ensemble. A Deep Impression - Rory Macdonald conducts the Hallé Orchestra, heard by Mike Wheeler

Profile. Humanizing Emotions - American conductor James Conlon talks to Maria Nockin

CD Spotlight. Spiritual Outpourings - CD Spotlight. Spiritual Outpourings. Alexander Romanovsky plays Rachmaninov, heard by Gerald Fenech. '... passion and elegance.'

Ensemble. Uncurbed Impulses - Bizet's 'Carmen' at San Diego Opera, appreciated by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Vividly Characterised - Alexei Stepanov conducts the Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Inside the Music - Mike Wheeler listens to the Czech National Symphony Orchestra

Ensemble. High Standards - Bill Newman listens to various artists at London's Wigmore Hall

New Year Blues - A roundup of recent London concerts by Bill Newman

CD Spotlight. Striking Musicianship - Elena Kuschnerova plays Prokofiev, heard by Howard Smith. '... sparkling, lyrical and appropriately balletic ...'

A Golden Treasury - Havergal Brian on European and American music, read by Patric Standford

Ensemble. A Blistering Whirlwind - More from the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra, heard by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. High Spirits - Music by Dohnányi, heard by Howard Smith. '... the Buffalonians ... make their virtuosity seem almost effortless ...'

Ensemble. Artistic Magic - Seraphic Fire's Rachmaninov Vespers, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen

CD Spotlight. Lightness of Touch - Brahms and Strauss, heard by Patric Standford. '... a very fine performance by Joshua Pierce ...'

Flowers of Light - Puccini's 'I crisantemi' as a pedagogical tool for piano performance majors, by Heidi Lowy

Ask Alice - On songwriters and gamba sonatas, with classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Ensemble. A Cross Section - Bill Newman comments on some recent concerts at London's Wigmore Hall

Ensemble. An Ideal Balance - An evening with the Northern Sinfonia and friends delights Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. A Spectral Atmosphere - Murray McLachlan plays music by Shostakovich and friends, recommended by Howard Smith. '... an outright triumph for the label and for McLachlan.'

Ensemble. High Voltage - Sol Gabetta joins Slatkin and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen

Ensemble. Splendidly Imaginative - Julian Jacobson and Meng Yang Pan celebrate Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year, enjoyed by Mary Isaac

CD Spotlight. Musical Finesse - Songs by Gregg Kallor, recommended by Howard Smith. 'Go to the top of the class.'

Ensemble. A True Dynamo - Lawrence Budmen listens to French conductor Ludovic Morlot, in concert with Jennifer Koh and the New World Symphony

CD Spotlight. Thoughtful Output - Music by Thomas Hewitt Jones, heard by Patric Standford. '... attractive but questionably appropriate ...'

Mature and Considered - Stephen Savage plays Beethoven, heard by Julian Jacobson

CD Spotlight. Such Clarity - Piano music by Prokofiev, heard by Robert Anderson. '... enviable simplicity and beauty of tone.'

CD Spotlight. Sterling Playing - Wendy Warner's interpretations of Popper and Piatigorsky, heard by Howard Smith. '... sovereign music-making deserving of the highest accolades.'

Ensemble. Crystalline Lightness - A Symphony of the Americas concert, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen

Ensemble. Brisk Ebullience - Lawrence Budmen sends a second report from this summer's Tanglewood Festival

Ensemble. Inexorable Momentum - Music by Dvorák, Rachmaninov and Sibelius from Sergio Tiempo, Mark Elder and the Hallé Orchestra impresses Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Particularly Memorable - Elgar, Rachmaninov and Sibelius from the Hallé Orchestra, enjoyed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Perfectly Measured - Bill Newman listens to Aldo Ciccolini

Ardent Charms - Bill Newman reviews two recitals by pianist Igor Tchetuev

Outstanding and unforgettable - Lilya Zilberstein's recital at London's Wigmore Hall impresses Bill Newman

Marvelously Gifted - Bill Newman listens to pianist Alexander Romanovsky

Ensemble. Clarity of Texture - Lawrence Budmen listens to the Remenyi Ede Chamber Orchestra

CD Spotlight. An Undisturbed Evenness - Choral music 'from a Russian cathedral', heard by Paul Sarcich. '... engineered to tranquillity ...'

CD Spotlight. Fascinating Rarities - Taneyev string trios, heard by Julian Jacobson. '... a performance of real commitment and assurance ...'

CD Spotlight. Poetic Lyricism - Tim Hugh and Olga Sitkovetsky at London's Wigmore Hall, enjoyed by Howard Smith. '... breathtaking musicianship captured my attention ...'

Ensemble. Intense Leadership - Sierra, Ginastera and Rachmaninov conducted by Alasdair Neale, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen

Record Box. Orchestrated Boldly - Music by Hampson Sisler, reviewed by Patric Standford

CD Spotlight. Virtuoso Credentials - Music for viola and piano by York Bowen, reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... above praise.'

Ensemble. Poetic Touches - The Russian State Symphony Orchestra plays Musorgsky, Prokofiev and Rakhmaninov, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. An Intellectual Force - Piano music by Sergei Taneyev, reviewed by Ron Bierman. 'Performances are expert and loving throughout ...'

Unexpected Delights - Mike Wheeler listens to The Sitwell Singers

Record Box. Excellent Singing - A Christmas selection from Chorus Angelicus and Gaudeamus, enjoyed by Patric Standford

CD Spotlight. Breathtaking Poetry - Svetlanov conducts Rachmaninov, reviewed by Howard Smith. '... Svetlanov's affinity with Rachmaninov's daring idioms is always apparent.'

Ensemble. Colourful Renditions - Recitals by Denitsa Laffchieva and Evelina Puzaite, reviewed by Bill Newman

Ensemble. A Glowing Performance - The Czech Philharmonic on tour, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Breathtaking Pianism - Malcolm Miller was at Ian Hobson's Wigmore Hall piano recital

Ensemble. Delicacy and Tenderness - The Russian State Philharmonic in Derby, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Profile. Tête-à-Tête - Bill Newman talks to British pianist Mark Bebbington

Ensemble. Deeply satisfying - A piano recital by Jane Ford, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Dynamic playing - Roberto Abbado strikes fire with the New World Symphony, and Lawrence Budmen was there

Ensemble. A musical treasure - Polina Osetinskaya displays fiery command in Beethoven and Liszt, appreciated by Lawrence Budmen

Ensemble. Bravura virtuosity - Lawrence Budmen was at the Miami International Piano Festival

Record box. Compelling energy - Music by Tüür, Sibelius and Rachmaninov, reviewed by Howard Smith

Ensemble. Delicate confidence - Kelly Ferjutz was at the Cleveland International Piano Competition

Ensemble. Contrasting pianists - by Bill Newman

Record box. Expanding repertoire - A Daniel Rubinoff saxophone recital, reviewed by Patric Standford

Ensemble. Ravel chestnut - A dazzling arrangement of 'Bolero' for two pianos, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen

CD Spotlight. Exquisite quality - Music played by the Kandinsky Trio, recommended by Patric Standford. '... one of the most attractive chamber music recordings ...'

A dazzling recital - Misha Dacic plays Rachmaninoff with soul, admired by Lawrence Budmen

Ensemble. A special treat - Maria Nockin enthuses over Ewa Podles' recent recital for San Diego Opera

CD Spotlight. A collector's item - Stephen Isserlis and Stephen Hough play Rachmaninov and Franck, admired by John Bell Young. '... the rapport between Mr Isserlis and Mr Hough is on the order of the clairvoyant.'

CD Spotlight. Tender longing - Daniil Shtoda sings Russian songs, reviewed by David Wilkins. '... wonderfully expressive ...'

Emotions and music - Some thoughts from composer Alistair Hinton

East and West - Malcolm Miller applauds Natasa Sarcevic's performance of music by Paul Ben-Haim

Record box. Impetuous abandon - Ron Bierman is amazed by the playing of Marc-André Hamelin

Profile. A singing instrument - Martino Tirimo discusses the piano and its music with Bill Newman

Ensemble. Hour of Magic - Malcolm Miller is enthralled by seldom-heard East European music

CD Spotlight - Passion and gloom. '... Gwyneth George ... riding the technical difficulties with enviable ease ...' Rachmaninov and Shostakovich cello sonatas, an appraisal by Robert Anderson

Editorial musings with Basil Ramsey - Prom fever

CD Spotlight - Piano masterpieces. '... these performances are as compelling as they are touching.' A recital by the young Texan pianist Roger Wright, by John Bell Young

Record Box - The Russian Psyche - Sadness in song, with Basil Ramsey