The Great Composers

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The Great Composers

The Great Composers dives deep into the lives behind some of the greatest music ever written. It's a look a the world through the eyes of these gifted musical artists. Learn about obstacles they overcame, and their loves, losses, successes and failures. You'll feel you know Mozart, Rachmaninov and others as friends.

  1. 03/11/2018

    Sergei Rachmaninoff, Chapter 8: A Stunning Finale

    When the urge to compose finally struck again, Rachmaninoff took a little theme by Nicolo Paganini and turned it into a tour de force for the piano and orchestra, called Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. In this final episode of the Great Composers series on Rachmaninoff, we also explore Rachmaninoff’s final masterpiece -- the Symphonic Dances. Rachmaninoff reaches back to the debilitating early failure of Symphony No. 1 and brings those early musical ideas to a glorious new realization.

    34 min

  2. 26/10/2018

    Sergei Rachmaninoff, Chapter 7: The Making Of A Sacred Masterwork

    After four long years living outside of Russia due to political instability, Rachmaninoff was finally able to bring his family home. He returned with a determination to write a Russian sacred piece that would be a lasting contribution to the orthodox repertoire. The composer ultimately found success with his "All-Night Vigil," considered the crowning achievement in Russian sacred music. But the world around Rachmaninoff became chaotic again.

    24 min

  3. 19/10/2018

    Sergei Rachmaninoff, Chapter 6: Triumph And Revolution

    Clickety clack. That’s all Sergei Rachmaninoff heard as he practiced his new Piano Concerto No. 3 in advance of his big American tour, during which he would debut the piece. That’s because he finished the piece just before departing for the U.S. and didn't leave himself time to practice. He had to make do with practicing on a silent keyboard on the ship. When you hear how fiendishly difficult the piece is, it makes this story even more amazing.

    25 min

  4. 02/10/2018

    Sergei Rachmaninoff, Chapter 5: The Reluctant Hit Maker

    Sergei Rachmaninoff just wasn't hungry -- literally and figuratively. So, after the success of his Piano Concerto No. 2, he took the less obvious route for a composer and dedicated himself to conducting and teaching. He just wasn't craving that next big hit. It was rising political unrest that forced him into composing again.

    23 min

  5. 29/09/2018

    Sergei Rachmaninoff, Chapter 4: It Takes A Village

    Sergei Rachmaninoff finds himself in a funk. It’s been three years since the disastrous premiere of his Symphony No. 1 and the composer has barely written a note since then. His confidence is crushed. Self-doubt has crippled him. And it looks like his muse has left him. Enter the family intervention. In what becomes a persistent theme in Rachmaninoff’s life, his family insists that it’s time to get off the couch and back to composing. They send him to a doctor who has been experimenting with a new type of remedy: hypnotherapy. After months of positive talk therapy, and his family rooting for him, Sergei Rachmaninoff pulls off the greatest comeback story in classical music with his beloved Piano Concerto No. 2.

    20 min

  6. 22/09/2018

    Sergei Rachmaninoff, Chapter 3: A Bullseye On His Back

    Crouched low. Hiding in a fire escape backstage with his fingers plugging his ears. This is how Sergei Rachmaninoff experienced the premiere of his Symphony No. 1. What should have been a triumphant night for Rachmaninoff turned into a nightmare which only worsened once the review appeared in the newspaper. "Diseased and perverted harmonizations." "Morbid atmosphere." Fit for the "inhabitants of Hell." These were the words used by St. Petersburg's leading music critic, César Cui, in his review of Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 1. That very public flogging sent Rachmaninoff into a downward spiral.

    17 min

  7. 15/09/2018

    Sergei Rachmaninoff, Chapter 2: Tchaikovsky And Rachmaninoff

    We all need a little help from friends, and one of Sergei Rachmaninoff's most supportive friends was none other than the great Russian composer Peter Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky cheered for Rachmaninoff from his box seat at concerts and paired their works together in concert. But just as Rachmaninoff started to find his footing as a composer, Tchaikovsky died unexpectedly. Tchaikovsky had come to play the role of mentor and father figure to Rachmaninoff when he was a student. The elder composer's sudden death was an immeasurable blow to the talented but insecure Rachmaninoff.

    19 min

  8. 08/09/2018

    Sergei Rachmaninoff, Chapter 1: A Prelude To A Life Filled With Sorrow And Beauty

    Why do we love Rachmaninoff's music so much? Is it the romantic themes? The dark, brooding undercurrents? Whatever it is, it's hooked listeners for more than a century. Our new miniseries on The Great Composers opens with a look at Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C-sharp minor.

    13 min

  9. 15/08/2018

    Leonard Bernstein: 100 Years Of A Great American Composer

    An intimate look at the life and legacy of a singular musical figure, featuring insights from conductor Marin Alsop. Bernstein was born Aug. 25, 1918, and classical music lovers across the world are marking the 100th anniversary of his birth this year. It's a chance to rediscover his most indelible compositions, connect with his lesser-known pieces and appreciate what a singular musical figure he was.

    38 min

  10. 07/10/2017

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Chapter 5: The People’s Composer

    Mozart's "The Magic Flute" marries high art with catchy tunes, and makes us wonder what the composer would have written if he had lived longer. It's the final of five episodes on Mozart, kicking off our new podcast The Great Composers. The series, hosted by Karla Walker and Scott O'Neil, offers an intimate look at some of history's greatest musical minds. Subscribe so you don't miss an episode.

    44 min

  11. 30/09/2017

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Chapter 4: The Musical Innovator

    Mozart's popularity as a piano soloist begins to wane, so he adapts. In this fourth installment of The Great Composers, Mozart happily turns his focus to his first, true love: opera. Mozart writes “The Marriage of Figaro” and “Don Giovanni.” He also writes his three great, final symphonies in one summer. Listen and subscribe for more episodes hosted by Karla Walker and Scott O'Neil.

    43 min

  12. 21/09/2017

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Chapter 3: Breaking Free

    After years of frustration, Mozart enjoys great success on the operatic stage and a meteoric rise in the Viennese artistic scene. He essentially reinvents the keyboard concerto in the process. He also breaks free from his Salzburg employer and his family -- and he marries Constanze Weber. It's the third of five episodes on Mozart, kicking off our new podcast The Great Composers. The series, hosted by Karla Walker and Scott O'Neil, offers an intimate look at some of history's greatest musical minds. Subscribe so you don't miss an episode.

    32 min
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The Great Composers dives deep into the lives behind some of the greatest music ever written. It's a look a the world through the eyes of these gifted musical artists. Learn about obstacles they overcame, and their loves, losses, successes and failures. You'll feel you know Mozart, Rachmaninov and others as friends.

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