Music from the Heart

From March 2 to April 21, the Musical and audiovisual documents reading room (No 305) is hosting the exhibition "Music from the Heart", dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of the notable Russian composer, pianist and conductor Siargej Rachmaninaw (1873 – 1943).

Siargej Rachmaninaw, a hereditary Russian nobleman, became a symbol of Russian music all over the world. He wrote his first compositions while still studying at the conservatory. Among them – the famous Prelude in C sharp minor, the romance "In the silence of the secret Night", the First piano Concerto, the opera "Aleko", written as a thesis in just 17 days.

Rachmaninaw's legacy includes operas and symphonies, chamber–vocal (over 80 romances) and choral sacred music ("The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom", "All-Night Vigil"), but the central place in it belongs to piano music (24 preludes, 6 musical moments, 15 etudes-paintings, 4 concertos for piano and orchestra). A distinctive feature of the composer's musical style is the organic combination of breadth and freedom of melodic breathing with an energetic rhythm. The unique harmonic language of his music is characterized by a diverse implementation of bell sonorities.

Siargej Rachmaninaw is one of the world's greatest pianists. Phenomenal technique, virtuoso skill were subordinated to the musician's playing of high spirituality and vivid imagery of expression. These same qualities distinguished his conducting skills.

The exhibition features claviers and scores of the operas "Aleko", "The Miserly Knight", "Francesca da Rimini", the symphonic poem" Island of the Dead", cantata "Spring", piano (concertos, preludes, sonatas, pieces) and vocal music, selected choirs, as well as articles and books about the composer's work. The exhibition is complemented by audio documents performed by Siargej Rachmaninaw, a pianist and other outstanding musicians of the twentieth century: D. Aliakseew, M. Vaskrasenski, M. Rastrapovich, U. Fedaseew.

The opening hours of the exhibition corresponds to the library’s opening hours.
Entrance to the exhibition is available by the library ticket or ticket of the library's social and cultural center.

For more info: (+375 17) 293 27 52.

The article is provided by the Special collections service department.