AllMovie

This documentary is part of a six part series showcasing the lives and works of some of the world's most famous composers. Hosted by distinguished concert pianist Joh Kimura Parker, Whole Notes focuses in this segment on composer, pianist, and conductor Sergei Rachmaninoff. Born in 1873, Rachmaninoff is considered the last of the great tradition of Russian romantic composers. He studied at the Moscow Conservatory, where he met Tchaikovsky, who greatly influenced the young pianist's musical career. This film features the National Arts Centre Orchestra of Canada, conducted by Pinchas Zukerman, performing Rachmininoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, the second movement of which contains one of the most familiar and popular melodies in all of music.