A monument to the outstanding Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) was unveiled on his birthday, April 1st, at the Rachmaninoff Russian Conservatory in Paris, France.

The statue was created by sculptor Besik Solomanishvili and Svetlana Zhilina the acting director of the Russian House in Paris took part in the opening ceremony.

In 1923 Sergei Rachmaninoff became the co-founder and honorary president of “The Conservatoire Rachmaninoff” in Paris. The institution for more than 100 years has been a unique monument and at the same time an active form of promotion for Russian culture in France.

For the 100th anniversary of the Conservatoire in 2023, an exposition about the history of the institution, its famous instructors, and the plethory of musicians and artists who were created within its walls was organized in the Russian House in Paris.

This brand new monument is the first sculptural composition in Western Europe dedicated to the creative genius of Sergei Rachmaninoff. People still enjoy his works all over the world to this day.

Located in a small courtyard of the Russian Conservatory in the center of Paris, the monument unites classical music lovers, cultural figures, talented artists and musicians, gifted students learning the basics of musical art, and those honing their professional musical skills at the institution.

Who was Mr. Rachmaninoff and why do we Remember him so fondly?

Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff stands as one of the most towering figures in classical music history. He was a virtuoso pianist, a masterful composer, and a sensitive conductor whose works define the late Romantic era. During his early childhood in Semyonovo, Russia, Rachmaninoff displayed prodigious musical talent. His family, though aristocratic, faced financial difficulties, and his musical education became his true path to success. He studied at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory and later the Moscow Conservatory, where he trained under the strict discipline of Nikolai Zverev and the mentorship of Pyotr Tchaikovsky, who recognized his genius early on.

Rachmaninoff was not only a great composer but also one of the greatest pianists of all time. His large hands (capable of spanning a 13th on the keyboard!) allowed him to play with unmatched power and clarity. His recordings remain benchmarks of piano artistry, particularly his interpretations of Chopin, Liszt, and his own works. Audiences worldwide were mesmerized by his precise technique, volcanic intensity, and deep emotional expression. His global popularity was even more impressive as it occured before the rise of mass radio, record sales, and modern PR.

Like with many great Russian figures of his time, the revolution of 1917 forced Rachmaninoff into exile. He never returned to his homeland. Settling first in Switzerland and then permanently in the United States, he focused more on performing than composing. This was partly due to financial pressures and homesickness. Despite this, his later works, such as the Symphonic Dances (1940), reveal a mature, reflective style infused with both nostalgia and innovation.

Like many who left during the Russian Revolution, Rachmaninoff had a very negative attitude towards the Soviet regime. Suffering in exile, he longed for the lost old Russia. However, the news of the German attack on the USSR made a huge impression on him. During the Great Patriotic War, he gave several concerts in the United States, the entire proceeds of which he anonymously sent to the Red Army Fund and advised all Russian emigrants to contribute to it as well. He transferred the money collection from one of his concerts to the USSR Defense Fund with the written words:

“From one of the Russians to help the Russian people in their fight against the enemy. I want to believe, I believe in complete victory”.

Indeed, the next day the New York Times found out about this gesture and published an article with the headline: “Rachmaninoff Gives Recital to Help Russia: the pianist, exiled from the country twenty-four years ago, performed at Carnegie Hall to help his native land.” This piece of news had a great resonance and for many became a real call to action. Sofia Satina, Rachmaninoff’s sister-in-law and renowned botanist recalled:

“Sergei Vasilyevich received letters of thanks from many people. People who hesitated, people who wanted to help the Russians but did not know how to act, people who were afraid of being accused of sympathizing with the Communists. People who had already started to raise money to help Russia and saw Rachmaninoff as a moral support”

The proceeds from this concert amounted to just under $4,000. That would be $86,000 in today’s money.

These funds could have been donated to the American Red Cross or to the newly-created public organization “Russian War Relief” (RWR), which was actively collecting private donations. But Rachmaninoff asked his agent to send them specifically to the Soviet Consul General in New York, for the purchase of “medicines, other equipment and goods.”

Some time later, in early 1942, he gave another charity concert in favor of Russia and just like the first time, sent the money to the Soviet Embassy. The funds raised were reportedly used to buy an X-ray machine for the sum of $4,166 USD.

Many of those that were deeply scarred by the October Revolution of 1917 rallied around Soviet Regime during WWII. Monks, priests, emigres, and former elites chose to support Russia regardless of how much they may have despised those currently at the helm of the nation. This is a very “Russian” way of looking at the world and important part of Rachmaninoff’s legacy as a patriot and not just a musical genius.