Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1934) was a composer, pianist and conductor. At the piano, Rachmaninoff was a performer of great ability, and he played with renowned precision and clarity, qualities which also characterized his conducting. He was also one of last great Russian composers of the late Romantic style, inspired by Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov and others. An imposing figure physically as well as musically, Rachmaninoff had infamously large hands that could span a thirteenth on the keyboard, about a foot in distance.

As one might expect, Rachmaninoff wrote many notable works for piano, including solo pieces, duets and concerti, but he also wrote chamber music, songs, operas, choral works and orchestral music, including three symphonies.