Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14

Composer: RACHMANINOV, Sergei
  • Rachmaninov’s Op.34 is a set of songs composed between 1910-12. Rachmaninov composed most of the songs with a specific singer in mind, noted in the dedications of each song.1
  • The “Vocalise” is the only wordless song in Rachmaniov’s Op.34. He dedicated it to Russian soprano Antonina Nezhdanova.2
    • Nezhdanova sang at the Bol’shoy theater for 40 years, specializing in coloratura roles. She also created the title role in Rachmaninov’s Francesca da Rimini.3

Sources

  1. Geoffrey Norris, “Rachmaninoff [Rakhmaninov, Rachmaninov], Serge,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed January 2, 2020, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000050146. 
  2. Ibid.
  3. I.M. Yampol′sky, “Nezhdanova, Antonina,” Grove Music Online (January 20, 2001), accessed January 2, 2020,   https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000019853. 

Cut IDs

14083, 19397, 21979, 40055, 45542, 45613