Rachmaninoff’s 150th Birthday Trivia

1. 1. Sergei Rachmaninoff was not only a great composer, but he was also a:
   • Great Violinist 
   • Virtuoso Pianist 
   • World renowned chef 
   • Poet 

   ***Rachmaninoff was not only a great composer and virtuoso pianist, he was also a conductor! 

    

   2. Rachmaninoff’s secret weapon as a pianist was:
   • His fast fingers 
   • His skills as a composer 
   • His long hours of practice 
   • His very large hands  

    

   3. What do Rachmaninoff and basketball star Shaquille O’Neal have in common?
   • They both loved to cook 
   • They both played the piano 
   • Their hand span from pinky to thumb was the same size of 12 inches! 
   • They were both composers 

    

   4. Rachmaninoff also gained acclaim as a conductor. Which orchestra did he NOT conduct?
   • Bolshoi Theatre 
   • Boston Symphony Orchestra 
   • Berlin Philharmonic 
   • Moscow Private Russian Opera 

   ***Rachmaninoff’s conducting debut was in 1897 when he conducted Samson and Delilah for the Moscow Private Russian Opera. 

    

   5. Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini was premiered by the Philadelphia Orchestra with Rachmaninoff as soloist in which US city?
   • Chicago 
   • New York 
   • Balltimore 
   • Atlanta 

   ***The world premiere performance took place at the Lyric Opera House in Baltimore, Maryland in 1934. 

    

   6. Rachmaninoff composed the 2nd Symphony in Dresden in the year:
   • 1950 
   • 1800 
   • 1703 
   • 1906 

   ***The 2nd Symphony was premiered in St. Petersburg in 1908. 

    

   7. How old was Rachmaninoff when he composed his first piano concerto?
   • 18 
   • 22 
   • 5 
   • 30 

    

   8. How many concerts did Rachmaninoff perform from 1922 to 1923?
   • 10 
   • 50 
   • 30 
   • 70