Book description
The moving story of Rachmaninoff's years in exile and the composition of his last great work, against a cataclysmic backdrop of two world wars and personal tragedy.In 1940 Sergei Rachmaninoff, living in exile in America, broke his creative silence and composed a swan song to his Russian homeland. What happened in those final haunted years and how did he come to write his farewell masterpiece, the Symphonic Dances?Rachmaninoff left Petrograd in the throes of the Russian Revolution in 1917. He was 44 years old, at the peak of his powers as composer-conductor-performer, moving in elite Tsarist circles and running the family estate, his refuge and solace. He had already written the music which, today, has made him one of the most popular composers of all time: the second and third Piano Concertos and two symphonies. Reeling from the trauma of a life in upheaval, he wrote almost no music and quickly had to reinvent himself as a fêted virtuoso pianist, building up untold wealth and meeting the stars, from Walt Disney and Charlie Chaplin to his Russian contemporaries and polar opposites, Prokofiev and Stravinsky. Still, the melancholy of leaving his homeland never lifted.Using a wide range of sources, including important newly translated texts, Maddocks' immensely readable book conjures impressions of this enigmatic figure, his friends and the world he encountered. It explores his life as an emigré artist and how he clung to an Old Russia which no longer existed. That forging of past and present meets in his Symphonic Dances (1940), his last composition, written on Long Island shortly before his death in Beverly Hills, surrounded by a close-knit circle of Russian exiles.
Sky Herald
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Queen Ginger
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K-9
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VisionVoyager
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Shady Lady
If you love stories but have a busy schedule, this app is your solution! I'm addicted to this app's seamless integration with my daily routines and activities.
D-Hog-Day
ListenBook's variety of ways to download audio makes it incredibly convenient. ListenBook's library organization features have transformed my chaotic audiobook collection into an organized masterpiece. ListenBook has turned my daily routines into audiobook-driven journeys of imagination. The range of supported formats is impressive. No more converting files!
Sweet Manhattan
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Midnight Rambler
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Doll Champagne
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Freeze Queen
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Delirium
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Sweetness
Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is a fantastic way to spread the joy. I'm amazed by the extensive statistics tracking. It's fascinating to see my listening habits. This audiobook exceeded all my expectations! The narrator's ability to convey emotion through voice alone was remarkable. I laughed, I gasped, I might have even teared up at points - all because of the incredible vocal performance. The story came alive in a way reading alone couldn't achieve.
WanderWord
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Twinkle
ListenBook's commitment to providing a smooth and enjoyable listening experience is evident in every detail. The absence of synchronization requirements on ListenBook is a breath of fresh air. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to find specific sections. The app is perfect for people who love to multitask. I can listen while cooking. I love how ListenBook makes it easy to organize my audiobook library. The app supports all formats, and the import process is a breeze. The playback controls are responsive, and the sound quality is excellent. Highly recommend!
Genghis Glyph
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Prof. Smirk
The app's customization options allow me to tailor the listening experience to my liking. I used to struggle to find time for books – now, I listen while doing chores! This app has made my workouts and chores so much more enjoyable. Elegant design and easy-to-use interface. Very happy with ListenBook. ListenBook’s interface is sleek and user-friendly. Finding and playing my audiobooks has never been easier.
Cujo
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Fiend Oblivion
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Titanium Ladybug
This app has rekindled my love for literature, and I'm spreading the word to everyone I know. I can't imagine my audio routine without ListenBook's seamless and user-friendly design. The app is so well-designed. It’s clear the developers put a lot of thought into it. I love the ability to change the playback speed. It’s perfect for my needs.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience