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In 2023, it marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sergey Vasilievich Rakhmaninoff.
Despite his difficult childhood, failure of his First Symphony, depression, financial struggles, and illnesses, Rakhmaninoff's musical genius prevailed. He spent 25 years abroad but always emphasized his identity as a Russian composer. During his exile, he experienced homesickness and struggled to compose outside his homeland. Nevertheless, even while experiencing international success, Rakhmaninoff remained devoted to supporting fellow Russians in need, performing concerts to raise funds for wounded Soviet soldiers during wartime.
Rakhmaninoff attempted to recreate the atmosphere of Ivanovka, his family estate, at his villa Senar in Switzerland. As he stated, "My music is my character, everything I've lived through."
Contributions to the film came from notable figures such as conductor Valery Gergiev, pianists Denis Matsuev and Nikolai Lugansky, Japanese ambassador Toyohisa Kozuki, Moscow Conservatory rector Aleksandr Sokolov, and museum director Aleksandr Ermakov. The Russian National Museum of Music assisted in creating the film.
