Sergei Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor who contributed some great compositions to orchestral music. His works are part of the best music of the Romantic period. Born into a family of musicians, Rachmaninoff exposed to music right from his childhood. He graduated from the Moscow Conservatory, and composed several musical pieces on the piano. These included the ‘Piano Concerto No. 1,’ and the ‘Trio elegiaque No. 1.’ He performed his first independent concert during his final year at the ‘Conservatory.’ Rachmaninoff struggled to gain recognition during his early years. One of his earliest compositions, ‘Symphony No. 1,’ was not well received by the public. This sent him into a state of depression. After suffering for three years, he attended therapy sessions, and recovered from his state. He composed one of his masterpieces, ‘Piano Concerto No. 2,’ during this period. For several years, he worked as the conductor at the ‘Bolshoi Theatre’ in Moscow. Unhappy with the political conditions in Moscow, he relocated to Dresden, along with his family. His musical tours took him to the United States, where he settled down during the last years of his life. Some of his major works include ‘Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini,’ and ‘Symphony No. 3.’ During his last years, Sergei Rachmaninoff suffered from melanoma. Though he wished to be buried in a Moscow cemetery, his wish could not be granted as he held an American citizenship.