Despite the fact that his music is often maligned by contemporary intellectuals, Sergei Rachmaninoff is one of the most beloved and frequently performed composers of modern times. This course, which has been updated and expanded from an earlier series of lectures, examines some of the characteristics that give Rachmaninoff’s music its distinctive style, identifying both his adherence to and his departure from the traditions of prior Romantic composers. The course presumes no musical background and is designed to be accessible to a general audience. It includes commentary and performances by tenor Alan August, a professional opera singer, who will perform some of Rachmaninoff's songs in Russian.