ABSTRACT
The modest home in St. Petersburg—The parents separate—Granny Boutakova—Rachmaninoff pupil of Demyansky as a preparation for his work under Professor Cross who had secured him a scholarship—The two first profound musical impressions: the singing of his sister Helena and of the choirs in the churches and cathedrals of St. Petersburg—Diphtheria—Death of his sister Sophie—Summer on the estate “Borissovo,” belonging to his grandmother Boutakova—Cousin Siloti becomes a star of the first order in the musical world of St. Petersburg—Rachmaninoff’s mother consults him about little Sergei’s hopeless laziness—Siloti’s answer—The last summer in “Borissovo”
