Arms of steel, heart of gold.

The article focuses on Sergei Rachmaninov's legacy as a pianist and recording artist, examining his discography and interpretative approach. It details his emigration from Russia after the 1917 Revolution, his early recordings with Thomas Edison's company, and his long-term exclusive contract with Victor (later RCA Victor). The text highlights Rachmaninov's distinctive sense of forward momentum and structural clarity in performance, his collaborations with conductors like Leopold Stokowski and Eugene Ormandy, and his selective repertoire including his own works and those of Chopin, Liszt, and others. It also discusses the impact of external factors such as the Great Depression and RCA executive Charles O'Connell's antipathy on Rachmaninov's recording opportunities, as well as his practice of making cuts to his compositions in response to changing musical tastes. The article concludes with reflections on Rachmaninov's enduring influence, including praise from contemporaries like Vladimir Horowitz and Arthur Rubinstein.