Facing the Music, Overcoat Media’s series about the psychological backstories of the great composers is now available as a box set on BBC Sounds.
In Episode 5, Kit Harington delves into the stormy inner world of Rachmaninov, tracing the shadows of loss and perfectionism that haunted the composer’s work….So what is it about Rachmaninov that gets Kit so excited?
- He’s a tortured genius. Rachmaninov didn’t just write music; he bled it. After a humiliating premiere, he couldn’t compose for years, crippled by self-doubt. That kind of artistic agony? Irresistibly romantic.
- The height. Six foot six and heartbreakingly gangly? Kit paints a picture of a man both towering and vulnerable—classic crush material.
- He wore his heart on the page. Whether grieving Tchaikovsky or pining for Vera, Rachmaninov turned emotional wreckage into musical masterpieces.
- He made a comeback. Thanks to Dr. Dahl’s radical hypnotherapy, Rachmaninov clawed his way back and wrote his iconic Second Piano Concerto. Resilience is hot.
- He just wanted to be loved. Beneath the virtuosity was a man desperate to be seen beyond his talent. And that? That’s where Kit really melts.
It’s no wonder, then, that Kit Harington—storyteller of shadows and souls—finds himself drawn to Rachmaninov. In Sergei’s towering frame, fragile ego, and soaring melodies, Kit sees more than a composer: he sees a man who faced the darkest corners of his mind and still chose to create. It’s not just admiration—it’s empathy. And maybe, just maybe, a bit of love.
Facing the Music is available on BBC Sounds here.