Concerto Soloist - Diary entries
Many of the performance details listed here have been compiled from Zarui Apetian’s important research, published in Literaturnoye Nasledie [Collected Literature] (Sovietskii Kompozitor: Moscow, 1980, vol. 3, pp. 439-467). These details have been subsequently cross-referenced and checked with the many itineraries and other corroborating materials collected by Rachmaninoff’s sister-in-law, Sophia Satina, housed in the Rachmaninoff Archive of the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C (LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R22, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89). Further information has been gathered from Barrie Martyn’s book Rachmaninoff: Composer, Pianist, Conductor (Scolar Press: London, 1990), and A Catalogue of the Compositions of S. Rachmaninoff by Robert Threlfall and Geoffrey Norris (Scolar Press: London, 1982).
February 24 1891 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was a student concert ‘for the benefit of the needy students’. Threlfall and Norris list a performance of Rachmaninoff’s Deus Meus also on this date at the Conservatory, the composer conducting. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 17 1892 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina notes that this was a concert by students of the Conservatory, with ‘proceeds given to the needy students’. Satina also notes that because of the lack of some instruments in the orchestra, Rachmaninoff accompanied Avierno in the playing of the Vieuxtemps. Precise details of the works, including whether more than single movements were played, were not known by Satina. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
September 26 1892 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was the first performance of the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2. The concert was the ‘18th Symphony Concert' at the Electrical Exhibit in Moscow. Satina notes the exact order of the program remains unknown, and that the details of works were copied from a review published in the journal ‘Artist’. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 2 1900 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina notes that this was a symphony concert held under the auspices of the Ladies’ Committee for Prisoner Welfare. Satina also notes that the order of compositions performed is unknown. This was the first performance of the two movements from the Second Piano Concerto. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 27 1901 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the first performance of the complete Concerto. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 9 1903
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: This date was not recorded by Satina in her list of European concerts. The details are supplied from the website of the Vienna Symphony. At the time, the orchestra was known as the Wiener Concertverein.
November 15 1903 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Piano Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the 3rd concert in the season of Alexander Siloti. Satina also notes that this was the first performance of the works by Goedicke and Rimsky-Korsakov. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
May 26 1907
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor and Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the 4th Russian Symphony Concert arranged by Sergei Diaghilev in Paris. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 20 1907
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina has added this date in pencil, apparently as a consequence of a reference in materials of Zarui Apetian. Satina notes: ‘see Warsavsky Dnevnik, November 9, 1907, no. 309. Article by Zataevich, Apetian p. 339’. Satina also indicates that Rachmaninoff had incorrectly identified the date of this concert as 1908, apparently referencing his entry in his new ‘book’ for recording such details. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 2 1908 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor, Concerto Soloist and Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina notes that this was the 5th Symphony Concert of the Moscow Philharmonic Society, and that it was the first time Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony was heard in Moscow. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 9 1908
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor and Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina lists the concert on this date at this location, although Martyn lists it as occurring in Amsterdam noting only a performance of the Symphony no. 2. Martyn again lists a concert in Antwerp occurring on November 27, with the program as listed here. It is possible that both concerts took place with the same program. Satina, who relied on Rachmaninoff's notebook as her source, does not list any performance on November 27. It is not known who conducted the orchestra in Rachmaninoff's concerto. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 7 1908
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicates her belief that Rachmaninoff also played solos in these concerts, and speculated that these works were likely from op. 3 and op. 23. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 8 1908
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that Rachmaninoff also played solos in these concerts, and speculated that these works were likely from op. 3 and op. 23. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 10 1908
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that Rachmaninoff also played solos in these concerts, and speculated that these works were likely from op. 3 and op. 23. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 12 1908
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that Rachmaninoff also played solos in these concerts, and speculated that these works were likely from op. 3 and op. 23. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 13 1908
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that Rachmaninoff also played solos in these concerts, and speculated that these works were likely from op. 3 and op. 23. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 18 1908
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that Rachmaninoff also played solos in these concerts, and speculated that these works were likely from op. 3 and op. 23. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 3 1909 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor and Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that this 9pm concert was the 6th Symphony Concert in the season of the Imperial Russian Music Society. Satina does not note who conducted Rachmaninoff’s Symphony, but it was perhaps the composer. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 16,1909
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that Rachmaninoff played solos at this concert, probably preludes from op. 3 and op. 23. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 8 1909
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89. Press: Philadelphia Inquirer 1909.11.07 p. 9.
November 28 1909
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the world premiere performance of the Third Piano Concerto. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 30 1909
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 4 1909
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor and Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that this was an evening concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 18 1909
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Conductor
Notes: Review: Boston Journal 1909.12.18 p. 4.
January 16 1910
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that the concert commenced at 3pm. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.