Chamber Musician - Diary entries

January 18 1904 (Julian calendar)

Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician

Notes: Satina notes that this was the first appearance of Rachmaninoff in one of Kerzin’s concerts. Satina cites Apetian, p. 230, as her reference. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

January 28 1908 (Julian calendar)

Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician

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.

February 3 1908 (Julian calendar)

Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician

Notes: Satina notes that this was the 7th of Kerzin’s Concerts. Ms Satina’s reference is Apetian, p. 322. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89. There are references both to 'Pavlovna' and 'Pavlova' for one of the singers.

March 14 1908

Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor and Chamber Musician

Notes: Satina notes that this was a Symphony Concert of the Philharmonic Society, and that it was the first performance in Warsaw of Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 2 1908

Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician

Notes: The performance of the Piano Trio was part of a chamber music concert given by the Czech Quartet.

January 7 1909 (Julian calendar)

Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician and Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that this was Alexander Siloti’s 3rd Chamber Music Concert of the season. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

January 3 1910

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist and Chamber Musician

Notes: Satina identified the location of this concert (Hotel Astoria) but was not able to identify a program. However, Apetian indicates that for this concert and for the concert in Boston on January 10 the program comprised, 'with the exception of the Sonata 1 in d-moll, op. 28, basically the same pieces as in the [solo recitals], but with the addition of two romances by Rachmaninoff, in particular Spring Waters from op. 14.' This would appear to be correct, as Satina included a similar program - albeit not naming a specific song, and with greater specificity for the solo piano works - for the concert in New York on January 9. The program given by Satina for the January 9 concert is given here. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

January 9 1910

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist and Chamber Musician

Notes: Satina notes that this was a ‘Grand Sunday Concert’, and that other singers also performed with the Metropolitan Orchestra. According to Apetian, one of the songs was Spring Waters, op. 14. From the review there appears a possibility that 'Mr Didur' also sand two songs by Rachmaninoff. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 6 1910 (Julian calendar)

Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Chamber Musician

Notes: Satina notes that this was the 7th of Alexander Siloti’s Symphony Concerts of the season. Satina also indicates that the program previously announced had been changed: ‘Rachmaninoff’s concerto no. 3 was cancelled because the score and orchestral material did not come back in time from America. Same about the Isle of the Dead.’ The work by Bach in the ‘edition of Siloti’ is not precisely known, however it could be one of the Two Transcriptions of Prelude from the Cantata by JS Bach for solo piano; if so, there is no indication of the pianist. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 4 1910

Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician and Piano Soloist

Notes: Satina was unable to find details of the other performers, or of the piano solos, but these have been supplied according to a newspaper review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 10 1911 (Julian calendar)

Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician

Notes: Satina notes that this concert was arranged (perhaps by Siloti) in memory of Vera Komissarzhevskaya. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 18 1911

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist and Chamber Musician

Notes: Satina notes that her information for this concert in the Felix Corbett series was sent to her by Mr J. Tillet. Satina further notes that in Rachmaninoff’s notebook he wrote that he played ‘only 2 piano solos’, but in a later typewritten comment pondered that it was ‘possible he meant he appeared twice’. While Satina noted the Schubert she didn't indicate Rachmaninoff's participation, yet from a review in the Teeside Weekly Herald from October 21 it is apparent that the performance of Schubert's Rondo in B minor for violin and piano was performed by him with Fritz Kreisler, which would seem to be both the first time the two played together, and the only known time they did so in a public concert. The review appears to clarify that the word 'prelude' was used in a loose way to refer to the pieces in Rachmaninoff's opp. 3 and 10 sets. The exact order of the program is hard to determine from the review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 22 1914 (Julian calendar)

Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor and Chamber Musician

Notes: Satina indicates that this was the 8th Symphony Concert of the season of the Moscow Philharmonic Society, beginning at 9pm. The details of the songs are from Martyn. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 7 1915 (Julian calendar)

Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician and Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina indicates that this was a chamber music concert, however she does not offer information on which chamber works by Rachmaninoff were played. However, Apetian recorded the works that are indicated, also noting that it was not clear which of the Etudes-Tableaux were played. The names of the other musicians are not known. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 21 1915 (Julian calendar)

Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician and Piano Soloist

Notes: Satina indicates that this was a concert arranged by Rachmaninoff, with Anatoly Brandukov assisting, in the ‘Hall of the Nobility Girl Institution’. Further, that it was for ‘the benefit of the All Russian Nobility Union’, with the money being sent to ‘the Division on the front’. Lacking further information, it could be that the concert was held at the Moscow School of the Order of St Catherine. Apetian notes the works that are indicated here for this program, while Satina only indicated that it was an all-Rachmaninoff program. The name of the violinist is not known. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 10 1916 (Julian calendar)

Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber musician

Notes: Satina indicates that this was a chamber music concert. Apetian also notes the concert but was unable to name the program or the other performers. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 24 1916 (Julian calendar)

Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician

Notes: Satina notes that this was the first performance of the complete series of songs, op. 38, which is dedicated to Nina Koshetz. Satina also indicates that the program – which contained three parts – appears to be the same as performed in Kyiv on January 20 1917, which is confirmed by Apetian. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 30 1916 (Julian calendar)

Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician

Notes: Satina indicates that the same program was given here as in the concert in Moscow, October 24 1916, (and therefore, Kyiv, January 20 1917), as is copied above. However, she also notes the possible addition of ‘How fair this spot’, op. 21, no. 7, and ‘When Yesterday we met’, op. 26, no. 13, ‘and possibly some others’. St Petersburg was known as Petrograd at this time. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 2 1916 (Julian calendar)

Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician

Notes: Satina indicates that the same program was given here as in the concert in Moscow, October 24 1916, (and therefore, Kyiv, January 20 1917), which is also confirmed by Apetian. However, Satina also notes the addition of ‘How fair this spot’, op. 21, no. 7, and ‘When Yesterday we met’, op. 26, no. 13, ‘and possibly some others’. St Petersburg was known as Petrograd at this time. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 17 1916 (Julian calendar)

Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician

Notes: Satina indicates that this was the same program as given in Kyiv on January 20 1917, and in Moscow on October 24 1916, as is copied above. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

20 January 1917 (Julian calendar)

Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician

Notes: Satina includes a photocopy of the program among her notes. The concert, which commenced at 8.30pm, was in the 'кипеческаго заль' (Kypecheskago Hall). LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

April 14 1919

Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician

Notes: Satina indicates that this was a benefit concert, but she could find no further details. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

April 7 1920

Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Chamber Musician

Notes: Satina indicates that this was a Rachmaninoff Festival Concert. Instead of The Bells, which was to have been conducted by Rachmaninoff, Damrosch conducted the Spring Cantata as the composer ‘had a pain in his arm’. Satina noted a 'church song' ‘Laud ye the Name of the Lord’, which is presumed to be from the All-Night Vigil. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.