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).
January 23 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicates that an audience was permitted to attend the dress rehearsal for this concert the previous day, January 22, for a small fee. This was the 6th Symphony Concert in Koussevitzky’s season. It is not known what was played in the second half of the concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 6 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the 8th and last Symphony Concert in Koussevitzky’s season. The Zon Theatre stood where the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall is now situated. It is likely that an audience was allowed to attend the dress rehearsal the previous day, February 5, for a small fee, as was also noted by Apetian. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 25 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 13 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was the First Extra Symphony Concert in the season of Sergei Koussevitzky. An audience was permitted to attend the dress rehearsal before the concerto, on March 12, for a small fee, as Apetian also notes. The Zon Theatre stood where the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall now stands. The ‘February’ Revolution is underway at the time of this concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 20 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was the Second Extra Symphony Concert in the season of Sergei Koussevitzky. An audience was permitted to attend the dress rehearsal before the concerto, on March 19, for a small fee, as Apetian also notes. The Zon Theatre stood where the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall now stands. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 25 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was the last appearance of Rachmaninoff in Moscow. Satina also notes that ‘all the proceeds will be given to the needs of the army. Orchestra seats at 4-12 roubles, boxes from 20-64 roubles. Balcony at 1.50’. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
September 5 1917 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the last appearance of Rachmaninoff in Russia. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 15 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 12 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 14 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
April 16 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
April 20 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
July 10 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina was unsure exactly regarding the conductor's name. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 21 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that this was an ‘extra’ concert, and that it was Rachmaninoff’s last performance in Europe at the time as he subsequently sailed to the USA. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 12 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was Rachmaninoff’s first appearance this season with an orchestra. The concert began at 3pm. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 28 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina states that this was the first performance of the revised version of the concerto. The concert was the 3rd Subscription Concert of the Russian Symphony Orchestra Society of the season, starting at 8.15pm. According to the program, the work by Scriabin was not played at this concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 29 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: The concert began at 3pm. According to the program, the work by Scriabin was not played at this concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 31 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: The concert began at 2.30pm. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 1 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: The concert began at 8pm. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89. Review: Boston Herald 1919.02.02 p. 11.
February 3 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: The concert began at 4.30pm. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 4 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: The concert began at 8.15pm. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 5 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89. Review 2: Philadelphia Inquirer 1919.02.06 p. 10.
February 7 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: The concert began at 8.15pm. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 28 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: The Symphony no. 2 in E minor was presumed by Satina to be Rachmaninoff's but appears in fact to have been by Rabaud. According to the reviews, the symphony was conducted by the concertmaster, Thaddeus Rich, as Stokowski became indisposed. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89. Review 2: Philadelphia Inquirer 1919.03.29 p. 10.
March 29 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
April 8 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that this was a Gala Concert of the Vacation Association Inc., and that 'maestro Bambuschek' accompanied Geraldine Farr. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 31 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the first time Rachmaninoff played this concerto in Boston. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 1 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89. Review: Boston Herald 1919.11.02 p. 14.
November 3 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 4 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina believed that the program comprised a Schumann Symphony and Stravinsky's Firebird, as per the program the following night in Baltimore, however the review presents different works alongside Rachmaninoff op. 30. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.