Conductor - 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, pp. 532-562), A Catalogue of the Compositions of S. Rachmaninoff by Robert Threlfall and Geoffrey Norris (Scolar Press: London, 1982), and research undertaken at the Glinka Museum of Musical Culture, Moscow.
October 18 1893 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: Satina believed that this was Rachmaninoff’s first appearance as a conductor, although see also the concert on February 24, 1891, in which it is possible he conducted a performance of his choral work Deus Meus. Threlfall and Norris noted that the first complete performance of Aleko had been in Moscow, Bolshoi Theatre, April 27 1893, conducted by Ippolit Altani. The City Theatre stood on the site of the current Kyiv Opera House, constructed after a fire destroyed the old building in 1896. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 21 1893 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 22 1895 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor and Chamber Musician
Notes: Threlfall and Norris note this performance, indicating it was the premiere of the Capriccio on Gypsy Themes. Keldysh, citing a review in Russkiye Vedomosti, noted that Teresina Tua performed in the concert (p. 97), which is confirmed by Val'kova (vol. 1, p. 175), who supplies the complete program and selections from three reviews. Program information indicates that Rachmaninoff accompanied Tua at the piano, which would appear to be only those works in their tour program (by Sarasate, Chopin-Sarasate and Wieniawski). The work by Koreshchenko could have been his op. 11; it is not indicated which of Svendsen's Norwegian Rhapsodies was played. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 12 1897 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: Chaliapin played the part of the Old Jew in this production. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 15 1897 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 19 1897 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: While Apetian listed this as the first performance of Dargomyzhsky's 'Rusalka' under Rachmaninoff's direction, Val'kova (vol. 1, p. 204) indicates that his participation is doubtful. While not citing a post-performance review, she notes two press announcements on October 19, both indicating that Esposito was to conduct. Val'kova indicates Rachmaninoff's first performance of 'Rusalka' was October 29, referencing a review. Chaliapin played the part of the Miller in this production. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 29 1897 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 30 1897 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: Chaliapin played the part of the Old Jew in this production. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 16 1897 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: Chaliapin played the part of the Old Jew in this production. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 26 1897 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 28 1897 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 2 1897 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 3 1897 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: While this performance was listed by Apetian, Satina's handwritten note - an amendment to a typed list of operas conducted by Rachmaninoff at this time - indicated doubt. Val'kova (vol. 1, p. 206) further indicates Rachmaninoff's participation is doubtful, citing an announcement in Russkiy Listok on December 3 that the opera was to be conducted by Esposito. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 7 1897 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 11 1897 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 12 1897 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: While this performance was listed by Apetian, Satina's handwritten note - an amendment to a typed list of operas conducted by Rachmaninoff at this time - indicated doubt. It is not noted by Val'kova and appears, therefore, to be doubtful. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 21 1897 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 22 1897 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 26 1897 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 27 1897 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 28 1897 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: According to Apetian, this was a children’s matinee performance, which is noted by Val'kova (vol. 1, p. 209) who cites a press announcement. According to the announcement, however, while Rachmaninoff conducted the third act of Verstovsky's opera, the other work was Gluck's 'Orfeo', conducted by Esposito. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 30 1897 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 31 1897 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 2 1898 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: As with the performance on December 28 1897, Val'kova (vol. 1, p. 211) indicates that the first work on the matinee program was Gluck's 'Orfeo', conducted by Esposito, citing a press announcement on the day. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 3 1898 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: Val'kova (vol. 1, p. 211) indicates that only the work by Verstovsky was performed at this matinee, citing a press announcement on the day. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 4 1898 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 15 1898 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 18 1898 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 25 1898 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: Keldysh (p. 156) indicates that productions relocated to the International Theatre as a fire had broken out in the Solodovnikov Theatre on January 19. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 27 1898 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.