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 30 1905 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: Satina indicated that this was a concert in Kerzin’s Series. She noted the possibility that Lyadov's Intermezzo, op. 8, was also performed at this concert, which Martyn confirms (p. 544). The program is also supported by a note to letter 231 in Literaturnoye nasledie (vol. 1, p. 577).
November 26 1905 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: Kerzin’s Concert Series. Satina noted only the Introduction from Mussorgsky's opera, while Keldysh (p. 222) and Martyn (p. 545) include the Hopak as well. A review in the Moskovskiye Listok on November 29 confirms the works and provides the order of the program, also noting that Lyadov made the arrangements of the Mussorgsky works. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 18 1905 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: Satina indicates that this symphony concert was a Benefit for the Mutual Aid Society, for the Members of the Orchestra. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 11 1906 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: This was the premiere performance of Rachmaninoff's new operas, 'The Miserly Knight' and 'Francesca da Rimini'.
February 7 1906 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: This was the final performance of 'The Miserly Knight' and 'Francesca da Rimini' led by Rachmaninoff at the Bolshoi Theatre.
February 12 1906 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: This was Rachmaninoff's last appearance at the Bolshoi Theatre as an opera conductor.
May 26 1907
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor and Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina noted that this was the 4th Russian Symphony Concert arranged by Sergei Diaghilev in Paris. Keldysh (p. 280) and Martyn (p. 547) indicate that Chevillard also conducted works by Glazunov, Balakirev, and Mussorgsky. Satina believed that Rachmaninoff's The Rock, op. 7, was performed at this concert, yet neither Keldysh nor Martyn noted it, nor is it mentioned in the translation of the attached review. I am grateful to J. Falleyn for confirming details of the this concert, and for supplying the review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 26 1908 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: Satina noted that this was Siloti’s Symphony Concert no. 8, also indicating this was the first performance of Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony. Martyn confirmed that Rachmaninoff conducted only his Symphony and the Grieg Concerto (p. 548). 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.
March 14 1908 (Julian Calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor and Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina noted that this was a Symphony Concert of the Philharmonic Society, and that it was the first performance in Warsaw of Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony. I am grateful to J. Falleyn for providing the translation of the attached review, which has clarified confusion regarding the date (likely stemming from the misattribution of Gregorian and Julian Calendars) and matters relating to the program. Martyn provided a different order of the works to Satina and, like Keldysh (p. 286), included a performance of Lisa's aria from Tchaikovsky's Queen of Spades, also noting that Rachmaninoff accompanied two of his songs (p. 548), 'Spring Waters' and 'By My Window'. Martyn believed that the second pianist in the Suite was Aleksander Mikhaiłowski, however Keldysh and the attached review confirm it was Henryk Melcer. A further review by Zataevich in the Warsaw Diary (Varshavskiy Dnevnik) on March 18 notes the inclusion of the short work by Lyadov as the penultimate item on the program, an arrangement of the Intermezzo for piano, op. 8, no. 1, the composer's name also indicated in the attached press clipping. In the Gregorian Calendar, the date of this concert was March 27. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 9 1908
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: There has been confusion about the date of this concert: in her Library of Congress materials, Satina listed it for November 9, although Martyn listed a concert in Amsterdam on this date, noting only a performance of the Symphony no. 2. Martyn listed a concert in Antwerp on November 27, with the program as outlined here plus Rachmaninoff's Concerto no. 2 in C minor, op. 18. Satina, who relied on Rachmaninoff's notebook as her source, did not list any performance on November 27. Adding further to the confusion, Satina contradicted herself in 'Vospominania', noting a concert on November 9 in Amsterdam. The attached press notices and newspaper reviews indicate that November 9 is the correct date for this concert in Antwerp. Satina also included Rachmaninoff's concerto in the program, yet it is not mentioned in any of the press materials, nor Rachmaninoff having any performance role apart from conductor, raising doubt about whether it was performed. In a letter Rachmaninoff wrote to Morozov from Antwerp on November 6, he indicated that he was to play his Second Concerto but he also noted the excessive length of the program and the shortness of rehearsal time. Given that the concerto is not mentioned in reviews, a decision might have been made subsequently to not include it. No second conductor's name is noted specifically in relation to the concerto, but Lod Mortelmans, the director of the orchestra, could have been planned as the conductor if its performance took place. 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 noted that this 9pm concert was the 6th Symphony Concert in the season of the Imperial Russian Music Society. She did not note who conducted Rachmaninoff’s Symphony, but Martyn confirms it was the composer (p. 549). A review by G Chereshnev in Moskovskiy Vedomosti on January 6 indicates Rachmaninoff also conducted in the violin concerto. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
April 15 1909 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: Satina notes that this was the 5th Symphony Concert of the season for the Moscow Philharmonic Society. Rachmaninoff substituted for Arthur Nikisch, who was ill. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.