Solo Pianist - Diary entries
Many of the initial performance details listed here were 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, especially substantial research that identified precise program details, 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), 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.
March 3 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 4 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 5 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina does not indicate further about the Liszt Etude. Her typed notes clearly state ‘A flat major’, which could be either ‘Ricordanza’ from the Transcendental Etudes or ‘Il lamento’ from the Concert Etudes, however it could be that it should state ‘D flat major’, as this etude (‘Un sospiro’) was in various programs this season. In other venues where this program was played, the Chopin Polonaise was often in E flat minor, op. 26, no. 2, the Nocturne was in F sharp major, op. 15, no. 2, and the Waltz was in F major, op. 34, no. 3. In the review of this concert, Satina notes that the Chopin Polonaise and the Liszt were not mentioned. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 7 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the review of this concert mentioned only 3 pieces by Chopin, and did not mention an Etude-Tableau by Rachmaninoff. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was played. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 8 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 9 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 10 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review mentions a performance of Rachmaninoff's Prelude in G sharp minor, not C sharp minor as recorded by Satina, although either could have been played as an encore. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 11 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina does not indicate further about the Liszt Etude. Her typed notes clearly state ‘A flat major’, which could be either ‘Ricordanza’ from the Transcendental Etudes or ‘Il lamento’ from the Concert Etudes, however it could be that it should state ‘D flat major’, as this etude (‘Un sospiro’) was in various programs this season. In other venues where this program was played, the Chopin Polonaise was often in E flat minor, op. 26, no. 2, the Nocturne was in F sharp major, op. 15, no. 2, and the Waltz was in F major, op. 34, no. 3. Satina notes that ‘the first 2 numbers are not mentioned’, presumably referring to a review of this concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 13 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the review of the concert referred only to a ‘group of Chopin pieces’. Similar programs were given in other venues around this time, and more detail is provided there. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 19 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 20 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the Paganini-Liszt was not mentioned in the review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 21 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes the slight variation in this program, with the Polichinelle being played instead of the Etude-Tableau and Minuet transcription that featured in other recitals around this time. The placement of the Polichinelle was not indicated, however. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 24 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 25 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that in other venues where this program was played, the Chopin Nocturne was in F sharp major, op. 15, no. 2, and the Waltz was in F major, op. 34, no. 3. Satina indicates Liszt’s Sonetto del Petrarca [possibly no. 104] was played in this concert, but she does not state whether it replaced another work. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 26 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that in other venues where this program was played, the Chopin Polonaise was in E flat minor, op. 26, no. 2, and the Waltz was in F major, op. 34, no. 3. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 13 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the interval was placed between the works by Chopin and Liszt. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 15 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the interval was placed between the works by Chopin and Liszt. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 19 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the interval was placed between the works by Chopin and Liszt. In addition, Satina believed that the program included a Chopin Waltz in A flat major, and the Magic Fire Music by Wagner-Brassin. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 23 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the interval was placed between the works by Chopin and Liszt. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 25 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review confirms that in this concert, and therefore presumably others at which the program was performed, only the Prelude, Saraband and Bourrée from the English Suite were included. Satina notes that the interval was placed between the works by Chopin and Liszt. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 27 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the interval was placed between the works by Chopin and Liszt. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 28 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the interval was placed between the works by Chopin and Liszt. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 30 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the interval was placed between the works by Chopin and Liszt. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 2 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the interval was placed between the works by Chopin and Liszt. Satina also writes that a laurel wreath was presented to Rachmaninoff from the Moscow Art Theatre ‘with love and admiration’. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 4 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the interval was placed between the works by Chopin and Liszt. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 5 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the interval was placed between the works by Chopin and Liszt. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 11 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the interval was placed between the works by Chopin and Liszt. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 12 1923
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the interval was placed between the works by Chopin and Liszt. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 14 1924
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the interval was placed between the works by Chopin and Liszt. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 15 1924
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the interval was placed between the works by Chopin and Liszt. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.