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 12 1928

Tampa, FL, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 15 1928

Miami, FL, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the Nocturne and Scherzo by Chopin were not mentioned in the review, ‘probably by mistake’. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 21 1928

Baltimore, MD, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 25 1928

Boston, MA, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 29 1928

Westfield, NJ, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 31 1928

New York, NY, USA
Carnegie Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

April 19 1928

Short Hills, NJ, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

April 22 1928

New York, NY, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that this was Rachmaninoff’s third appearance in New York in the Spring of 1928, and that the concert was a benefit for Russian war invalids abroad. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

May 19 1928

London, England
Queen’s Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: While Satina does not provide any information about the Rachmaninoff Preludes, a bracket of four was played in concerts in Europe later this year, such as in Copenhagen on October 2, and it could be that the same set was played here. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 2 1928

Copenhagen, Denmark

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 5 1928

Copenhagen, Denmark

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor is presumably L. 413, which he recorded. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 9 1928

Oslo, Norway

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 10 1928

Bergen, Norway

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor is presumably L. 413, which he recorded. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 16 1928

Stockholm, Sweden

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 18 1928

Uppsala, Sweden

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 19 1928

Stockholm, Sweden

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor is presumably L. 413, which he recorded. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 22 1928

The Hague, Netherlands

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that a Chopin Nocturne appears to have been played as an encore at this concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 23 1928

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 25 1928

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 29 1928

The Hague, Netherlands

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina indicates that the pieces by Liszt were not mentioned in the review she received of this concert, but suspects that the works were played. The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor is presumably L. 413, which he recorded. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 30 1928

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina indicates that the pieces by Liszt were not mentioned in the review she received of this concert, but suspects that the works were played. The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor is presumably L. 413, which he recorded. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 9 1928

Berlin, Germany
Philharmonic Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina indicates that the keys of the Preludes by Rachmaninoff were not stated in the program, but she believes that they would be the same as in other cities where this program was played. However, note the slight change in the program in Paris on December 2. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 24 1928

Dresden, Germany
Gewandhaus

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina indicates that the keys of the Preludes by Rachmaninoff were not stated in the program, but she believes that they would be the same as in other cities where this program was played. However, note the slight change in the program in Paris on December 2. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 27 1928

Prague, Czech Republic

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: No details, although Satina notes her understanding that works by Bach, Chopin and Liszt were played. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 2 1928

Paris, France
Théâtre des Champs-Elysée

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

January 13 1929

Indianapolis, IN, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: It is likely that the keys for the Chopin works were the same as performed in the same program in Cleveland, Boston and New York. Satina notes that the Schumann was not mentioned in the review of this concert, ‘probably by mistake’. The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor is presumably L. 413, which he recorded. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

January 15 1929

Columbus, OH, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: It is likely that the keys for the Chopin works were the same as performed in the same program in Cleveland, Boston and New York. The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor is presumably L. 413, which he recorded. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

January 23 1929

Cleveland, OH, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor is presumably L. 413, which he recorded. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

January 25 1929

Rochester, NY, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina writes: ‘If the review was correct, he played Schumann’s Papillons after Carnaval.’ The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor is presumably L. 413, which he recorded. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

January 27 1929

Hartford, CT, USA
Capitol Theater

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor is presumably L. 413, which he recorded. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.