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 15 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina was unsure of which works by Chopin were played, however the attached press clippings clarify the program further. The second attached review indicates that Chopin's Nocturne in E flat major, op. 9, no. 2, Tchaikovsky's Troika, and Rachmaninoff's transcription of Mussorgsky's Hopak were played as encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 21 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The details of the Chopin Etudes and Scherzo are likely similar to what was played in New York a few nights later. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 25 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina was unaware of the details for the Chopin pieces, but these have been confirmed by the attached review. The encores are noted as Tchaikovsky's Troika, Rachmaninoff's transcription of Mussorgsky's Hopak, and his Preludes in G minor, op. 23, no. 5, and C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 29 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached press clipping notes that the program played was the same as for New York the following evening. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 31 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
April 19 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
April 22 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted 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, raising $4,635. In the attached review, however, Olin Downes indicates a figure of over $6,000 was raised. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
May 19 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While Satina did not provide any information about the Rachmaninoff Preludes, the attached review indicates their keys. It is not clear, however, whether the C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was played as the encore. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 2 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 5 1928
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
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: I am grateful to J. Falleyn for forwarding the third attached press clipping and the review of this concert. The review notes that a Chopin nocturne was played as an encore. Satina believed that the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was programmed, however the Prelude in G minor, op. 23, no. 5, was in its place. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 10 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor was presumably L. 413, which he recorded. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 16 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 18 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 19 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor was presumably L. 413, which he recorded. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 22 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted that a Chopin nocturne had been played as an encore at this concert, which is confirmed by a review in the Haagsche Courant on October 23 that also indicates a further Chopin waltz was played at the end. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 23 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 25 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: A review in the Rotterdamsch Nieuwsblad on October 26 confirms the order of the program, but does not name the keys of Rachmaninoff's preludes (which may have been different to those noted by Satina on this tour). LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 29 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicated that the pieces by Liszt were not mentioned in the reviews she had received for this concert and the following concert in Amsterdam, but suspects that the works noted here were played. A review in De Avondpost on October 30 appears to indicate that only two of Rachmaninoff's Etudes-Tableaux were played, while also noting the inclusion of some preludes. The Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody is confirmed, and works by Chopin and Rachmaninoff are noted as encores. The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor was presumably L. 413, which Rachmaninoff recorded. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 30 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicated that the pieces by Liszt were not mentioned in the reviews she had received for this concert or for the preceding concert in The Hague, but suspects that the works were played. A review in Het Volk on October 31 confirms the works by Beethoven, Schumann, Rachmaninoff and Liszt. The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor was presumably L. 413, which he recorded. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 9 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicated that the keys of the Preludes by Rachmaninoff were not stated in the program, but she believed that they would be the same as in other cities where this program was played. The attached review confirms the major works but does not provide details for the smaller pieces played. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 24 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicated that the keys of the Preludes by Rachmaninoff were not stated in the program, but she believed they would have been the same as in other cities where this program was played. However, it is worth observing the slight changes in the program, such as in Paris on December 2. The attached review unfortunately does not provide specific details of the smaller works. Satina also believed that the concert took place in the Dresden Gewandhaus, however the attached press clipping indicates the large hall of the Geweberhaus. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 27 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: No details, although Satina notes her understanding that works by Bach, Chopin and Liszt were played. The attached press clipping identifies the venue for the concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 2 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 13 1929
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is likely that the key for the Chopin work was the same as performed in the same program in Cleveland, Boston and New York. Satina noted that the Schumann was not mentioned in the review of this concert she had been sent, ‘probably by mistake’. The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor was presumably L. 413, which he recorded. Rachmaninoff's transcription of Kreisler's Liebesleid and the Prelude in G minor, op. 23, no. 5 are noted as the encores in the third attached review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 15 1929
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is likely that the key for the Chopin work was the same as performed in the same program in Cleveland, Boston and New York. The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor was presumably L. 413, which he recorded. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 23 1929
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor was presumably L. 413, which he recorded. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 25 1929
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina wondered whether, based on a review she had been sent, Rachmaninoff played Schumann’s Papillons in this concert, however the attached review confirms the program. The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor was presumably L. 413, which he recorded. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, is noted as one of three encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 27 1929
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor was presumably L. 413, which he recorded. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, is noted as the encore in the attached review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 3 1929
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Rachmaninoff's transcription of Kreisler's Liebesleid is noted among the encores in the attached review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.