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.

December 2 1930

Prague, Czech Republic

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: This program appears to be speculative, as Satina seems to indicate that she has neither a program or a review. She writes that ‘we only assume that the same program as in Germany and Zurich was played’. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 4 1930

Hamburg, Germany

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

December 5 1930

Berlin, Germany

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

December 10 1930

Zurich, Switzerland

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: This program appears to be speculative, as Satina seems to indicate that she has neither a program or a review. She writes that ‘we only assume that the same program as in Germany and Zurich was played’. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

January 23 1931

New Haven, CT, USA
Woolsey Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

January 25 1931

Boston, MA, USA
Symphony Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

January 26 1931

Baltimore, MD, USA
Lyric Theater

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the key of Rachmaninoff’s Etude-Tableau was not given in the review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

January 30 1931

Kalamazoo, MI, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz was either op. 64, no. 3, op. 69, no. 2, or op. 42. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 1 1931

Chicago, IL, USA
Orchestra Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

February 4 1931

Cleveland, OH, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz was either op. 64, no. 3, op. 69, no. 2, or op. 42. Satina also notes that there was no mention of the Chopin Nocturne in the review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 6 1931

Rochester, NY, USA
Eastman Theater

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz was either op. 64, no. 3, op. 69, no. 2, or op. 42, and that there was no mention of the Chopin Nocturne in the review. Satina also states the Organ Chorale Prelude ‘Now Comes the Gentile’s Saviour’ of Bach-Busoni was added to the concert, presumably given first as other recitals this season opened with it. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 8 1931

Hartford, CT, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

February 10 1931

Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Hill Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz was either op. 64, no. 3, op. 69, no. 2, or op. 42. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 14 1931

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.

February 24 1931

Vancouver, BC, Canada

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz could have been either op. 64, no. 3, op. 69, no. 2, or op. 42, and that the Scriabin Etude from op. 42 was probably in C sharp minor. Satina also indicates that Medtner’s Fairy Tale in B minor could have been op. 20 or op. 34, no. 1. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 25 1931

Seattle, WA, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina indicates that the last number on the program is unknown, and could have been the Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody no. 9 with which Rachmaninoff was also ending programs during this season. Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz could have been either op. 64, no. 3, op. 69, no. 2, or op. 42, that the Scriabin Etude from op. 42 was probably in C sharp minor, and that Medtner’s Fairy Tale in B minor could have been op. 20 or op. 34, no. 1. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 26 1931

Portland, OR, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz could have been either op. 64, no. 3, op. 69, no. 2, or op. 42, that the Scriabin Etude from op. 42 was probably in C sharp minor, and that Medtner’s Fairy Tale in B minor could have been op. 20 or op. 34, no. 1. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 1 1931

San Francisco, CA, USA
Dreamland Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz could have been either op. 64, no. 3, op. 69, no. 2, or op. 42, that the Scriabin Etude from op. 42 was probably in C sharp minor, and that Medtner’s Fairy Tale in B minor could have been op. 20 or op. 34, no. 1. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 3 1931

Los Angeles, CA, USA
Philharmonic Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

March 5 1931

Pasadena, CA, USA
Junior College Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

March 7 1931

Los Angeles, CA, USA
Philharmonic Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz could have been either op. 64, no. 3, op. 69, no. 2, or op. 42, and that the Scriabin Etude from op. 42 was probably in C sharp minor. Satina also indicates that Medtner’s Fairy Tale in B minor could have been op. 20 or op. 34, no. 1. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 9 1931

San Diego, CA, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz could have been either op. 64, no. 3, op. 69, no. 2, or op. 42, that the Scriabin Etude from op. 42 was probably in C sharp minor, and that Medtner’s Fairy Tale in B minor could have been op. 20 or op. 34, no. 1. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 20 1931

Washington, DC, USA
Constitution Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz could have been either op. 64, no. 3, op. 69, no. 2, or op. 42, that the Scriabin Etude from op. 42 was probably in C sharp minor, and that Medtner’s Fairy Tale in B minor could have been op. 20 or op. 34, no. 1. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 21 1931

Philadelphia, PA, USA
Academy of Music

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina wondered whether the Chopin Waltz might not have been played, and that Medtner’s Fairy Tale in B minor could have been either op. 20 or op. 34, no. 1. Satina was also unsure if the Bach-Tausig opened the concert, or the Bach-Busoni Chorale Prelude, which opened other concerts during this season. The attached review, however, indicates the Bach-Tausig. It is interesting to note that the transcription of Flight of the Bumblebee was played as an encore, as it appears never formally to have been included in a program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 24 1931

New York, NY, USA
Carnegie Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz could have been either op. 64, no. 3, op. 69, no. 2, or op. 42, that the Scriabin Etude from op. 42 was probably in C sharp minor, and that Medtner’s Fairy Tale in B minor could have been op. 20 or op. 34, no. 1. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 26 1931

Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Syria Mosque

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz could have been either op. 64, no. 3, op. 69, no. 2, or op. 42, that the Scriabin Etude from op. 42 was probably in C sharp minor, and that Medtner’s Fairy Tale in B minor could have been op. 20 or op. 34, no. 1. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 27 1931

Brooklyn, NY, USA
The Academy of Music

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz could have been either op. 64, no. 3, op. 69, no. 2, or op. 42, that the Scriabin Etude from op. 42 was probably in C sharp minor, and that Medtner’s Fairy Tale in B minor could have been op. 20 or op. 34, no. 1. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 12 1931

Montreal, QC, Canada
St Denis Theatre

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that this was the first performance of the Variations, op. 42. It is not clear which Gavotte by Gluck arranged by Ernst Pauer was played here: there appear to be two (one in D from the ballet Don Juan, and one in G from the opera Paris and Helena). There is also a Gavotte from Pauer’s Alte Tänze, which Rachmaninoff added to a program later this season. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 15 1931

Toronto, ON, Canada
Massey Music Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: It is not clear which Gavotte by Gluck arranged by Ernst Pauer was played here: there appear to be two (one in D from the ballet Don Juan, and one in G from the opera Paris and Helena). There is also a Gavotte from Pauer’s Alte Tänze, which Rachmaninoff added to a program later this season. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 18 1931

Chicago, IL, USA
Orchestra Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: It is not clear which Gavotte by Gluck arranged by Ernst Pauer was played here: there appear to be two (one in D from the ballet Don Juan, and one in G from the opera Paris and Helena). There is also a Gavotte from Pauer’s Alte Tänze, which Rachmaninoff added to a program later this season. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.