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 26 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While Satina has indicated that the Nachtstück is in F major, it is possible that it was either no. 2 or no. 4: both are in F major, although no. 2 has an F minor section. It is believed that the Schubert Impromptu was op. 142, no. 4. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
April 29 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Nachtstück could have been either no. 2 or no. 4. Satina notes that this was the first European performance of the Variations, op. 42. Threlfall and Norris also confirm the performance of op. 42, along with the first performance of the Gavotte and Gigue from Bach's E major Partita. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
May 3 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Nachtstück could have been either no. 2 or no. 4. It is believed that the Schubert Impromptu was op. 142, no. 4. Satina notes that the ‘newspapers mentioned also the C sharp minor, op. 3, Prelude – perhaps this was given as an encore’. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
May 5 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Nachtstück could have been either no. 2 or no. 4. It is believed that the Schubert Impromptu was op. 142, no. 4. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 9 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which Rondo by Schubert this is, although an annotation on Satina's list indicates her belief that it was the final movement from the Sonata D. 850. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 10 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which Rondo by Schubert this is, although an annotation on Satina's list indicates her belief that it was the final movement from the Sonata D. 850. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 11 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which Rondo by Schubert this is, although an annotation on Satina's list indicates her belief that it was the final movement from the Sonata D. 850. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 13 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina was unable to locate details for this program, however a review indicates what was played. Satina's annotation to this program at other venues indicates her belief that the Schubert Rondo was the final movement from the Sonata D. 850. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 16 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which Rondo by Schubert this is, although an annotation on Satina's list indicates her belief that it was the final movement from the Sonata D. 850. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 17 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina was advised by the ‘Director of the Department of Archives and History of Alabama’ that Rachmaninoff played Beethoven’s Sonata in G major, op. 31, no. 1 at this concert. Satina notes that Rachmaninoff’s wife, who frequently accompanied him on tours, questioned this, but adds ‘we received later 3 printed programs from cities where this sonata has been played’. Failing evidence to the contrary, it might be that incorrect information was sent to venues and printed in programs, as occurred in 1928 (references to a Chopin Polonaise in 'E flat major' abound), and 1929 (Mozart's sonata 'no. 14' appeared in a number of programs when it is presumed that K. 576 was played). Beethoven's Sonata in D minor, op. 31, no. 2, was a frequent inclusion in Rachmaninoff's programs at this time. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 21 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which Rondo by Schubert this is, although an annotation on Satina's list indicates her belief that it was the final movement from the Sonata D. 850. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 24 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which Rondo by Schubert this is, although an annotation on Satina's list indicates her belief that it was the final movement from the Sonata D. 850. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 27 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which Rondo by Schubert this is, although an annotation on Satina's list indicates her belief that it was the final movement from the Sonata D. 850. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 1 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which Rondo by Schubert this is, although an annotation on Satina's list indicates her belief that it was the final movement from the Sonata D. 850. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 3 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which Rondo by Schubert this is, although an annotation on Satina's list indicates her belief that it was the final movement from the Sonata D. 850. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 5 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which Rondo by Schubert this is, although an annotation on Satina's list indicates her belief that it was the final movement from the Sonata D. 850. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 7 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which Rondo by Schubert this is, although an annotation on Satina's list indicates her belief that it was the final movement from the Sonata D. 850. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 9 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which Rondo by Schubert this is, although an annotation on Satina's list indicates her belief that it was the final movement from the Sonata D. 850. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 10 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which Rondo by Schubert this is, although an annotation on Satina's list indicates her belief that it was the final movement from the Sonata D. 850. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 12 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which Rondo by Schubert this is, although an annotation on Satina's list indicates her belief that it was the final movement from the Sonata D. 850. Satina indicates that the Preludes by Rachmaninoff, and his transcription of the work by Mendelssohn, were not mentioned in the review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 15 1934
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which Rondo by Schubert this is, although an annotation on Satina's list indicates her belief that it was the final movement from the Sonata D. 850. Satina indicates that the program she was sent is incomplete, as there was no mention of the works by Rachmaninoff. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 16 1934
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 18 1934
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina writes that instead of the Chopin group listed in the program (and as given in Cincinnati, OH, two nights earlier), Rachmaninoff played the Chopin Sonata ‘in memory of Albert Lockwood, who from 1900 to 1933 was Head of [the] Piano Department of the University School of Music, and who died 9 November 1933’. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 22 1934
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which Rondo by Schubert this is, although an annotation on Satina's list indicates her belief that it was the final movement from the Sonata D. 850. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 8 1934
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which Rondo by Schubert this is, although an annotation on Satina's list indicates her belief that it was the final movement from the Sonata D. 850. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 9 1934
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which Rondo by Schubert this is, although an annotation on Satina's list indicates her belief that it was the final movement from the Sonata D. 850. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 11 1934
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 25 1934
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 26 1934
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 10 1934
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that this program, which was copied from a newspaper, indicated ‘Années de Pelerinage’ for the first work by Liszt, which she presumes to be the Sonetto, as played in other recitals at this time. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.