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.
November 29 1932
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 30 1932
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted that the keys of the works by Chopin were based on those played in Nashville and other concerts in the season; yet it might be that different works by Chopin were played in some iterations of this program. Satina also notes that Schubert’s song, The Brooklet, was not mentioned in the review of this concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 2 1932
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted that the keys of the works by Chopin were based on those played in Nashville and other concerts in the season; yet it might be that different works by Chopin were played in some iterations of this program. Mussorgsky's Hopak is noted among the transcriptions in the attached review, however the press clipping lists the song typically played in this program. Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, Tchaikovsky's Troika, the transcription of Rimsky-Korsakov's Bumble Bee, and a Chopin waltz are noted as encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 5 1932
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 9 1932
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 10 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 16 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Chopin Ballade was presumably no. 3 in A flat major. A Waltz in A flat major, and the Nocturne in F sharp, op. 15, no. 2, appeared in similar programs during this season. An unnamed work by Rachmaninoff, a Chopin waltz, Rachmaninoff's transcription of Rimsky-Korsakov's Bumble Bee, and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, are noted as the encores in one of the attached reviews. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 23 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was the first performance of the Mendelssohn transcription, which is also noted by Threlfall and Norris (III/7), however reviews and an advance press notice of the program in Macon, GA, on January 19 indicate that it was first played there. Satina indicates that the Chopin works were likely a Waltz in A flat major, the Nocturne in F sharp, op. 15, no. 2, and the Ballade no. 3 in A flat major, op. 47. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 24 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that the Chopin waltz was likely in A flat major. Tchaikovsky's Troika, and Rachmaninoff's transcriptions of Mussorgsky's Hopak and Rimsky-Korsakov's Bumble Bee are noted as the encores in the attached review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 26 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that the Chopin works were likely a Waltz in A flat major, the Nocturne in F sharp, op. 15, no. 2, and the Ballade no. 3 in A flat major, op. 47, the last confirmed by the attached review. She appears not to have had access to a program or review of this concert, yet her speculation based on programs given on either side is supported by the review. Tchaikovsky's Troika, Tausig's transcription of Schumann's Kontrabandiste, and Rachmaninoff's transcriptions of Mussorgsky's Hopak and Rimsky-Korsakov's Bumble Bee are noted as the encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 28 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that the Chopin works were likely a Waltz in A flat major and the Nocturne in F sharp, op. 15, no. 2. Satina also notes that the works by Rachmaninoff were not mentioned in the review she had been sent. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 30 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that the Chopin works were likely a Waltz in A flat major, the Nocturne in F sharp, op. 15, no. 2, and the Ballade no. 3 in A flat major, op. 47. Tchaikovsky's Troika, Rachmaninoff's transcriptions of Mussorgsky's Hopak and Rimsky-Korsakov's Bumble Bee, Tausig's transcription of Schumann's Kontrabandiste, and Rachmaninoff's Humoresque, op. 10, no. 5, are noted as the encores in the attached review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 4 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. Satina believed the Schubert Impromptu was D. 935, no. 4, while Martyn (p. 434) indicates D. 935, no. 1. The Ballade no. 3 in A flat major, op. 47, was played in other programs during this season, along with a Waltz in A flat major. The Liszt Sonetto del Petrarca in E major, no. 104, was frequently played in programs in numerous earlier seasons. Satina notes that the Rapsodie by Liszt was not mentioned in a review of this concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 9 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the work by Scriabin was not mentioned in the review she was sent, yet the attached reviews indicate that it opened the program. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, is noted as one of the encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 10 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. Satina believed the Schubert Impromptu was D. 935, no. 4, while Martyn (p. 434) indicates D. 935, no. 1. The Ballade no. 3 in A flat major, op. 47, by Chopin was played in other programs during this season, along with the Nocturne in F sharp major, op. 15, no. 2. The Liszt Sonetto del Petrarca in E major, no. 104, was frequently played in programs in numerous earlier seasons. A waltz and mazurka by Chopin, the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, Liszt's transcription of Wagner's Spinning Song and Tausig's transcription of Schumann's Kontrabandiste are noted as the encores in the attached review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 13 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Tchaikovsky's Troika, Rachmaninoff's transcriptions of Mussorgsky's Hopak and Rimsky-Korsakov's Bumble Bee, and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, are noted as the encores in the attached reviews. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 14 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. Satina believed the Schubert Impromptu was D. 935, no. 4, while Martyn (p. 434) indicates D. 935, no. 1. The Liszt Sonetto del Petrarca in E major, no. 104, was frequently played in programs in numerous earlier seasons. A Chopin mazurka, Tausig's transcription of Schumann's Kontrabandiste, Rubinstein's transcription of Beethoven's Turkish March, and Rachmaninoff's transcription of Rimsky-Korsakov's Bumble Bee are noted as the encores in the attached review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 18 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Chopin Ballade was presumably no. 3 in A flat major. A Waltz in A flat major, and the Nocturne in F sharp, op. 15, no. 2, appeared in similar programs during this season. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 20 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While this concert has been noted as the first performance of Rachmaninoff's transcription of the Prelude from Bach's violin partita (for example, Threlfall and Norris, III/1), it is not mentioned in the attached reviews; indeed, the numeration of programmed items that are mentioned would appear to rule it out. Satina has indicated that the Nachtstück is in F major, it is possible that it was either no. 2 or no. 4. She believed the Schubert Impromptu was D. 935, no. 4, while Martyn (p. 434) indicates D. 935, no. 1. The Liszt Sonetto del Petrarca in E major, no. 104, was frequently played in programs in numerous earlier seasons. Chopin’s Nocturne in F sharp major, op. 15, no. 2, and Ballade no. 3 in A flat major, op. 47, were often played in other recitals during this season. A Chopin Mazurka, Rachmaninoff's transcriptions of Rimsky-Korsakov's Bumble Bee and Mussorgsky's Hopak, and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, are noted among five encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 22 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina believed that Rachmaninoff's transcription of the Prelude from the Violin Partita was performed at this concert, however it is not mentioned in the attached reviews. Similarly, she thought it was possible that a Liszt etude was added to this program, however it is also not mentioned in the reviews. While she has indicated that the Nachtstück is in F major, it is possible that it was either no. 2 or no. 4. Satina believed the Schubert Impromptu was D. 935, no. 4, while Martyn (p. 434) indicates D. 935, no. 1. The Liszt Sonetto del Petrarca in E major, no. 104, was frequently played in programs in numerous earlier seasons. Chopin’s Nocturne in F sharp major, op. 15, no. 2, and Ballade no. 3 in A flat major, op. 47, were often played in other recitals during this season. Tchaikovsky's Troika, Rachmaninoff's Humoresque, op. 10, no. 5, and Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, and his transcription of Mussorgsky's Hopak are noted as the encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 23 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina believed that Rachmaninoff's transcription of the Prelude from the Violin Partita was performed at this concert, however it is not included in the press notice of the program. While she has indicated that the Nachtstück is in F major, it is possible that it was either no. 2 or no. 4. Satina believed the Schubert Impromptu was D. 935, no. 4, while Martyn (p. 434) indicates D. 935, no. 1. The Liszt Sonetto del Petrarca in E major, no. 104, was frequently played in programs in numerous earlier seasons. Chopin’s Nocturne in F sharp major, op. 15, no. 2, and Ballade no. 3 in A flat major, op. 47, were often played in other recitals during this season. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 27 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina believed that Rachmaninoff's transcription of the Prelude from the Violin Partita had been played in preceding concerts in Portland, Vancouver and Seattle, however this appears not to have been the case. As she indicated that a review she had read had 'not mentioned the Chopin Nocturne or the Preludes by Rachmaninoff', it is therefore possible she had seen the Prelude mentioned at this concert, and that Denver therefore was its first performance. At present, no review or press notice has been found to confirm this. While She had indicated that the Nachtstück is in F major, it is possible that it was either no. 2 or no. 4. Satina believed the Schubert Impromptu was D. 935, no. 4, while Martyn (p. 434) indicates D. 935, no. 1. The Liszt Sonetto del Petrarca in E major, no. 104, was frequently played in programs in numerous earlier seasons. Chopin’s Nocturne in F sharp major, op. 15, no. 2, and Ballade no. 3 in A flat major, op. 47, were often played in other recitals during this season. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 3 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review clearly indicates that Rachmaninoff's transcription of the Prelude from the Violin Partita was played at this concert. While it is possible it was played at the preceding concert in Denver on February 27, it might be that the concert in Rochester marked the premiere of this work. While she had indicated that the Nachtstück is in F major, it is possible that it was either no. 2 or no. 4. Satina believed the Schubert Impromptu was D. 935, no. 4, while Martyn (p. 434) indicates D. 935, no. 1. The Liszt Sonetto del Petrarca in E major, no. 104, was frequently played in programs in numerous earlier seasons. Chopin’s Nocturne in F sharp major, op. 15, no. 2, and Ballade no. 3 in A flat major, op. 47, were often played in other recitals during this season. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 6 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina was unsure how many of his own preludes Rachmaninoff played in the body of the recital, but this is clarified by the attached review. While she has indicated that the Nachtstück is in F major, it is possible that it was either no. 2 or no. 4. She believed the Schubert Impromptu was D. 935, no. 4, while Martyn (p. 434) indicates D. 935, no. 1. The Liszt Sonetto del Petrarca in E major, no. 104, was frequently played in programs around this time. Tchaikovsky's Troika, and Rachmaninoff's Humoresque, op. 10, no. 5, and Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, are noted as the encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 14 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. Satina believed the Schubert Impromptu was D. 935, no. 4, while Martyn (p. 434) indicates D. 935, no. 1. The Liszt Sonetto del Petrarca in E major, no. 104, was frequently played in programs in numerous earlier seasons. Chopin’s Nocturne in F sharp major, op. 15, no. 2, and Ballade no. 3 in A flat major, op. 47, were often played in other recitals during this season. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 18 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review indicates that this was a 'semi-surprise' recital, as the first half was different to what had been announced; yet the attached program appears unchanged (the attached press clipping indicates what originally had been announced). 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; however, the Nachtstück was not mentioned in the review. Satina believed the Schubert Impromptu was D. 935, no. 4, while Martyn (p. 434) indicates D. 935, no. 1. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 19 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. Satina believed the Schubert Impromptu was D. 935, no. 4, while Martyn (p. 434) indicates D. 935, no. 1. The Liszt Sonetto del Petrarca in E major, no. 104, was frequently played in programs in numerous earlier seasons. Chopin’s Nocturne in F sharp major, op. 15, no. 2, and Ballade no. 3 in A flat major, op. 47, were often played in recitals during this season. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 21 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. Satina believed the Schubert Impromptu was D. 935, no. 4, while Martyn (p. 434) indicates D. 935, no. 1. The Liszt Sonetto del Petrarca in E major, no. 104, was frequently played in programs in numerous earlier seasons. Chopin’s Nocturne in F sharp major, op. 15, no. 2, and Ballade no. 3 in A flat major, op. 47, were often played in other recitals during this season. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 23 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. Satina believed the Schubert Impromptu was D. 935, no. 4, while Martyn (p. 434) indicates D. 935, no. 1. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 27 1933
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina lists this concert for March 26, however the attached press clipping indicates that it occurred the following evening. While she 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. Satina believed the Schubert Impromptu was D. 935, no. 4, while Martyn (p. 434) indicates D. 935, no. 1. While the press clipping indicates that three preludes by Rachmaninoff would be played in the body of the program, two of the three reviews note only two. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, is noted as one of the encores in the attached review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.