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 1 1935

Boston, MA, USA
Symphony Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

December 3 1935

Buffalo, NY, USA
Elmwood Music Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: The Chopin Mazurka was probably op. 68, no. 2, as Satina notes that this was what he played in Columbia, MO, in the previous month. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 6 1935

Detroit, MI, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

December 8 1935

Hartford, CT, USA
Bushnell Memorial Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

December 10 1935

Washington, DC, USA
Constitution Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

December 11 1935

Baltimore, MD, USA
Lyric Theater

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

December 17 1935

Andover, MA, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Impromptu was likely in A flat major, op. 29. The ‘Nocturne’ by Liszt is possibly the Liebestraum in A flat major, no. 3, while the Polonaise is likely no. 2 in E major. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 18 1935

Newport, RI, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Impromptu was likely in A flat major, op. 29. The ‘Nocturne’ by Liszt is possibly the Liebestraum in A flat major, no. 3, while the Polonaise is likely no. 2 in E major. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 7 1936

Lausanne, Switzerland

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

February 8 1936

Geneva, Switzerland

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

February 12 1936

Zurich, Switzerland

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: While Satina indicates that program details are not clear in regard to the Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody, it would presumably have been no. 11 in A minor, given the frequency with which Rachmaninoff performed this work at the time. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 18 1936

Strasbourg, France
Palais des Faites

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

February 24 1936

Warsaw, Poland

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: No details, apart from a note from Satina that indicates 'he played Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Liszt'. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 26 1936

Vienna, Austria

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes her belief that the group of Russian works was likely the same as were played in the concert in London on March 7 of this year. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 3 1936

Paris, France
Salle Pleyel

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

March 7 1936

London, England
Queen’s Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

March 14 1936

Brighton, England
Brighton Dome

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

March 24 1936

Leeds, England

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

November 19 1936

Syracuse, NY, USA
Lincoln Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

November 20 1936

Rochester, NY, USA
Eastman Theater

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

December 1 1936

Washington, DC, USA
Constitution Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

December 4 1936

Montclair, NJ, USA
High School Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

December 5 1936

New York, NY, USA
Carnegie Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina did not identify a Chopin Nocturne in the program, however it is noted in the review. Regarding the comment of Olin Downes, it is my view that Rachmaninoff intentionally did not name small pieces in programs, both by himself and by composers such as Chopin, so as to give him choice in what he performed. Nevertheless, the intent of Downes' comment was likely shared by numerous others. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 6 1936

Boston, MA, USA
Symphony Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the C sharp minor Etude-Tableau was not mentioned in the review of this concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 9 1936

Savannah, GA, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

December 12 1936

Dallas, TX, USA
McFarlin Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

December 15 1936

San Antonio, TX, USA
Municipal Building

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

December 17 1936

Houston, TX, USA
Scottish Rite Cathedral

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

December 19 1936

New Orleans, LA, USA
Municipal Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

January 16 1937

Milwaukee, WI, USA
Pabst Theater

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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