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.
February 19 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which work by Rameau is indicated, but it could be the Gavotte and Variations (Gavotte et six doubles) from the Suite in A minor, RCT 5. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 21 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: A review in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph the following day confirms the program, also indicating that Liszt's Liebestraum no. 3, a Chopin waltz, Tchaikovsky's Troika, and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, were played as encores. The image of the Sheffield Daily Telegraph is used with kind permission of The British Library Board. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 24 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Apetian did not list this concert, yet details appeared in records maintained by Rachmaninoff's UK agent, and the program was listed by Satina. A newspaper review article in the Hampshire Advertise and Southampton Times the day after the concert, on February 25, written by their music critic, 'Faux Bourdon', noted that Rachmaninoff's concert would be covered the following week, perhaps suggesting that publication issues might have prevented immediate filing of notices, and also explaining why Satina might have been convinced Rachmaninoff performed. Yet in the issue of March 4, Bourdon opened by stating 'It was, no doubt, a great disappointment to many that Rachmaninoff, the great composer-pianist, was unable to appear at last Friday's Celebrity Concert'; it noted that Vladimir Horowitz appeared instead. Hence, it is clear that Rachmaninoff did not perform at this time in Southampton. The program would have been identical to that played in Sheffield on February 21, and in Middlesborough on February 28, with works by Bach, Beethoven, Debussy, Rachmaninoff, Chopin and Liszt. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 28 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 2 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 4 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Reviews in The Scotsman and the Edinburgh Evening News, both on March 6, indicate that Rachmaninoff played his Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, and Liszt's Liebestraum no. 3 as encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 7 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 11 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 12 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina believed that Schumann's Fantasiestücke, op. 12, were performed at this rescheduled concert, yet the attached review indicates the work by Debussy. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, is noted as an encore. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 28 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina acknowledges that this program is ‘incomplete’. It seems likely that the Chopin Etudes were the same as played in other concert in Europe at this time, similarly with the work or works by Liszt. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 30 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina appears to have been unable to find any details for this concert, which is presumed to have been a solo recital. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
April 25 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina appears to have been unable to find any details for this concert, which she presumed to have been a solo recital, however a review in Le Ménestrel from May 5 indicates that the program was similar to recitals in the United Kingdom in March, and a more recent concert in Amsterdam. The four etudes by Chopin were likely nos. 7, 5, 4 and 12 from op. 25, the works by Liszt could have been the Concert Etude in D flat major, Waldesrauschen and Gnomenreigen. There is no explanation for the reference to Rachmaninoff being Danish. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 18 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 20 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 23 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While the key of the Schubert Impromptu was consistently listed as A flat minor, Martyn (p. 434) confirms it was D. 899, no. 4. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 24 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While the key of the Schubert Impromptu was consistently listed as A flat minor, Martyn (p. 434) confirms it was D. 899, no. 4. Satina believed that only two etudes by Liszt were played, yet the attached review indicates the collection of three that appeared in many programs of the time. A Chopin mazurka and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, are noted as encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 30 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Liszt's Liebestraum no. 3, a Chopin mazurka, and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, are noted as encores in the attached reviews. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 7 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While the key of the Schubert Impromptu was consistently listed as A flat minor, Martyn (p. 434) confirms it was D. 899, no. 4. It is likely that Medtner’s Fairy Tale was op. 34, no. 2. Satina notes that Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in G major, op. 32, no. 5, was also played in this concert, in place of ‘the 2 pieces listed in the program’ – it is not clear which pieces were not played. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 8 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While the key of the Schubert Impromptu was consistently listed as A flat minor, Martyn (p. 434) confirms it was D. 899, no. 4. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 11 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While the key of the Schubert Impromptu was consistently listed as A flat minor, Martyn (p. 434) confirms it was D. 899, no. 4. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 12 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that Schubert’s Impromptu in A flat was added to this program, D. 899, no. 4. From the reviews, it would appear that the Etude-Tableau was op. 39, no. 6. Two Chopin Mazurkas, the Minuet from Bizet's 'L'Arlesienne', and the A flat Liszt Liebestraum are noted as encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 14 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While the key of the Schubert Impromptu was consistently listed as A flat minor, Martyn (p. 434) confirms it was D. 899, no. 4. It is likely that Medtner’s Fairy Tale was op. 34, no. 2. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, is noted as an encore in the second attached review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 19 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While the key of the Schubert Impromptu was consistently listed as A flat minor, Martyn (p. 434) confirms it was D. 899, no. 4. It is likely that Medtner’s Fairy Tale was op. 34, no. 2. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 21 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While the key of the Schubert Impromptu was consistently listed as A flat minor, Martyn (p. 434) confirms it was D. 899, no. 4. It is likely that Medtner’s Fairy Tale was op. 34, no. 2. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, is noted as an encore in the attached review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 23 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While the key of the Schubert Impromptu was consistently listed as A flat minor, Martyn (p. 434) confirms it was D. 899, no. 4. It is likely that Medtner’s Fairy Tale was op. 34, no. 2. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 14 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While the key of the Schubert Impromptu was consistently listed as A flat minor, Martyn (p. 434) confirms it was D. 899, no. 4. The attached review indicates a Chopin mazurka, the Wagner-Brassin Magic Fire Music, Liszt's Liebestraum no. 3, and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, were given as encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 15 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While the key of the Schubert Impromptu was consistently listed as A flat minor, Martyn (p. 434) confirms it was D. 899, no. 4. It is likely that Medtner’s Fairy Tale was op. 34, no. 2. A Chopin Mazurka in A minor, the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, and the transcription of Rimsky-Korsakov's Bumble Bee are noted as encores in the attached review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 23 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Apetian included this recital, however it did not appear on Satina's list (possibly through inadvertent error, as she had a partial copy of the program). The first half of the program is according to the attached review. In other cities that featured this program (such as February 9 in Hastings, NE), the Schubert-Liszt transcription of 'The Trout' was also given, although it is not mentioned in the review. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, is noted as an encore. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 3 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While the key of the Schubert Impromptu was consistently listed as A flat minor, Martyn (p. 434) confirms it was D. 899, no. 4. It is likely that Medtner’s Fairy Tale was op. 34, no. 2. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 6 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While the key of the Schubert Impromptu was consistently listed as A flat minor, Martyn (p. 434) confirms it was D. 899, no. 4. It is likely that Medtner’s Fairy Tale was op. 34, no. 2. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, and the transcription of Rimsky-Korsakov's Bumble Bee are noted as encores in the attached review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.