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 21 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
June 30 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina was unable to find any details of this concert, but Apetian believed it was a 'mixed concert' in which Rachmaninoff played 5 works, the names of which she did not know. Michael Scott in his book (2008) cited the name of the hotel, further indicating that Enrico Caruso performed at the event, also indicating that it was a 'special benefit given for Victor artists for the National Association of Talking Machine Jobbers' (p. 170). These details are confirmed in the attached press clipping, while the third attached review gives the most detailed account of what was played. Debussy's Cakewalk and Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, appear to have been given as encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 11 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 14 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted that material she had sent about the concert appeared to be incomplete, mentioning only the Beethoven and the Mendelssohn, but in relation to works by Rachmaninoff mentioning two Etudes-Tableaux. This is perhaps the same press clipping that is attached. The attached reviews provide almost no detail on the works played. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 15 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina pondered whether Grieg’s ‘On the Mountains’ was played in this recital, which is confirmed in the second attached review. It is not clear which works by Rachmaninoff were played, with Satina wondering if the Polichinelle replaced the Etudes-Tableaux, as in other venues. A seventh Mendelssohn work is noted as an encore (possibly the Spinning Song), while the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was given at the end. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 16 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted an awareness that Rachmaninoff played different works of his own than originally scheduled, substituting the Polichinelle and Barcarolle. Mendelssohn's Spinning Song is noted as an encore after the other Mendelssohn works. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 18 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While most subsequent programs indicate five of Mendelssohn's Songs Without Word, the attached press clipping and review indicate six were programmed and played. A further work, Spinning Song, was played as an encore at the end of this group, while the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was played at the end. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 22 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted awareness that Rachmaninoff had originally programmed different works of his own for this recital, later substituting his Polichinelle and Barcarolle. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 23 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While the attached press clipping indicates the Chopin Waltz was placed before the Barcarolle, the attached reviews all indicate the order being reversed. Encores noted were Mendelssohn's Hunting Song after the Debussy pieces, Chopin's Waltz in C sharp minor, op. 64, no. 2, and Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, after the Chopin group, and a Mazurka 'in C sharp' by Chopin at the end of the recital. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 24 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that Rachmaninoff’s Polichinelle, op. 3, no. 4, was apparently added to the program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 26 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached reviews indicate that Mendelssohn's Spinning Song was given as an encore after the Mendelssohn group, Chopin's Waltz in G flat major, op. 70, no. 1, and C sharp minor, op. 64, no. 2 (referred to as 'C minor'), after the Chopin group, and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, as one of two encores at the end. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 28 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina wrote that Rachmaninoff played his Polichinelle, op. 3, no. 4, and his Barcarolle, op. 10, no. 3, instead of the two works listed in the program, which is confirmed by the attached review. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, which had been listed, was played as an encore. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 30 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina writes that Rachmaninoff apparently played his Polichinelle, op. 3, no. 4, and his Barcarolle, op. 10, no. 3, instead of the two works listed in the program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 3 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 5 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Mendelssohn's Spinning Song is noted in the attached reviews as an encore after the Mendelssohn group, while the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was among the encores at the end. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 8 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicated that Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was played in the bracket of his own works, however the attached review appears to place it after the Chopin works. A Chopin mazurka is noted as one of two encores at the end of the recital. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 10 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The first attached review indicates that Mendelssohn's Spinning Song was played as an encore after the Mendelssohn group, and that Chopin's Ballade replaced the advertised Barcarolle. Chopin's Waltz in G flat major, op. 70, no. 1, was given an encore after the programmed waltz. The other reviews indicate that the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was given as an encore at the end of the recital, apparently also with more waltzes by Chopin. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 15 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached reviews indicate that Mendelssohn's Spinning Song was given as an encore after the Mendelssohn group, Chopin's Waltz in C sharp minor, op. 64, no. 1, after the Chopin group, and at the end Chopin's Waltz in G flat major (referred to as 'G major') and Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2. Satina believed that a work by Grieg was on the program, as well as different works by Rachmaninoff, however the attached press clippings and reviews indicate otherwise. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 19 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The third attached review notes the encores as being Mendelssohn's Spinning Song after the Mendelssohn group, a further Chopin waltz after the Chopin pieces, and at the end a work by Tchaikovsky and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, among other pieces. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 6 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 8 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review notes Mendelssohn's Spinning Song and Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, as among the encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 10 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached reviews note that Mendelssohn's Spinning Song was given as an encore after the other Mendelssohn works, while the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was included in encores at the end. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 12 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review indicates that Mendelssohn's Spinning Song was given as an encore after Schumann's Papillons, Chopin's Waltz in E flat major, op. 18, was given after the Chopin group, and that at the end of the recital the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, and Chopin's Waltz in C sharp minor, op. 64, no. 2, were played. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 14 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina believed that Mozart's Sonata in A major, K. 331, was also included in this concert, however it is not noted in the program printed in the second attached press clipping. No review has yet been located. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 16 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: For this program, Satina included what she referred to as 'Praeludium' by JS Bach as the second item, yet does not offer any further information. Such a work does not appear on any similar programs of the time, nor does mention of it occur in the reviews. The second attached review indicates that the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was the final of five encores given at this recital. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 18 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted that a mazurka by Chopin (which she believed might have been in A flat major, op. 59, no. 2) was played as an encore after the Chopin group, which the second attached review appears to indicate was after a further two waltzes had already been given as encores. Mendelssohn's Spinning Song is noted as an encore after Schumann's Papillons, while the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, is noted at the end. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 24 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review indicates that as encores Mendelssohn's Spinning Song was added after the Songs Without Words, a short piece was played after the Chopin group (likely a Chopin waltz), and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was given at the end. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 25 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review notes encores as being one of Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words, and Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 30 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review indicates that Mendelssohn's Spinning Song was given as an encore after Schumann's Papillons, and Chopin's Waltz in F major, op. 34, no. 2, after the Chopin group. At the end of the concert, the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was followed by Debussy's Cakewalk. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 31 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The third attached review indicates clearly the encores for this concert: after Schumann's Papillons, Mendelssohn's Song Without Words, 'Hunting Song', was played; while after the Chopin group the Waltz in F major, op. 34, no. 3, was given. At the end of the concert, Rachmaninoff's played his Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, and Chopin's Waltz in C sharp minor, op. 64, no. 2. The second attached review notes a further work by Mendelssohn as an encore, although it is not clear if this was in error. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.