Diary entries
November 1 1911
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina had no details of this concert, apart from noting that in Rachmaninoff’s notebook he wrote ‘few piano pieces.’ The attached review from Hull Daily Mail indicates that it was a mixed concert with other musicians also performing, the details of whom are indicated in the second attached press clipping. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, is noted as the encore in the attached reviews. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 4 1911
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina had no details for this concert, apart from indicating that in Rachmaninoff’s notebook he had written a ‘few piano pieces.’ The details of his own works are taken from the attached review, which recounts that the other works on the program were all songs performed by a range of different vocalists. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 7, 1911
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicated the keys of the Preludes noted here, however it is not clear from the first attached review if they were programmed or played as encores. In any event, the review notes that four were heard on the night. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 2 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 5, 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted that Apetian believed that this concert occurred on November 2. Satina was informed by Rachmaninoff's notebook listing, and the date is confirmed by a review that appeared in the Russkaya Muzikal'naya Gazeta, 1912, no. 2, p. 69, which also indicated Rachmaninoff played the Polka de W.R. as an encore. The inclusion of the Polka is confirmed in the History of Russian Music (vol. 10V, book 2, p. 445), which, however, does not name all the pieces listed here. The latter source supplies the name of the venue. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 7 1911 (Julian calendar)
Notes: Satina was unable to supply details for this concert, however the History of Russian Music (vol. 10V, book 2, p. 446) states that it was a solo performance. When Rachmaninoff played this concert, the city was known as Yekaterinoslav. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 9 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina speculated that the program given here was the same as given in Kharkiv on 5 November, citing Apetian, p. 413, and a review in Russkaya Muzykal’naya Gazeta. A review in Priazovskiy Krai on November 11 confirmed certain works listed here (the reviewer referred to works in the second section from Rachmaninoff's early years ['Второе отделение заняли вещи, написанные Рахманиновым в раннюю пору его композиторской деятельности...']). The History of Russian Music (vol. 10V, book 2, p. 446) provides further information for all works listed here. The book also confirms the name of the venue, which in some sources is referred to as City Theatre (in her two-volume work on Rachmaninoff, Kovalyova-Ogorodnova indicates the theatre was built with funds from Vladimir Asmolov, vol. 1, p. 243). LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 12 1911 (Julian calendar)
Notes: Satina was unable to supply details for this concert, however the History of Russian Music (vol. 10V, book 2, p. 446) states that it was a solo performance. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 14 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The details for this concert are according to Andrianova-Ryadnova's memoirs of Rachmaninoff in Georgia, and a review published in Kavkaz on November 16 (p. 3). The review notes that Josef Hofmann was at the concert and 'applauded enthusiastically'. The State Theatre is now known as the Zacharia Paliashvili Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre. The city was known as Tiflis at the time of this concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 18 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: The details of this concert have been corroborated by Andrianova-Ryadnova's memoir of Rachmaninoff in Georgia, and a review published in Kavkaz on November 20 (p. 3). Referring to ‘p. 660’ of the Russkaya Muzykal’naya Gazeta, Satina noted a possibility that Rachmaninoff also conducted his Second Symphony in this concert, however this was not the case, and would likely have made the concert overly long. Andrianova-Ryadnova indicates that the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was played as an encore, which the review confirms but also adds 'several' encores were played. An interesting anecdote from Andrianova-Ryadnova concerns Stepan Mirzoev, the director of the Tbilisi branch of the Russian Music Society. He claimed that he persuaded Rachmaninoff to sell him the piano that he toured with, which later was sold to the Tbilisi Conservatory where it still resides. The anecdote is supported by an article on 'Music in Tbilisi 1870-1920' in Medium.com, although some sources indicate the exchange of piano occurred on one of the two later visits to Tbilisi. Attached is an image of the Bechstein piano in the Tbilisi Conservatory Museum. Some sources indicate that Josef Hofmann jointly participated in this concert, playing Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto, however this is incorrect. Further, Andrianova-Ryadnova's memoir indicates Hofmann's Tbilisi concerts occurred on November 8, 10, 11, 13, 15 and 16 of 1911 (footnote no. 4). The State Theatre is now known as the Zacharia Paliashvili Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre. The city was known as Tiflis at the time of this concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 22 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Apetian did not include this concert in her lists. A review in the Kharkovskiye Guberinya Vedomosti on November 24 indicates that Rachmaninoff played his Barcarolle, op. 10, no. 3, Polichinelle, op. 3, no. 4, the Polka de W.R., and Prelude in G minor, op. 23, no. 5, as encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 23 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina was unable to find details for this concert, however the History of Russian Music (vol. 10V, book 2, p. 447), citing Naumov, provides details of the pieces listed here. Valentin Antipov, on p. XV of the Preface to volume 18 of the Russian Critical Edition of the Complete Works, makes an interesting observation, indicating a program held in the Russian National Museum of Music (formerly the State Glinka Museum of Musical Culture) refers to 'Five Etudes op. 33' being performed (i.e., at this point without the designation 'tableaux'), as noted here. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 25 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While the program is not complete, a review in Yuzhnaya Mysl (Southern Thoughts) on November 27 indicates the pieces listed here. An interview with Rachmaninoff in the same publication on November 26 notes that unpublished works and etudes were played in Odesa the previous day, as well as in Kyiv ['У С. В. имеется несколько неизданных произведений и этюдов, которые он впервые играл н а днях в Киеве и вчера в Одессе']. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 28 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The incomplete program has been reconstructed from the attached review from the Kurjer Wilenski, which appeared the day after the concert. I am grateful to J. Falleyn for sharing this review with me. The name of the venue (Цирк) is according to the History of Russian Music (vol. 10V, book 2, p. 447). Vilnius was known as Vilno at the time of the concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 30 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: This incomplete program has been partially reconstructed from the attached review, which appeared in the Rigasche Zeitung on December 1. I am grateful to J. Falleyn for forwarding this review to me.
December 5 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina described how this program was ‘reconstructed from the newspaper Retch by Mrs E Somoff.’ Satina further indicated, though, that while she initially believed it may be incomplete she ‘checked and corrected by using Alexander Siloti’s 10th Anniversary Book’. A slightly different set of keys of preludes and etudes-tableaux are listed in a note to letter 453 in Literturnoye nasledie (vol. 2, p. 387), these being E flat major from op. 23, F minor, G major, A minor, B minor, G sharp minor and D flat major from op. 32, and C sharp minor, F minor and E flat major from op. 33. A further differing collection and order of preludes and etudes-tableaux are listed in Barber's biography of Siloti (p. 299), although this contains some obvious errors. The concert was the 2nd concert of the non-subscription series of Siloti’s 9th Season of Concerts. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 10 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: Satina notes that this was the 5th Symphony Concert of the season. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 13 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted that this was the ‘2nd Chamber Music Extra Concert’ of the season of the Moscow Philharmonic Society. From Satina’s notes, it was not clear if the order of works in this concert was correct, or indeed if the program was complete. She further noted that Preludes in the keys of G minor, G sharp minor, D flat major, and B minor were performed. While Keldysh indicated that the program was the same as in St Petersburg on December 5 (p. 338), a review by G. Prokofiev in the Russkaya Muzikal'naya Gazeta, 1912, no. 2, p. 69, confirms the works here indicated. A review by Engel in Russkiye Vedomosti on December 15 confirms the keys of the Preludes noted by Satina, although it is not clear if he provides a complete list. Engel also indicates that the program began with Rachmaninoff's earlier compositions. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 15 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: Satina believed that the program was incomplete, further indicating that Rachmaninoff conducted Mussorgsky’s Hopak as an encore, a detail supported by Keldysh (p. 339) and Martyn (p. 554). The concert was arranged by Mr Baklanoff ‘for benefit of the Society to help the needy Moscow students’. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 18 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicated that this was the 6th Symphony Concert of the Moscow Philharmonic Society, also noting that as an encore Rachmaninoff played the Elegy, op. 3, no. 1, and ‘some Preludes from op. 23’. However, a review in Russkiye Vedomosti on December 20 states that the second encore was the Prelude in G sharp minor, op. 32, no. 12. Rachmaninoff also accompanied Evgenija Zbrueva in two encores: ‘The Soldier’s Wife’, op. 8, no. 4 and ‘Spring Waters’, op. 14, no. 11.
January 7 1912 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: Satina indicated that this was the 7th Symphony Concert of the season of the Moscow Philharmonic Society. She had wondered if only the Prelude of Glazunov’s work was played, however a review in the Russian Musical Gazette (1912, no. 2) indicates the entire suite was performed. It is not clear which concerto by Davidov was performed. Satina also noted that the work by Mussorgsky was played in place of the advertised Capriccio Espagnole of Rimsky Korsakov. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 14 1912 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: Satina notes that this was the 8th Symphony Concert of the season of the Moscow Philharmonic Society. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 28 1912 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicated that this was the 9th concert in the season of Siloti’s concerts. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 2 1912 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina noted that this concert, which commenced at 1.30pm, was one of Kerzin’s concerts for the Society for the Lovers of Russian Music. She was aware only of the performance of Rachmaninoff's Second Concerto. The details of the other works on the program are according to a note to letter 458 in Literaturnoye nasledie (vol. 2, p. 389). LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 13 1912 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
February 15 1912 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
February 17 1912 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
February 20 1912 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
February 22 1912 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
February 23 1912 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor