Diary entries
December 3 1915 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was an all-Scriabin recital program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 5 1915 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina writes: ‘A printed program of this concert has been given to Rachmaninoff by a Russian refugee in Europe. This rare copy is added at present to section 5 of the Rachmaninoff Archive’. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 9 1915 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was an all-Scriabin recital program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 10 1915 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina writes that this recital was given to students of the Conservatory in the morning. Satina indicates that only Rachmaninoff and Scriabin works were in the program, which itself raises a question: up to this point, in recitals Rachmaninoff was either exclusively playing his own works, or those of Scriabin. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 12 1915 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicates that this ‘Great Concert-Performance’ was a performance for the ‘benefit of the Polish Committee to help the Refugees’. Along with performances by the Bolshoi Ballet, the event included Verses on Poland, read by M. Ermolova and T. Shepkina-Koupernik, Verses, read by Mrs Gzovskaya, and excerpts from poems by Mickiewicz. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 13 1915 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 14 1915 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that the complete program for this concert is unknown, but in later notes has indicated that included were the Prelude in G flat major, op. 23, no. 10, the Prelude in G major, op. 32, no. 5, the Etudes-Tableaux in F minor and G minor from op. 33. Encores included the Barcarolle, op. 10, no. 3, the Polichinelle, op. 3, no. 4, and the transcription of ‘Lilacs’, op. 21, no. 5. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 16 1915 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: St Petersburg was known as Petrograd at this time. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 18 1915 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: St Petersburg was known as Petrograd at this time. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 21 1915 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician and Piano Soloist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was a concert arranged by Rachmaninoff, with Anatoly Brandukov assisting, in the ‘Hall of the Nobility Girl Institution’. Further, that it was for ‘the benefit of the All Russian Nobility Union’, with the money being sent to ‘the Division on the front’. Keldysh (p. 404) indicates that the concert took place at the Noble Women's Institute. While Satina indicated only that it was an all-Rachmaninoff program, Apetian notes the pieces indicated here. The name of the violinist is not known. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 10 1916 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was an all-Rachmaninoff recital program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 18 1916 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that this was an ‘extra Symphony Concert’, for the ‘benefit of the All-Russian Cities Union’, intended to help supply the Army with materials. Shaginian, in Vospominania (vol. 2, p. 161), indicates that Rachmaninoff played his Etude-Tableau in E flat minor, op. 16, no. 2, as an encore. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 28 1916 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was a concert for the benefit of the All-Russian Cities Union, and included Scriabin’s Piano Sonata no. 5, op. 53, and ‘Ten Preludes’, along with unknown works by Rachmaninoff. Keldysh (p. 401) believes that the Scriabin program performed on November 24 and December 16 at the end of the previous year was given again here, which would appear to exclude works by Rachmaninoff. St Petersburg was known as Petrograd at this time. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 30 1916 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicates that this concert was part of Siloti’s season. St Petersburg was known as Petrograd at this time. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 3 1916 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that this concert was for the benefit of the All-Russian Cities Union, and that it comprised an all-Rachmaninoff program. St Petersburg was known as Petrograd at this time. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 10 1916 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber musician
Notes: Satina indicates that this was a chamber music concert. Apetian also notes the concert but was unable to name the program or the other performers. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 15 1916 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that this was an all-Rachmaninoff recital program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 10 1916 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician
Notes: No details. Neither Satina nor Apetian record a concert on this date, yet Keldysh (p. 404) notes a performance with Koshetz. Citing a review in Muzika (1916, no. 250, p. 186), it appears that in one section of the concert Rachmaninoff accompanied Koshetz 'in the piano part of his songs'. Further details are not known at this stage. It is presumed the concert took place in Moscow.
October 22 1916 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: St Petersburg was known as Petrograd at this time. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 24 1916 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina notes that this was the first performance of the complete series of songs, op. 38, which is dedicated to Nina Koshetz. Satina also indicates that the program – which contained three parts – appears to be the same as performed in Kyiv on January 20 1917, which is confirmed by Apetian. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 29 1916 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: St Petersburg was known as Petrograd at this time. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 30 1916 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina indicates that the same program was given here as in the concert in Moscow, October 24 1916, (and, therefore, Kyiv, January 20 1917), as is copied above. However, she also notes the possible addition of ‘How fair this spot’, op. 21, no. 7, and ‘When Yesterday we met’, op. 26, no. 13, ‘and possibly some others’. St Petersburg was known as Petrograd at this time. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 29 1916 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the first performance of the Etudes-Tableaux, op. 39, although only 8 were included in the set. While the manuscripts for nos. 5 and 9 bear the date 1917, Threlfall and Norris claim that no. 5 was performed. Keldysh (p. 407) indicates that both nos. 5 and 9 were performed, explaining their manuscript dates as due to later polishing, and states that no. 8 (D minor) was written only in early 1917. Keldysh cites reviews that mention specifically Etude-tableau no. 5. Satina indicates that she constructed the program from a review of both this concert and one on December 1, and that it’s not possible to ascertain if Rachmaninoff played 6 Preludes from op. 23 and 6 Preludes from op. 32, or only 6 in total. She also indicates that the Variations on a Theme of Chopin, op. 22, might have been performed at this concert. Keldysh indicates that the program was repeated in St Petersburg on December 1, 8, and 10, although Satina has no record of the last of these dates. St Petersburg was known as Petrograd at this time. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 1 1916 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the second performance of the Etudes-Tableaux, op. 39, although only 8 were included in the set. While the manuscripts for nos. 5 and 9 bear the date 1917, Threlfall and Norris claim that no. 5 was performed. Keldysh (p. 407) indicates that both nos. 5 and 9 were performed, explaining their manuscript dates as due to later polishing, and states that no. 8 (D minor) was written only in early 1917. Keldysh cites reviews that mention specifically Etude-tableau no. 5. Satina indicates that she constructed the program from a review of both this concert and one on November 29, and that it’s not possible to ascertain if Rachmaninoff played 6 Preludes from op. 23 and 6 Preludes from op. 32, or only 6 in total. Keldysh indicates that the program was repeated in St Petersburg on December 8 and 10, although Satina has no record of the last of these dates. St Petersburg was known as Petrograd at this time. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 2 1916 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina indicates that the same program was given here as in the concert in Moscow, October 24 1916, (and, therefore, Kyiv, January 20 1917), which is also confirmed by Apetian. However, Satina also notes the addition of ‘How fair this spot’, op. 21, no. 7, and ‘When Yesterday we met’, op. 26, no. 13, ‘and possibly some others’. St Petersburg was known as Petrograd at this time. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 5 1916 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the first performance of the still-incomplete set of Etudes-Tableaux, op. 39, in Moscow. Satina has placed a question mark next to the venue, presumably indicating that the precise location is uncertain. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 6 1916 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that the program was the same as given in the concert on December 5 1916, also noting that ‘25% of the proceeds were given to the needy Students of the College’. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 8 1916 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina was unable to find details of this program, however Keldysh (p. 407) indicates that it was the same as was performed on November 29 and December 1. However, as Satina indicated a different work beginning each of those concerts, it is not possible ascertain the complete program on this date. Keldysh also believed this program was repeated yet again in St Petersburg on December 10, however Satina does not record a concert on this date. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 11 1916 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that this was an all-Rachmaninoff program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 13 1916 (Julian calendar)
Notes: No details. St Petersburg was known as Petrograd at this time. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.