Diary entries
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.
August 11 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that this concert was part of an International Music Festival. It seems ironic that a work so associated (even if wrongly) with the destruction wrought on Europe by the First World War, Ravel's La valse, ends this concert – Rachmaninoff’s final performance in Europe – on the eve of the Second World War. While Satina didn't provide details regarding the ensemble, the attached festival program booklet describes it as 'a first-rate orchestra of 90 professional musicians'. 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 26 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 28 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: 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 3 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: In a letter to his agent dated October 5 1939 in the Library of Congress archive, Rachmaninoff notes the 'absolute necessity' of indicating that the 'Edition of A. Ziloti' was used for Totentanz. 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 16 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: 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.
November 26 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the first of three consecutive Sunday evenings devoted to Rachmaninoff’s compositions, promoted as a ‘Rachmaninoff Cycle’. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 1 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 2 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 3 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the second of three consecutive Sunday evenings devoted to Rachmaninoff’s compositions, promoted as a ‘Rachmaninoff Cycle’. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 4 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina confirms that Rachmaninoff performed this concert after the recording session earlier in the day. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 8 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: Satina notes that this was the third of three consecutive Sunday evenings devoted to Rachmaninoff’s compositions, promoted as a ‘Rachmaninoff Cycle’. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 9 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: Satina notes that this was the third of three consecutive Sunday evenings devoted to Rachmaninoff’s compositions, promoted as a ‘Rachmaninoff Cycle’. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.