Diary entries

January 10 1909 (Julian calendar)

St Petersburg, Russia
Assembly of the Nobility, Pillar Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist

Notes: Satina dated this concert as January 1, yet placed it in her list after a concert on January 7. It is therefore presumed that the initial listing was a typographical error. Satina indicated that this was the 6th of Alexander Siloti’s Symphonic Concerts. The works by Noren, Sibelius and Glazunov are noted with the word ‘manuscript’, likely indicating that the works were yet to be published. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 16,1909

Dresden, Germany

Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist

Notes: Satina noted that Rachmaninoff played solos at this concert, and the program confirms the performance of three preludes. I'm informed that a review in the Dresdner Nachrichten lists the preludes as F sharp minor, F sharp (which perhaps can be read as G flat major), and G minor, with the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, given as an encore. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

April 15 1909 (Julian calendar)

Moscow, Russia
Assembly of the Nobility, Pillar Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor

Notes: Satina notes that this was the 5th Symphony Concert of the season for the Moscow Philharmonic Society. Rachmaninoff substituted for Arthur Nikisch, who was ill. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

April 18 1909 (Julian calendar)

Moscow, Russia
Assembly of the Nobility, Pillar Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor

Notes: Satina notes that this was the 6th Symphony Concert of the season for the Moscow Philharmonic Society, and that this was the first performance of Isle of the Dead. Rachmaninoff substituted for Arthur Nikisch, who was ill. Satina adds that ‘he accepted only two concerts and rushed back to Dresden’, which places doubt on whether Rachmaninoff similarly substituted for Nikisch in a third concert on April 27 (Julian calendar). Martyn lists the later concert; Satina did not. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

April 27 1909 (Julian calendar)

Moscow, Russia
Conservatory

Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor

Notes: Martyn and Keldysh (p. 293) indicate that this was a Gogol centenary concert, yet Satina did not include it in her materials. Indeed, her note for the concert on April 18 states that Rachmaninoff subsequently 'rushed back to Dresden'. Keldysh notes the inclusion of M.N. Ermolova and A.I. Yuzhin, not mentioning Dobrovolsky, but nevertheless stating that the 'biggest stars of the Moscow drama and opera theatre took part'. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 4 1909

Northampton, MA, USA
Smith College

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that this was the first appearance of Rachmaninoff in the USA. Precise details of keys were not given, hence it is not possible to determine whether the Prelude in ‘D’ is op. 23 no. 3 or 4. Satina notes that ‘the Mason and Hamlin piano was used’, as was also noted for some other venues on this tour. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 8 1909

Philadelphia, PA, USA
Academy of Music

Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89. Press: Philadelphia Inquirer 1909.11.07 p. 9.

November 10 1909

Baltimore, MD, USA
Lyric Theater

Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 13 1909

New York, NY, USA
Carnegie Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist

Notes: Satina notes that this was Rachmaninoff’s first appearance in New York. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 15 1909

Hartford, CT, USA
Parsons' Theater

Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 16 1909

Boston, MA, USA
Symphony Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that this concert commenced at 2.30pm. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 18 1909

Toronto, ON, Canada
Massey Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Concert Soloist and Solo Pianist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 20 1909

New York, NY, USA
Carnegie Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina noted that the keys of the first two preludes were not actually given in a review she had been sent, and that she had copied them from similar programs in Boston, Pittsburgh and Chicago. Her intuition was correct, as a copy of the program in the Carnegie Hall archive documents the keys of the preludes. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 26 1909

Philadelphia, PA, USA
Academy of Music

Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor and Solo Pianist

Notes: While the attached review does not mention Tchaikovsky's 1812, nor Karl Pohlig, the complete program is printed in the attached press clipping. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89. Review: Philadelphia Inquirer 1909.11.27 p. 15.

November 27 1909

Philadelphia, PA, USA
Academy of Music

Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor and Solo Pianist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 28 1909

New York, NY, USA
New Theater

Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist

Notes: Satina notes that this was the world premiere performance of the Third Piano Concerto. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 30 1909

New York, NY, USA
Carnegie Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 3 1909

Chicago, IL, USA
Orchestra Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor and Concert Soloist

Notes: Satina noted that this was an afternoon concert. The attached review indicates the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was given as an encore. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 4 1909

Chicago, IL, USA
Orchestra Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor and Concerto Soloist

Notes: Satina notes that this was an evening concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 9 1909

Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Carnegie Music Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 17 1909

Boston, MA, USA
Symphony Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor and Concerto Soloist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 18 1909

Boston, MA, USA
Symphony Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor and Concerto Soloist

Notes: Review: Boston Journal 1909.12.18 p. 4. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 26 1909

Chicago, IL, USA
Orchestra Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

January 3 1910

New York, NY, USA
Ballroom of the Waldorf Hotel

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist and Chamber Musician

Notes: Apetian identified a program for this concert, indicating that it was the same as for Boston on January 10 but without the D minor Sonata. The attached press clipping names the artists and location (misidentified by Satina as the Hotel Astoria), but provides no details about the musical works. It is not known if Rachmaninoff also accompanied singers in his songs, as Satina and Apetian both believed. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

January 9 1910

New York, NY, USA
Metropolitan Opera House

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist and Chamber Musician

Notes: Satina noted that this was a ‘Grand Sunday Concert’, and that other singers also performed with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. According to Apetian, one of the songs was Spring Waters, op. 14. The first attached review indicates that Adamo Didur also sang two songs by Rachmaninoff, while the second review appears to indicate otherwise. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

January 10 1910

Boston, MA, USA
Ballroom of Hotel Somerset

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina identified the location of this concert but was unable to identify a program. Apetian indicated that for this concert and for the concert in New York on January 3 the program comprised his usual solo works from concerts of the time, excepting the D minor Sonata, 'but with the addition of two romances by Rachmaninoff, in particular Spring Waters from op. 14.' However, this appears to be incorrect, as the attached review does not include songs by Rachmaninoff. According to the attached press clipping, Rider-Kelsey and Grimson were both accompanied in their repertoire by Jessie Davis. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89. Review: Boston Journal 1910.01.11 p. 14.

January 16 1910

New York, NY, USA
Carnegie Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist

Notes: Satina noted that the concert commenced at 3pm. The attached reviews indicate that the work by Bach comprised two movements each from Bach's Second and Third Orchestra Suites. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

January 21 1910

Cincinnati, OH, USA
Cincinnati Music Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist

Notes: The attached reviews note that the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was played as an encore. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

January 22 1910

Cincinnati, OH, USA
Cincinnati Music Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

January 27 1910

New York, NY, USA
Carnegie Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor and Concerto Soloist

Notes: The exact order of the program was not known to Satina, however the attached press clipping provides the details. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.