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.
January 3 1910
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist and Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina identified the location of this concert (Hotel Astoria) but was not able to identify a program. However, Apetian indicates that for this concert and for the concert in Boston on January 10 the program comprised, 'with the exception of the Sonata 1 in d-moll, op. 28, basically the same pieces as in the [solo recitals], but with the addition of two romances by Rachmaninoff, in particular Spring Waters from op. 14.' This would appear to be correct, as Satina included a similar program - albeit not naming a specific song, and with greater specificity for the solo piano works - for the concert in New York on January 9. The program given by Satina for the January 9 concert is given here. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 9 1910
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist and Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina notes that this was a ‘Grand Sunday Concert’, and that other singers also performed with the Metropolitan Orchestra. According to Apetian, one of the songs was Spring Waters, op. 14. From the review there appears a possibility that 'Mr Didur' also sand two songs by Rachmaninoff. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 10 1910
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina identified the location of this concert (Hotel Somerset) but was not able to identify a program. However, Apetian indicates that for this concert and for the concert in New York on January 3 the program comprised, 'with the exception of the Sonata 1 in d-moll, op. 28, basically the same pieces as in the [solo recitals], but with the addition of two romances by Rachmaninoff, in particular Spring Waters from op. 14.' This would appear to be correct, as Satina included a similar program - albeit not naming a specific song, and with greater specificity for the solo piano works - for the concert in New York on January 9. The program and the names of the other participants are taken from the review in the Boston Herald, although it is not known who accompanied the singer and violinist. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89. Review: Boston Journal 1910.01.11 p. 14.
February 13 1910 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Solo Pianist
Notes: The Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody is perhaps the orchestration of Hungarian Rhapsody no. 14 for piano. Satina notes that the Prelude was performed as an encore. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 11 1910
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Solo Pianist
Notes: When Rachmaninoff played this concert, the city was known as Königsberg, Germany, and adhered to the Gregorian calendar. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 17 1910 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina records that, perhaps surprisingly given his concert career to date, this is the first complete solo recital given by Rachmaninoff in Russia. It can be imagined that there were other works on the program, yet no details have so far been found. The concert three days later in Nizhny Novgorod, however, might offer a clue. Zarui Apetian believed that this concert occurred on December 19 (Julian), and that the Songs, op. 26, were also performed. It could be that there were two separate concerts. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 20 1910 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the 5th concert of the season of the Imperial Russian Music Society. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 24 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It could be presumed that other solo works by Rachmaninoff were included.
October 18 1911
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist and Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina notes that her information for this concert in the Felix Corbett series was sent to her by Mr J. Tillet. Satina further notes that in Rachmaninoff’s notebook he wrote that he played ‘only 2 piano solos’, but in a later typewritten comment pondered that it was ‘possible he meant he appeared twice’. While Satina noted the Schubert she didn't indicate Rachmaninoff's participation, yet from a review in the Teeside Weekly Herald from October 21 it is apparent that the performance of Schubert's Rondo in B minor for violin and piano was performed by him with Fritz Kreisler, which would seem to be both the first time the two played together, and the only known time they did so in a public concert. The review appears to clarify that the word 'prelude' was used in a loose way to refer to the pieces in Rachmaninoff's opp. 3 and 10 sets. The exact order of the program is hard to determine from the review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 19 1911
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the Preludes from op. 32 were at the time still not published, and notes ‘first time’ regarding them. Satina also indicates that this was a concert for a Chamber Music Society, the information about which was sent to her by Mr J. Tillett. There is a further comment that ‘the program contained also some songs’, yet it is not clear whether they were by Rachmaninoff, or who performed them. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 1 1911
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: No details, apart from the note by Satina that in Rachmaninoff’s notebook he wrote ‘few piano pieces.’ LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 4 1911
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: No details, apart from the Satina's note that in Rachmaninoff’s notebook he wrote ‘few piano pieces.’ 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: 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 notes that Apetian believed that this concert occurred on November 2, yet she claims that Rachmaninoff listed it in his notebook for November 5. 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.
December 5 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina describes how this program was ‘reconstructed from the newspaper Retch by Mrs E Somoff.’ Satina further indicates, though, that while she initially believed it may be incomplete she has ‘checked and corrected by using Alexander Siloti’s 10th Anniversary Book’. 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 13 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the ‘2nd Chamber Music Extra Concert’ of the season of the Moscow Philharmonic Society. From Satina’s notes, it is not clear if the order of works in this concert is correct, or indeed if the program is complete. She further notes that Preludes in the keys of G minor, G sharp minor, D flat major, and B minor were performed. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 5 1913 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: No program details. Satina indicates that, while the program for this concert is not known, he played his own works. Satina also believes that in many cities at this time he would have played his Piano Sonata no. 2 in B flat minor, op. 36. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 6 1913 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: No program details. Satina indicates that, while the program for this concert is not known, he played his own works. Satina also believes that in many cities at this time he would have played his Piano Sonata no. 2 in B flat minor, op. 36. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 8 1913 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: No program details. Satina indicates that, while the program for this concert is not known, he played his own works. Satina also believes that in many cities at this time he would have played his Piano Sonata no. 2 in B flat minor, op. 36. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 10 1913 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: No program details. Satina indicates that, while the program for this concert is not known, he played his own works. Satina also believes that in many cities at this time he would have played his Piano Sonata no. 2 in B flat minor, op. 36. When Rachmaninoff performed in this city, it was known in Russia as Libava. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 11 1913 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: No program details. Satina indicates that, while the program for this concert is not known, he played his own works. Satina also believes that in many cities at this time he would have played his Piano Sonata no. 2 in B flat minor, op. 36. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 13 1913 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: No program details. Satina indicates that, while the program for this concert is not known, he played his own works. Satina also believes that in many cities at this time he would have played his Piano Sonata no. 2 in B flat minor, op. 36. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 29 1913
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: No program details. Satina indicates that, while the program for this concert is not known, he played his own works. Satina also believes that in many cities at this time he would have played his Piano Sonata no. 2 in B flat minor, op. 36. While Poland had abandoned the Julian calendar at this time, Satina has listed the date as October 16. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 30 1913
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina cites as her reference for details of this concert Apetian, p. 480. While Poland had abandoned the Julian calendar at this time, Satina has listed the date as 17 October. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 19 1913 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: No program details. Satina indicates that in this concert he would have played his own works. In other programs of this time, he frequently played his Piano Sonata no. 2 in B flat minor, op. 36. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.