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.

February 20 1922

Wilmington, DE, USA
Playhouse

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

February 21 1922

Baltimore, MD, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

February 25 1922

Philadelphia, PA, USA
Academy of Music

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89. Review: Philadelphia Inquirer 1922.02.26 p. 5.

February 28 1922

Washington, DC, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

March 5 1922

Montreal, QC, Canada

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

March 6 1922

Wellesley, MA, USA
Houghton Memorial Chapel

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

March 12 1922

Providence, RI, USA
Schubert Majestic Theater

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

March 16 1922

Pittsfield, MA, USA
Colonial Theater

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

March 19 1922

Bridgeport, CT, USA
Poli’s Theater

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

March 23 1922

Wilkes-Barre, PA, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

March 27 1922

Brooklyn, NY, USA
Academy of Music

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

March 29 1922

Burlington, VT, USA
U.V.M. Gym

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

April 21 1922

New York, NY, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: No details, although it seems likely that it was a piano recital. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

May 6 1922

London, England
Queen’s Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina lists the first 'Prelude' without a reference to its key. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

May 20 1922

London, England
Queen’s Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: While Satina did not note the details of the Liszt Ballade, it could be presumed that it was no. 2 in B minor, as it typically featured in this program through the season in the USA. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 10 1922

Watertown, NY, USA
Olympic Theater

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

November 14 1922

Troy, NY, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

November 16 1922

Baltimore, MD, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

November 17 1922

Richmond, VA, USA
City Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: The program perhaps casts doubt about whether both the Prelude and Serenade by Rachmaninoff were played. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 19 1922

Bridgeport, CT, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

November 20 1922

Philadelphia, PA, USA
Ballroom of the Bellevue-Stratford

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina does not indicate further about the Liszt Etude. Her typed notes clearly state ‘A flat major’, which could be either ‘Ricordanza’ from the Transcendental Etudes or ‘Il lamento’ from the Concert Etudes, however it could be that it should state ‘D flat major’, as this etude (‘Un sospiro’) was in various programs this season. In other venues where this program was played, the Chopin Polonaise was in E flat minor, op. 26, no. 2, the Nocturne was in F sharp major, op. 15, no. 2, and the Waltz was in F major, op. 34, no. 3. In this review, Satina notes that the Chopin Polonaise and the Liszt were not mentioned. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89. Review: Philadelphia Inquirer 1922.11.21 p. 11.

November 21 1922

Washington, DC, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

November 22 1922

New London, CT, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

November 23 1922

Boston, MA, USA
Symphony Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

November 27 1922

Montreal, QC, Canada
St Denis Theatre

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

November 28 1922

Toronto, ON, Canada

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina indicates that Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2 was also on the program. Whether this was in place of Melody, op. 3, no. 3, as had occurred in similar programs earlier in the month, is not stated. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 3 1922

New York, NY, USA
Carnegie Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina does not indicate further about the Liszt Etude. Her typed notes state ‘A flat major’, which could be either ‘Ricordanza’ from the Transcendental Etudes or ‘Il lamento’ from the Concert Etudes. In other venues where this program was played, the Chopin Polonaise was in E flat minor, op. 26, no. 2, the Nocturne was in F sharp major, op. 15, no. 2, and the Waltz was in F major, op. 34, no. 3. The review from the New York Times appears to indicate that Beethoven's 'Appassionata' Sonata was played in place of the Weber Rondo, as occurred in similar programs. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 4 1922

Erie, PA, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the review does not mention Medtner’s Improvisation. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 5 1922

Buffalo, NY, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

December 6 1922

Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Carnegie Music Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina does not indicate further about the Liszt Etude. Her typed notes clearly state ‘A flat major’, which could be either ‘Ricordanza’ from the Transcendental Etudes or ‘Il lamento’ from the Concert Etudes, however it could be that it should state ‘D flat major’, as this etude (‘Un sospiro’) was in various programs this season. In other venues where this program was played, the Chopin Polonaise was in E flat minor, op. 26, no. 2, the Nocturne was in F sharp major, op. 15, no. 2, and the Waltz was in F major, op. 34, no. 3. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.