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.

October 21 1913 (Julian calendar)

Odesa, Ukraine

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.

October 22 1913 (Julian calendar)

Chișinău, Moldova

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. The Moldovan capital is also known as Kishinev. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 25 1913 (Julian calendar)

Poltava, Ukraine

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.

October 26 1913 (Julian calendar)

Kharkiv, Ukraine

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.

October 28 1913 (Julian calendar)

Dnipro, Ukraine

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. When Rachmaninoff performed in this city, it was known as Yekaterinoslav. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 24 1913 (Julian calendar)

Kremenchuk, Ukraine

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.

October 30 1913 (Julian calendar)

Taganrog, Russia

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.

October 31 1913 (Julian calendar)

Rostov on Don, Russia

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.

November 1 1913 (Julian calendar)

Novocherkassk, Russia

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.

November 3 1913 (Julian calendar)

Krasnodar, Russia

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. When Rachmaninoff played in this city it was known as Ekaterinodar. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 9 1913 (Julian calendar)

Tbilisi, Georgia
Hall of the Society of Artists

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Which Etudes-Tableaux, or how many, is not known, as is also the case for the Preludes. An interesting anecdote, although perhaps apocryphal, concerns Stepan Mirzoev, the director of the Tbilisi branch of the Russian Music Society. He claimed that he persuaded Rachmaninoff to sell him the piano that he toured with, which later was sold to the Tbilisi Conservatory where it apparently still resides. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 7 1913 (Julian calendar)

Baku, Azerbaijan

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.

November 13 1913 (Julian calendar)

Voronezh, Russia

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.

November 17 1913 (Julian calendar)

Saratov, Russia

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.

November 23 1913 (Julian calendar)

St Peterburg, Russia
Assembly of the Nobility, Large Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that this was Alexander Siloti’s 3rd concert of the season. Satina also indicates that it was the first time that the Sonata no. 2, and the Polka de WR, were heard in St Petersburg. A reference to Apetian is cited, p. 442. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 8 1913 (Julian calendar)

Moscow, Russia
Women’s College, Large Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina indicates that the proceeds from this recital were given ‘to the needy Students of Moscow Women’s College’. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 3 1913 (Julian calendar)

Moscow, Russia
Assembly of the Nobility, Pillar Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that this was Alexander Siloti’s 3rd concert of the season. Satina also indicates that it was the first time that the Second Piano Sonata, and the Polka de WR, were heard in Moscow. A reference to Apetian is cited, p. 442. Threlfall and Norris claimed that this was the first performance of Rachmaninoff’s Sonata no. 2, however previous dates on this tour for which program details are known indicate this not to be the case. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

January 28 1914

Manchester, England

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina provides an interesting insight into Rachmaninoff’s thoughts about his travels when she observes the following: ‘in S. Rachmaninoff book it is written that he played January 15, 1914. Mr J. Tillett writes to S.S. that the concert was given January 28. It is correct in both cases, S.R. used apparently the date according to the old calendar’. Satina also notes that this was a recital arranged ‘by the Gentlemen’s Concerts’. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

January 30 1914

Bradford, England

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina indicates that this was the 6th concert of the Bradford subscription series season. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 1 1914

London, England
Royal Albert Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Solo Pianist

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

February 3 1914

Sheffield, England

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: No program details. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 4 1914

Nottingham, England

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: No program details. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 9 1914

Guildford, UK

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: No program details. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 17 1915 (Julian calendar)

Kharkiv, Ukraine

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.

October 20 1915 (Julian calendar)

Rostov on Don, Moscow

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

October 24 1915 (Julian calendar)

Baku, Azerbaijan

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.

October 29 1915 (Julian calendar)

Tbilisi, Georgia

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes an all-Rachmaninoff recital program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 31 1915 (Julian calendar)

Tbilisi, Georgia

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes this was an all-Scriabin recital program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 3 1915 (Julian calendar)

Baku, Azerbaijan

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina indicates that this was an all-Scriabin program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 7 1915 (Julian calendar)

Rostov on Don, Russia

Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician and Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina indicates that this was a chamber music concert, however she does not offer information on which chamber works by Rachmaninoff were played. However, Apetian recorded the works that are indicated, also noting that it was not clear which of the Etudes-Tableaux were played. The names of the other musicians are not known. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.