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 17 1937

Chicago, IL, USA
Orchestra Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: The review in the Chicago Tribune suggests that Chopin's Nocturne in D flat major was performed, either along with or replacing a work in the program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

January 19 1937

Denver, CO, USA
City Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

January 22 1937

Portland, OR, USA
Paramount Theater

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

January 26 1937

Los Angeles, CA, USA
Philharmonic Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

January 30 1937

Los Angeles, CA, USA
Philharmonic Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

February 1 1937

Pasadena, CA, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

February 3 1937

Claremont, CA, USA
Music Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

February 5 1937

San Francisco, CA, USA
Opera House

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the last item (Wagner-Brassin) is speculated. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 7 1937

San Francisco, CA, USA
Opera House

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the Scarlatti sonatas were not mentioned in the review of this concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 10 1937

Palo Alto, CA, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina’s notes are not clear for this concert. While the framework of the program is initially similar to concerts given in Pasadena and Claremont earlier in the month, her addition of a work by Medtner, and a Nocturne by Chopin and Prelude by Rachmaninoff, does not indicate clearly if they are replacing other works, nor their placement. Satina notes that only the Hungarian Rhapsody by Liszt was mentioned in the review of the concert, but this does not necessarily mean that the Liebestraum and Valse oubliée were not played. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 15 1937

Lawrence, KS, USA
Hoch Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

February 18 1937

Toronto, ON, Canada
Eaton Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

February 21 1937

Cincinnati, OH, USA
Emery Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

February 23 1937

Youngstown, OH, USA
Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

February 26 1937

Columbus, OH, USA
Memorial Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

March 10 1937

Birmingham, England

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: It is likely that the Chopin Mazurka in F minor is op. 7, no. 3, as it was played this season in other venues, and that the Etudes-Tableaux are a set from op. 33, including C sharp minor, G minor, E flat minor, and E flat major. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 11 1937

Derby, England
County Music Club

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: It is likely that the Chopin Mazurka in F minor is op. 7, no. 3, as it was played this season in other venues. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 13 1937

London, England
Queen’s Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: It is likely that the Chopin Mazurka in F minor is op. 7, no. 3, as it was played this season in other venues. Threlfall and Norris indicate that Rachmaninoff’s transcription of Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Bumble Bee was played in this concert, but it didn’t appear in Satina’s version of the program (nor in any other concert). LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 14 1937

Cardiff, Wales

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: It is likely that the Chopin Mazurka in F minor is op. 7, no. 3, as it was played this season in other venues, and that the Etudes-Tableaux are a set from op. 33, including C sharp minor, G minor, E flat minor, and E flat major. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 16 1937

Newcastle, England

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: It is likely that the Chopin Mazurka in F minor is op. 7, no. 3, as it was played this season in other venues, and that the Etudes-Tableaux are a set from op. 33, including C sharp minor, G minor, E flat minor, and E flat major. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 18 1937

Glasgow, Scotland

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: It is likely that the Chopin Mazurka in F minor is op. 7, no. 3, as it was played this season in other venues, and that the Etudes-Tableaux are a set from op. 33, including C sharp minor, G minor, E flat minor, and E flat major. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 20 1937

Edinburgh, Scotland

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: It is likely that the Chopin Mazurka in F minor is op. 7, no. 3, as it was played this season in other venues, and that the Etudes-Tableaux are a set from op. 33, including C sharp minor, G minor, E flat minor, and E flat major. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 23 1937

London, England
Chelsea Music Club

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

April 2 1937

Paris, France

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: It is likely that the Chopin Mazurka in F minor is op. 7, no. 3, as it was played this season in other venues. Satina notes that ‘the programs for these cities were copied from the letters written by Rachmaninoff’s secretary to the managers – Mr J Ysaye and Mr G Eugel.’ LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

April 8 1937

Vienna, Austria

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: It is likely that the Chopin Mazurka in F minor is op. 7, no. 3, as it was played this season in other venues. Satina notes that ‘the programs for these cities were copied from the letters written by Rachmaninoff’s secretary to the managers – Mr J Ysaye and Mr G Eugel.’ LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

April 12 1937

Milan, Italy

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: According to Satina, a letter that she received from Milan indicates that it was possible that only the Rondo by Chopin was played at this concert. The works by Wagner-Brassin and Paganini-Liszt that was typically closing the European concerts in this season appear to have been replaced by the Kreisler transcription. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 18 1937

Detroit, MI, USA
Masonic Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

October 20 1937

New Haven, CT, USA
Woolsey Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

October 24 1937

Buffalo, NY, USA
Elmwood Music Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

October 26 1937

Minneapolis, MI, USA
Northrup Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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