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 23 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Apetian listed this recital, however Satina did not record the date. It is possible that Rachmaninoff failed to list this concert in his 'notebook' (this being Satina's source). Only the final half of the program is known. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 3 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is likely that Schubert’s Impromptu was op. 90, no. 4, and that Medtner’s Fairy Tale was op. 34, no. 2. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 6 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is likely that Schubert’s Impromptu was op. 90, no. 4, and that Medtner’s Fairy Tale was op. 34, no. 2. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 9 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is likely that Schubert’s Impromptu was op. 90, no. 4, and that Medtner’s Fairy Tale was op. 34, no. 2. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 12 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is likely that Schubert’s Impromptu is op. 90, no. 4. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 13 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is likely that Schubert’s Impromptu is op. 90, no. 4. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 14 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is likely that Schubert’s Impromptu was op. 90, no. 4, and that Medtner’s Fairy Tale was op. 34, no. 2. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 14 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the Humoresque and Moment musical were performed in their revised versions. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 18 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the Humoresque and Moment musical were performed in their revised versions. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 30 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the Humoresque and Moment musical were performed in their revised versions. Satina also indicates that Rachmaninoff may have also played the Etude-Tableau in C major, op. 33. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 7 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the Humoresque and Moment musical were performed in their revised versions. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 9 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the Humoresque and Moment musical were performed in their revised versions. The mention by Olin Downes in his review for the New York Times of encores is noteworthy: in particular, Rachmaninoff's transcription of Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee was never listed in a concert program. As an encore, however, it may have been a frequently performed work. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 12 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Schubert Impromptu is likely op. 90, no. 4. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 17 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Schubert Impromptu is likely op. 90, no. 4. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 19 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Schubert Impromptu is likely op. 90, no. 4. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 21 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Schubert Impromptu is likely op. 90, no. 4. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 22 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the Humoresque and Moment musical were performed in their revised versions. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 29 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the Humoresque and Moment musical were performed in their revised versions. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 1 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the Humoresque and Moment musical were performed in their revised versions. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 3 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the Humoresque and Moment musical were performed in their revised versions. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 5 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Schubert Impromptu is likely op. 90, no. 4. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 6 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Schubert Impromptu is likely op. 90, no. 4. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 12 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Schubert Impromptu is likely op. 90, no. 4. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 16 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Schubert Impromptu is likely op. 90, no. 4. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 21 1940
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Rachmaninoff is presumed to have been recorded without his knowledge as he played through his newly written Symphonic Dances, op. 45, for the conductor and dedicatee Eugene Ormandy. Its existence long rumoured, the recording was published by Marston Records in 2018. A particularly fine booklet note by Richard Taruskin provides excellent background information.
January 17 1941
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Schubert Impromptu is likely op. 90, no. 4. Satina notes that ‘no reviews or programs were found for these concerts. But in a letter to the managers, Mr Rachmaninoff’s secretary wrote that Rachmaninoff will offer this program in these three cities. (Copy of secretary’s letter kept in the Rachmaninoff archive.)’ LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 19 1941
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The review from the Chicago Tribune notes Rachmaninoff's transcription of Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee, which is of interest as the work has never been identified by name in a program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 21 1941
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Schubert Impromptu is likely op. 90, no. 4. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 24 1941
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Schubert Impromptu is likely op. 90, no. 4. Satina notes that ‘no reviews or programs were found for these concerts. But in a letter to the managers, Mr Rachmaninoff’s secretary wrote that Rachmaninoff will offer this program in these three cities. (Copy of secretary’s letter kept in the Rachmaninoff archive.)’ LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 2 1941
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.