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.
December 16 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 17 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 21 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The concert began at 2.30pm. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 4 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 10 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89. Review: Boston Herald 1919.01.11 p. 11.
January 13 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The 250th Musical Morning of Mr Bagby’s Concerts, beginning at 11am. Satina indicates that the other soloists were Louise Homer, Florence Easton, and Reinald Werrenrath. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 21 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 23 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the first time the inclusion of Rachmaninoff’s cadenza was mentioned in the program, and that the Polka de W.R. was performed 'by request'. This concert was given under the auspices of the Society for Prevention and Relief of Tuberculosis. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 2 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 9 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 19 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 22 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The concert commenced at 2.30pm. It is not indicated whether the 2nd, 3rd, or both from Medtner's op. 7 were performed. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89. Review: Boston Herald 1919.02.23 p. 11.
February 23 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the first time Rachmaninoff played an all Russian recital program in New York. It is not indicated whether the 2nd, 3rd or both of Medtner's op. 7 were performed. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 27 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The concert commenced at 8.15pm. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 1 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 4 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The concert commenced at 8.15pm. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 7 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The concert commenced at 8.15pm. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 9 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 13 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The concert commenced at 4.30pm. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 23 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
April 27 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina writes that as an encore Rachmaninoff played the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3 no. 2, and that his performance was an ‘auction’ for one million dollars (or more). In his book, Martyn claims that the ‘purchaser’ was Ampico, ‘who achieved enormous publicity, and business, from this stratagem for promoting one of their artists’ (p. 499). It is not indicated which of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies was played - both nos. 2 and 12 were frequent inclusions in his repertoire at the time. Satina lists the following personnel for this Victory Liberty Loan Concert:
Victory Liberty Loan Committee (C Conway, Chairman)
Concert Committee (E Irion, Chairman)
Liberty Loan Representatives
Trade and Professional Committee
Advisory Committee
Executive Committee
Piano Committee
Talking Machine Committee
Piano and Organ Supply Committee
Musician Committee
Music Publishers and Music Roll Committee
Music Teachers Committee
Music and Merchandise Committee
Publicity
LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 12 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the key of the Chopin Waltz was not given in the review, and that Rachmaninoff played his Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 15 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the key of the Chopin Waltz was not given in the review (although it would have been either op. 64, no. 1, or op. 70, no. 3), and that Rachmaninoff played his Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 17 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina lists this date in her summary of the season but appears to have missed identifying a program. Given the recitals in venues on either side, the program can perhaps be presumed as the same or at least similar. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 19 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The review appears to indicate that Mendelssohn's Rondo Capriccioso was added to the program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 25 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: No details were identified by Satina, although Apetian notes that this was a ‘mixed concert’ at which 5 unidentified pieces were performed, presumed to be solos. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 26 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina writes that ‘if the review was correct’ the Marche by Alkan might not have been on the program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89. Review: Boston Herald 1919.10.27 p. 13.
October 28 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina was unable to identify any details of the program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 6 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was added to the program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 9 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: No details. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.