Concerto Soloist - Diary entries
Many of the performance details listed here have been 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 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), and A Catalogue of the Compositions of S. Rachmaninoff by Robert Threlfall and Geoffrey Norris (Scolar Press: London, 1982).
November 18 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: The details of this concert have been corroborated by Andrianova-Ryadnova's memoirs of Rachmaninoff in Georgia. Referring to ‘p. 660’ of the Russkaya Muzykal’naya Gazeta, Satina noted a possibility that Rachmaninoff also conducted his Second Symphony in this concert, however this was not the case, and would likely have made the concert overly long. Andrianova-Ryadnova indicates that the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was played as an encore. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 22 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Apetian did not include this concert in her lists. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 18 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicated that this was the 6th Symphony Concert of the Moscow Philharmonic Society, also noting that as an encore Rachmaninoff played the Elegy, op. 3, no. 1, and ‘some Preludes from op. 23’. However, a review in Russkiye Vedomosti on December 20 states that the second encore was the Prelude in G sharp minor, op. 32, no. 12. Rachmaninoff also accompanied Evgenija Zbrueva in two encores: ‘The Soldier’s Wife’, op. 8, no. 4 and ‘Spring Waters’, op. 14, no. 11.
January 28 1912 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was the 9th concert in the season of Siloti’s concerts. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 2 1912 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that this 1.30pm was one of Kerzin’s concerts for the Society for the Lovers of Russian Music. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 12 1912
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 15 1912
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 22 1912
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
April 5 1912 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 14 1913 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicates that, while the program for this concert is not known, he played his own works. While Satina did not have further details, Apetian has recorded a performance of Rachmaninoff’s Concerto no. 2 on this occasion. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 17 1913 (Julian Calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina cites as her reference for details of this concert Apetian (p. 480), and listed the date according to the Julian calendar, as also appears in Bertensson and Leyda (p. 186). In the Gregorian Calendar, this date was October 30. Keldysh (p. 347) indicates that The Rock, op. 7, was also performed in this concert, yet a photograph of the program a few pages later in his book does not include this work. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 18 1913 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was the 4th Symphony Concert of the season of the Moscow Philharmonic Society. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 21 1913 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was the 4th Symphony Concert of the season of the Moscow Philharmonic Society. Keldysh (p. 347) believes that the Concerto no. 3, op. 30, was also performed at this concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 10 1914 (Julian Calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Solo Pianist
Notes: Apetian indicates that Rachmaninoff played some of his preludes and etudes-tableaux at this concert, but does not know which. Keldysh (p. 348) believed that Rachmaninoff's Concerto no. 2 was performed at this concert. In the Gregorian Calendar, this date was January 23. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 27 1914
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicated that this was a concert of the Liverpool Philharmonic Society, and was aware only of the performance of Rachmaninoff's concerto, which she mistakenly believed was the Third Concerto, op. 30. The further details are according to the attached review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 29 1914
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Solo Pianist
Notes: While Mottl's transcription of two movements from Rameau's Concerto in G minor for orchestra alone is not mentioned in the attached reviews, the Hallé Orchestra archive indicates that it was performed. There is discrepancy about which Preludes by Rachmaninoff were played, with the attached press clipping being at odds with the first attached review; the keys and order of the works are given according to the review. The Polka de W.R. is noted as an encore. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 1 1914
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Solo Pianist
Notes: The image of the Westminster Gazette is used with kind permission of The British Library Board. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 22 1914 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that the exact order of the program is unknown. Satina also indicates that ‘the proceeds are given to help the wounded soldiers’. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 24 1914 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina writes that ‘the proceeds are given to help the wounded soliders’. Satina also cites a reference to Apetian, p. 454. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 26 1914 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that the order of the program is unknown. Satina also indicates that ‘the proceeds are given to help the wounded soldiers’. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 27 1914 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina writes that ‘the proceeds are given to help the wounded soliders’. Satina cites a reference to Apetian, p. 454, also noting that Apetian’s date for this concert was incorrect, referencing instead ‘Rachmaninoff’s booklet’. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 8 1914 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that owing to Rachmaninoff’s illness this concert, which was announced for December 3, was postponed to December 8. Satina also indicates that the previously announced work by Borodin – the unfinished ballet ‘Mlada’ – was not given. She concludes: ‘All proceeds will go to the All Russian union of Cities for supplying warm clothing to the Army.’ LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 10 1914 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the 4th Symphony Concert in Koussevitzky’s season, starting at 8.30pm. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 6 1915 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 8 1915 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
September 26 1915 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicates that this ‘extra’ concert in Alexander Siloti’s season was dedicated to the memory of Alexander Scriabin. St Petersburg was known as Petrograd at this time. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 12 1915 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicates that this was the first concert of a Scriabin Cycle, and that it was held as a benefit in aid of Scriabin’s children. Satina also indicates that, due to the war, audience members were allowed to listen to the final rehearsal on the previous day, October 11, for a small fee, the money raised being donated to ‘wounded men’. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 26 1915 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina’s notes indicate that she was unsure about which Rachmaninoff concerto was played, but ultimately concluded it was no. 2. Satina was vague about the conductor, referring only to 'Mr Pyshnov', while both Apetian and Keldysh (p. 401) give the name as L.N. Pyshnov. The western version of his name, by which he became known, is given here. Apetian confirms the performance of Rachmaninoff's Second Concerto at this concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 21 1915 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: St Petersburg was known as Petrograd at this time. Satina notes that this was one of Siloti's Symphony Concerts. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 30 1915 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the 3rd Symphony Concert of the season. As encores, Rachmaninoff played his Prelude in G sharp minor, op. 32, no. 12, and Prelude in G minor, op. 23, no. 5. Satina also indicates that, due to the war, audience members were allowed to listen to the final rehearsal on the previous day, November 29, for a small fee, the money raised being donated to ‘wounded men’. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.