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.
March 10 1927
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that Rachmaninoff also played one of his Preludes in this concert. No keys were given for the Etudes-Tableaux on the program, but she presumed them to have been the same as for other locations where Rachmaninoff performed this program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 11 1927
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 15 1927
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina was unable to ascertain any details about this recital. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 24 1927
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 27 1927
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that no keys were given for the Etudes-Tableaux on the program, but she has presumed them to have been the same as for other locations where Rachmaninoff performed this program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 30 1927
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that this concert was ‘by invitation’. She believes that the Waltz by Strauss-Tausig was ‘Man lebt nur einmal’, but it may have been ‘Wahlstimmen’ as this was also in Rachmaninoff’s repertory at the time. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
April 2 1927
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review mentions only a single Strauss-Tausig waltz, although it indicates there were 'many encores'. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
April 3 1927
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review only mentions one waltz by Strauss-Tausig. In describing the encores, the review highlights 'familiar nocturnes, waltzes and ballades by Chopin'. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 18 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 23 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 27 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 29 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 2 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 3 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 5 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review mentions a Polonaise in E flat, which could be a misprint: while the Polonaise in E flat minor, op. 26, no. 2, was in Rachmaninoff's repertory, it was not included in concerts around this time. Of note, the printed program for the concert in Pittsburgh on February 9 lists erroneously a Polonaise in 'E flat major'. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 8 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 9 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 10 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 15 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 16 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 18 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina uses the word ‘apparently’ when indicating which prelude Rachmaninoff played, however it is confirmed in review from the New York Times. According to the review, a Polonaise in 'E flat major' was given, yet this was perhaps due to a typographical error stemming from Rachmaninoff's agency, as other concerts in this season included a similarly mistaken reference. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 20 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: In her notes, Satina has later typed ‘or op. 10, no. 10’ after the second Chopin etude for three recitals in Canada at this time, although there is little other evidence to support this work being Rachmaninoff's repertoire. Satina noted in regard to the concert in Ottawa that the Chopin works were listed without their keys (either in the program or a review, presumably), and that ‘Medtner’s Fairy Tale was op. 34 but it might be incorrect’. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 21 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: In her notes, Satina has later typed ‘or op. 10, no. 10’ after the second Chopin etude for three recitals in Canada at this time, although there is little other evidence to support this work being Rachmaninoff's repertoire. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 26 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: In her notes, Satina has later typed ‘or op. 10, no. 10’ after the second Chopin etude for three recitals in Canada at this time, although there is little other evidence to support this work being Rachmaninoff's repertoire. Satina also notes that the work by Medtner in this concert was Sonata Fairy Tale, op. 25, no. 1. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 27 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 29 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina lists this date as February 28 in one list, but as February 29 elsewhere. Due to the proximity (both chronological and geographical) to the recording with Kreisler, the latter date is given here. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 2 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 5 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 7 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina doubts that the two Chopin etudes were included in the program at this venue. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 12 1928
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.