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 5 1929
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz in A flat major could be either op. 42, or op. 64, no. 3, or op. 69, no. 1, and that she believes that the Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableau was op. 39, no. 6. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 7 1929
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz in A flat major could be either op. 42, or op. 64, no. 3, or op. 69, no. 1, and that she believes that the Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableau was op. 39, no. 6. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 9 1929
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that this program is speculative, and assumes that Rachmaninoff played here what he played days earlier in Essen, Hamburg, Dresden, Berlin. Satina also notes that the Chopin Waltz in A flat major could be either op. 42, or op. 64, no. 3, or op. 69, no. 1, and that she believes that the Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableau was op. 39, no. 6. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 10 1929
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicated that the program was speculative, based on what Rachmaninoff played days earlier in Essen, Hamburg, Dresden, Berlin, however it subsequently has been confirmed by the attached review. Satina also noted that the Chopin Waltz in A flat major could be either op. 42, or op. 64, no. 3, or op. 69, no. 1, and that she believes that the Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableau was op. 39, no. 6. Translation of review: copyright J. Falleyn. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 13 1929
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that this program is speculative, and assumes that Rachmaninoff played here what he played days earlier in Essen, Hamburg, Dresden, Berlin. Satina also notes that the Chopin Waltz in A flat major could be either op. 42, or op. 64, no. 3, or op. 69, no. 1, and that she believes that the Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableau was op. 39, no. 6. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 17 1929
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz in A flat major could be either op. 42, or op. 64, no. 3, or op. 69, no. 1, and that she believes that the Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableau was op. 39, no. 6. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 19 1929
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz in A flat major could be either op. 42, or op. 64, no. 3, or op. 69, no. 1, and that she believes that the Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableau was op. 39, no. 6. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 21 1930
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While no review of this concert has so far been located, the Alumni Magazine of Dartmouth College in early 1930 (https://archive.dartmouthalumnimagazine.com/article/1930/3/1/ratcliffe-and-rachmaninoff) appears to confirm Rachmaninoff's appearance. It noted that Rachmaninoff 'didn't play "down" to his audience, and he was enthusiastically appreciated by a full house'. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 26 1930
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, is noted as the last of the encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 31 1930
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted that the Etude-Tableau in E flat minor was not mentioned in the review of this concert she had been sent. The two attached reviews appear to indicate that the sixth etude was in fact the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2. A Chopin waltz (E minor) and Rachmaninoff's transcription of Rimsky-Korsakov's Bumble Bee are noted as the encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 2 1930
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the review she was sent of this concert was not complete, as it mentioned only the Etudes-Tableaux in E flat major and G minor. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 6 1930
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicated that the keys of the Etudes-Tableaux were not noted in the review of this concert she had been sent. The attached reviews note the encores as including Chopin's Nocturne in E flat major, op. 9, no. 2, and one of his waltzes. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 7 1930
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: As the attached press clipping notes, this concert was rescheduled from an earlier date. The attached reviews note the encores as being Chopin's Nocturne in E flat major, op. 9, no. 2, and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, following which Rachmaninoff played God Save The King 'and the audience disappeared'. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 10 1930
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The first of the attached reviews notes the encores as being Chopin's Nocturne in E flat major, op. 9, no. 2, a Chopin etude, Rachmaninoff's transcription of the Minuet from Bizet's L'Arlesienne, the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, and Dohnányi's Etude. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 13 1930
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review notes that Rachmaninoff 'unconcernedly improvised for a minute' before commencing Beethoven's op. 78. Chopin's Waltz in E minor, op. posth., and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, are noted as the encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 14 1930
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Chopin's Nocturne in E flat major, op. 9, no. 2, is noted as an encore in the attached review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 15 1930
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 7 1930
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 10 1930
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While Chopin's Scherzo no. 4 is noted in the attached press clipping, it appears that, as with other venues where this program was played, it was not performed. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, a Chopin waltz, and Liszt's transcription of Chopin's 'Maiden's Wish', are noted as the encores in the attached review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 12 1930
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While the attached press clipping includes Chopin's Scherzo no. 4, which Satina also believed was played, the attached review appears to indicate that it was not performed. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, Chopin's Waltz in E minor, and Liszt's transcription of Chopin's 'Maiden's Wish', are noted as the encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 14 1930
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina believed that Chopin's Scherzo no. 4 was also played at this recital, however it does not appear on the program, nor is it mentioned in the attached reviews. Two Chopin waltzes, Liszt's transcription of Chopin's 'Maiden's Wish', and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, are noted as the encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 18 1930
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicated that the review of this concert she had been sent did not mention the opus number of the Rachmaninoff Etudes-Tableaux, however they perhaps can be assumed given the works played in other concerts of the time. One of the attached review indicates that four encores were played, while another notes the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, as being among them. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 19 1930
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Two works by Chopin are noted as encores in one of the attached reviews. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 20 1930
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 23 1930
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicated that this program was speculative as the review she had been sent mentioned only ‘7 pieces by Chopin and 4 by Liszt' without further details. Yet the attached review appears to confirm her thoughts. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 25 1930
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 27 1930
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: A Chopin waltz, the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, and Liszt's transcription of Chopin's 'Maiden's Wish' are noted as encores in the attached reviews. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 29 1930
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: A Chopin waltz and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, are noted as among the encores in the attached review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 30 1930
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review indicates that the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was the final encore played. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
April 3 1930
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicated that this program is speculative: the review she had been sent mentioned only ‘7 pieces by Chopin and 4 by Liszt' without further details. It seems likely she believed it was the same program as in early venues where this program was performed throughout the second half of March, and two nights later in New York. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.