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.
February 18 1936
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 24 1936
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: No details, apart from a note from Satina that indicates 'he played Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Liszt'. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 26 1936
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina believes that the group of Russian works was likely the same as were played in the concert in London on March 7 of this year. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 3 1936
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 7 1936
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina believed that she had a correct program on this date, featuring Bach-Tausig, Beethoven's Sonata in D major, op. 10, no. 3, and Chopin's B flat minor sonata. However the attached reviews indicate this was incorrect. Rather, the program appears to have been similar to what was played in Vienna on February 26 and in Paris on March 3, and in Leeds on March 24. The exact program that was played will likely remain unknown until a more complete review, or image of the program, can be located. For now, it has partially been reconstructed from the reviews. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 14 1936
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 24 1936
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina recorded that Liszt's Liebestraum no. 3 was the first work in the final set, and that Gnomenreigen closed it, however the first is not noted in an otherwise very detailed review in the Yorkshire Evening Post on March 25, while the final work is indicated as the Hungarian Rhapsody. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 25 1936
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina writes that the program was probably either as Rachmaninoff played in London on March 7, or in Leeds on March 24. The attached press clipping from the Evening Chronicle indicates it was to be the latter, with the inclusion of Beethoven's 32 Variations, three sonatas by Scarlatti, Chopin's B minor sonata, and 'works' by Rachmaninoff and Liszt. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 19 1936
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 20 1936
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, is noted as the first of two encores at the conclusion of the performance in the attached review, which also appears to note an 'extra' piece provided prior to interval. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 1 1936
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: From the attached reviews, it appears that Rachmaninoff may have played the Wagner-Brassin Magic Fire Music in place of the Liszt Sonnet. A Chopin waltz in A flat, and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, are noted as encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 4 1936
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Borodin's Scherzo and a waltz by Chopin are noted as the encores in the attached review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 5 1936
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Regarding the comment of Olin Downes questioning why Rachmaninoff often did not give specific details of small pieces in programs, both by himself and by composers such as Chopin, it has been suggested that it was to give the pianist an element of spontaneity in what he performed. Nevertheless, Downes' view was likely shared by numerous others. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 6 1936
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, is noted as the fourth encore in one of the attached reviews. Satina noted that the C sharp minor Etude-Tableau was not mentioned in her review of this concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 9 1936
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Chopin Nocturne is not mentioned in the attached press clipping. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 12 1936
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 15 1936
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 17 1936
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review and one of the attached press clippings confirm that the E flat major Paganini-Liszt Etude was programmed and performed. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, is noted as the encore. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 19 1936
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, is noted as the encore in the attached review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 16 1937
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 17 1937
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 19 1937
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 22 1937
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: A Chopin waltz and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, are noted as encores in the attached review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 26 1937
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Rachmaninoff's transcriptions of Mussorgsky's Hopak and Rimsky-Korsakov's Bumble Bee are noted as two of the four encores in the attached reviews. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 30 1937
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina believed that this program opened with Mozart's Theme and Variations, however the attached reviews and press clipping indicate works by Haydn and Gluck-Sgambatti. Similarly, Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody replaced the Polonaise no. 2. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, a Chopin Waltz in A flat major, and the 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 1 1937
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina believed that Liszt's Valse oubliée no. 3 was played in this concert, however the attached review refers to the Valse impromptu. A Chopin waltz, Rachmaninoff's transcription of Rimsky-Korsakov's Bumble Bee and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, are noted as encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 3 1937
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review refers to Liszt's Valse impromptu, rather than the Valse oubliée which was played in other programs at the time. However, perhaps in error, the attached image of the program refers to the Valse impromptu. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, is noted as among the encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 5 1937
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted that the inclusion of the last item (Wagner-Brassin) was speculative, however its inclusion is confirmed in the second of the attached reviews. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 7 1937
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted that the Scarlatti sonatas were not mentioned in the review of this concert, however the attached review refers to them. Liszt's transcription of Schubert's 'Wandern', a Chopin Waltz in A flat, and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, are noted among the encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 10 1937
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina’s notes are not entirely clear for this concert. While the framework of the program is initially similar to concerts given in Pasadena and Claremont earlier in the month, the addition of works by Medtner, a Nocturne by Chopin and Prelude by Rachmaninoff, implies that they replaced other works. Satina notes that only the Hungarian Rhapsody by Liszt was mentioned in the review of the concert, but this does not necessarily mean that the Liebestraum and Valse oubliée were not played. A recently found review appears to confirm Satina's thoughts about the program, although not all works are mentioned. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.