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.
May 2 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the rest of the program is unknown, but also that it included ‘songs’ sung by ‘Madame Skalontz’. Bertensson and Leyda confirm this concert, also noting that Skalontz (Adelaide von Skilondz) sang songs by Rachmaninoff. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
September 18 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that Tchaikovsky’s Romance might not have been played. A piano made by Hornung & Møller is noted. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
September 19 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
September 27 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
September 30 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 1 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 2 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 3 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 4 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 7 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While the Elegy, op. 3, no. 1, was listed on the program, a direct line through it in the copy in the Library of Congress would appear to indicate that it wasn't performed. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 9 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 10 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 13 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 16 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 18 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 8 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that in Providence a program misprint had stated that the Chopin Nocturne was in A minor. She also notes that this was Rachmaninoff’s first appearance in the USA since 1910. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 15 1918
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that the concert began with ‘the American Hymn’ ('The Star-Spangled Banner'). LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89. Review: Boston Herald 1918.12.16 p. 11.
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. The attached review notes that Beethoven's Scherzo from the Sonata in E flat major, op. 31, no. 3, was given as an encore after the Sonata. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 4 1919
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review notes that Rachmaninoff played the Scherzo from Beethoven's Sonata in E flat major, op. 31, no. 3, as an encore after the Beethoven Sonata. 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, Maria Rappold (standing in for 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: The attached reviews indicate Rachmaninoff's Barcarolle, op. 10, no. 3, and Polichinelle, op. 3, no. 4, were played as encores at the end of the recital, and that a 'Scherzo, op. 31' of Beethoven was played after the sonata. 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 or 3rd piece from Medtner's op. 7 was performed. The second attached review indicates that the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was given as an encore at the end. 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 or 3rd piece from Medtner's op. 7 was performed. The third attached review notes that among the audience were Nellie Melba and Geraldine Farrar, and that Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was one of a small group of encores at the end. The fourth attached review indicates that 'The Star-Spangled Banner' was played at the beginning. Regarding Rachmaninoff's Variations, op. 22, the first attached review indicates: 'As played yesterday it was in a form somewhat changed from that in which it first was published ten or more years ago. Some six of the original variations were left out yesterday, one, new, was substituted and a bravura finale is now set as a quiet mood.' LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.