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.
January 4 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 5 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo PIanist
Notes: The attached reviews indicate that Mendelssohn's Spinning Song was given as an encore after the Rondo Capriccioso, two Chopin waltzes were added after the Chopin group (one in A flat major, the other in D flat major ('Minute'), op. 64, no. 1), while Rachmaninoff's Barcarolle, op. 10, no. 3, Polichinelle, op. 3, no. 4, and the Polka de W.R. were added at the end. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 8 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 11 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached reviews note that Mendelssohn's Spinning Song was given as an encore after the Rondo Capriccioso, two Chopin waltzes were added after the Chopin group, and Rachmaninoff's Barcarolle, op. 10, no. 3, and an unidentified waltz were given at the end. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 12 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicated that a review she had been sent of this concert was incomplete, but that it was probable that Rachmaninoff played the entire program as indicated. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 13 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached reviews indicate that Mendelssohn's Spinning Song was given as an encore after the Rondo Capriccioso, two Chopin waltzes (including the 'Minute', op. 64, no. 1) were played after the Chopin group, and that Rachmaninoff's Barcarolle, op. 10, no, 3, the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, and the Polka de W.R. were given at the end. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 20 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review indicates that Mendelssohn's Spinning Song was played as an encore after the Rondo Capriccioso, that two waltzes by Chopin were given after the Chopin group (one of them being the Waltz in D flat major ('Minute'), op. 64, no. 1), and that Rachmaninoff's Barcarolle, op. 10, no. 3, was played at the end. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 22 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 1 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina was unaware of Mendelssohn's Rondo Capriccioso being on the program. The attached program image appears to indicate that a further Chopin waltz and an etude were played as encores after the Chopin group, and that Rachmaninoff's Barcarolle, op. 10, no. 3, and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, were played at the end. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 18 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached reviews do not mention Rachmaninoff's Waltz, and it seems possible it was not played. Both indicate three encores were played at the end of the recital, however they are not named. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 21 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 23 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The second attached review indicates that Rachmaninoff's Barcarolle, op. 10, no. 3, Paderewski's Minuet, and Tchaikovsky's Troika were given as encores at the end of the recital. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 24 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 29 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The second attached review indicates a change to the program, which the attached press clipping appears to indicate was in regard to his own works. As the first attached review indicates, the two preludes named in the press clipping appear to have been given as encores. A Chopin waltz is noted as an encore after the Chopin Sonata, the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was given after the three Etudes-Tableaux, the Prelude in G sharp minor, op. 32, no. 12, was given after the Scriabin Etude, while an unnamed composition by Rachmaninoff and Paderewski's Minuet were given at the end of the recital. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 11 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 17 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The second attached review outlines the encores played, and also points toward the Chopin etudes played in other concerts at this time: Mendelssohn's Spinning Song followed the Rondo Capriccioso, Chopin's Etude in G flat major, op. 10, no. 5, and Etude in G flat major, op. 25, no. 9, followed the Chopin group, and at the end his own Barcarolle, op. 10, no. 3, Paderewski's Minuet, and the Polka de W.R. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 19 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The first attached review notes encores as being a Chopin waltz (likely after the Chopin group), Paderewski's Minuet, Tchaikovsky's Troika, an apparent 'improvisation' on one of his own songs, the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, and Polichinelle, op. 3, no. 4. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 21 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
June 30 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina was unable to find any details of this concert, but Apetian believed it was a 'mixed concert' in which Rachmaninoff played 5 works, the names of which she did not know. Michael Scott in his book (2008) cited the name of the hotel, further indicating that Enrico Caruso performed at the event, also indicating that it was a 'special benefit given for Victor artists for the National Association of Talking Machine Jobbers' (p. 170). These details are confirmed in the attached press clipping, while the third attached review gives the most detailed account of what was played. Debussy's Cakewalk and Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, appear to have been given as encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 11 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 14 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted that material she had sent about the concert appeared to be incomplete, mentioning only the Beethoven and the Mendelssohn, but in relation to works by Rachmaninoff mentioning two Etudes-Tableaux. This is perhaps the same press clipping that is attached. The attached reviews provide almost no detail on the works played. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 15 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina pondered whether Grieg’s ‘On the Mountains’ was played in this recital, which is confirmed in the second attached review. It is not clear which works by Rachmaninoff were played, with Satina wondering if the Polichinelle replaced the Etudes-Tableaux, as in other venues. A seventh Mendelssohn work is noted as an encore (possibly the Spinning Song), while the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was given at the end. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 16 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted an awareness that Rachmaninoff played different works of his own than originally scheduled, substituting the Polichinelle and Barcarolle. Mendelssohn's Spinning Song is noted as an encore after the other Mendelssohn works. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 18 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While most subsequent programs indicate five of Mendelssohn's Songs Without Word, the attached press clipping and review indicate six were programmed and played. A further work, Spinning Song, was played as an encore at the end of this group, while the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was played at the end. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 22 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted awareness that Rachmaninoff had originally programmed different works of his own for this recital, later substituting his Polichinelle and Barcarolle. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 23 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While the attached press clipping indicates the Chopin Waltz was placed before the Barcarolle, the attached reviews all indicate the order being reversed. Encores noted were Mendelssohn's Hunting Song after the Debussy pieces, Chopin's Waltz in C sharp minor, op. 64, no. 2, and Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, after the Chopin group, and a Mazurka 'in C sharp' by Chopin at the end of the recital. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 24 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that Rachmaninoff’s Polichinelle, op. 3, no. 4, was apparently added to the program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 26 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached reviews indicate that Mendelssohn's Spinning Song was given as an encore after the Mendelssohn group, Chopin's Waltz in G flat major, op. 70, no. 1, and C sharp minor, op. 64, no. 2 (referred to as 'C minor'), after the Chopin group, and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, as one of two encores at the end. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 28 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina writes that Rachmaninoff apparently played his Polichinelle, op. 3, no. 4, and his Barcarolle, op. 10, no. 3, instead of the two works listed in the program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 30 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina writes that Rachmaninoff apparently played his Polichinelle, op. 3, no. 4, and his Barcarolle, op. 10, no. 3, instead of the two works listed in the program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.