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 3 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 5 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Mendelssohn's Spinning Song is noted in the attached reviews as an encore after the Mendelssohn group, while the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was among the encores at the end. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 8 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicated that Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was played in the bracket of his own works, however the attached review appears to place it after the Chopin works. A Chopin mazurka is noted as one of two encores at the end of the recital. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 10 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The first attached review indicates that Mendelssohn's Spinning Song was played as an encore after the Mendelssohn group, and that Chopin's Ballade replaced the advertised Barcarolle. Chopin's Waltz in G flat major, op. 70, no. 1, was given an encore after the programmed waltz. The other reviews indicate that the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was given as an encore at the end of the recital, apparently also with more waltzes by Chopin. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 15 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 C sharp minor, op. 64, no. 1, after the Chopin group, and at the end Chopin's Waltz in G flat major (referred to as 'G major') and Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2. Satina believed that a work by Grieg was on the program, as well as different works by Rachmaninoff, however the attached press clippings and reviews indicate otherwise. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 19 1920
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The third attached review notes the encores as being Mendelssohn's Spinning Song after the Mendelssohn group, a further Chopin waltz after the Chopin pieces, and at the end a work by Tchaikovsky and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, among other pieces. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 6 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 8 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review notes Mendelssohn's Spinning Song and Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, as among the encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 10 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached reviews note that Mendelssohn's Spinning Song was given as an encore after the other Mendelssohn works, while the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was included in encores at the end. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 12 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review indicates that Mendelssohn's Spinning Song was given as an encore after Schumann's Papillons, Chopin's Waltz in E flat major, op. 18, was given after the Chopin group, and that at the end of the recital the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, and Chopin's Waltz in C sharp minor, op. 64, no. 2, were played. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 14 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina believed that Mozart's Sonata in A major, K. 331, was also included in this concert, however it is not noted in the program printed in the second attached press clipping. No review has yet been located. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 16 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: For this program, Satina included what she referred to as 'Praeludium' by JS Bach as the second item, yet does not offer any further information. Such a work does not appear on any similar programs of the time, nor does mention of it occur in the reviews. The second attached review indicates that the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was the final of five encores given at this recital. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 18 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted that a mazurka by Chopin (which she believed might have been in A flat major, op. 59, no. 2) was played as an encore after the Chopin group, which the second attached review appears to indicate was after a further two waltzes had already been given as encores. Mendelssohn's Spinning Song is noted as an encore after Schumann's Papillons, while the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, is noted at the end. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 24 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review indicates that as encores Mendelssohn's Spinning Song was added after the Songs Without Words, a short piece was played after the Chopin group (likely a Chopin waltz), and 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.
January 25 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review notes encores as being one of Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words, and Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 30 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review indicates that Mendelssohn's Spinning Song was given as an encore after Schumann's Papillons, and Chopin's Waltz in F major, op. 34, no. 2, after the Chopin group. At the end of the concert, the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was followed by Debussy's Cakewalk. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 31 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The third attached review indicates clearly the encores for this concert: after Schumann's Papillons, Mendelssohn's Song Without Words, 'Hunting Song', was played; while after the Chopin group the Waltz in F major, op. 34, no. 3, was given. At the end of the concert, Rachmaninoff's played his Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, and Chopin's Waltz in C sharp minor, op. 64, no. 2. The second attached review notes a further work by Mendelssohn as an encore, although it is not clear if this was in error. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 3 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review indicates that a further Chopin waltz was played as an encore after the Chopin group, while the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was given later in the concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 6 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, 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 7 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicated that four pieces by Rachmaninoff were played at this concert, presumably according to a review she had been sent, but she doesn’t provide further details. It seems possible that two were played as encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 14 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached press clipping indicates the Mozart and Chopin group were a change from the advertised Chopin Sonata in B minor. The waltz could have been that in G flat major, op. 70, no. 1, misnamed as G major in the first attached review. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, is noted as one of the encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89. Review: Philadelphia Inquirer 1921.02.15 p. 3.
February 15 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 17 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 26 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted that the two Etudes-Tableaux included no. 3 in F sharp minor, and one ‘in modo Antico’ (likely B minor), which would appear to align with the program given in Boston on March 6. The attendance of Paderewski at the concert is noted in two of the attached reviews. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 28 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While the attached review is too depleted to be deciphered, the edited photo of it, which is included, at least appears to match the names of the composers with the works that were played. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 6 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted that the two Etudes-Tableaux included no. 3 in F sharp minor, and one ‘in modo Antico’ (B minor), which the attached press clipping appears to confirm. The reviews indicate that Mussorgsky's Hopak was repeated, while Olin Downes in the Boston Post refers to a 'half hour' of encores at the end. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 8 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review indicates that Mendelssohn's Spinning Song, the same composer's Song Without Words no. 47, and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, were given as encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 10 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached review indicates that the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was given as an encore after the Chopin group, and that further encores were given at the end. It is not entirely clear if the reference to the Prelude in G major, op. 32, no. 5, was among these, or if it was a typographical error when referring to the more famous one. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 19 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina believed that the first Waltz by Chopin was in E flat major, op. 18. The review mentions a 'Novelle' by Medtner and the transcription of Mussorgsky's Hopak, yet it is not entirely clear if they were played as encores. The attached press clipping does not include all works on the program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89. Review: 1921.03.20 p. 14.
March 31 1921
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached reviews indicate that Chopin's Waltz in E flat major, op. 18, was played as an encore after the Schumann Papillons, while the Polka de W.R. and a Song Without Words by Mendelssohn were given at the end of the recital. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.