Diary entries

February 24 1920

New Haven, CT, USA
Woolsey Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 26 1920

New York, NY, USA
Carnegie Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist

Notes: The concert commenced at 8.30pm. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 27 1920

New York, NY, USA
Carnegie Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist

Notes: The concert commenced at 2.30pm. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 29 1920

Montreal, QC, Canada
His Majesty’s Theatre

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 7 1920

New York, NY, USA
Metropolitan Opera House

Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist

Notes: Details for this concert have been confirmed by Francis Crociata. The reviews indicate that Rachmaninoff played Liszt’s Second Rhapsody as a solo encore, featuring his own cadenza, and other solo pieces. The complete program for the second half of the concert is presently unknown, although songs by Grechaninov, Thomas and Helen Brown are noted in the second attached review.

March 11 1920

Denver, CO, USA
City Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 17 1920

Hutchinson, KS, USA
Convention Hall

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

Kansas City, MO, USA
Shubert Theater

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

Chicago, IL, USA
City Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

April 7 1920

New York, NY, USA
The Regiment Armory

Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Chamber Musician

Notes: Satina indicated that this was a Rachmaninoff Festival Concert. Instead of The Bells, which was to have been conducted by Rachmaninoff, Damrosch conducted the Spring Cantata. The first attached review notes that Rachmaninoff had 'neurosis' of the arm, although both also indicate that Rachmaninoff felt unable to both conduct and play in the same concert. One of the songs appears to have been 'Spring Waters', op. 14, no. 11, while a further fourth song, which is noted as an encore, could have been op. 4, no. 4. Royal Dadmun is noted as a late replacement for Georges Baklanov. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

April 26 1920

Camden, NJ, USA
Gramophone Recording

Rachmaninoff's role: Gramophone Recording

May 3 1920

Camden, NJ, USA
Gramophone Recording

Rachmaninoff's role: Gramophone Recording

May 4 1920

Camden, NJ, USA
Gramophone Recording

Rachmaninoff's role: Gramophone Recording

May 17 1920

Camden, NJ, USA
Gramophone Recording

Rachmaninoff's role: Gramophone Recording

June 3 1920

Norfolk, CT, USA
Music Shed

Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist

Notes: Satina indicated that this was the 46th Meeting and Concert of the Litchfield County Choral Union, and that the orchestra comprised 75 players from New York City. She was unsure of the conductors, however the attached reviews provide clarity. Rachmaninoff's 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.

June 30 1920

Atlantic City, NJ, USA
Ambassador Hotel

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.

July 2 1920

Camden, NJ, USA
Gramophone Recording

Rachmaninoff's role: Gramophone Recording

October 20 1920

Camden, NJ, USA
Gramophone Recording

Rachmaninoff's role: Gramophone Recording

October 21 1920

Camden, NJ, USA
Gramophone Recording

Rachmaninoff's role: Gramophone Recording

November 3 1920

New York, NY, USA
Gramophone Recording

Rachmaninoff's role: Gramophone Recording

November 11 1920

Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Hill Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 14 1920

Chicago, IL, USA
Auditorium Theater

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

Cleveland, OH, USA
Gray's Armory

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

Cincinnati, OH, USA
Music Hall

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

Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Carnegie Music Hall

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

Detroit, MI, USA
Orchestra Hall

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

Buffalo, NY, USA
Elmwood Music Hall

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

Albany, NY, USA

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

Springfield, MA, USA
City Auditorium

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

Providence, RI, USA

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.