Diary entries
March 26 1898 (Julian Calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician
Notes: This date was not noted by Satina, however Val'kova (vol. 1, p. 216) includes it. Val'kova cites an entry in Taneyev's Diaries that outlines the performance and Rachmaninoff's participation, referring to it as an 'evening of Russian composers'. She states that it was not possible to find a program for the concert, and no press notices are cited.
September 16 1898 (Julian Calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician
Notes: Rachmaninoff's travels to Crimea with Chaliapin and other singers are noted in various sources, however specific details of performances are recorded by Val'kova (vol. 1, pp. 222-224). While she notes that Rachmaninoff's name was not mentioned in any of the press notices about concerts, she cites other press and biographical sources that conclusively place him with the group of Russian Private Opera singers. The Chronicle of Life and Works of Chaliapin (1984) similarly includes details, also naming a concert in Sevastopol on September 23 (pp. 126-127). A press announcement in Moskovskiye Vedomosti on September 13 is cited, which names Rachmaninoff along with the singers. The concerts on September 16, 18, 21 and 23 are supported by notices in the Crimean Courier, and are listed here. It seems likely that other concerts planned for Kharkiv, Kyiv and Odesa also took place, based on the reminiscence E.R. Winter-Rozhanskaya in Vospominania (vol. 2, p. 24), who reflects personally on a concert in Alupka, apparently the last on the tour, however no further dates have been given. Winter-Rozhanskaya notes that by the final concert Rachmaninoff played everything 'by heart' ['Но Сергей Васильевич играл все наизусть, и даже при аккомпанементе свечи ему не понадобились'].
September 18 1898 (Julian Calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician
Notes: Val'kova (vol. 1, p. 223) cites a press notice in Crimean Courier on September 17 to verify this performance.
September 21 1898 (Julian Calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician
Notes: Val'kova (vol. 1, p. 223) cites a press notice in Crimean Courier to verify this concert, also indicating that Malinin's name was not mentioned in regard to this event.
September 23 1898 (Julian Calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician
Notes: While neither Satina nor Val'kova included this concert, the Chronicle of Life and Works of Chaliapin (p. 127) lists it, which is also supported by a mention in the History of Russian Music (vol. 10V, book 2, p 237). Part of a review in the Crimean Courier on September 29 is quoted in the Chronicle.
April 19 1899
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor and Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted that this was Rachmaninoff’s first appearance in England. The concert was the 3rd in the season of the Philharmonic Society of London. Satina indicated that the program was copied from the book ‘History of the Philharmonic Society of London: 1813-1912’, p. 462. The attached reviews note that Rachmaninoff's Prelude was repeated by request. The aria by Borodin ('Медленно день угасал') is from Act 2 of the opera. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 15 1899 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina provided the complete program, noting that Rachmaninoff accompanied Chaliapin and Bremsen. Val'kova (vol. 1, p. 243) includes part of the program. The concert was held under the auspices of the Ladies’ Committee for Prisoner Welfare. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 17 1900 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor and Chamber Musician
Notes: Details of this concert are in the Russian National Museum of Music (formerly known as the Glinka Museum). Neither Satina nor Martyn list the event. Songs and arias with Chaliapin could be similar to works performed in concerts on March 9 and December 2 later this year.
March 9 1900 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina cited Apetian (p. 183), and noted that it was the first performance of ‘Fate’. Satina believed there was a possibility that dates have been mixed with this concert, and it could have occurred on September 3 1900, yet the date of March 9 is confirmed by Keldysh (p. 167). Martyn (p. 435) listed 'Aus meines Tränen spriessen' from Dichterliebe in place of 'Ich hab' im Traum geweinet'. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 2 1900 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina noted that this was a symphony concert held under the auspices of the Ladies’ Committee for Prisoner Welfare. She also noted that the order of compositions performed was unknown. This was the first performance of the two movements from the Second Piano Concerto. Details of additional songs by Rimsky-Korsakov, Dargomyzhsky, Schumann and Grieg performed by Chaliapin and Rachmaninoff are according to Chronicle of Life and Works F.I. Chaliapin (p. 159). LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 6 1901 (Julian Calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician
Notes: Neither Satina or Apetian listed this concert, however it is confirmed by a review in Russkaya Muzikal'naya Gazeta, which is attached. Marina Mikheyeva, in her 2015 article on Siloti and Rachmaninoff, similarly notes this as the first performance of Rachmaninoff's op. 17 Suite. The cello sonata of Beethoven is not identified.
October 27 1901 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina noted that this was the first performance of the complete Concerto. She was unaware of the other works in the program, which are according to the attached review. The exact order of the program is currently unknown. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 24 1901 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina indicated that this was the 3rd concert of the season of the Philharmonic Society, citing Apetian (p. 197) as her reference. This was the first performance in Moscow of Rachmaninoff’s Suite no. 2. A review in Novosti Dnya on November 26, attached, indicates that songs by Tchaikovsky and Davidov were sung in addition to an aria by Rimsky-Korsakov, while the attached review from Moskovskiye Vedomosti names only Levko's aria from 'May Night'. The exact order of the program is unknown at present. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 2 1901 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina noted that this concert, held under the auspices of the Ladies’ Committee for Prisoner Welfare, was the first performance of Rachmaninoff’s Sonata for piano and cello, op. 19. Apetian's note to letter 191 in Literaturnoye nasledie (vol. 1, p. 566) indicates that Rachmaninoff continued to work on the sonata, the completion date on the manuscript being December 12. Keldysh (p. 172) noted Ysaÿe's performance of the Vieuxtemps concerto, citing a review that indicated Rachmaninoff's accompaniment 'exceptionally compensated' for the absence of an orchestra. The review appears to be from Moskovskiye Vedomosti on December 4, attached, which further indicates that a Romance by Beethoven was also performed by Ysaÿe and Rachmaninoff. The order of the program is unknown. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 3 1902 (Julian Calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician
Notes: While neither Satina nor Apetian note this concert, Keldysh (p. 200) indicated it was an 'open concert' for the Evenings of Contemporary Music.
March 11 1902 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: Threlfall and Norris note the first performance of Rachmaninoff's cantata 'Spring', op. 20, on this date, but indicate that Siloti conducted. Yet Keldysh (p. 203) believed that the composer conducted, citing press reviews. Specifically, from Moskovskiye Vedomosti on March 13: 'Despite Rachmaninoff's confident conducting, noted in the press reviews, it [the performance of 'Spring'] was not entirely successful'. The attached review from Russkaya Muzikal'naya Gazeta, while praising the work, did not note the conductor. It might be that Siloti conducted the other works on the program.
March 26 1902 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: Satina cited Apetian (p. 207) as her reference. Martyn, p. 536, indicated that Siloti conducted the symphonic works on the program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 9 1903
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: This date was not recorded by Satina in her list of European concerts, although a later note in the archive indicates she was aware of its possibility. In the note, she also questions the possibility of a concert in Prague directly afterwards - 'probable the same concert was repeated in Prague'. That concert - on January 14 - has been verified more recently by a newspaper review. The details for this program are supplied from the website of the Vienna Symphony. At the time, the orchestra was known as the Wiener Concertverein. An attached review from Deutsches Volksblatt, p. 11, on January 10, provides further information. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 14 1903
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: This concert was not listed by Satina, however a note regarding a concert in Vienna on January 9 indicated she was aware of its possibility. I am grateful to J. Falleyn for confirming the concert, and for supplying the translation of the attached review. The exact order of the program is according to the attached press clipping. Rachmaninoff played one of his Preludes as an encore, as noted in the review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 9 1903 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina noted that this mixed concert was held under the auspices of the ‘Society for Improving the Conditions of Teacher’s Life in Moscow Public Schools’, and that V. Petrovna, Antonina Nezhdanova, and Leonid Sobinov also took part. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 10 1903 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist and Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina noted that this was a concert held under the auspices of the Ladies Committee for Prisoner Welfare, citing Apetian (p. 221-222) as her reference. Threlfall and Norris noted that this was the first performance of Rachmaninoff's op. 22. Keldysh (p. 205) indicated that N.I. Zabela-Vrubel sang some of Rachmaninoff's songs, along with Petrovna-Zvantseva, which is supported by Martyn (p. 432), although the latter did not list the performance of Rachmaninoff's songs. Keldysh quoted from a review indicating that the Prelude in D major was played rather than the Prelude in B flat major. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 3 1903 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicated that Rachmaninoff included his Preludes in D minor and D major among the set. Keldysh (p. 205), however, noted only 5 preludes. It is not indicated which concerto by Popper was played. The concert began at 9pm. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 15 1903 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted that this was the 3rd concert in the season of Alexander Siloti, also noting that it was the first performance of the works by Goedicke and Rimsky-Korsakov. Keldysh (p. 201 and p. 206) indicated that Rachmaninoff played three preludes from op. 23 as encores, however the concert program in Barber's biography of Siloti shows them as listed here (p. 263). Rachmaninoff's solo works were not mentioned in the attached review from Russkaya Muzikal'naya Gazeta. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 13 1903 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor and Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina was unaware of the complete program, which is given in full in Barber's biography of Siloti (p. 263). LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 16 1904 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina noted that this was a benefit concert held under the auspices of ‘the Society for the Aid of needy Medical Students – Attendants at the Old St Catherine’s Hospital’. She also indicated that this was the first performance of the work by Glazunov. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 18 1904 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina noted that this was the first appearance of Rachmaninoff in one of Kerzin’s concerts, citing Apetian (p. 230) as her reference. The attached review from Russkaya Muzikal'naya Gazeta indicates that the remainder of the program comprised vocal works, including at least one song by Rachmaninoff and folksong settings by Rimsky-Korsakov. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
September 3 1904 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: 'Rusalka'. Keldysh (p. 210) noted that while Rachmaninoff was scheduled to have conducted the season-opening performance of Glinka's 'A Life for the Tsar', delays in that production meant this was his first appearance conducting opera at the Bolshoi Theatre. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
September 10 1904 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: 'Eugene Onegin'. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
September 15 1904 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: 'Rusalka'. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
September 17 1904 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: 'Prince Igor'. Keldysh (p. 213) noted Chaliapin in the role of Galitsky in this performance. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.