Diary entries

September 15 1928

Berlin, Germany
Gramophone Recording

Rachmaninoff's role: Gramophone Recording

October 2 1928

Copenhagen, Denmark

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

October 5 1928

Copenhagen, Denmark

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor is presumably L. 413, which he recorded. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 9 1928

Oslo, Norway
Aula University

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: I am grateful to J. Falleyn for forwarding the third attached press clipping and the review of this concert. The review notes that a Chopin nocturne was played as an encore. Satina believed that the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was programmed, however the Prelude in G minor, op. 23, no. 5, was in its place. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 10 1928

Bergen, Norway

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor was presumably L. 413, which he recorded. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 16 1928

Stockholm, Sweden

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

October 18 1928

Uppsala, Sweden

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

October 19 1928

Stockholm, Sweden

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor was presumably L. 413, which he recorded. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 22 1928

The Hague, Netherlands
Gebouw voor Kunst en Wetenschappen

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina noted that a Chopin nocturne had been played as an encore at this concert, which is confirmed by a review in the Haagsche Courant on October 23 that also indicates a further Chopin waltz was played at the end. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 23 1928

Amsterdam, Netherlands
Concertgebouw

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

October 25 1928

Rotterdam, Netherlands
Harmonie, Groote Doelezaal

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: A review in the Rotterdamsch Nieuwsblad on October 26 confirms the order of the program, but does not name the keys of Rachmaninoff's preludes (which may have been different to those noted by Satina on this tour). LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 29 1928

The Hague, Netherlands
Gebouw voor Kunst en Wetenschappen

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina indicated that the pieces by Liszt were not mentioned in the reviews she had received for this concert and the following concert in Amsterdam, but suspects that the works noted here were played. A review in De Avondpost on October 30 appears to indicate that only two of Rachmaninoff's Etudes-Tableaux were played, while also noting the inclusion of some preludes. The Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody is confirmed, and works by Chopin and Rachmaninoff are noted as encores. The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor was presumably L. 413, which Rachmaninoff recorded. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

October 30 1928

Amsterdam, Netherlands
Concertgebouw

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina indicated that the pieces by Liszt were not mentioned in the reviews she had received for this concert or for the preceding concert in The Hague, but suspects that the works were played. A review in Het Volk on October 31 confirms the works by Beethoven, Schumann, Rachmaninoff and Liszt. The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor was presumably L. 413, which he recorded. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 1 1928

Hamburg, Germany
Conventgarten, Großer Saal

Notes: Satina was unable to find details for this concert, however the attached reviews appear to indicate that the program including Liszt's Dante Sonata played elsewhere on the tour - such as in Amsterdam on October 23 - was given here. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 3 1928

Cologne, Germany
Gürzenichsaal

Notes: The details for this concert, of which Satina was unaware, are taken from the attached review. The exact details for the smaller works by Chopin, and Rachmaninoff's Preludes, are likely the same as those played elsewhere on the tour, such as in Amsterdam on October 23. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 5 1928

Hannover, Germany
Konzerthaus

Notes: The details for this concert, of which Satina was unaware, are taken from the attached review. It is likely the details for the smaller works by Chopin and Rachmaninoff are the same as played elsewhere on this tour, such as in Amsterdam on October 23. The attached press clipping indicates the concert took place in the 'Konzerthaus an der Goethebrücke' [Concert House by the Goethe Bridge], the history of which appears untraceable at present, and which perhaps no longer stands. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 7 1928

Frankfurt, Germany
Saalbau, Große Saal

Notes: Satina was unable to fine details for this recital, which are taken from the attached review. While the smaller works by Chopin that appeared on this program in other cities on the tour are not mentioned, it could be presumed that they were also played here. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 9 1928

Berlin, Germany
Philharmonie

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina indicated that the keys of the Preludes by Rachmaninoff were not stated in the program, but she believed that they would be the same as in other cities where this program was played. The attached review confirms the major works but does not provide details for the smaller pieces played. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 11 1928

Berlin, Germany
Philharmonie

Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist

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

November 12 1928

Berlin, Germany
Philharmonie

Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist

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

November 15 1928

Milan, Italy
Grande Sala del Regio Conservatorio G. Verdi

Notes: Satina was unable to find details for this concert, however the program was initially partially reconstructed from a conference presentation by Francesco Izzo ('Rachmaninoff in Italy: Criticism - Influence - Performance', 1993). I am grateful to the Società del Quartetto di Milano, who hosted Rachmaninoff's visit, for more recently confirming the full details of the program and its location.

November 22 1928

Wrocław, Poland

Notes: No details. When Rachmaninoff played in this city in 1928, it was known as Breslau. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 24 1928

Dresden, Germany
Geweberhaus

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina indicated that the keys of the Preludes by Rachmaninoff were not stated in the program, but she believed they would have been the same as in other cities where this program was played. However, it is worth observing the slight changes in the program, such as in Paris on December 2. The attached review unfortunately does not provide specific details of the smaller works. Satina also believed that the concert took place in the Dresden Gewandhaus, however the attached press clipping indicates the large hall of the Geweberhaus. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 27 1928

Prague, Czech Republic
Smetanasaal

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: No details, although Satina notes her understanding that works by Bach, Chopin and Liszt were played. The attached press clipping identifies the venue for the concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 28 1928

Vienna, Austria
Konzerthaus, Großer Saal

Notes: Satina was unable to find details for this concert, however the program has been reconstructed partially from the attached reviews. It seems likely that the program was either identical or similar to the program given the following day in Budapest.

November 29 1928

Budapest, Hungary
Pesti Vigadó Hall

Notes: Satina was unaware of details for this concert, however a newspaper review indicates what was played. Translation of review: copyright J. Falleyn.

December 2 1928

Paris, France
Théâtre des Champs-Elysées

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

December 20 1928

New York, NY, USA
Gramophone Recording

Rachmaninoff's role: Gramophone Recording

December 21 1928

New York, NY, USA
Gramophone Recording

Rachmaninoff's role: Gramophone Recording

January 13 1929

Indianapolis, IN, USA
Murat Theater

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: It is likely that the key for the Chopin work was the same as performed in the same program in Cleveland, Boston and New York. Satina noted that the Schumann was not mentioned in the review of this concert she had been sent, ‘probably by mistake’. The Scarlatti Sonata in D minor was presumably L. 413, which he recorded. Rachmaninoff's transcription of Kreisler's Liebesleid and the Prelude in G minor, op. 23, no. 5 are noted as the encores in the third attached review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.