Diary entries

November 21 1929

Leicester, England
De Montford Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina believed that the program given here included Schubert and Wagner transcriptions, as played elsewhere on this tour, however the attached reviews indicate the inclusion of Chopin, etc. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, is noted as an encore. The interview that follows the first attached review reads rather fancifully, but would be of great interest if it could be confirmed. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 23 1929

Manchester, England
Free Trade Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina indicated that the reviews she had been sent for this concert, which was part of the ‘International Celebrity Series’, did not mention the Rachmaninoff works, ‘probably by mistake’. An insightful review by Neville Cardus in the Manchester Guardian is attached. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, is noted as an encore. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

November 24 1929

London, England
Royal Albert Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina indicated that this concert was part of the ‘International Celebrity Series’. Sources indicate that Rachmaninoff was in pain during the concert (see Bertensson and Leyda, p. 261, and the second attached review), and that the following concerts advertised for Hanley on November 25 and Cambridge on November 27 were cancelled. Satina had raised doubts about these two later concerts, noting that they were not included by Rachmaninoff in his 'red notebook'. A review of the concert in Leicester on November 21 notes that Rachmaninoff was suffering from lumbago. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 1 1929

Paris, France
Théâtre des Champs-Élysées

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz in A flat major could be either op. 42, or op. 64, no. 3, or op. 69, no. 1. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 3 1929

Essen, Germany

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: I am grateful to J. Falleyn for providing program information from the Essener Volks-Zeitung on December 2. In regard to Rachmaninoff's own works, a Moment musical op. 16 (presumably no. 2) is mentioned in place of the Etude-Tableau (as had been played in Paris on December 1), and a 'Prelude in B minor, op. 33' is indicated in place of the one in G major (which could be a misprint for op. 32, no. 10). Reviews following the concert in both the Essener Allgemeine Zeitung (December 4) and Essener Volks-Zeitung (December 5) do not provide details regarding Rachmaninoff's works. Satina noted that the Chopin Waltz in A flat major could be either op. 42, or op. 64, no. 3, or op. 69, no. 1, and that she believes that the Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableau was op. 39, no. 6. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 4 1929

Hamburg, Germany

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz in A flat major could be either op. 42, or op. 64, no. 3, or op. 69, no. 1, and that she believes that the Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableau was op. 39, no. 6. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 5 1929

Berlin, Germany

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz in A flat major could be either op. 42, or op. 64, no. 3, or op. 69, no. 1, and that she believes that the Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableau was op. 39, no. 6. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 7 1929

Dresden, Germany

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz in A flat major could be either op. 42, or op. 64, no. 3, or op. 69, no. 1, and that she believes that the Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableau was op. 39, no. 6. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 9 1929

Vienna, Austria

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina indicates that this program is speculative, and assumes that Rachmaninoff played here what he played days earlier in Essen, Hamburg, Dresden, Berlin. Satina also notes that the Chopin Waltz in A flat major could be either op. 42, or op. 64, no. 3, or op. 69, no. 1, and that she believes that the Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableau was op. 39, no. 6. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 10 1929

Budapest, Hungary
Pesti Vigadó Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina indicated that the program was speculative, based on what Rachmaninoff played days earlier in Essen, Hamburg, Dresden, Berlin, however it subsequently has been confirmed by the attached review. Satina also noted that the Chopin Waltz in A flat major could be either op. 42, or op. 64, no. 3, or op. 69, no. 1, and that she believes that the Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableau was op. 39, no. 6. Translation of review: copyright J. Falleyn. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 13 1929

Frankfurt, Germany

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina indicates that this program is speculative, and assumes that Rachmaninoff played here what he played days earlier in Essen, Hamburg, Dresden, Berlin. Satina also notes that the Chopin Waltz in A flat major could be either op. 42, or op. 64, no. 3, or op. 69, no. 1, and that she believes that the Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableau was op. 39, no. 6. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 15 1929

Berlin, Germany

Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist

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

December 16 1929

Berlin, Germany

Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist

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

December 17 1929

Munich, Germany

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz in A flat major could be either op. 42, or op. 64, no. 3, or op. 69, no. 1, and that she believes that the Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableau was op. 39, no. 6. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

December 19 1929

Zurich, Switzerland

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the Chopin Waltz in A flat major could be either op. 42, or op. 64, no. 3, or op. 69, no. 1, and that she believes that the Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableau was op. 39, no. 6. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

January 21 1930

Hanover, NH, USA
Dartmouth College

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: While no review of this concert has so far been located, the Alumni Magazine of Dartmouth College in early 1930 (https://archive.dartmouthalumnimagazine.com/article/1930/3/1/ratcliffe-and-rachmaninoff) appears to confirm Rachmaninoff's appearance. It noted that Rachmaninoff 'didn't play "down" to his audience, and he was enthusiastically appreciated by a full house'. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

January 26 1930

Boston, MA, USA
Symphony Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, is noted as the last of the encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

January 31 1930

Muncie, IN, USA
Masonic Temple Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina noted that the Etude-Tableau in E flat minor was not mentioned in the review of this concert she had been sent. The two attached reviews appear to indicate that the sixth etude was in fact the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2. A Chopin waltz (E minor) and Rachmaninoff's transcription of Rimsky-Korsakov's Bumble Bee are noted as the encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 2 1930

Chicago, IL, USA
Orchestra Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina notes that the review she was sent of this concert was not complete, as it mentioned only the Etudes-Tableaux in E flat major and G minor. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 6 1930

Toronto, ON, Canada
Massey Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Satina indicated that the keys of the Etudes-Tableaux were not noted in the review of this concert she had been sent. The attached reviews note the encores as including Chopin's Nocturne in E flat major, op. 9, no. 2, and one of his waltzes. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 7 1930

Ottawa, ON, Canada
The Glebe Collegiate

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: As the attached press clipping notes, this concert was rescheduled from an earlier date. The attached reviews note the encores as being Chopin's Nocturne in E flat major, op. 9, no. 2, and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, following which Rachmaninoff played God Save The King 'and the audience disappeared'. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 10 1930

Montreal, QC, Canada
St Denis Theatre

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: The first of the attached reviews notes the encores as being Chopin's Nocturne in E flat major, op. 9, no. 2, a Chopin etude, Rachmaninoff's transcription of the Minuet from Bizet's L'Arlesienne, the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, and Dohnányi's Etude. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 13 1930

Mt Vernon, NY, USA
Westchester Women’s Club Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: The attached review notes that Rachmaninoff 'unconcernedly improvised for a minute' before commencing Beethoven's op. 78. Chopin's Waltz in E minor, op. posth., and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, are noted as the encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

February 14 1930

Englewood, NJ, USA
St Cecilia's Auditorium

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: Chopin's Nocturne in E flat major, op. 9, 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 15 1930

New York, NY, USA
Carnegie Hall

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

February 18 1930

Camden, NJ, USA
Gramophone Recording

Rachmaninoff's role: Gramophone Recording

February 19 1930

Camden, NJ, USA
Gramophone Recording

Rachmaninoff's role: Gramophone Recording

March 7 1930

Milwaukee, WI, USA

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

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

March 10 1930

Des Moines, IA, USA
Hoyt Sherman Place

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: While Chopin's Scherzo no. 4 is noted in the attached press clipping, it appears that, as with other venues where this program was played, it was not performed. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, a Chopin waltz, and Liszt's transcription of Chopin's 'Maiden's Wish', are noted as the encores in the attached review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.

March 12 1930

St Louis, MO, USA
Hotel Jefferson

Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist

Notes: While the attached press clipping includes Chopin's Scherzo no. 4, which Satina also believed was played, the attached review appears to indicate that it was not performed. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, Chopin's Waltz in E minor, and Liszt's transcription of Chopin's 'Maiden's Wish', are noted as the encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.