Diary entries
December 11 1938
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which work by Rameau is indicated, but it could be the Gavotte and Variations (Gavotte et six doubles) from the Suite in A minor, RCT 5. While the key of the Schubert Impromptu was consistently listed as A flat minor, Martyn (p. 434) confirms it was D. 899, no. 4. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 13 1938
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina indicates that this concert began at 8.30pm. It is not clear which work by Rameau is indicated, but it could be the Gavotte and Variations (Gavotte et six doubles) from the Suite in A minor, RCT 5. While the key of the Schubert Impromptu was consistently listed as A flat minor, Martyn (p. 434) confirms it was D. 899, no. 4. Tchaikovsky's Troika, the transcription of Mussorgsky's Hopak, and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, are noted as encores in the attached reviews. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 15 1938
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which work by Rameau is indicated, but it could be the Gavotte and Variations (Gavotte et six doubles) from the Suite in A minor, RCT 5. While the key of the Schubert Impromptu was consistently listed as A flat minor, Martyn (p. 434) confirms it was D. 899, no. 4. Satina has placed a question mark next to this recital, but it is not clear why. The attached review confirms the program Satina identified. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 17 1938
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which work by Rameau is indicated, but it could be the Gavotte and Variations (Gavotte et six doubles) from the Suite in A minor, RCT 5. It is possible that Liszt's Etude in D flat major was also played at this concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 19 1938
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which work by Rameau is indicated, but it could be the Gavotte and Variations (Gavotte et six doubles) from the Suite in A minor, RCT 5. Five encores are noted in the attached reviews, these being: the transcription of Kreisler's Liebesleid, Liszt's Liebestraum no. 3, the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, and the transcriptions of Rimsky-Korsakov's Bumble Bee and Mussorgsky's Hopak. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 21 1938
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which work by Rameau is indicated, but it could be the Gavotte and Variations (Gavotte et six doubles) from the Suite in A minor, RCT 5. The transcription of Rimsky-Korsakov's Bumble Bee and a Chopin waltz are noted as encores in the attached review. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 29 1938
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicates that this concert began at 8.45pm. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 30 1938
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina indicates that this concert began at 2.30pm. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 16 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While the number of the Etude-Tableau in A minor is not clear, Satina believed it was likely no. 6. There were four encores at this concert, according to a review she had been sent, which included the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, the transcription of Mussorgsky’s Hopak, and Spinning Song, by Wagner-Liszt. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 17 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The transcription of Schubert's 'Wohin?' and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, are noted as encores in the attached reviews. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 19 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which work by Rameau is indicated, but it could be the Gavotte and Variations (Gavotte et six doubles) from the Suite in A minor, RCT 5. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 22 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While the number of the Etude-Tableau in A minor is not clear, Satina believed it was likely no. 6. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 23 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: While the number of the Etude-Tableau in A minor is not clear, Satina believed it was likely no. 6. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 16 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which work by Rameau is indicated, but it could be the Gavotte and Variations (Gavotte et six doubles) from the Suite in A minor, RCT 5. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, is noted in the attached reviews as an encore. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 18 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which work by Rameau is indicated, but it could be the Gavotte and Variations (Gavotte et six doubles) from the Suite in A minor, RCT 5. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 19 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It is not clear which work by Rameau is indicated, but it could be the Gavotte and Variations (Gavotte et six doubles) from the Suite in A minor, RCT 5. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 21 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: A review in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph the following day confirms the program, also indicating that Liszt's Liebestraum no. 3, a Chopin waltz, Tchaikovsky's Troika, and the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, were played as encores. The image of the Sheffield Daily Telegraph is used with kind permission of The British Library Board. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 24 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Apetian did not list this concert, yet details appeared in records maintained by Rachmaninoff's UK agent, and the program was listed by Satina. A newspaper review article in the Hampshire Advertise and Southampton Times the day after the concert, on February 25, written by their music critic, 'Faux Bourdon', noted that Rachmaninoff's concert would be covered the following week, perhaps suggesting that publication issues might have prevented immediate filing of notices, and also explaining why Satina might have been convinced Rachmaninoff performed. Yet in the issue of March 4, Bourdon opened by stating 'It was, no doubt, a great disappointment to many that Rachmaninoff, the great composer-pianist, was unable to appear at last Friday's Celebrity Concert'; it noted that Vladimir Horowitz appeared instead. Hence, it is clear that Rachmaninoff did not perform at this time in Southampton; this Diary entry is intended to provide clarity and dispel confusion. The program would have been identical to that played in Sheffield on February 21, and in Middlesborough on February 28, with works by Bach, Beethoven, Debussy, Rachmaninoff, Chopin and Liszt. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 28 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 2 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 4 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Reviews in The Scotsman and the Edinburgh Evening News, both on March 6, indicate that Rachmaninoff played his Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, and Liszt's Liebestraum no. 3 as encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 7 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 9 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 11 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 12 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina believed that Schumann's Fantasiestücke, op. 12, were performed at this rescheduled concert, yet the attached review indicates the work by Debussy. 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.
March 28 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina acknowledged that she was unable to obtain a complete program for this concert, however further details have been sourced from reviews in De Maasbode and De Standaard, both published on March 29. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 30 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina was unable to find any details for this concert, yet the second attached review has supplied the complete program. It also indicates that the encores consisted of a Chopin waltz and mazurka, one of Rachmaninoff's preludes, and Borodin's Scherzo in A flat major. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
April 25 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina was unable to find any details for this concert, which she presumed to have been a solo recital, however a review in Le Ménestrel from May 5 indicates that the program was similar to recitals in the United Kingdom in March, and a more recent concert in Amsterdam. The four etudes by Chopin were likely nos. 7, 5, 4 and 12 from op. 25. The attached review from Le Figaro names one work by Liszt, and Liszt's transcription of the work by Wagner, although the program remains incomplete. There seems to be no explanation for the reference to Rachmaninoff being Danish in the review from Le Ménestrel. All reviews note Rachmaninoff's generosity in donating his fee to the Association of Artistic Action. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
August 11 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina noted that this concert was part of the International Music Festival. It seems ironic that a work so associated (even if denied by the composer) with the destruction wrought on Europe by the First World War, Ravel's La valse, ends this concert – Rachmaninoff’s final performance in Europe – on the eve of the Second World War. While Satina didn't provide details regarding the ensemble, the attached festival program booklet describes it as 'a first-rate orchestra of 90 professional musicians'. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 18 1939
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.