Diary entries
November 4 1910
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician and Piano Soloist
Notes: Satina was unable to find details of the other performers, or of the piano solos, but these have been supplied according to a newspaper review. Translation of review: copyright J. Falleyn. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 11 1910
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Solo Pianist
Notes: When Rachmaninoff played this concert, the city was known as Königsberg, Germany, and adhered to the Gregorian calendar. I am grateful to J. Falleyn for his translation of the attached review, which appeared in the Königsberger Hartungsche Zeitung the day after the concert. According to the review, the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, and two Preludes from the op. 23 set, were played as encores. In the attached press clipping, however, it is indicated that Preludes by Rachmaninoff were included in the body of the program. The press clipping provides details of the orchestral works played, and the name of the concert venue (Saale der Börse, or Börsenhalle [Stock Exchange Hall]). LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 13 1910
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: The details of the orchestral works, of which Satina was unaware, are according to the attached press clipping. The numbering of Schubert's symphonies at the time was different, hence the clipping refers to 'no. 7' rather than 'no. 9'. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 23 1910
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Solo Pianist
Notes: According to information received about a review in the Neuester Anzeiger on November 24, Rachmaninoff played three of his Preludes as well as the concerto. This fact is confirmed in the very brief attached review, naming them all from op. 23, in the Frankfurter Zeitung, although it is not clear if they were programmed or played as encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 2 1910
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: The Königliche Operhaus is more commonly known today as the Semperoper. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 27 1910 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the 4th Anniversary Celebration Concert in the 50th Anniversary of the Imperial Russian Musical Society. A review by Nikolai Kashkin in Russkoe Slovo the following day indicates that Rachmaninoff played at least one encore, however no titles are given. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 28, 1910 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor and Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that this performance was in celebration of the 100th Concert given in the Kerzin series, known as the Society of Lovers of Russian Music. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 17 1910 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina records that, perhaps surprisingly given his concert career to date, this is the first complete solo recital given by Rachmaninoff in Russia. She was unable to provide other details of works on the program, but the concert three days later in Nizhny Novgorod likely offers a clue. Zarui Apetian believed that this concert occurred on December 19 (Julian), and that the Songs, op. 26, were also performed. It could be that there were two separate concerts. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 20 1910 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the 5th concert of the season of the Imperial Russian Music Society. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 15 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor and Concerto Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the 6th Symphony Concert of the season of the Moscow Philharmonic Society. Keldysh, in a footnote on p. 337, confirms that Pomerantsev conducted only in the concerto. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 21 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Conductor
Notes: Martyn indicates that Khodorovsky conducted only in Rachmaninoff’s concerto (p. 552). LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 24 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: It could be presumed that other solo works by Rachmaninoff were included. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
January 27 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Keldysh (p. 337) indicates that in addition to the sonata, some of the preludes from op. 32 were given for the first time, along with other small works. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 10 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina notes that this concert was arranged (perhaps by Siloti) in memory of Vera Komissarzhevskaya. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 12 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor and Concert Soloist
Notes: Satina notes that this was the 7th Symphony Concert in Alexander Siloti’s season, and that it was the first performance of Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto in St Petersburg. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
February 14 1911 (Julian Calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: When Rachmaninoff performed in this city it was known as Helsingfors. As part of the Grand Duchy of Finland at the time, the city was under Russian rule and adhered to the Julian Calendar; in the Western Calendar, the date of the concert was February 27. I am grateful to J. Falleyn for the translation of the attached review, which appeared in the Hufvudtadsbladet the day after the concert. According to the review, Rachmaninoff performed his Prelude in G minor, op. 23, no. 5, the Barcarolle, op. 10, no. 3, and the then-unpublished Prelude in G sharp minor, op. 32, no. 12, as encores. The orchestral works on the program are sourced from the longer review in the same publication. One press sources names the venue as 'Ballroom', while another names it as Solemnity Hall. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 4 1911 (Julian Calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Solo Pianist
Notes: The attached press clipping is the source of information for the orchestral works on the program, which were unknown to Satina; the exact order of the program is not known, nor known which solo works were played in the concert. Russian sources list this concert according to the Julian Calendar. Perhaps inadvertently, Satina shifts from listing concerts in Warsaw according to the Julian Calendar to using the 'new calendar' for this concert, but also giving the date as March 4. In the Gregorian Calendar, this date was March 17. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 20 1911
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: The details of the orchestral works on the program, of which Satina was not aware, have been taken from a review in the Arnhemsche Courant on May 21. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 21 1911
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: While Satina believed Mengelberg conducted this concert, the Concertgebouw Archive indicates Evert Cornelis directed the orchestra. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 23 1911
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: The details of the orchestral works, which were not known to Satina, are taken from a review in De Telegraaf on March 24. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 25 1911
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: The details of the orchestral works, unknown to Satina, have been taken from a review in Land en Volk on March 27. The concert was advertised as commencing with Gluck's Overture to 'Alceste' with the Concerto following before interval, as had been given in Amsterdam 2 days earlier. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 15 1911 (Julian Calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Details of the orchestral works on the program are according to those indicated in the second attached press clipping. It is possible that Mozart's Overture to 'Don Giovanni', noted in the third press clipping, along with other arias, were also performed, although the concert would seem to be overly long in that account. The order of the program is not known. In the Gregorian Calendar, this date was March 28. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 25 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: Satina notes that this was part of Alexander Siloti’s 7th Season of Concerts. Satina also indicates that this was the first complete performance of the work, noting that individual sections had previously been performed a few months earlier, according to notices published in the Russkaya Muzykal’naya Gazeta. Keldysh (p. 337) indicates that several excerpts were performed at a concert of the Synodal Choir on March 10. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
March 29 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: Satina notes that this was the 8th Symphony Concert in the season of the Philharmonic Society. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 18 1911
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist and Chamber Musician
Notes: Satina noted that her information for this concert in the Felix Corbett series was sent to her by Mr J. Tillet. She further noted that in Rachmaninoff’s notebook he wrote that he played ‘only 2 piano solos’, but in a later typewritten comment pondered that it was ‘possible he meant he appeared twice’. While Satina noted the Schubert she didn't indicate Rachmaninoff's participation, yet from a review in the Teeside Weekly Herald from October 21 it is apparent that the performance of Schubert's Rondo in B minor for violin and piano was performed by him with Fritz Kreisler, which would seem to be both the first time the two played together, and the only known time they did so in a public concert. The exact order of the program is not known, and difficult to determine from the review, which also notes the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was repeated as an encore. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 19 1911
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted that the Preludes from op. 32 were at the time still not published, and wrote ‘first time’ regarding them. Satina also indicated that this was a concert for the Newcastle Chamber Music Society, the information about which was sent to her by Mr J. Tillett. There was a further comment that ‘the program contained also some songs’, which is confirmed by a brief notice in the Musical Times, Nov. 1 1911, which indicates the participation of Mr Francis Harford, singing works 'from the pen of the pianist'. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 21 1911
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina was unable to find details for this concert, however the program can be reconstructed from the attached reviews. They note that Rachmaninoff's Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was repeated as an encore. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89. The images of the Evening Post and the Dundee Courier are used with kind permission of The British Library Board.
October 24 1911
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist, Conductor, Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina believed that Rachmaninoff's Second Symphony was conducted by Simon Speelman, however the attached press clippings indicate it was conducted by the composer. A brief review in the Musical Times, December 1 1911, appears to indicate that the concert included Rossini's 'Una voce poco fa', sung by Mignon Nevada, in the first part of the concert, along with an arrangement by Carl Flitner of piano waltzes by Schubert for chorus and orchestra, conducted by 'Mr Branscombe' [possibly Edward Branscombe]. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
October 30 1911
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina was unable for find details for this concert, however it can be reconstructed by a review and press notice in The Scotsman. The review notes that the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was repeated as an encore at the close of the recital. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 1 1911
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina had no details of this concert, apart from noting that in Rachmaninoff’s notebook he wrote ‘few piano pieces.’ The attached review from Hull Daily Mail indicates that it was a mixed concert with other musicians also performing, the details of whom are indicated in the second attached press clipping. The Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, is noted as the encore in the attached reviews. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.