Diary entries
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: Satina notes that either in this concert, or the one in Warsaw on March 4 (Julian Calendar), the Isle of the Dead, op, 29, was also performed. 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 notes that her information for this concert in the Felix Corbett series was sent to her by Mr J. Tillet. Satina further notes 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 and Conductor
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 might also have 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
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.
November 4 1911
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina had no details for this concert, apart from indicating that in Rachmaninoff’s notebook he had written a ‘few piano pieces.’ The details of his own works are taken from the attached review, which mentions the other works on the program. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 7, 1911
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist and Solo Pianist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 2 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 5, 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted that Apetian believed that this concert occurred on November 2. While Satina was informed by Rachmaninoff's notebook listing, the date is confirmed by a review that appeared in the Russkaya Muzikal'naya Gazeta, 1912, no. 2, p. 69, which also indicates Rachmaninoff played the Polka de W.R. as an encore. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 9 1911 (Julian calendar)
Notes: Satina speculated that the program given here was the same as given in Kharkiv on 5 November, citing Apetian, p. 413, and a review in Russkaya Muzykal’naya Gazeta. A review in Priazovskiy Krai on November 11 confirms the works listed here, and it might be presumed that the works in the second section of the program were the same as in Kharkiv (the reviewer refers to works from Rachmaninoff's early years ['Второе отделение заняли вещи, написанные Рахманиновым в раннюю пору его композиторской деятельности...']. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 14 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: The details for this concert are according to Andrianova-Ryadnova's memoirs of Rachmaninoff in Georgia, and a review published in Kavkaz on November 16 (p. 3). The review notes that Josef Hofmann was at the concert and 'applauded enthusiastically'. The State Theatre is now known as the Zacharia Paliashvili Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 18 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: The details of this concert have been corroborated by Andrianova-Ryadnova's memoir of Rachmaninoff in Georgia, and a review published in Kavkaz on November 20 (p. 3). Referring to ‘p. 660’ of the Russkaya Muzykal’naya Gazeta, Satina noted a possibility that Rachmaninoff also conducted his Second Symphony in this concert, however this was not the case, and would likely have made the concert overly long. Andrianova-Ryadnova indicates that the Prelude in C sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2, was played as an encore, which the review confirms but also adds 'several' encores were played. An interesting anecdote from Andrianova-Ryadnova concerns Stepan Mirzoev, the director of the Tbilisi branch of the Russian Music Society. He claimed that he persuaded Rachmaninoff to sell him the piano that he toured with, which later was sold to the Tbilisi Conservatory where it still resides. The anecdote is supported by an article on 'Music in Tbilisi 1870-1920' in Medium.com, although some sources indicate the exchange of piano occurred on one of the two later visits to Tbilisi. Attached is an image of the Bechstein piano in the Tbilisi Conservatory Museum. Some sources indicate that Josef Hofmann jointly participated in this concert, playing Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto, however this is incorrect. Further, Andrianova-Ryadnova's memoir indicates Hofmann's Tbilisi concerts occurred on November 8, 10, 11, 13, 15 and 16 of 1911 (footnote no. 4). The State Theatre is now known as the Zacharia Paliashvili Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 22 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Concerto Soloist
Notes: Apetian did not include this concert in her lists. A review in the Kharkovskiye Guberinya Vedomosti on November 24 indicates that Rachmaninoff played his Barcarolle, op. 10, no. 3, Polichinelle, op. 3, no. 4, the Polka de W.R., and Prelude in G minor, op. 23, no. 5, as encores. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 23 1911 (Julian calendar)
Notes: No details, however it appears certain that pieces from the op. 33 set were performed: Valentin Antipov, on p. XV of the Preface to volume 18 of the Russian Critical Edition of the Complete Works, indicates a program held in the Russian National Museum of Music (formerly the Glinka Museum) refers to 'Five Etudes op. 33' being performed. (I.e., at this point without the designation 'tableaux'.) LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 25 1911 (Julian calendar)
Notes: While the program is not complete, a review in Yuzhnaya Mysl (Southern Thoughts) on November 27 indicates the pieces listed here. An interview with Rachmaninoff in the same publication on November 26 notes that unpublished works and etudes were played in Odesa the previous day, as well as in Kyiv ['У С. В. имеется несколько неизданных произведений и этюдов, которые он впервые играл н а днях в Киеве и вчера в Одессе']. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 28 1911 (Julian calendar)
Notes: The incomplete program has been reconstructed from the attached review from the Kurjer Wilenski, which appeared the day after the concert. I am grateful to J. Falleyn for sharing this review with me. Vilnius was known as Vilno at the time of the concert. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
November 30 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: This incomplete program has been partially reconstructed from the attached review, which appeared in the Rigasche Zeitung on December 1. I am grateful to J. Falleyn for forwarding this review to me.
December 5 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina describes how this program was ‘reconstructed from the newspaper Retch by Mrs E Somoff.’ Satina further indicates, though, that while she initially believed it may be incomplete she has ‘checked and corrected by using Alexander Siloti’s 10th Anniversary Book’. The concert was the 2nd concert of the non-subscription series of Siloti’s 9th Season of Concerts. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 10 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Conductor
Notes: Satina notes that this was the 5th Symphony Concert of the season. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.
December 13 1911 (Julian calendar)
Rachmaninoff's role: Solo Pianist
Notes: Satina noted that this was the ‘2nd Chamber Music Extra Concert’ of the season of the Moscow Philharmonic Society. From Satina’s notes, it was not clear if the order of works in this concert was correct, or indeed if the program was complete. She further noted that Preludes in the keys of G minor, G sharp minor, D flat major, and B minor were performed. While Keldysh indicated that the program was the same as in St Petersburg on December 5 (p. 338), a review by G. Prokofiev in the Russkaya Muzikal'naya Gazeta, 1912, no. 2, p. 69, confirms the works here indicated. A review by Engel in Russkiye Vedomosti on December 15 confirms the keys of the Preludes noted by Satina, although it is not clear if he provides a complete list. Engel also indicates that the program began with Rachmaninoff's earlier compositions. LoC, Sergei Rachmaninoff Archive, ML31.R33, Papers of Sophie Satin, boxes 82-89.