In October 1932, Rachmaninoff began a demanding concert season that consisted of 50 performances. The tour marked the fortieth anniversary of his debut as a pianist, for which several of his Russian friends now living in America sent him a scroll and wreath in celebration. The frail economic situation in the US affected the tour and the composer, who performed to few sold-out audiences and lost money in his investments and shares. The European leg in 1933 saw Rachmaninoff celebrate his sixtieth birthday among fellow musicians and friends, after which he retreated to Villa Senar for the summer. In May 1934, Rachmaninoff underwent a minor operation and completed "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" during his stay at Senar. 1936 saw the composer retreat to Aix-les-Bains in France for a short period to improve his arthritis. While visiting Senar in 1937, Rachmaninoff began talks with choreographer Michel Fokine about staging a ballet based on Paganini that was to feature his "Rhapsody"; it premiered in London in 1939 with the composer's daughters in attendance. In 1938, Rachmaninoff performed his Second Piano Concerto at a charity jubilee concert in London for Henry Wood, founder of the Royal Albert Hall, London, Promenade concert series and an admirer of Rachmaninoff's who wanted the composer to be the show's only soloist. Rachmaninoff agreed, so long the performance was not broadcast on the radio due to his aversion for it. The same concert featured the première of Vaughan Williams's Serenade to Music, on hearing which, Rachmaninoff was observed to weep.