Prokofiev, Sergei. (1891–1953)
Signed Concert Program
Signed program of a recital given by the outstanding Russian composer and pianist at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels on December 11, 1930. Bold signature, "Serge Prokofieff", to first page in black ink. Prokofiev's (first) wife, the singer Carolina Codina (1897–1989), also participated in the recital—under her stage name of Lina Llubera—but did not sign. 8.25 x 5 inches (20.7 x 13 cm). In fine condition.The program booklet, which runs to 20 pages, is also interesting as such. While Prokofiev, as a solo pianist, only performed works of his own on this occasion, the selection of songs and arias performed with his wife is wide and varied. There are songs in Russian by Mikhail Glinka, Nikolay Myaskovsky, Nicholas Nabokov and Prokofiev himself (including two folksong arrangements first heard in this concert) but also arias by Antonio Literes-Nin, Domenico Scarlatti and Henry Purcell.
While Prokofiev gradually came under attack as an artist in the Soviet Union after his return to Moscow in 1936, he fared far better than his first wife, from whom he had separated in 1942. Spanish by birth, she was charged with espionage and imprisoned from 1948 to 1956; she later emigrated. (23082)