[Prokofiev, Sergei. (1891–1953)] Prokofiev, Lina. (1898–1989) [Magaloff, Nikita. (1912–1992)]
Signed Photograph of the Prokofiev Family to Nikita Magaloff
Vintage photograph of the family of Sergei Prokofiev in 1936, signed and inscribed in 1965 by Prokofiev's ex-wife, Lina, to family friends Nikita and Irene Magaloff. Shown in the image are Sergei Prokofiev and Lina Prokofiev with their sons Sviatoslav and Oleg. Lina Prokofiev has penned (translated from the Russian): "Dear Irene and Nikita Magaloff, in memory of our old friendship and meeting in Moscow. With Love, Lina Prokofiev. Moscow, 1965." Light toning and slight warping; overall fine. 7 x 4.5 inches (17.5 x 11.9 cm).Spanish singer Carolina Codina (stage name Lina Llubera) married Prokofiev in 1923. They had two children, Sviatoslav (1924–2010), who became an architect, and Oleg (1928–1998), an artist and poet. By around 1943, Sergei's relationship with the younger writer Mira Mendelson (1915–1968) had finally led to his separation from Lina, although they never divorced. Prokofiev tried to persuade Lina and their sons to accompany him as evacuees out of Moscow, but Lina opted to stay. On 20 February 1948, Lina was arrested for 'espionage', as she tried to send money to her mother in Spain. She was sentenced to 20 years, and spent 8 years in Gulag, being eventually released in 1955, earlier than scheduled, and legally rehabilitated during Khrushchev Thaw. She outlived her husband (who died in 1953) by many years, and left the Soviet Union in 1974.
From the collection of Georgian-Russian pianist Nikita Magaloff and his wife Irene, the daughter of violinist Joseph Szigeti. Magaloff, born to a noble Georgian family in St. Petersburg, was influenced by family friend Serge Prokofiev and studied with Siloti and Isidor Philipp. Among the friends he made studying at the Paris Conservatory was Maurice Ravel, who considered him "a great, a truly extraordinary musician." He was especially known as the first pianist to record the complete works of Chopin, and for his elegant, refined style, which became more daring later in life. (18049)
Signed Photograph Classical Music