Archive of 7
unpublished, small original snapshot photographs of the composer, his family
and colleagues on vacation in Culoz in the French Alps, 1929. The photographs,
2 of which bear holographic identification by the composer are from his
personal photograph album. Luminaries include; composers Asafiev,
Mysaskovsky and Stravinsky, as well as the soprano Nina Koshetz!
Prokofiev
was a success by the Summer of 1929. His ballet, "The Prodigal Son",
opera "The Gambler" the 1st and 3rd Symphonies as well as his opera
"The Love of Three Oranges" and several other works allowed him to
rent the Chateau de Flechere, now known as Chateau Montveran in Culoz, France
for the Summer. With a home this large, Prokofiev entertained significantly
during the Summer, among his friends who stayed with the Prokofiev's during the
Summer were Boris Asafiev and Nikolai Myaskovsky who came in from Moscow. Igor
Stravinsky and his son came to visit from Paris as well as the soprano Nina
Koshetz. They are all included in these very personal family photographs.
The
photographs from the Culoz vacation in the Summer of 1929 are individually
described as follows:
Top photograph:
Prokofiev seated with his wife
Lina and their two sons Oleg on the left and Sviatoslav on the right. Written
in pencil beneath is "Prokofiev Family". The photograph is 1.75"
x 2.5" and mounted on heavy linen textured stock to 3" x 4".
On the verso is a second photograph of Nina
Koshetz seated with Prokofiev in the middle and Igor Stravinsky on the right
with the alps behind them. The photograph measures 1.75" x 2.5".
Stravinsky, Prokofiev and Koshetz posed on a
hill with alps in the background. The photograph measures 1.75" x
2.5".
Prokofiev, Koshetz and Stravinsky posed on the
balcony of the Chateau with the snow capped alps in the background. The
photograph measures 1" x 2.5"
The composers' sons Oleg left and Sviatoslav
right are posed on a garden chair. Prokofiev has written on the verso, My
sons, Culoz, Sep. 1929. In another hand someone has written
"Family Prokofiev". The photograph measures 1.75" x 2.75".
Lina Prokofiev is posed in front of Nina
Koshetz. The composer has written Aug 1929 Culoz on the
verso.The photograph measured 1.75" x 2.75"
Lina Prokofiev on the right is posed with two
composer visitors, Boris Vladimirovich Asafiev on the left and Nikolai
Yakovlevich Myaskovsky in the middle. The photograph is mounted and measured
1.75" x 2.75". The first initial and patrimonial initial for each are
written in an unknown hand above.
These
extraordinary and heretofore unknown and unpublished photographs of Prokofiev,
his family, Stravinsky, Myaskovsky and other colleagues have been protected by
our watermarks. An unusual opportunity!
Appraiser and Music Antiquarian
New York, NY
All Autographs Guaranteed Authentic!