Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [1920-1996] (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
4 large boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Born in Paris in 1928, the second son of Serge and Lina Prokofiev, Oleg Prokofiev studied art at the Moscow School of Art from 1944 to 1947. After a first, unsuccessful marriage, Oleg met and married a young British art historian, Camilla Gray, who died tragically after a short illness. Allowed by the Soviet authorities to bring their daughter Anastasia to England, Oleg settled first in Leeds, where he was awarded a fellowship in the Fine Arts Department, and where he met his third wife Frances. Oleg made his name as an artist, exhibiting his wood sculptures and paintings in a number of countries, and his style was constantly evolving as a response to the new shapes and lights he discovered in journeys to America, Africa and India. Some of his poems were also published. He also dedicated a large part of his life to the promotion of his father's life and work, appearing on television and radio and maintaining a huge correspondence with artists, musicologists and performers involved in working on Prokofiev and Soviet music. He died in 1998.
Archival history
GB 2217 OP [1920-1996] Subfonds of The Serge Prokofiev Archive 4 large boxes Prokofiev , Oleg , 1928-1998 , artist and poet
Born in Paris in 1928, the second son of Serge and Lina Prokofiev, Oleg Prokofiev studied art at the Moscow School of Art from 1944 to 1947. After a first, unsuccessful marriage, Oleg met and married a young British art historian, Camilla Gray, who died tragically after a short illness. Allowed by the Soviet authorities to bring their daughter Anastasia to England, Oleg settled first in Leeds, where he was awarded a fellowship in the Fine Arts Department, and where he met his third wife Frances. Oleg made his name as an artist, exhibiting his wood sculptures and paintings in a number of countries, and his style was constantly evolving as a response to the new shapes and lights he discovered in journeys to America, Africa and India. Some of his poems were also published. He also dedicated a large part of his life to the promotion of his father's life and work, appearing on television and radio and maintaining a huge correspondence with artists, musicologists and performers involved in working on Prokofiev and Soviet music. He died in 1998.
Given by Frances Prokofiev in various accessions from 1999 onwards.
Papers of Oleg Prokofiev, including material relating to the life and work of his father, Serge Prokofiev, notably copies of letters from Serge Prokofiev to various correspondents, 1920-1945, including Fatima Samoilenko, 1920-1936; extracts from articles and letters of Prokofiev; material relating to Prokofiev's Diary, comprising photocopies of the text, transcripts and a typescript article relating to it; copies of music manuscripts (scores) of Prokofiev; photographs of Prokofiev and his family; pamphlets, press cuttings and articles relating to Prokofiev's life and work, and to performances of his music, [1946-1996]; texts of interviews given by Oleg on his father's life and work, [1989-1991], and articles written by him about Prokofiev, [1993]; various published scores of Prokofiev's music, including Peter and the Wolf and the Fiery Angel; and published works relating to Russian culture and Prokofiev. Further material concerning performances of Serge Prokofiev's work include articles and scores of Vladimir Blok relating to Prokofiev, [1990-1995], as well as a tape of an interview at a concert at the Hungary Centre, Moscow, 1995; and correspondence with and cuttings from articles on Frederic Chiu, 1992-1996, relating to his recordings of Prokofiev's music. Personal papers of Oleg comprise material relating to his own literary work; photocopies of stories written by Prokofiev in 1917-1918, with Oleg's translation into English; a draft of an article on Shostakovich; a manuscript notebook entitled 'My father, his music and me'; and a draft by Oleg of a biography of Robert Falk (1886-1958). There is also family correspondence.
Unsorted.
By appointment only. Some private correspondence is closed to the public. Please contact the Curator for details.
At the discretion of the Curator.
Russian, English
Unlisted.
The Serge Prokofiev Archive also holds the papers of Serge and Lina Prokofiev and Christopher Palmer.
Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project. Biographical information provided by Noëlle Mann, Curator of the Serge Prokofiev Archive. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. Feb 2002 Biographies Chiu , Frederic , b 1964 , American pianist Classical music Eastern Europe Falk , Robert , 1886-1958 , artist Literary forms and genres Literature Music Musical performances Musical styles Orchestras Prokofiev , Oleg , 1928-1998 , artist and poet Prokofiev , Serge Sergeevich , 1891-1953 , composer Prose Russia Crimea Performing arts Musical performers Performers Artists
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Given by Frances Prokofiev in various accessions from 1999 onwards.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Oleg Prokofiev, including material relating to the life and work of his father, Serge Prokofiev, notably copies of letters from Serge Prokofiev to various correspondents, 1920-1945, including Fatima Samoilenko, 1920-1936; extracts from articles and letters of Prokofiev; material relating to Prokofiev's Diary, comprising photocopies of the text, transcripts and a typescript article relating to it; copies of music manuscripts (scores) of Prokofiev; photographs of Prokofiev and his family; pamphlets, press cuttings and articles relating to Prokofiev's life and work, and to performances of his music, [1946-1996]; texts of interviews given by Oleg on his father's life and work, [1989-1991], and articles written by him about Prokofiev, [1993]; various published scores of Prokofiev's music, including Peter and the Wolf and the Fiery Angel; and published works relating to Russian culture and Prokofiev. Further material concerning performances of Serge Prokofiev's work include articles and scores of Vladimir Blok relating to Prokofiev, [1990-1995], as well as a tape of an interview at a concert at the Hungary Centre, Moscow, 1995; and correspondence with and cuttings from articles on Frederic Chiu, 1992-1996, relating to his recordings of Prokofiev's music. Personal papers of Oleg comprise material relating to his own literary work; photocopies of stories written by Prokofiev in 1917-1918, with Oleg's translation into English; a draft of an article on Shostakovich; a manuscript notebook entitled 'My father, his music and me'; and a draft by Oleg of a biography of Robert Falk (1886-1958). There is also family correspondence.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Unsorted.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
By appointment only. Some private correspondence is closed to the public. Please contact the Curator for details.
Conditions governing reproduction
At the discretion of the Curator.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
Russian, English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
The Serge Prokofiev Archive also holds the papers of Serge and Lina Prokofiev and Christopher Palmer.
Finding aids
Unlisted.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English