Sergei Prokofiev
8. What inaugurated PERIOD 2 of Prokofiev?
Prokofiev left Russia in 1918, and spent the next 18 years living in America, Paris, and Germany
Angel Island Immigration Center in San Francisco Bay, c. 1915. Prokofiev came from Japan to the USA in 1918 and spent four miserable day on the island. He later wrote of his interrogation on the island:
‘Are you in sympathy with the Bolsheviks?’
‘I am not.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because they took my money away.’
‘Have you ever attended their meetings?’
‘I have.’
‘Do they speak well?’
‘They speak well, but illogically.’
‘Where is your father?’
‘In his grave.’
‘Did he take part in the war?’
‘No.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because he was dead.’
‘Are you a member of any society?’
‘The Petrograd Chess Society.’
‘Of a political party?’
‘No.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because I consider that an artist must be detached from politics.’
‘Do you believe in polygamy?’
‘I do not have even one wife.’
‘Have you ever been in prison.’
‘Yours.’
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Angel Island State Park, San Francisco Bay (present time)