During his lifetime, Sergei Prokofiev achieved international fame not only as a composer but also as a virtuoso pianist. He is rightfully considered one of the best pianists of the first half of the 20th century. By touring actively, Prokofiev was able to travel a lot, which is why a suitcase was an absolute necessity for him.

Prokofiev went on around ten major international concert tours and visited numerous countries and cities on all of the inhabited continents except for Australia. He performed not only as a talented pianist but also as a conductor.

The young Prokofiev gave his first concert abroad as early as in 1915. The performance took place in Rome. Three years later, the composer undertook an incredibly adventurous journey across Russia on the Trans-Siberian Express and came to Japan where he took a steamer to the United States. In 1918, Prokofiev gave his first concerts in New York and Chicago.

The composer performed in America’s most prestigious auditoria, including Aeolian Hall and Carnegie Hall. Prokofiev played his own compositions and piano concerts accompanied by the most famous conductors of his time, including Modest Altschuler, Frederick Stock, Bruno Walter, Serge Koussevitzky, and Wilhelm Furtwängler. Having conquered both the East and West Coast, the composer went to Europe where he continued touring.

Over time, Prokofiev started conducting more often and sometimes joined tours not as a performer but as a composer, attending the rehearsals of his compositions at theaters. Productions of his ballets were staged throughout Europe, and his symphonic music was often performed. On many occasions, Prokofiev acted as the conductor of his symphonies. After 15 years of touring, the composer found his second homeland in France.

Later, in 1927, Prokofiev went on his first tour in the Soviet Union, and in 1936, he returned for good, bringing not merely a suitcase, but his wife Lina, his sons Sviatoslav and Oleg, along with all of their possessions.