Senia Shostiakoff (Chostiakoff), Russian tenor of the Don Cossack Choir, photographs and papers, with notes by Alla Kamarelli, ca. 1915-2007

PXA 1164

fonds

ca. 1915-2007

Graphic Materials, Textual Records, Photographs, Clippings, Ephemera

826099

45 photographic prints - gelatin silver - ca. 29 x 35 cm. or smaller
10 photomechanical prints - postcards - 9 x 14 cm.
Textual records (1 box) - clippings, ephemera, manuscript, music, poster, printed, programs, typescript

Senia Shostiakoff was born Semon Holostiakov in Orel, Russia, ca. 1900. His father was a colonel and by the age of 14 he was fighting the Germans in the Great War. He later became part of the Don Cossack Choir of White Russians when they were formed in one of the allied camps at Gallipoli in 1922. On the way to perform with the Choir in western Europe, he changed his name to Senia Shostiakoff. In June 1925, the choir performed for King George V and Queen Mary at Windsor. The choir was seen by Dame Nellie Melba and engaged to tour Australia by J.C. Williamson in 1926. In 1928, Shostiakoff stayed when the choir left. He lived at 224 William Street and married Anna Solomonovna Shiskin, a jeweller's or tobacco kiosk owner's daughter who lived near the Great Synagogue. Shostiakoff performed in concerts in the Town Hall, in theatres and nightclubs, and on radio. One of the photos shows him in the opera Faust at a Regent Theatre. He sang for the ABC and with the Sydney Madrigal Society. He also toured in New Zealand and South Africa. (He had many short term jobs and his wife had stayed home and supported them by sewing or keeping a shoe shop). In the 1950's he worked for the Department of Motor Transport as a tyre fitter at Pagewood. The Shostiakoffs visited Russia in the 1970's. Senia died after his wife, aged about 84 years.

Reference:
Library correspondence file and PXA 1164/Box2

BOX 1

Photographs of Senia Shostiakoff, friends and family, the Don Cossack Choir

BOX 2

Textual records, including letters from Kamarelli to John Cargher, his reply, sheet music, Kamarelli's notes on Shostiakoff's life, newspaper clippings and programs for Shostiakoff's performances, Kamarelli's notebook detailing press citations, performances, etc.

Reference:
Entertaining Australia : an illustrated history / Katharine Brisbane (ed.). Sydney : Currency Press, 1991 (p.205)

Some of the postcards inscribed in Russian
Photographers' stamps
Various photographers