Why was Sergey Prokofiev called the Bolshevik Pianist in New York City?

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Portrait of composer Sergey Prokofiev, circa 1938, wearing round glasses, a suit, and a tie, looking slightly to the side. — Sergey Prokofiev Sergey Prokofiev.

Sergey Prokofiev was referred to as the "Bolshevik Pianist" during his time in New York City because his arrival in the United States coincided with the period immediately following the Russian Revolution.1

When he performed in New York in 1918, his sensational piano recitals evoked both delight and denunciation from audiences and critics, a reaction largely tied to the political climate and his status as a representative of the newly transformed Russia.1