Sergey Prokofiev

(1891 – 1953)

Prokofiev was born in Ukraine on 27 April 1891. He was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor who mastered numerous musical genres and is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century. His mother taught him how to play the piano when he was young and he began composing at age five. Reinhold Glière became his teacher in music composition and theory.

He entered the St. Petersburg Conservatoire at the age of 13, appearing at the entrance examination with manuscripts of four operas, a symphony and a number of piano pieces.

At the age of 19 he showed a definite taste of his own and a personal style.

After the October Revolution Prokofiev immigrated to America, but the splendid American orchestras were indifferent to his music. Then he went to Paris and his ballet “The Buffoon” was produced there. Making tours to the musical centres of Europe and the USA Prokofiev felt unhappy, homesick and lonely. He kept thinking about going back.

Between 1927 and 1932 Prokofiev took several trips to the Soviet Union. His concerts in Moscow and Leningrad aroused great interest among the music lovers. People listened to his music in complete silence.

In 1936, he decided to return to the Soviet Union with his wife and two sons. Most of his compositions from just after his return, including many for children, were written with the political atmosphere in mind. One work without it was his ballet Romeo and Juliet, which became an international success. He enjoyed personal and artistic support from a new generation of Russian performers, notably Sviatoslav Richter and Mstislav Rostropovich. After his return to the Soviet Union, Prokofiev devoted all his inspiration to his people. In his new compositions he strove for clarity and simplicity. Prokofiev became one of the leading composers of the Soviet school.

His invaluable heritage includes eight operas, seven cantatas, seven ballets, seven symphonies as well as numerous piano pieces. Among them there are such masterpieces as the opera “War and Peace”, the ballet “Romeo and Juliet” and the cantata “Alexander Newsy”. Prokofiev completed "Peter and the Wolf" in 1936; it debuted on May 2, 1936 at the Moscow Children's Musical Theatre. Since then "Peter and the Wolf" has become Prokofiev's most notable work. To this day, teachers use this composition to introduce children to the different instruments of the orchestra.

Prokofiev has enriched both Russian and world music with superior works full of humanism, original imagery and warm love for his people.

Prokofiev died on March 5, 1953, the same day as Joseph Stalin.

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