| biography |
Highly gifted as a pianist and composer, the prolific Prokofiev
(1891-1953) combined a tendency toward neoclassicism with an innovative
spirit characterized by hard-driving, motoric rhythms and a sense
of mocking and capricious satire. He managed, in his most effective
works, to follow a progressive line without sacrificing popular
appeal. |
| recommended
recordings |
| |
Prokofiev:
Alexander Nevsky, Lieutenant Kijé / Abbado |
Composer:
Sergei
Prokofiev
Conductor: Claudio
Abbado
Performer: Elena
Obraztsova, Adolph
Herseth
Ensemble: London
Symphony Chorus, London
Symphony Orchestra, et al.
Uni/Deutsche Grammophon - #47419 / January 23, 1996
Click
here for more information |
|
| Abbado's Alexander Nevsky is full-bloodedly idiomatic,
metrical and tightly controlled. He captures perfectly the
tortured triumph of the closing bars, with its crashing dissonances
underlined. The singing could pass for that of a Russian choir
and the LSO's playing is spectacular. The slightly analytical
sound highlights the angularity of the music making. His Lt.
Kije Suite is colorful and amiable and his Scythian Suite,
while a bit rhythmically flat-footed in "The Alien God
and Dance of the Evil Spirits," has plenty of mystery
elsewhere. |
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Prokofiev:
Romeo and Juliet / Maazel, Cleveland Orchestra
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Composer:
Sergei
Prokofiev
Conductor: Lorin
Maazel
Ensemble: Cleveland
Orchestra
Uni/London Classics - #452970 / June 9, 1998
Click
here for more information
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By the time Prokoviev came to write this great ballet in 1935,
Russia was the only country that still had a tradition of
"classical" ballet--that is, full-length works of several
hours with a single coherent story line. Prokofiev's model
was Tchaikovsky, and like his predecessor, he encountered
severe problems getting the work produced. The dancers thought
the music too complicated and unsuitable for dancing, and
so the piece was first performed in Czechoslovakia, only later
making a triumphant...Read
more
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Prokofiev,
Ravel: Piano Concertos, etc / Argerich, Abbado
|
Composer:
Sergei
Prokofiev, Maurice
Ravel
Conductor: Claudio
Abbado
Performer: Martha
Argerich
Ensemble: Berlin
Philharmonic Orchestra
Uni/Deutsche Grammophon - #47438 / May 14, 1996
Click
here for more information |
|
These performances established Martha Argerich as one of the
most exciting and brilliant young pianists in the world. Thirty
years on, they are still among the finest available. Now they
have been remastered and reissued at mid-price, once again
proving the somewhat demented fact (from a marketing point
of view) that there's no relationship at all in the classical
music business between quality of performance and what one
pays for it. From the listener's point of view, this makes
for a great...Read
more
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Prokofiev:
Piano Sonatas nos 2, 7 & 8 / Mikhail Pletnev
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Composer:
Sergei
Prokofiev
Performer: Mikhail
Pletnev
Uni/Deutsche Grammophon - #457588 / May 12, 1998
Click
here for more information
|
|
There are two sides to Pletnev's character: the wayward virtuoso
pianist, and the stiff, metronomic conductor. As a pianist
Pletnev is fascinating; as a conductor, boring (at least usually).
The reason for this dichotomy is simple: he hasn't a clue
how to make an orchestra do what his fingers accomplish so
effortlessly at the keyboard. Take the music of Prokofiev:
he has recorded the ballet Cinderella, a performance
of no particular distinction. But these sonatas are another
matter entirely....Read
more
|
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Prokofiev:
Peter and the Wolf, etc / Sting, Abbado
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|
Composer:
Sergei
Prokofiev
Conductor: Claudio
Abbado
Performer: Sting,
Stefan
Vladar
Ensemble: Chamber
Orchestra of Europe
Uni/Deutsche Grammophon - #29396 / May 7, 1991
Click
here for more information
|
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Sting has rewritten the narrationslightly, but his changes
are appropriate. His laconically stylish and no-nonsense manner
is ideal, while Abbado's sly and bouncy accompaniment is perfect.
Recording quality is exceptional, and there's an outstanding
performance of the first, "Classical" Symphony. |
|
more recommended recordings
|
| works
& recordings |
|
- Chamber
Music
Trios, Quartets, Quintets
- Choral
Secular and sacred choral music. Oratorios, Masses, Partsongs,
Hymns, Carols
- Instrumental
Sonatas, Suites, Overtures, Minuets, Variations, Transcriptions,
Dance Music
- Orchestra
Concertos, Symphonies
- Theatrical
Works
Ballet, Stage, Incidental Music, Film Scores
- Vocal
and Opera
Opera, Operetta, Song, Lieder, Musical Theater
Complete
List of Works and Recordings
|
| resources |
 A
Prokofiev Page - Articles, information about recordings,
a catalog of compositions, photos, and links.
The
Prokofiev Archive - Information about the archive at Goldsmiths
College, University of London.
Classical
Net - Basic repertoire list.
The
Prokofiev Page - The newest and perhaps largest Prokofiev
site.
Opus
by Prokofiev - Chronological listing of Prokofiev's compositions.
Sergei
Prokofiev's Home Page - Bibliography, major works, quotations.
Prokofiev's
The Fiery Angel: An Allegorical Lampooning of Stravinsky?
- An essay exploring the title question, by Robert Cummings.
Folklore
in the Music of Prokofiev - Brief biography and information
about "Peter and the Wolf" and "Lt. Kijé
Suite".
Prokofiev,
Sergey (1891 - 1953) - The Naxos site, with a brief biography
and information about various Naxos Prokofiev releases.
The
Sergei Prokofiev Piano Web Page - Materials relating to
Prokofiev's piano music.
Prokofiev:
Violin Concerto No. 2 - Notes about the Concerto by Steven
Ledbetter.
Prokofiev:
A Little Guide - Information on Prokofiev's works, compiled
by Jan Carlos De Martin.
Prokofiev
as a Pianist - A discography of all of the recordings
of Prokofiev as a pianist, as well as notes on the 78 RPM
recordings.
9.
Prokofiev. - "The anti-encyclopedic Prokofiev site."
Reviews, eGroup, links. Updated often.
Sergey
Prokofiev: Mystery and Contradiction - A essay discussing
Prokofiev's motives for returning to the Soviet Union and
his desire for "greater simplicity."
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