A look at the life and music of one of Russia’s most talented and controversial composers, Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953). Born in Tsarist Russia, Prokofiev was a brilliant pianist who delighted in shocking the bourgeoisie with his outrageous creations, and he went on to become one of the most beloved composers of the 20th century. Seven symphonies, great concertos, ballets like Romeo and Juliet and Cinderella, plus more treasures. Come explore the music of Sergei Prokofiev with Bill McGlaughlin.
Prokofiev, Sergei
Playlist
Episode 1
Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No. 1, I. excerpt
Frederic Chiu, piano
Prokofiev: Complete Music for Solo Piano
HM 2907301
2:40
Tchaikovsky: Sleeping Beauty (excerpt)
Russian National Orchestra/Pletnev
Masterworks Edition
DG 345202
1:12
Sergei Prokofiev: Ballade for Cello and Piano in C Minor, Op. 15
Raphael Wallfisch, cello, John York, piano
Prokofiev: Works for Cello and Piano Wallfisch,York
Black Box 1027
2:11
Rimsky-Korsakov: Battle near Kerzhenets fr. Kitezh
Kirov Orchestra/Gergiev
Rimsky-Korsakov: The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh
Phil 462225
:50
Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No. 1, Op.1; I. excerpt
Frederic Chiu, piano
HM 2907301
1:02
Sergei Prokofiev: “There are Other Planets” fr. Two Poems, Op. 9
Andrey Slavny, baritone; Yuri Serov, piano
Complete Songs and Romances
Delos 3275
4:23
Sergei Prokofiev: Toccata for Piano in D minor, Op.11
Grorgy Sandor, piano
Gyorgy Sandor plays Prokofiev – Complete Piano Music Vol 2
Vox Box 5514
3:56
Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D-flat Major, Op. 10, II & III
Berlin Philharmonic/Abbado; Evgeny Kissin, piano
Piano Concertos No. 1 Op. 10 & No. 3 Op. 26
DG 439898
8:14
Sergei Prokofiev: The Gambler: two excerpts
The Scottish National Orchestra/ Neeme Jarvii
Prokofiev: Semyon Kotko – Symphonic Suite Op. 81 bis / The Gambler, Four Portraits Op. 49
Chandos 8803
10:41
Sergei Prokofiev: The Gambler: Two excerpts
The Scottish National Orchestra/ Neeme Jarvii
Prokofiev: Semyon Kotko – Symphonic Suite Op. 81 bis / The Gambler, Four Portraits Op. 49
Chandos 8803
00:50
Sergei Prokofiev: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 19, I
LSO/Previn; Gil Shaham, violin
Prokofiev: Violin Concertos 1 & 2
DG 447758
9:24
Sergei Prokofiev: Sinfonietta excerpt
Royal Scottish National Orch/ Neeme Jarvi
Prokofiev: Sinfonietta, Symphony-Concerto, Divertimento / Järvi
Chandos 10312
3:01
Episode 2
Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No. 3, Op. 28
Frederic Chiu, piano
Prokofiev: Complete Music for Solo Piano
HM 2907301
7:43
Sergei Prokofiev: Scythian Suite, Op.20 (excerpts)
Royal Scottish National Orch/ Neeme Jarvii
Prokofiev: Scythian Suite, Alexander Nevsky, Etc
Neeme Jarvi, Scottish National
Chandos 10482
8:19
Igor Stravinsky: Rite of Spring (excerpts)
LSO/Abbado
Stravinsky: Rite Of Spring, Firebird
DG 415854
:36, :17
Sergei Prokofiev: Poems of Anna Akmatova, Op.27
The sun has Filled the Room; The Memory of the Sun
Victoria Yevtodieva, soprano; Yuri Serov, piano
Prokofiev: Complete Songs and Romances
Delos 3275
3:57
Sergei Prokofiev: Classical Symphony
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Prokofiev: Classical Symphony; Bizet, Britten
DG 423624
13:55
Sergei Prokofiev: Overture on Hebrew Themes, Op.34
Moscow Virtuosi; Evgeny Kissin, piano
Evgeny Kissin: The Complete RCA & Sony Classical Album Collection
09:01
Sergei Prokofiev: Classical Symphony
Gavotte
Sergei Prokofiev, piano
Prokofiev Plays Prokofiev – Piano Concerto No 3, Solo Works
Pearl 9470
1:20
Episode 3
Sergei Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf (excerpts)
Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy
Prokofiev: Peter & The Wolf; Britten, Saint-saëns
Sony 62638
1:12
Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Concerto, No.3 Excerpt
LSO/ Coppola; Sergei Prokofiev, piano
Great Pianists – Prokofiev
Naxos Historical 8110670
00:29
Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Concerto, No.3, mvt. 1
LSO/Coppola; Sergei Prokofiev, piano
Great Pianists – Prokofiev
Naxos Historical 8110670
8:13
Sergei Prokofiev: The Love for Three Oranges, Op. 33a (excerpts)
St. Petersburg Phil/Temirkanov
Prokofiev: Symphony No 1, Love for Three Oranges Suite
RCA 68408
4:57
Sergei Prokofiev: Kijé’s Birth and Kijé’s Wedding from Lieutenant Kijé
Berlin Phil/Ozawa
Prokofiev 7 Symphonies – Lieutenant Kije
DG 463761
6:50
Sergei Prokofiev:: Kijé’s Birth and Kijé’s Wedding from Lieutenant Kijé
Berlin Phil/Ozawa
Prokofiev 7 Symphonies – Lieutenant Kije
DG 463761
6:49
Sting/Prokofiev: Russian’s Love Their Children too
Sting
The Dream of the Blue Turtles
A&M
00:35
Sergei Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2 in g minor, II
LSO/Previn; Gil Shaham, violin
Prokofiev: Violin Concertos 1 & 2
DG 447758
9:43
Sergei Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf (excerpts)
Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy
Prokofiev: Peter & The Wolf; Britten, Saint-Saëns
Sony 62638
2:38
Episode 4
Sergei Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64 (excerpts)
Berlin Phil/Abbado
Prokofiev: Romeo And Juliet – Excerpts
DG 423439
19:45
Sergei Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky
LSO/Abbado
Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky, Lieutenant Kijé / Abbado
Dg The Originals 447419
12:28
Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No. 7, Op. 83
III movment
Martha Argerich, piano
EMI 56975
3:15
Sergei Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5
1 movement
St. Louis Symphony/Slatkin
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5
RCA 5035
13:34
Episode 5
Sergei Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5 in B-Flat Major, Op. 100, IV
St. Louis Symphony/Slatkin
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5
RCA 5035
9:31, :46
Sergei Prokofiev: Cinderella Waltz coda; Midnight
St. Louis Symphony/Slatkin
Prokofiev: Symphony No 5
RCA 5035
4:21
Sergei Prokofiev:Ivan the Terrible (excerpts)
LSO/Rostropovich
Prokofiev: Ivan the Terrible
Sony 48387
12:18
Sergei Prokofiev: Symphony Concerto for Cello and Orchestra
Final movement
LSO/Rostropovich
Prokofiev: Ivan the Terrible
Sony 48387
12:18
Sergei Prokofiev: Symphony No. 7, Op. 131, I + IV (excerpt)
LA Phil/Previn
Philips 426306-2
9:55, 2:02
Sergei Prokofiev: Sonata for Solo Violin, Op.115
Ilya Kaler, violin
Prokofiev: Violin Concertos 1 & 2; Sonata for Solo Violin.
Ongaku Records 024-103
3:23
