A look at the life and music of one of Russia’s most talented and controversial composers, Sergei Prokofiev. Born in Tsarist Russia, Prokofiev was a brilliant pianist who delighted in shocking the bourgeoisie with his outrageous creations. He went on to become one of the most beloved composers of the 20th century, creating seven symphonies, great concertos, and ballets such as Romeo and Juliet and Cinderella. Join Bill McGlaughlin in exploring the music of Sergei Prokofiev.
Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953)
An Old Piano with triangle color pattern in the dark with a beam of light shining down
Playlist
Episode 1
Prokofiev, Sergei: Piano Sonata No. 1, I. excerpt
Frederic Chiu, piano
Prokofiev: Complete Music for Solo Piano
HM 2907301
2:40
Tchaikovsky, Pyotr: Sleeping Beauty (excerpt)
Russian Nat’l Orchestra/Pletnev
Masterworks Edition
DG 345202
1:12
Prokofiev, Sergei: Ballade for Cello and Piano in C Minor, Op. 15
Raphael Wall fisch, cello; John York, piano
Prokofiev: Works for Cello and Piano Wallfisch,York
Black Box 1027
2:11
Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai: Battle near Kerzhenets fr. Kitezh
Kirov Orchestra/Gergiev
Rimsky-Korsakov: The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh
Phil 462225
0:50
Prokofiev, Sergei: Piano Sonata No. 1, Op.1; I. excerpt
Frederic Chiu, piano
Prokofiev: Complete Music for Solo Piano
HM 2907301
1:02
Prokofiev, Sergei: “There are Other Planets” fr. Two Poems, Op. 9
Andrei Slavny, baritone; Edward Serov, piano
Complete Songs and Romances
Delos 3275
4:23
Prokofiev, Sergei: 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
Prokofiev, Sergei: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D-flat Major, Op. 10, II & III
Berlin Phil/Abbado; Kissin, piano
Piano Concertos No1 op 10 & No 3 op 26
DG 439898
8:14
Prokofiev, Sergei: The Gambler: two excerpts
The Scottish National Orchestra/ Jarvii
Prokofiev: Semyon Kotko – Symphonic Suite Op. 81 bis / The Gambler, Four Portraits Op. 49
Chandos 8803
10:41
Prokofiev, Sergei: The Gambler: Two excerpts
The Scottish National Orchestra/ Jarvii
Prokofiev: Semyon Kotko – Symphonic Suite Op. 81 bis / The Gambler, Four Portraits Op. 49
Chandos 8803
0:50
Prokofiev, Sergei: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 19, I
LSO/Previn; Shaham, violin
Prokofiev: Violin Concertos 1 & 2
DG 447758
9:24
Prokofiev, Sergei: Sinfonietta excerpt
Royal Scottish National Orch/ Jarvi
Prokofiev: Sinfonietta, Symphony-Concerto, Divertimento / Järvi
Chandos 10312
3:01
Episode 2
Prokofiev, Sergei: Piano Sonata No. 3, Op. 28
Frederic Chiu, piano
Prokofiev: Complete Music for Solo Piano
HM 2907301
7:43
Prokofiev, Sergei: Scythian Suite, Op.20 (excerpts)
Royal Scottish National Orch/ Jarvi
Prokofiev: Scythian Suite, Alexander Nevsky, Etc /
Neeme Jarvi, Scottish National
Chandos 10482
8:19
Stravinsky, Igor: Rite of Spring (excerpts)
LSO/Abbado
Stravinsky: Rite Of Spring, Firebird
DG 415854
0:36
Stravinsky, Igor: Rite of Spring (excerpts)
LSO/Abbado
Stravinsky: Rite Of Spring, Firebird
DG 415854
0:17
Prokofiev, Sergei: Poems of Anna Akmatova, Op.27;
The sun has Filled the Room; The Memory of the Sun
Victoria Yevtodieva, Yuri Serov
Prokofiev: Complete Songs and Romances
Delos 3275
3:57
Prokofiev, Sergei: Classical Symphony
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Prokofiev: Classical Symphony; Bizet, Britten
DG 423624
13:55
Prokofiev, Sergei: Overture on Hebrew Themes, Op.34
Moscow Virtuosi; Evgenny Kissin, piano
Evgeny Kissin: The Complete RCA & Sony Classical Album Collection
9:01
Prokofiev, Sergei: Gavotte fr. Classical Symphony
Sergei Prokofiev, piano
Prokofiev Plays Prokofiev – Piano Concerto No 3, Solo Works
Pearl 9470
1:20
Episode 3
Prokofiev, Sergei: Peter and the Wolf (excerpts)
Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy
Prokofiev: Peter & The Wolf; Britten, Saint-saëns
Sony 62638
1:12
Prokofiev, Sergei: Piano Concerto, No.3 Excerpt
LSO/Coppola; Sergio Prokofiev, piano
Great Pianists – Prokofiev
Naxos Historical 8110670
0:29
Prokofiev, Sergei: Piano Concerto, No.3, mvt. 1
LSO/Coppola; Sergio Prokofiev, piano
Great Pianists – Prokofiev
Naxos Historical 8110670
8:13
Prokofiev, Sergei: 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
Prokofiev, Sergei: String Quartet No. 1
St. Petersburg String Quartet
7:36
Prokofiev, Sergei: Kijé’s Birth and Kijé’s Wedding from Lieutenant Kijé
Berlin Phil/Ozawa
Prokofiev 7 Symphonies – Lieutenant Kije
DG 463761
6:50
Sting/Prokofiev: Russians Love Their Children too
Sting
The Dream of the Blue Turtles
A&M
0:35
Prokofiev, Sergei: Violin Concerto No. 2 in g minor, II
LSO/Previn; Gil Shaham, violin
Prokofiev: Violin Concertos 1 & 2
DG 447758
9:43
Prokofiev, Sergei: Peter and the Wolf (excerpts)
Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy
Prokofiev: Peter & The Wolf; Britten, Saint-saëns
Sony 62638
3:00
Episode 4
Prokofiev, Sergei: Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64 (excerpts)
Berlin Phil/Abbado
Prokofiev: Romeo And Juliet – Excerpts
DG 423439
19:45
Prokofiev, Sergei: Alexander Nevsky
LSO/Abbado
Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky, Lieutenant Kijé / Abbado
Dg The Originals 447419
12:28
Prokofiev, Sergei: Piano Sonata No. 7, Op. 83, III
Martha Argerich, piano
Live From The Concertgebouw 1978 & 1979
EMI 56975
3:15
Prokofiev, Sergei: Symphony No. 5; mvt. 1
St. Louis Symphony/ Slatkin
Prokofiev: Symphony No 5
RCA 5035
13:34
Episode 5
Prokofiev, Sergei: Symphony No. 5 in B-Flat Major, Op. 100, IV
St. Louis Symphony/Slatkin
Prokofiev: Symphony No 5
RCA 5035
9:31
Prokofiev, Sergei: Symphony No. 5 in B-Flat Major, Op. 100, IV
St. Louis Symphony/Slatkin
Prokofiev: Symphony No 5
RCA 5035
0:46
Prokofiev, Sergei: Cinderella Waltz coda; Midnight
St. Louis Symphony/Slatkin
Prokofiev: Symphony No 5
RCA 5035
4:21
Prokofiev, Sergei: Ivan the Terrible (excerpts)
LSO/Rostropovich; Christopher Plummer
Prokofiev: Ivan the Terrible
Sony 48387
12:18
Prokofiev, Sergei: Symphony Concerto for Cello and Orchestra; Final mvt.
LSO/Ozawa; Rostropovich, violoncello
Prokofiev: Ivan the Terrible
Sony 48387
9:38
Prokofiev, Sergei: Symphony No. 7, Op. 131, I
LA Philharmonic/Previn
Symphony-Concerto For Cello & Orchestra • Symphony No. 7
Philips 426306-2
9:55
Prokofiev, Sergei: Symphony No. 7, Op. 131, IV (excerpt)
LA Philharmonic/Previn
Symphony-Concerto For Cello & Orchestra • Symphony No. 7
Philips 426306-2
2:02
Prokofiev, Sergei: Sonata for Solo Violin, Op.115
Ilya Kaler, violin
Prokofiev: Violin Concertos 1 & 2; Sonata for Solo Violin
Ongaku Records 024-103
3:23
