Biography
and Chief Works of Serge Prokofiev
1891.
Born in Russia. A musical prodigy. Entered St Petersburg (Leningrad) Conservatoire, and studied under Rimsky Korsakov and others. A brilliant pianist as well as composer.
1914.
Left Conservatoire. Continued to compose, completing his 'Classical' symphony in 1917. Had written 3 piano concertos, a violin concerto and 4 piano sonatas by this date.
1918.
Traveled to London, Paris and Japan. Then settled in U.S.A.
1921.
Opera 'The Love of Three Oranges' produced in Chicago.
1922.
Moved to Paris, where his first violin concerto was produced in 1923.
1927.
Returned to Russia, though made frequent visits to Western Europe, particularly when newly composed symphonies or concertos were performed.
Later, the Soviet authorities prohibited travel, and ordered him (and other composers) to adopt a simpler, more lyrical style. He appeared to acquiesce, though some individuality still remains in his later works.
1936.
Wrote 'Peter and the Wolf' for a children's concert in Moscow.
1953.
Died in Moscow.
Began as a brilliant, precocious pianist and composer, writing original, fantastic yet unromantic, rhythmically exhilarating, and often discordant music. The early 'Classical' symphony exhibits these traits, in spite of its title.
Later, at the Soviet
command, he changed to a simpler, more lyrical style, though there are still
traces of the earlier Prokofiev.
Seven
symphonies, including the 'Classical' (no. 1).
Five
concertos for piano, 2 for violin and 1 for cello.
'Peter and the Wolf' for narrator and orchestra.
Seven
operas, the best known being 'The Love of Three Oranges'.
Six
ballets (some produced by Diaghilev).