As a 16-year-old student, Sergei Prokofiev attended Nikolai Tcherepnin's conducting classes, gaining crucial 'hands-on experience' with the piano concerto repertoire.
Critical Reception
The premiere of Prokofiev's Third Piano Concerto was well received by the audience, but Prokofiev complained about the 'dolts' in the press who reviewed the work.
Composition History
The October Revolution and Prokofiev's subsequent emigration from Russia delayed the completion of his Third Piano Concerto until 1921, when he was living in France.
Composition History
Prokofiev composed the Overture on Hebrew Themes in a single day in New York after being presented with 'lovely' Jewish melodies by the Zimro Ensemble.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Prokofiev confessed that he learned more about composing from Nikolai Tcherepnin, his conducting teacher, than from Rimsky-Korsakov's orchestration classes.
Recording & Production
This album holds special meaning for the performer, Simon Trpčeski, as it was recorded only a few months before his twin sons, Stefan and Andrej, were born.
Compositional Technique
Prokofiev's First Piano Concerto, like those by Liszt and Rimsky-Korsakov, is a multi-part structure played without a break, framed by a 'tongue-in-cheek pompous fanfare'.
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Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2; Overture on Hebrew Themes
Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No.1 Op. 35 & Poulenc: Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in D Minor FP. 61
Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 4 & 5
Prokofiev: Concertos Nos. 1, 4 & 5
Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5; Classical Symphony; Autumnal; Overture on Hebrew Themes
