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Prokofiev: Piano Works

3/3/2017, 16 Tracks, 1:12:54

Featuring

  • Bartłomiej Kominek
  • Sergei Prokofiev

Did you know?

1/7

Critical Reception

Prokofiev's Toccata in D Minor Op. 11 was met with strong reactions, with one contemporary composer, Nikolai Medtner, stating, "If this is music, then I am not a musician."

Source: Booklet

Composition History

Prokofiev intentionally chose provocative pieces, including an early Sonata No. 6 and the finale of his opera "A Feast in Time of Plague," for his 1909 composition exam, resulting in a low grade.

Source: Booklet

Historical Context

The Bolshoi Theatre's rejection of Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" ballet was likely due to fear of criticism, similar to what Dmitry Shostakovich faced for his opera "Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District," which was encouraged by Stalin.

Source: Booklet

Composition History

Sergey Prokofiev's ballet "Romeo and Juliet" faced initial rejections from both the Kirov Theatre in Leningrad and the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, despite a signed contract and the composer providing a happy ending.

Source: Booklet

Performer Biography

The pianist on this album, Bartłomiej Kominek, portrayed Fryderyk Chopin in a film produced by Japanese Television.

Source: Booklet

Composer's Artistic Vision

Prokofiev himself considered his "toccata thread"—a motoric style influenced by Robert Schumann's Toccata—to be the "least valuable" aspect of his musical output.

Source: Booklet

Compositional Technique

Prokofiev's early work "Suggestion Diabolique" features "minor-ninth-based progressions," which his professor Anatoly Lyadov maliciously questioned.

Source: Booklet

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Prokofiev: Complete Music for Solo Piano
Prokofiev: 10 Pieces from Romeo and Juliet - Sonata No. 7
Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No. 8, Op. 84 & Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75
Prokofiev: Sonatas Nos. 2 & 7 & Cinderella & War and Peace & Love For 3 Oranges
Prokofiev, S.: Piano Music, Vol. 4 - Piano Sonatas Nos. 2 and 4 / 4 Pieces / Music for Children / Things in Themselves
Richter Performs Prokofiev (Live)
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3
Prokofiev: Complete Piano Music Vol. 2
Prokofiev: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 7
Prokofiev: Sarcasms, Piano Sonata No. 5, Visions fugitives
Prokofiev: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 3
Prokofiev: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 1
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