The orchestral score for Prokofiev's Second Piano Concerto was destroyed during the Russian Civil War, reportedly burned by new tenants to cook an omelette, leading Prokofiev to reconstruct and revise it.
Composer Biography
Prokofiev grew up at the keyboard, composing a large quantity of solo piano music, including at least six sonatas, during his childhood.
Performer Biography
The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the world's oldest orchestras founded in 1765, had a close relationship with Edvard Grieg, who served as its artistic director from 1880-1882.
Compositional Technique
Prokofiev was one of the first 20th-century composers to exploit the piano's percussive qualities, notably in his "Suggestion diabolique" from 1908.
Composition History
Prokofiev's Third Piano Concerto, completed in 1921, incorporates thematic material from as far back as 1911, including ideas originally intended for an unfinished string quartet.
Performer Biography
Pianist Freddy Kempf gained international prominence after winning third prize at the 1998 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition, where his not winning first prize caused audience protests and Russian press acclaim.
Critical Reception
At its 1913 premiere, Prokofiev's Second Piano Concerto unpleasantly shook an audience expecting soothing entertainment for a summer evening.
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