Prokofiev, S.: Semyon Kotko Suite / 4 Portraits and Denouement From The Gambler

Featuring

Neeme Järvi
Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Sergei Prokofiev

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Compositional Technique

Prokofiev created the symphonic suite 'Four Portraits' from his opera 'The Gambler' by physically dismembering the score and reassembling related episodes for each character.

Composition History

Prokofiev returned to live in the Soviet Union in 1936 and chose Valentin Katayev's partly autobiographical story 'I, the Son of the Working People' as the subject for his opera 'Semyon Kotko'.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Prokofiev preferred a cinematic continuity in his operas, using a succession of short scenes, and for 'Semyon Kotko', he gave greater emphasis to lyricism.

Performer Biography

Neeme Järvi, the conductor on this album, is from Tallinn, Estonia, and holds numerous principal conducting positions and honorary degrees worldwide.

Composition History

Prokofiev's opera 'The Gambler' was his sixth opera, written between 1915 and 1917, and was accepted for production at the Mariinsky Theatre in Petrograd but never performed due to the revolution.

Composer Biography

Sergey Prokofiev, the composer, was a musically gifted child who grew up in a cultured and wealthy environment, as his father managed a large estate in Ukraine.

Performer Biography

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, formed in 1891, has a discography of over 200 releases and has contributed to the soundtracks of films like 'Star Wars' and 'Titanic'.