Prokofiev, S.: War and Peace Symphonic Suite / Summer Night / Russian Overture

Featuring

Neeme Järvi
Philharmonia Orchestra
Sergei Prokofiev

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Recording & Production

The Philharmonia Orchestra, featured on this recording, is the world's most recorded symphony orchestra, with over 1000 releases to its credit, including television and film soundtracks.

Compositional Technique

Prokofiev's 'Russian Overture' is characterized by its "molto virtuoso" writing, complex structure, and the composer's use of unusual instrumentation and rhythmic distortions to create a sense of bewilderment.

Historical Context

Prokofiev began 'War and Peace' in 1941, and Hitler's attempted invasion of Russia at that time gave the opera's historical themes startling contemporary relevance.

Composer Biography

Prokofiev's opera 'The Duenna' was inspired by his own romantic feelings, as he left his wife and children in 1941 to be with his co-librettist, Myra Mendelsohn, whom he later married.

Performer Biography

Neeme Järvi, the conductor on this album, has amassed a distinguished discography of more than 400 discs, with over 150 of them for Chandos.

Composition History

Sergey Prokofiev's opera 'War and Peace' was one of his most cherished projects, which he worked on continuously for twelve years until weeks before his death.

Composer Biography

Prokofiev was a pre-Soviet composer, which explains his sympathy for the vanished world of the Tsars, contrasting with Shostakovich who grew up under Communism.